Isaac
There wasa hint of a smile on the judge’s face as she got up and left the room.
Max sat back on his chair in shock. Lucy, who’d remained silent and solid throughout the whole thing, jumped from her seat and into Max’s arms.
I was too slow to warn Max his mom was on her way over to us while his dad very angrily talked at his lawyer.
“Massimiliano.”
Her voice was soft and unsure. Max turned to face her but didn’t let go of Lucy.
I was ready to intervene if the woman dared to speak anything out of turn. Veronica and Salvatore Moretti had done enough damage to Max and Lucy’s lives, and I’d be damned if they would have the chance to do any more.
“I… I didn’t know.” She looked over at her husband who was still arguing with the lawyer.
“Spare the half-meant apology, Veronica,” Max spat.
She took a step back like she’d been slapped.
“You’re right,” Max said, “you didn’t know he had another woman until he brought his other child home, and you didn’t know he used to beat them so he wouldn’t turn his hand on you or me. But you know what? You knew that child was innocent, and you still chose to ignore her existence like she was nothing but a stain on your carefully pressed clothes.”
He stood up and was now towering over her.
“Did your motherly instincts kick back in when you realized there was a payout at the end of it? How very Christian of you. I’m sure Father Thomas and all your church friends would be really proud of you.”
She just stood there, taking Max’s words in.
“What did they say when your perfectly behaved child stopped going to church? Did you tell them what happened? Or did you make up some story about your studious son who was going to be a big hotshot lawyer in the city?”
He let out a half-laugh and turned to take my hand. I jumped over the partition to stand next to him.
“I actually have to thank you, and I probably need to thank that man over there, too.” He pointed to his dad.
“I went to hell and back at a time in my life when most of my friends were playing video games and their only worry was who was going to host the next slumber party. I had to lie to survive, and I became so good at lying that I carried on doing it even when I didn’t need to do it anymore, and to the people I loved the most in my life, but I’m going to change that and fix it all. Don’t contact us unless it’s through my lawyer.”
Veronica was speechless as she turned around to meet her husband. He didn’t even look our way as they left the courtroom.
I pulled Max into my arms for a hug.
“Baby, I am so damned proud of you.”
He kissed me briefly before saying, “I feel like I could sleep for a week, but I want to celebrate.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
We turned to Fernando, Diogo, Micah, and Peter. “Hey, guys, do you want to get something to eat and celebrate?” I said.
There was a collective yes, so we made a move to leave the courtroom.
Peter went to the judge’s chambers before joining us outside.
“So the judge is a family friend?” I asked.
“Yup, my future mother-in-law, and it looks like we’re hosting Thanksgiving this year.” He laughed.
* * *
Peter knew a bar not far from the courthouse that served meals at lunchtime. We were lucky it wasn’t very busy so we were able to put a few tables together to make sure we all fit.
