Page 5 of Jury Woman, Part 2 of 6

This wasn't a limited TV series I could turn off when it got uncomfortable. These were real people, with real names, who'd had real things taken from them allegedly by the man twenty feet away from me.

And it also occurred to me the heavy responsibility and fear associated with voting to convict a dangerous man who, if the prosecution was correct, had incomparable reach to upend someone's life.

At this moment, I was very, very glad to be only an alternate.

August 5, Wednesday

DEPUTY WELLS found me in the common area after dinner, where I'd been reading a paperback from the lending library.

"Ms. Good. Your call's set up, if you're ready."

I set the book down. "Yes. Thank you."

He led me down a corridor I hadn't been in before, our footsteps muffled by carpet, to a small room with a round table, two chairs, and a laptop already glowing with a waiting screen. A pitcher of water sweated quietly on a coaster.

"I'll be right outside," he said, gesturing to the hallway. "Door stays cracked, per protocol. I'm not listening in, but I am technically supervising, so." He shrugged, almost apologetic. "Just wanted you to know."

"Understood." I appreciated the honesty.

I sat, smoothed my blouse—er, Elaine's blouse, and clicked to connect the call. A window bloomed onto the screen—Lily's face too close to the camera, Josh's a distant, poorly lit blob somewhere behind her.

"Hi, kids." I smiled, determined to keep things upbeat.

"Mom." Lily's greeting came out flat, more announcement than warmth. "This school year is already the worst. Ms. Kowalski gave us, like, forty pages of reading on day two. Forty pages."

"That does sound like a lot. How's your schedule otherwise?"

"Terrible. I got stuck with lunch period A, which is basically for freshmen."

Josh's voice crackled in from his corner of the screen. "My science teacher already assigned a group project. On the first week. Who does that?"

"Sounds challenging," I said, "but I'm sure you can handle it. "How's Dad managing?"

A pause. A meaningful glance passed between them.

"He forgot to sign my permission slip," Lily said.

"There's, like, nothing to eat," Josh added. "Unless you count the protein bars Dad buys that taste like drywall."

"Have either of you walked Tucker today?"

Another pause, longer this time.

"Josh's turn," Lily said.

"It's literally Lily's day," Josh shot back.

I closed my eyes for a half second, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Please. Just—one of you. Tonight."

"Mom, seriously." Lily leaned so close the camera distorted her face. "You need to come home. This is insane. You can't actually do this for six months."

"Yeah," Josh chimed in. "Just tell them you changed your mind."

"That's not how it works, sweetheart. I already explained—"

"It's like you don't want to be here," Lily said, voice climbing.

"That's not true, and it's not fair," I said gently. "I love you both, but this isn't a decision I can unmake. Work with your dad. And don't forget your Aunt Elaine is on standby."