You Belong with Me

Part Two - Chapter Twenty-Two: Getting Closure

Alexa took a deep breath as Cristiano sat down next to her, she felt her hands shaking a little knowing that today was the say that she had waited for Joseph and David to be sentenced for what they had done.

Alexa ignored the hate-filled gaze of a couple of people, she didn’t have to guess that they were related to Joseph; they blamed her for what was going to happen to him.

“Are you okay?” Cristiano asked holding Alexa’s hand, he was glad that the trial hadn’t been dragged out and he was hopefully that this would be the end of this for Alexa.

Alexa nodded her head as she smiled at her fiancé, she swallowed a little as they were all asked to stand as the judge walked into the room; it had been hard especially with the defence lawyer trying to paint her badly.

The lawyer had done everything to try and show that Alexa had been willing with Joseph and David had raped her and then it had been her idea to blackmail Cristiano.

Alexa sat down and took a deep breath, it had been a rough few weeks and she was glad that Cristiano was never far from her side.

Cristiano pressed a kiss to her hand, he looked across the room to where Joseph was sat in a wheel-chair; he had broken his leg and hip when he had jumped off the balcony trying to escape.

Joseph didn’t even looked bothered about what was happening, he had shown no remorse for what he had done and Cristiano hoped that he rotted in prison for the rest of his life.

Alexa was dressed in a black pencil dress in bird and floral print paired with black pointed heels; she had no idea what would happen today but she knew that it was the end of this chapter for her.

“David Andrew McCoy… you are found guilty of sexual assault and abduction,” the judge said making Cristiano squeeze Alexa’s hand knowing that he wouldn’t be punished as bad as Joseph was; he had helped when he could but it didn’t change what he had done.

“You are sentenced to eight years in prison with no appeal for three years,” the judge said making David nod his head, he had expected as much and he was sure that when he had done his time that he could forgive himself.

David knew that he was getting off light for what he had done, it was only his help with the police that had spared him the fifteen years that his lawyer had warned him about.

Cristiano watched David, he truly hoped that the man learnt to choose his friends more carefully; Joseph had led him down a dangerous road and it could have led to someone being killed.

Alexa chewed on her lip, she wasn’t sure how she felt about David and she knew that she was glad that she would never see him again.

“Joseph Lee Collins… you are found guilty of sexual assault, abduction and extortion,” the judge said turning to look at the man in the wheel-chair; he pursed his lips still seeing no remorse for what he had done, he felt sickened by the man before him.

Joseph stared up at the judge, he didn’t care what his sentence was, he doubted that it would be long and then he could return to his life within a few years.

“You are sentenced to twenty-two years in prison with no appeal,” the judge said clearly, the moment that the words had left his lips there was a cry from the crowd.

Joseph’s mother stared to swear as she pleaded with the judge to change his mind, she didn’t believe her little boy could truly ever hurt anyone like they were all claiming.

Cristiano kissed Alexa as Joseph and David were lead away, he couldn’t believe that this was over; he was so happy and they could finally put this behind them once and for all.

***

Alexa stepped away from the celebration that was being thrown in the living room, she slipped off her heels silently so that she didn’t attract any attention to herself.

Alexa knew how happy everyone was about Joseph and David being sent to prison, she just didn’t have it in her to celebrate right now.

Sneaking upstairs, Alexa silently made her way into the nursery and smiled at the sight of Junior awake in his cot; she closed the door behind her before setting down her heels.

“Olá…” Alexa whispered slowly moving to pick him up and cuddled him, she moved to sit down on the daybed that had been set up in Junior’s bedroom.

Junior babbled softly cuddling into his mother, he was eleven weeks old now and in a couple of days’ time he would be moving to Madrid for the first time with his parents.

“Have you been a good boy,” Alexa cooed curled up on the couch, she cuddled Junior wondering how her life would play out now; she was finally free and her therapist said she was doing so well.

Alexa shook her head, she wasn’t going to focus on what had happened anymore; it would always haunt her in some small way but she knew that she had better things to look forward to.

Alexa smiled secretly, she would be getting married next August and she was so excited; she had been shocked when Cristiano had proposed the date to her and she couldn’t wait.

Alexa listened softly as the celebration continued downstairs, she chewed on her lip thinking about her second event in the next year; something that Cristiano didn’t even know about.

Alexa was five weeks pregnant and she had decided to wait a couple more weeks before she revealed that news to anyone; she wanted to make sure that the baby was okay after all that had happened to her only a week into her pregnancy.

“I thought I’d find you up here,” Cristiano said smiling as he stepped into the nursery, he had worried about her when she had left the party; but he could understand why she didn’t wish to celebrate.

Alexa looked at her fiancé, she wondered how he would react to the news that she was expecting their second child; Junior was wonderful and she knew that they could handle another baby.

“Are you okay?” Cristiano asked gently as he sat down beside her, he knew she’d been a little unwell after all that had happened but a doctor had reassured him that everything was perfectly fine.

Alexa smiled at him and nodded her head, her attention turning back to Junior as he babbled; she couldn’t believe that everything was finally over.

“Would you ever want another one?” Alexa asked curiously, she peeked at Cristiano knowing that she was going to have to tell him; she watched as Cristiano looked at her curiously wondering what had brought this on.

“Of course,” Cristiano said nodding his head, he loved the idea of having another baby with Alexa, especially since it would be a little less complicated than when Junior had been born.

Alexa opened her mouth to say something when Dolores walked into the room, she sighed knowing that she wouldn’t get to tell Cristiano today.

“There you two are… come on, we are going out to dinner,” Dolores said happily, everything had worked out so wonderfully that they could all finally move forward; she headed back downstairs leaving the couple alone.

“What were you going to say?” Cristiano asked as he moved to take Junior from Alexa, he watched his fiancée curious knowing that it was important; but Alexa only shook her head and smiled.

“It doesn’t matter… I can tell you later,” Alexa said pressing a kiss to his cheek before she moved to put her shoes back on, she was happy and that was all that mattered right now.