Chapter 19 — The First Door That Mattered

The jury deliberated for less than three hours.

Roland Deming was convicted of aggravated child abuse, felony assault, fraud, attempted grand larceny, and attempted murder, and sentenced to forty-eight years.

My mother, Meredith, was convicted of child endangerment, conspiracy, and accessory to assault, and sentenced to twelve.

Before her sentencing, she asked to address us, and said, “I’m still your mother.” And I looked at her one final time and said the last thing I have ever said to her: “You were our first betrayal.

Being our mother did not give you the right to turn us into bargaining chips.”