After bond was posted, Xander was released to the care of his parents who had Jefferson rush them out the back door to a waiting car that took the lawyer and the four others who were following behind him. The vehicle waiting was a stretched limo so there was plenty of room as Xander and Lauren sat on one side while his parents were seated together across from them, and with Jefferson at the back. Things were silent for the first few minutes as the limo got through the crowd of press and photographers who tried to see them but couldn’t through the heavily tinted windows. As the limo started to get further away from the courthouse and deeper into regular traffic, everyone seemed to relax as the tension from the moment appeared to be passing. Everyone was looking around, but no one was talking. Lauren was too curious to let the silence last for very long as she decided to get the conversation going.
“So what happens now?” she asked anyone.
“All we do now is wait,” Jefferson answered, “Russell is going to head back to his office and get to work. When he’s ready to present a defense, he’ll bring it by for your approval. I hate to say it, but he is the right attorney to have if you’re going to fight this in court. I’m too old for this kind of trial.”
“You’ve done great work for us,” Mr. Hopkins said, “But your honestly is appreciated, especially considering the dire circumstance.”
“I would also recommend freeing up one of your dining rooms,” Jefferson suggested, “So that Mr. Watson and his team can use it as a war room”
“Are you sure that’s necessary?” Mr. Hopkins asked.
“Better for the lawyers to travel to you,” Jefferson said, “Than have Xander go outside and get mics stuck in his face all the time. The best thing for your son to do right now is go underground and not come out for a while.”
“What about my company?” Xander asked, finally saying something.
“Someone else has to run it for the time being,” Jefferson said, “Or you can do some of the work from home, but no going into the office.”
“Alright,” Xander said, not pleased to hear that answer. The lawyer was right however, he needed to lay low and not give his lawyer any more fires to put out.
“Are you alright, dear?” His mother then asked.
“I’m just tired,” Xander answered, “And I’m also famished. I haven’t eaten since breakfast was interrupted earlier this morning.”
“Should we stop somewhere and hit a drive through?” Lauren suggested.
“That’s alright,” his mother replied, “The chef who runs our kitchen is preparing his favorite in anticipation of Alexander staying with us.”
“Sounds great,” Xander said, as he seemed happy to hear that.
“Sorry,” Lauren said, as she momentarily forgot who she was speaking to.
“Don’t feel bad,” Xander’s father added, “I might have suggested the same if we didn’t have a chef. It was a good idea.”
Things got rather quiet once again after that exchange, but most of the people in the car were relaxing and just trying to stay comfortable while the limo finally reached the highway and was heading towards the house at a faster speed. About a half hour later, they had arrived to their destination and it was more like a mansion than a house. It also looked like a house straight out of gone with the wind, with grand white pillars and large doors at the front. Lauren was amazed by how big the place was as she got out of the limo and looked at it.
“Wow,” Lauren said, “It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you, dear.” Xander’s Mom said, “So sweet of you to say.”
“Let’s get inside and eat,” Xander said, eager to chow down.
“Alright,” his father answered, “We’ll make sure it’s served soon. Alexander; take Lauren to one of the guest rooms and get her settled in.”
“Yes, father.” Xander replied. He usually didn’t like to take orders from his father but since he approved of Lauren hanging around, he didn’t mind this time.
“Hold on,” Lauren called out, “Are you sure I’m not intruding?”
“Hardly,” Xander’s mother replied.
“We have ten bedrooms in the house,” Xander replied, “And each one has their own bathroom. Plenty of space.”
“And you need to lie low as well, Ms. Carter.” Mr. Hopkins added, “Since you were at the courthouse it’s best we all stay here with Xander and not make things any more complicated for his legal team. So not another word on the matter. Let’s all get inside and prepare for the evening meal.”
Xander took Lauren by the had and led her into the massive foyer, and then up the massive staircase to the second floor. The hallways were like an art gallery themselves, hosting pieces just as expensive as the gallery she had attended earlier in the week with the kids. Xander stopped and opened a door, then gestured to Lauren for her to enter first.
