“Okay. Do you think they’ll call me to the stand?”
Crosby rubbed a hand up and down my back, the warmth and comfort of the movement seeping into my bones. “I don’t think so, but you never know. Just stay calm and tell the truth.”
I nodded just as the large, wooden doors to the courtroom opened. My stomach pitched. There was no sign of anyone on the Abbots’ side of the room, yet that only amped up the adrenaline running through my system. Crosby ushered me forward, keeping a hand on the small of my back. He motioned for the rest of the crew and me to sit on a bench behind the little fence that separated the onlookers from the lawyers, judge, and the other staff.
Ford, Bell, and Caelyn slid into the front row, but I found myself not wanting to leave the warmth of Crosby’s presence. I gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Good luck.”
He winked. “You know I don’t need luck, darlin’.”
I scowled at him. “Don’t call me that. I have a name.” But inside, I was fighting back a laugh. The man was trying to piss me off so I’d forget about being worried and find my mad.
“All right. Brown Eyes, it is.”
I gave my head a little shake and took a seat next to Caelyn, who immediately grabbed my hand. I was grateful for the reassurance. To not be sitting alone in the courtroom. The sound of shoes on the tile floor had me straightening in my seat.
Grant gave a snort of derision as he passed with his lawyer. “She’ll be out of The Gables in no time.”
Caelyn gripped my hand harder at his words. I kept my gaze focused straight ahead, pretending that I couldn’t hear or see him. But it didn’t stop the anxiety that took root in my stomach. Crosby had warned me the judge might require me to leave my home while the trial was underway. Where I’d go if that happened, I had no idea.
“All rise.” A bailiff’s voice cut through the murmurs in the room, and I rose on instinct. This time, I couldn’t help it when my gaze drifted to the other side of the room, to the person trying to take my safe place away from me. Grant stared right at me. I couldn’t decipher what it was I saw in his expression. Part pity, part disdain likely. But whatever it was, it sent a shiver down my spine.
As I turned away from Grant’s cold glare, I caught sight of the Abbots’ lawyer. I wanted to laugh at the incestuous nature of it all. Ben Hotchkiss was none other than Lacey’s father. I wondered if my high school boyfriend’s side piece would show up in court. Maybe she’d get her claws into Grant, after all.
I shifted my focus to the judge, a man who looked to be in his fifties with salt-and-pepper hair. His gaze held shrewdness as he studied the people before him. I only hoped that meant he could see the truth.
The opening remarks came and went, and once Crosby and Ben Hotchkiss got into the details of the case, I began to lose some of my understanding of what they were saying. The terminology sounded like an entirely different language. Grant sat at the table with their attorney but did none of the speaking, simply whispered in Ben’s ear.
“All right,” Judge Moore said. “I think I’ve heard enough for today. Mr. Hotchkiss, are you ready to proceed with the trial?”
“Yes, your honor. We wish to move through this process as quickly as possible.”
The judge nodded. “What about you, Mr. McCoy?”
“We’re ready, your honor.”
“Good. I’m placing you on the docket for next week. Any arguments?” Judge Moore lifted his gaze to meet Crosby’s and Ben’s. Neither said anything.
“We need to make a motion to have Kenna removed from The Gables during the trial and have a freeze placed on the trust.”
Grant whisper-hissed the words to Hotchkiss, but the judge didn’t miss a thing. “No talking out of turn in my courtroom.”
Caelyn stifled a giggle next to me, and I squeezed her hand hard. I didn’t want the man’s attention focused over here. But that’s precisely what happened. Judge Moore turned his eyes to me. “Ms. Morgan, you are currently living in the guest quarters, correct?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” My voice was steady, even though my hands trembled.
“I’m ruling that Ms. Morgan may stay on the property. There will be no removal of any of the belongings in