Six months later, the bright summer sun shone down on the manicured lawns of the county courthouse.
Marcus stood on the wide granite steps dressed in his full military service uniform, holding a small blue baby carrier in his left hand.
Claire walked beside him, looking healthy and vibrant, her skin glowing without a single mark or bruise left on her face.
Claire: How is little Marcus doing down there, Dad?
Marcus: Fast asleep. He sleeps right through the sound of reporters shouting at the courthouse doors.
Claire: He gets that from you. Nothing wakes you up once you're resting.
Their family attorney, Mr. Vance's military legal advisor, stepped out of the heavy glass courthouse doors to join them on the landing.
Attorney: General Vance, Claire... The judge just handed down the final sentencing terms in the courtroom.
Claire: What did Grant get?
Attorney: Grant Montgomery was sentenced to twelve years in state prison without the possibility of parole for the first eight years. Charges include aggravated domestic assault, false imprisonment, and grand attempted forgery.
Marcus: And his mother?
Attorney: Evelyn Montgomery received four years for conspiracy, extortion, and willful neglect of a vulnerable pregnant person. She will also be forced to pay full restitution for your legal fees and medical bills.
Claire: What about the mansion? Did the court clear the deed title completely?
Attorney: The title is 100 percent cleared in your name, Claire. The fraudulent lien Grant attempted to file has been expunged from the county records forever.
Marcus: Thank you, counselor. You did a outstanding job taking care of my family.
Attorney: It was my honor, General. Seeing people like Grant and Evelyn behind bars is the reason I went into law practice thirty years ago.
Claire leaned down to adjust the blue blanket covering her newborn son, her eyes shining with quiet peace.
Claire: We can finally go home, Dad. Real home.
Marcus: Yes we can, sweetheart. And this time, I'm taking a full two-year retirement leave to make sure I don't miss a single day of my grandson's life.
Claire: He's going to grow up knowing what a real man looks like, Dad. Just like his grandfather.
Marcus smiled, wrapping his strong arm around his daughter's shoulders as they walked down the courthouse steps toward the waiting car under the clear American sky.