attorney, “I’d like her to go through a treatment program. I think she needs to understand alcoholism.”
“You’ll have a chance to say that to the judge in a few minutes.” The lawyer didn’t smile, but Jackson didn’t sense any animosity.
He took a seat next to Kera and she reached for his hand. She held it gently until the courtroom aide announced the case details, then let go. She knew him well.
Judge Holt, a stout woman with scalp-short white hair, asked everyone to introduce themselves, then summarized the situation. This was Katie’s second charge of minor in possession of alcohol. The first had netted no punitive action, only a recommendationfor counseling. A second offense a month later meant new ramifications. Focused on what he would say, Jackson barely heard the words. The judge called on him immediately afterward. He didn’t know if he was supposed to stand, but it seemed right, so he did.
“Katie recently lost her mother in a tragic accidental shooting.” Jackson hoped he would not have to explain. “She’s grieving and angry. In addition, her mother was an alcoholic, so she’s prone to the disease. I would like her to begin a treatment program that educates her about alcohol and addiction. I also plan to take her to a grief counselor.”
“Thank you.” The judge nodded. “I need to know if the shooting happened at home.”
“No, your honor. Katie’s mother, Renee, was kidnapped.”
Katie called out, “I don’t want to talk about this.”
The court was quiet for a moment. The judge looked at her. “Katie, I can’t help you if I don’t know what I’m dealing with. We’ll keep it brief.” She turned back to Jackson. “Your wife was killed by her abductor?”
“Yes and no.” Jackson drew in a painful breath. “The assailant engineered the situation, but I shot her accidentally.” Emotions overwhelmed him and he had to pause. Silence filled the room, as if everyone had stopped breathing. Finally, Jackson found a solid voice. “I acted according to my training, and any other officer would have done the same. I thought Katie had forgiven me, but now I realize that may take a lot of time.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” The judge’s voice was soft and stunned.
Jackson hadn’t wanted to deal with this today, yet in his heart, he knew it was important that everyone understand what Katie was really going through.
The caseworker stood. “I agree that Katie needs treatment and counseling. The question is whether outpatient treatment will beeffective or whether she needs a more-specialized inpatient treatment. Considering her family circumstances, I’m inclined to suggest inpatient treatment.”
Jackson cringed. He hated the thought of Katie being gone from his home for a month, but he wanted her to get the help she needed.
The caseworker sat down, and the lawyer took a turn. “I think we should let Katie speak before any more recommendations are offered.”
The judge nodded. “Katie?”
She didn’t stand. “I want to go home. I’ll go see a therapist every week, but I want a different one. Please don’t lock me in here.”
The judge looked back at Jackson. “You’re a police officer and a single father. Can you supervise your daughter adequately?”
Jackson tensed, then slumped with guilt. He’d been struggling with this issue for a long time. Even when he and Renee had still been married, Renee’s alcoholism had kept her from being a dependable parent. When he felt under control, he stood again. “Katie has other people in her life to help me. Her aunt Jan has been a care provider all along, and Katie is bonded to my partner, Kera. Katie is usually at one of their homes whenever I have to work late.” Jackson gestured at the women sitting with him, feeling grateful and humiliated at the same time.
Please let this be over soon.
The caseworker spoke up. “I’m concerned about Katie’s anger toward her father. Maybe removing her from his home for a
“You’ll have a chance to say that to the judge in a few minutes.” The lawyer didn’t smile, but Jackson didn’t sense any animosity.
He took a seat next to Kera and she reached for his hand. She held it gently until the courtroom aide announced the case details, then let go. She knew him well.
Judge Holt, a stout woman with scalp-short white hair, asked everyone to introduce themselves, then summarized the situation. This was Katie’s second charge of minor in possession of alcohol. The first had netted no punitive action, only a recommendationfor counseling. A second offense a month later meant new ramifications. Focused on what he would say, Jackson barely heard the words. The judge called on him immediately afterward. He didn’t know if he was supposed to stand, but it seemed right, so he did.
“Katie recently lost her mother in a tragic accidental shooting.” Jackson hoped he would not have to explain. “She’s grieving and angry. In addition, her mother was an alcoholic, so she’s prone to the disease. I would like her to begin a treatment program that educates her about alcohol and addiction. I also plan to take her to a grief counselor.”
“Thank you.” The judge nodded. “I need to know if the shooting happened at home.”
“No, your honor. Katie’s mother, Renee, was kidnapped.”
Katie called out, “I don’t want to talk about this.”
The court was quiet for a moment. The judge looked at her. “Katie, I can’t help you if I don’t know what I’m dealing with. We’ll keep it brief.” She turned back to Jackson. “Your wife was killed by her abductor?”
“Yes and no.” Jackson drew in a painful breath. “The assailant engineered the situation, but I shot her accidentally.” Emotions overwhelmed him and he had to pause. Silence filled the room, as if everyone had stopped breathing. Finally, Jackson found a solid voice. “I acted according to my training, and any other officer would have done the same. I thought Katie had forgiven me, but now I realize that may take a lot of time.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” The judge’s voice was soft and stunned.
Jackson hadn’t wanted to deal with this today, yet in his heart, he knew it was important that everyone understand what Katie was really going through.
The caseworker stood. “I agree that Katie needs treatment and counseling. The question is whether outpatient treatment will beeffective or whether she needs a more-specialized inpatient treatment. Considering her family circumstances, I’m inclined to suggest inpatient treatment.”
Jackson cringed. He hated the thought of Katie being gone from his home for a month, but he wanted her to get the help she needed.
The caseworker sat down, and the lawyer took a turn. “I think we should let Katie speak before any more recommendations are offered.”
The judge nodded. “Katie?”
She didn’t stand. “I want to go home. I’ll go see a therapist every week, but I want a different one. Please don’t lock me in here.”
The judge looked back at Jackson. “You’re a police officer and a single father. Can you supervise your daughter adequately?”
Jackson tensed, then slumped with guilt. He’d been struggling with this issue for a long time. Even when he and Renee had still been married, Renee’s alcoholism had kept her from being a dependable parent. When he felt under control, he stood again. “Katie has other people in her life to help me. Her aunt Jan has been a care provider all along, and Katie is bonded to my partner, Kera. Katie is usually at one of their homes whenever I have to work late.” Jackson gestured at the women sitting with him, feeling grateful and humiliated at the same time.
Please let this be over soon.
The caseworker spoke up. “I’m concerned about Katie’s anger toward her father. Maybe removing her from his home for a
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