“This one is one of my favorites,” Xander said, “See if it’s alright.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Lauren said as she walked into the room which was larger than her apartment back in the city. There was even a massive work of art hanging on the wall opposite of the bed. She thought it looks familiar but thought to herself that couldn’t be. Not for a guest room.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Xander said, grinning back at her. “That’s the Pollack that I bought my mom for her birthday a few years ago.”
“And you’re going to let me sleep right beside it?” Lauren said, shocked. “Not worried that I might fall into it or spill something on it?”
“Not really,” Xander said, “I doubt that will happen.”
“I’m sorry you’re going through all this,” Lauren said, looking back at him. “I haven’t know you as long as most people, but you’re sweet and kind. You don’t sound like the kind of person who do what you’re being accused of.”
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“Thanks,” Xander said, seeming rather relieved. “I’d never do that kind of thing. I’ve lived around strong women my whole life, and respect them and everyone else to much to ever harm someone like that, let along a woman. That’s why I’m fighting this fabrication with my lawyers. Paying this person off would reek of guilt and I’d never be able to look my mother or my sisters in the eye if they thought I was even remotely capable of doing something like that.”
“Sisters?” Lauren repeated, “How many siblings do you have?”
“Three,” Xander replied, “I’m the youngest.”
“Cool,” Lauren said, smiling back. “I’m the youngest too.”
“The bathroom is right over there,” Xander said, as he pointed to the corner of the room. “I’m going to retire back to my room. After all that’s happened, I wouldn’t mind changing and freshening up before dinner.”
“Alright,” Lauren said, “See you as supper?”
“Yes,” Xander said, as he started to back up to the door. “Which is at five.”
“Thanks,” Lauren called back, “Was just about to ask.”
Lauren waved goodbye and watched as Xander left the room and closed the door behind him. She took a small gander around the room, before heading in the bathroom to wash up a bit herself. Lauren started to feel a little stir crazy in the confined room, and while she was tempted to turn on the television she wasn’t eager to see anything on the news about Xander and his appearance in court. She had watched a bit of the coverage earlier and found it rather upsetting. Instead, Lauren left the room and decided to wander around a bit and look around the big mansion. There was fine art, vases and other expensive pieces all over the place. Rather than nose around the bedrooms, Lauren went back down the massive staircase to the main floor to look around there instead. She browsed around the living room, and even a few more hallways, before accidentally bumping into someone. It was one of the staff from the kitchen and she nearly dropped something while trying to avoid a collision. Lauren reached out with her arms and prevented whatever she was carrying to fall over.
“Thank you,” The staff member said, “That was close.”
“I’m sorry for almost causing it,” Lauren said, “Do you know where supper is going to be served?”
“It’s right down that way,” the lady replied, “Big dining room with a table that can hold up to twenty. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” Lauren said, before everyone went their separate ways.
It took her a few minutes to find the room the servant had referring to, but once she found it, Lauren had felt rather dumb for not finding it sooner as the room as massive and the kind of décor you’d expect to see in from monarchs.
“Hello there,” a voice called out.
Lauren was startled at first to realize that Xander’s mother was on the other side of the massive dining room, looking out the window, seeming staring at something. As Lauren started to walk closer, the older woman closed the drape she was peeking through and waved to the younger woman to back away.
“Stay over there,” she called out to Lauren. “The press is starting to gather outside our gates, so I’d recommend not standing by any open windows for the time being until we can get someone to take care of them.”
“You’re going to take care of the press?” Lauren asked, rather confused.
“Well, not in any nefarious way.” Mrs. Hopkins replied, but with a smile that kind of relished the idea even though it was not an option. “I’m just tired of the unwanted attention, especially since my son is being charged with a horrific crime. I would prefer to be left alone and yet there they are with their cameras and their microphones. Doing whatever they can to land a scoop. They don’t care about us, only about boosting their ratings up a mere point or two. They’re parasites, every damn one of them.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Lauren said, as she kept away from the windows. “Are you feeling alright, Mrs. Hopkins?”
