Chapter 15 - The AppealAurelia won one issue on appeal.
One fraud conviction concerning the future residential-care budget was vacated.
The appellate court found that the jury instruction had failed to clearly distinguish preparation from a legally sufficient attempt.
She had prepared.
She had drafted.
She had planned.
But the specific legal standard required more.
Other convictions remained.
The child-abuse convictions remained.
Restitution was adjusted.
When Sorrel was nine, a classmate showed her a headline.
“Aurelia won?”
“One part.”
“Does that mean she didn't chain me?”
“No.”
“Does it mean she didn't fake the bills?”
“No.”
“Then why did she win?”
“Because courts sometimes correct their own mistakes.”
Sorrel frowned.
“Even for her?”
“Even for her.”
She thought about that.
“Annoying.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Good?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
She was learning something I wished adults learned earlier.
Truth was not always simple.
A person could be guilty of some things and innocent of another.
A father could be loving and still fail.
May you like
A victim could be angry and still deserve protection.
Justice did not require pretending human beings were simple.
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