Every single employee from the Hawthorne B&B and ranch.
Moms from Mia’s class.
People I barely know.
People I’ve served coffee to.
People who’ve watched Ethan grow up.
The room fills until people are standing along the walls, shoulder to shoulder.
“Uh…” the bailiff looks panicked.“We… we’re at maximum capacity…”
“We’re here to testify!” someone shouts.
“We’re here for Summer!” another cries.
“For Mia!”
“For Ethan!”
“For the truth!”
Judge Hale blinks, stunned.
I clamp a hand over my mouth. Ethan slides his hand into mine, not squeezing, not claiming, just steady. Grounding. Like always.
The judge clears his throat.“This… is highly irregular.”
Cas steps forward, hat in his hands.“Your Honor, I know it is. I also know every single person in this room signed a statementand is willing to speak under oath about this woman and her daughter.”
Judge Hale looks out at the sea of people. A town. A family. A force.
And for the first time… I don’t feel alone. Not even a little.
The judge clears his throat again, and the whole room goes still. Even the air feels frozen.
“I’ll hear only three of them,” he says finally.
Mia’s teacher goes first, then a mom from Mia’s class, and lastly my favorite customer, Mr. Lawson, an older man who comes by twice a day for coffee and a chat. Their words of love and admiration for me as a mother and as part of their town fill my heart and bring tears to my eyes.
The judge is about to speak when Kevin’s lawyer stands.
“We have one last witness, Your Honor.”
Judge Hale looks down at his papers.“Last one.” His tone is clipped, clearly annoyed.
“I call Mrs. Karen Montgomery to the stand.”
My sister.
Memories flood me, of when we were children, when we were best friends instead of rivals. I exhale, hating that we lost that, that we lost each other. The thought of her being one more person in my family ready to stab me in the back is exhausting.
I look down at my hands as she takes the stand.
“Mrs. Montgomery,” Kevin’s lawyer begins,“would you describe your sister, Summer Montgomery, as a good and fit mother for Mia?”
I look up at Karen. Her blue eyes meet mine. She stays quiet.