“I’m afraid not,” the older woman answered, “I feel deep shame. There is a part of me that wants to believe he’s innocent, and yet I’m afraid that I failed him and raised someone who was capable of doing something so vile. Does that make me a bad person for even entertaining that thought?”
“No, it doesn’t.” Lauren said, as she stepped closer. “I clearly haven’t known your son as long as you have, but in that time he’s been so amazing. In the last few days he’s fired his lawyers, hired a new one, and defiantly refused to take any offers to settle. I don’t know about you, but these do not strike me as the actions of a guilty man. A guilty man would want this all to go away as soon as possible, and he would have accepted that settlement which was nothing short of blackmail. A guilty man would have paid anything to prevent this from reaching the headlines and even from making it to your ears. Someone with something to his would pay tens of millions of dollars to make it all disappear. He didn’t do that, and is refusing to pay a single penny. He’s not being cheap, he’s opposing this because he didn’t do anything wrong. A man with something to hide would never walk out in public, afraid that the cops would drag him to the station in front of a million cameras. If he had done that, a child I was watching probably would have lost his life a few days ago.”
“Excuse me?” Xander’s mother called back, “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about this,” Lauren walked over to Mrs. Hopkins and took her cell phone as she did. She used social media to look up the video in question and handed the phone over to his mother so that she could watch the heroic act Xander did with her own eyes.
“Oh my gaud!” his mother cried out, as she had never seen the video. “I had no idea this happened! That child almost died!”
“He’s not a criminal,” Lauren said, taking her phone back. “He’s a hero, and they don’t commit the crimes that your son is being charged with. He’s a hero that deserves the benefit of the doubt, because he’s innocent until proven guilty. There’s nothing to be afraid of, because from what I’ve seen it looks you raised an amazing man.”
“Thank you, dear.” Mrs. Hopkins replied, “I really needed to hear that.”
It was at this moment when a sound came from the hallway. The two women turned to face the doorway and Xander was already there, listening to the conversation in question and rather intently.
“Hi there,” Xander started, trying to look calm and friendly.
“And just how long were you listening?” his mother demanded.
“Long enough,” Xander said, as he walked closer. “There’s a reason why I chose to fight this, mom. It was to prove to you and the rest of this world that I’m innocent. I’m not paying my lawyers to disprove the accusation, but to prove my innocence. I don’t want any of you to have and doubts, none what so ever. I’d rather pay my lawyers anything they wanted to clear my good name. By the time this is all over, neither of you will have a single doubt. Alright?”
“Okay,” Lauren said, smiling back at him, “Sounds good to me!”
“Oh, my boy.” Mrs. Hopkins said, as had a tear in her eye as she walked over and proudly hugged her son. As she released her son from the warm embrace, she took a second to punch her son in the arm.
“Oww!!” Xander called out, “What was that for?”
“That’s for almost being hit by a bus!” his mother replied, “I realize you did a good deed, but that was took close for comfort. Try to nab the child before he makes it to the road; understood?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Xander said, playfully rubbing his arm.
It was this moment when Xander’s father entered the large dining room with Jefferson following right behind him. Xander’s old man looked rather pleased to see that everyone was there as he appeared to be eager to take his seat.
“Everyone is here,” He called out as he walked towards his favorite chair. “That’s wonderful! Everyone have a seat and we’ll get started.”
“Just one condition,” Mrs. Hopkins said as she walked around the table to sit beside her husband, “No legal talk at the table. I don’t want anything depressing said while I’m trying to eat. If you and Jefferson want to discuss it with Xander, you can do it in the den after supper while I give Lauren a tour of the estate.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Mr. Hopkins replied, which was very similar to how his son responded to her just a few moments ago.
“Very good,” Mrs. Hopkins said, as she sat down and the proceeded to punch her husband in the arm exactly the same way she had to her son earlier.
“Oww!” The old man cried out, “What on earth was that for?”
“Your son saved a child’s life,” his wife answered, “And you thought it was best to not to tell me about it, or even show me the video that was going viral online?”
“Oh,” her husband replied, “Sorry about that, my dear.”
“What are you all talking about?” Jefferson said as he appeared confused, “When exactly did this happen?”