Chapter 16
Celeste’s trial began in winter.
The courtroom was full.
Again.
I hated that part.
The prosecutor opened with Ava standing at the gala.
The video played on a large screen.
My voice.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Noah’s quiet answer.
“I won’t hurt her.”
Then Ava standing.
The jury watched hope become evidence.
Celeste stared at the table.
Dr. Vale had taken a plea and testified against her.
Cowardice, but useful.
He admitted Celeste paid him to minimize Ava’s progress.
He admitted he prescribed medication without proper oversight.
He admitted he stopped therapy because the foundation grant depended on Ava’s public condition remaining unchanged.
Celeste’s attorney tried to blame him entirely.
Then Maya testified.
Money moved.
Emails sent.
Reports edited.
Therapy notes deleted.
Harold Finch testified too.
He cried.
No one believed the tears.
Elena testified about reporting Ava’s movement and being threatened with termination.
Noah testified by recorded deposition.
He wore his new sneakers.
He said, “Ava asked me to help. I helped.”
The defense asked if he wanted money.
Noah looked directly into the camera.
“I wanted her to know she wasn’t crazy.”
That sentence ended something.
When I testified, Celeste finally looked at me.
Her eyes begged me to remember the woman she pretended to be.
I remembered Ava trembling in the ballroom instead.
The prosecutor asked, “What did Celeste take from your daughter?”
I answered, “Time.”
My voice broke.
“Strength. Trust. Months of recovery. But she did not take Ava’s will.”
Ava was not in court that day.
She was in therapy.
Taking twenty-two steps.
The verdict came after three days.
Guilty.
Child endangerment.
Medical abuse.
Fraud.
Witness intimidation.
Conspiracy.
I called Ava from the courthouse hallway.
“It’s done.”
She was quiet.
Then she asked, “Can I still go to therapy tomorrow?”
I laughed through tears.
May you like
“Yes.”
“Good,” she said. “I’m beating twenty-two.”
