Chapter 22 - Damon Stops ExplainingDamon’s sentencing occurred six weeks later.
He had pleaded guilty to multiple offenses related to child abuse, exploitation, financial conspiracy, and obstruction.
His cooperation against Harrison reduced his potential sentence.
It did not erase it.
Jocelyn chose not to attend.
Freya never considered going.
Miriam went as their guardian representative.
Damon submitted a long statement.
His attorney described it as remorse.
Miriam described it afterward as “mostly explanations.”
Damon wrote about grief after Natalie died.
Debt.
Fear of losing the house.
Pressure.
Resentment.
His own childhood.
His belief that the girls needed discipline.
His anger that Harrison had escaped consequences for years.
The judge listened.
Then asked:
“Did any of those things require an eleven-year-old and a seven-year-old to earn cash for you?”
Damon looked down.
“No.”
“Did they require violence?”
“No.”
“Did they require hiding family correspondence?”
“No.”
“Then why are we discussing them as though they are causes?”
Damon’s face changed.
For once, his explanations had nowhere to go.
The judge imposed a substantial prison sentence, along with restitution and protective orders.
His occupancy claim to the girls’ trust-owned house was terminated.
The property would be sold under trustee supervision.
Jocelyn and Freya never had to return.
Before sentencing, Damon had recorded a statement for the girls.
They were not required to watch it.
Freya refused.
Jocelyn asked Claire to summarize it instead.
“He says he’s sorry,” Claire said.
“For what?”
“Hurting you. Using the money you earned. Lying about Miriam.”
“Does he say why?”
“He gives reasons.”
Jocelyn rolled her eyes.
“Of course.”
Claire smiled.
“He also says Natalie was right about him.”
Jocelyn looked up.
“That he admitted ten percent so the other ninety disappeared?”
“Yes.”
Jocelyn sat quietly.
“Did he admit all of it now?”
“More than before.”
“That’s not all.”
“No.”
Jocelyn nodded.
She did not need Damon’s perfect confession.
Evidence did not require his cooperation anymore.
Neither did healing.
The Briar civil settlement followed.
Recovered funds from Harrison and Damon.
Insurance proceeds.
Remaining company assets.
Laurel Court compensation.
Legal fees.
Tax obligations.
The girls’ trust value dropped from roughly $6.4 million to just under $5.1 million.
Miriam sat with the corporate trustee and explained the result in language Jocelyn could understand.
“We lost money?”
“The trust paid part of settlements related to Briar because it inherited some Briar assets and obligations.”
“Did the workers get paid?”
“Several did. Families too.”
“Then we didn’t lose it.”
Miriam raised an eyebrow.
“What do you call it?”
“Used.”
The trustee smiled.
“That is one way to look at it.”
Jocelyn remembered Damon demanding daily cash as if money existed only to feed whoever had power.
She remembered Harrison chasing documents because ownership meant control.
She wanted money to become boring again.
The family home where Damon had abused them sold for $1.2 million.
After mortgages, taxes, and estate obligations, the net proceeds went into the trust.
Jocelyn did not want any furniture.
Freya asked for one thing.
Natalie’s yellow kitchen bowl.
Miriam retrieved it.
A chip ran along the rim.
Freya hugged it.
“This is what I want from the house.”
Jocelyn chose Honey, the stuffed bear.
Nothing else.
No expensive table.
No art.
No silver.
Two objects adults would have called worthless.
They mattered most.
Harrison awaited sentencing.
The dependency court proceeded separately.
Prosecutors had proven crimes.
Child welfare still needed legal findings about parenthood.
Jocelyn hated having another hearing.
“Didn’t the jury already decide?”
Claire explained:
“Criminal guilt and parental fitness are different legal questions.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Sometimes different systems need different answers.”
“What if they let him be our dad?”
“Being biologically your father will not change.”
“I mean legally.”
Claire sat beside her.
“The court is considering termination of his parental rights.”
Freya looked scared.
“Does that mean we don’t have a dad?”
Miriam answered before Claire could.
“It means the law may decide Harrison cannot make decisions for you anymore.”
Freya thought.
“Can I still remember him?”
Miriam’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Can I keep pictures?”
“Yes.”
“Can I be mad?”
“Yes.”
“Can Jo be mad different?”
Jocelyn smiled.
“Yes.”
Freya nodded.
“Okay.”
That night Jocelyn found Miriam filling out guardianship paperwork.
“Are you scared?”
Miriam laughed.
“Terrified.”
“Why?”
“Because raising two children is a massive responsibility.”
Jocelyn stared.
Damon treated responsibility like debt owed to him.
Harrison treated it like authority.
Miriam described it as something that frightened her because it mattered.
Jocelyn liked that.
“Still want us?”
Miriam looked up.
“More than ever.”
Jocelyn smiled.
“Okay.”
May you like
Then she went upstairs.
The bedroom door remained open.
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