One Summer

62

“Ms. Armstrong?” said Paterson politely. “You had a number of conversations with your grandmother this summer, didn’t you?”

Mikki looked at her father, but the lawyer moved to block her view. “You must answer my questions truthfully and not look to your father for instruction.”

Mikki took a deep breath. “Yes, I spoke with Grandma.”

“And what did you tell her about your father’s... um... actions during the summer?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“All right. I mean with regards to the lighthouse, for instance.”

“Lighthouse?” said the judge.

Paterson addressed him. “It was apparently Mr. Armstrong’s deceased wife’s favorite place as a child, and he was spending most of the nights there.”

Jenna rose. “Objection. Mr. Paterson has not been sworn in as a witness, Your Honor, and has no personal knowledge of the situation.”

“All right,” said Grubbs. “Sustained.”

Paterson turned back to Mikki. “Your statements about the lighthouse? Can you tell the court please?”

Mikki fidgeted. “I just told her that Dad was working on the lighthouse, that’s all. It was no big deal.”

“Would he work out there late at night?”

“Yes.”

“With Mr. Duvall?”

“Yes.”

“Leaving you three children alone in the house?”

Mikki’s face grew hot. “I’m not a child. I’m sixteen.”

“All right, leaving you and your younger brothers alone in the house?”

“Sometimes, but nothing happened.”

“On the contrary, did you not tell your grandmother on at least three occasions that your younger brother, Jack Jr., got out of bed and once fell down the stairs?”

Jack looked shocked. He stared at Mikki. She swallowed hard. “But he was okay. Just a bruise on his back.”

“And on another occasion Jack Jr. wandered out of the house and you couldn’t find him for at least an hour? And he turned up walking down the street?”

Jack slumped back in his chair, totally flummoxed.

“Yes. But he was okay.”

“And did you tell your father about these incidents?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I... I didn’t want him to get upset.”

“Does he get upset often?”

“Well, I mean, no; no, he doesn’t.”

“Did you also tell your grandmother that your dad was obsessed with the house and the lighthouse because your deceased mother loved it so much there and he was trying to reconnect somehow with her?”

Mikki flushed a deep red and started breathing quickly. Tears trickled from her eyes. “I was mad at him; that’s why I said those things.”

“So they weren’t true? Remember you are under oath.”

Jenna rose. “Your Honor, counsel is badgering. I request a recess so the witness can compose herself.”

Grubbs looked at Mikki. “Are you all right?”

Mikki drew in a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and nodded. “I’m okay.”

“Proceed.”

Paterson continued. “And did you also tell your grandmother that your father had no clue how to run a family and didn’t seem to care about you and your brothers?”

Jack looked down.

Mikki teared up again. “That was before he changed.”

“Changed?”

Obviously flustered, Mikki started speaking too fast. “Yes, I mean he was like that before. No, I mean, not bad. He did love us. I mean he does love us. He takes great care of us.”

“But didn’t you also tell your grandmother that you were worried about your dad’s mental state?”

In a hushed voice Mikki said, “No, I don’t remember saying that.”

“So you’ve never seen your dad acting irrationally or even in a fit of rage?”

“No, never.”

Paterson turned to the man in the suit sitting next to Bonnie. “Mr. Drake, if you would?” The man rose and wheeled forward a TV on a rolling stand and slid a DVD into a player underneath the TV.

Paterson said to the judge, “Your Honor, Mr. Drake is a licensed private investigator hired by Mrs. O’Toole to keep watch over the Armstrong children. The video you’re about to see represents one of the results of this surveillance.”

The TV screen came to life, and they all watched as Jack came running out of the lighthouse carrying the crate. He smashed it on the rocks and then raced down to the beach, twisting and turning in what looked unmistakably like a fit of insane rage. Then he dropped to the sand and wept. The next image was Mikki creeping up to her father.

On Paterson’s cue the DVD was stopped, and he turned back to Mikki.

“You obviously saw your father that night?”

Mikki nodded.

“And you wouldn’t describe that behavior as irrational or even a fit of rage?”

“He was upset, but he got better.”

“So in your mind he was... sick?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.” She stood. “You’re putting words in my mouth,” she cried out.

Grubbs said, “Young lady, I understand that this is very stressful, but please try to keep your emotions under control. This is a court of law.”

Mikki sniffled and settled back in her chair.

“If your father were to fall ill again while you were living with him, who would take care of the family?”

“I would.”

Paterson smiled. “You may not be a child, but you’re also not of legal age to live alone with your brothers.”

Mikki looked furious. “And Sammy. He’s my dad’s best friend.”

“Ah, Mr. Duvall. Yes.” Paterson glanced at some notes. “Did you know that after he returned from Vietnam, Mr. Duvall underwent psychiatric counseling and that he also received two drunk-driving citations?”

Sammy erupted from his chair. “My whole damn unit was ordered to undergo that counseling because we’d done two tours in ’Nam and seen atrocities you never will, slick. And those DUIs were over thirty years ago. Never had a damn one since.”

The judge smashed his gavel down. “Another outburst like that, sir, and you will be removed from this courtroom.”

Paterson turned back to Mikki. “So, Mr. Duvall will look after you?”

“Yes,” Mikki said stubbornly.

He turned to Drake again and nodded. The TV screen came to life. They watched first as Sammy drove his Harley way too fast and without a helmet. The second scene was Sammy dozing on the beach with a couple of empty beer cans lying next to him as Jackie and Cory played very close to the water.

“Quite a responsible caretaker,” said Paterson dryly. “Now, Ms. Armstrong, can you tell us what you think your mother’s death did to your father?”

Jenna jumped to her feet. “Relevance?”

“We’re trying to determine the conditions of the children’s environment, Your Honor. The state of mind of the surviving parent is highly relevant.”

“Go ahead.”

“Ms. Armstrong, please answer the question.”

“He was devastated. We all were.”

“Is he still devastated?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your father has been involved in two fights and been arrested for an assault for which he could go to prison. You saw the video of him throwing things and jumping around in a state of fury, and of your two brothers being left in the care of Mr. Duvall while he was apparently either drunk or asleep. You’ve given testimony that he neglected his three children to work on a lighthouse, resulting in injury to your younger brother. Do you believe those to be the acts of a rational person?”

“But I told you he’s better now.”

“So he was worse at some point?”

“Look, I know what you’re trying to do, but my dad is not crazy, okay? He’s not.”

“But you’re not qualified to make that judgment, are you? It really is for this court to decide if your father is fit to have custody of his children.”

Mikki stood again, tears streaming down her face. “My dad is not crazy. He loves us. He is a great dad.”

Paterson gave her a weak smile. “I’m sure you love your dad.”

“I do,” Mikki said fiercely.

“And you’d say anything to protect him.”

“Yes, I would. I...” Mikki realized her mistake too late.

“No further questions.”

As Paterson walked away, Mikki looked at her dad. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’m really sorry.”

Jack said quietly, “It’s okay, sweetie.” When Jenna rose to question Mikki, Jack put a hand on her arm and shook his head. “No, Jenna, she’s been through enough.”

“But Jack—”

“Enough,” said Jack firmly.

Jenna turned to the judge. “No questions,” she said reluctantly.

Grubbs looked at Paterson. “Any more witnesses?”

“Just one, Your Honor, before we rest our case.” Paterson turned toward the table where Jenna was sitting. “We call Jack Armstrong.”