my hard work and refusal to give up. Being the first person in my family to go to college. Finishing on time even after taking a leave of absence. Getting my accounting degree. Climbing the ranks at my job. “You’re right, there are a lot of good things in my life.”
“Like Caelyn and me. Ford and the tiny terrors. Crosby.”
My heart did a little stutter step at his name. He had brought a lot of good into my life, but that also meant he could take it when he left. And I was getting used to the energy, the vitality that he seemed to infuse my days with. It was corny as hell, but he reminded me of all the beauty that was in the everyday.
I cleared my throat. “There’s a lot to be grateful for.”
“And there will be even more once this case is settled, and you can officially make The Gables yours in every way Harriet wanted you to.”
A wave of apprehension skittered across my skin. I hadn’t been brave enough to enter the main house yet. I knew all the memories I’d shared with Harriet would assault me as soon as I walked in the door. And I would break. I wasn’t strong enough to face it yet. But I would. Once the house was truly mine, I’d find a way to make it into the home Harriet had always wanted it to be, the one her family had never been able to give her.
Voices and footsteps sounded, and I turned to take in the newcomers. Grant and Lacey led the way. She was pressed tightly against his side, and the sight had bile swirling in my stomach. The photos she’d sent me of the two of them played in my mind on an endless loop. The nausea had nothing to do with my feelings for Grant. Those had died a fiery death a long time ago. It was simply a sickening reminder that he was another person I’d loved, who had betrayed me in the worst ways imaginable. Lacey sent a sneer in my direction and looped an arm through Grant’s. Her father trailed behind the group.
Bell leaned in closer and whispered in my ear. “One day, that girl is going to get what’s coming to her.”
I wasn’t going to hold my breath. Lacey should’ve been hit by the Karma train a hundred times by now. But she always seemed to artfully dodge it.
There was movement at the side of the courtroom, and then a bailiff appeared. “All rise.”
Judge Moore strode in, his steps eating up the distance quickly. His gait was as no-nonsense as the rest of his persona. And I hoped that served me well. He called court into session. Soon, the lawyers were going back and forth in that language where I only recognized every fourth or fifth word.
Mr. Hotchkiss rose. “We have a last-minute witness.”
Crosby pushed to his feet. “Objection, Your Honor. I was not notified of any additional witnesses and have not had time to prepare for possible cross-examination.”
Grant turned and gave me a wink. The action had my stomach roiling. There was so much evil in his eyes. How had I missed it all those years ago?
Mr. Hotchkiss kept his face a mask of apology. “The witness just came forward this morning. I’ve barely had any time to prepare either. But I feel her testimony is vital to the case.”
Judge Moore’s gaze narrowed on Hotchkiss. “I’m not a fool, Mr. Hotchkiss. And I don’t appreciate these kinds of antics in my courtroom.”
“Your Honor—”
Judge Moore held up a hand. “Quiet until you’re called upon.” His gaze focused on a paper on his desk. “Who is the witness?”
“Janet Morgan, Kenna Morgan’s mother.”
Bell sucked in an audible breath, but I was stone. She’d warned me to give her what she wanted. Now, she was making good on her threats. And Grant had been the one to deal the blow he knew would be the most painful—to have my mother turn on me, yet again.
“Your Honor,” Crosby began. “Janet Morgan has not lived on the island for many years. She has had no contact with her daughter unless you count a scene yesterday where the sheriff was forced to remove her for public drunkenness.”
“Irrelevant,” Hotchkiss argued. “Ms. Morgan was distraught over her daughter’s cruelty towards her and some information she’d recently discovered.”
Judge Moore held up a hand and looked at Crosby. “How much time would you need to prepare for this witness?”