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Back When We Were Bright and Beautiful Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Part One
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. Part Two
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. Part Three
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. Epilogue
  68. Author’s Note
  69. Acknowledgments
  70. About the Author
  71. Also by Jillian Medoff
  72. About the Publisher

McKay reads back the transcript. He denies the State’s motion for detention. Prohibits Billy from excessive use of drugs, alcohol, social media, and pornography. Sets a curfew. Reiterates the terms of the restraining order. “You are not allowed to contact the accused or any witnesses.”

DeFiore asks, “Your Honor, can Billy return to Princeton to finish his classes and take his exams? The semester is over in six weeks.”

“Given the nature and severity of the accusation, I have to say no. He can work out an arrangement with the university to finish his classes or take a leave.” The judge looks at Billy. “Also, Mr. Quinn, you will be required to wear a monitoring device. If you go out of your designated area, or anywhere near the accuser, you will be taken back to jail until your trial. Do you understand the limits of your release and are you able to comply with all of them?”

DeFiore leans over, and whispers to Billy, who looks up and nods.

“Again, the court needs to hear your answer, Mr. Quinn,” McKay says.

“Y-y-y-yes. I c-c-c-can, Your Honor.”

“Fine, then. Pursuant to the laws of New Jersey, the next step is for the prosecution to determine if they want to take this case further. If so, it will be presented to a grand jury—”

“We do, your Honor.” Fleming jumps to her feet, raises her voice. “We have determined that this case has merit and sufficient evidence to pursue a conviction.”

“Then the case will proceed to the grand jury.” Judge McKay bangs his gavel, and just like that, my brother’s immediate future is sealed.

12

YEARS AGO, FOR A BRIEF PERIOD, ELEANOR WAS CONVINCED Billy’s speech impediment was psychosomatic. Despite hours of physical exams and pages of clinical assessments, she still lacked a definitive answer for why he stuttered. Why not Nate? What about Cassie? She took him to a psychiatrist who impressed upon her one fact: there is no reason. Billy stammers because he stammers. Nor was there a single reason for his childhood ailments. By his fifth birthday, Billy had been treated for illnesses ranging from ear infections to aortic stenosis. He didn’t speak until age three (Cass) or say sentences (Me and Cass read) or express complex thoughts (too tired to read me and Cass book) until nearly four. He spent an extra year in nursery school and didn’t start kindergarten until he was six.