“Oh, stop.” I picked up her drink. Lifted the lid and took a gulp from the side of the cup. Made me feel better, to tell the truth.
She grabbed the cup away from me, just like we were squabbling kids again. “Damn it, Mary! Why didn’t you order one for yourself? I don’t want your germs.”
“You never did like to share, Nellie.”
She scoffed at me. “Mary, you listen to me. I’m serious. Let some other judge handle this. Someone who doesn’t live right here in Bullock County. We’re going to see people all eaten up by this case, totally obsessed. The crazies will come out. Mark my words, Mary. This case will destroy you.”
“You’re being dramatic.” I turned away from her, looked out the window at the buildings as we passed. Our town was dwindling. People kept moving out, businesses shut down. But we still had a church on every street corner.
Nellie raised her voice, determined to be heard. “This is a losing proposition. Call it abortion, pro-life, pro-choice, women’sreproductive health. Doesn’t matter how you label it, there is no middle ground. None. Not here in Alabama. The issue fires people up, makes them unhinged. Whatever the outcome in that criminal case, a whole lot of people will be mad. You know who they’re gonna blame?”
Silence in the car. It wasn’t until she elbowed me that I realized. She expected an answer.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Good. You tell me. Who are they going to blame? Who will people be mad at?”
I sighed. She was right on that one. “The judge.”
She repeated it. “The judge! That’s what I’m saying!”
She picked up her big cup of Diet Coke again. Our eyes met while she drank more down. I was shocked to see tears welling up in her eyes.
Quickly, I reassured her. “Nellie, I hear you. Consider your words marked.”
A tear ran down her face, and she wiped her nose. Her voice shook as she said, “I’m scared for you, Mary. I keep thinking about what happened to Daddy that time. You know what I’m talking about.”
My chest tightened. I did know what Nellie meant. And I didn’t like being reminded. Nellie and I had been grade-school age, Jordan wasn’t born yet. We’d been driving to Birmingham when our car was pulled over and Daddy had to get out of the car. The deputy didn’t like it when Daddy argued and insisted he hadn’t been driving too fast, hadn’t veered out of his lane. I won’t ever forget the sight of Daddy’s head getting split open while Nellie and I screamed and cried in the back seat. Mama was scared for us, said we had to quit making so much noise. She crawled halfway overthe seat, trying to cover our mouths with her hands while the deputy beat my daddy by the side of the road.
But that was almost half a century ago. Times had changed since then. I squeezed Nellie’s shoulder. “Don’t be upset, Nellie. It’s going to be okay.”
She whispered, “I hope you’re right. Because I’ve got this bad feeling. Like everything is about to change.”
I wished she hadn’t confided that. I was starting to get that feeling, too.
CHAPTER
16
We had a homegrown scandal. After that day, people in Union Springs couldn’t stop talking about it. Bria Gaines; Nova Jones; the abortion; the arrest. Everyone breathless with anticipation to see what might happen next.
I tried my best to bow out of those conversations, truly I did. Damn near impossible. There was no place to hide. The criminal case against Dr. Gaines was top of mind in every corner of the community.
On Friday, I had a reprieve written into my schedule, and I was looking forward to it. I had plans to get out of town, out of the county. I’d be driving my car up highway AL-110 to I-85, because I had a standing appointment with an old friend. Twice a month, we met up at the Oyster House in downtown Montgomery.
To be honest, I was tempted to duck out early that day. The clock moved so slowly after lunch, I was wild to cut out at three.
I held off. Didn’t let myself slack. Maybe that was the wrong choice.
Because at five past three, Reverend Curtis Erskine strolledinto the front office. I heard him say to Luna, “If Judge Stone’s in, I’d like to speak with her.”
Luna ushered him right through my door. She should’ve checked with me first, to get a green light. Must’ve slipped right out of her head. She assumed that the standard rules didn’t apply to Erskine. He’s got that old magic, like my sister said. Works on all women—with the possible exception of his wife.
I rose from my seat and extended my hand across the desk. “Reverend! What business are you doing at the courthouse this afternoon?”
Frankly, I was curious to see whether he’d tell a lie. Nothing happens at the Bullock County Courthouse on Friday afternoons. Same could be said of most any courthouse, anywhere, for that matter.
He smiled, grasping my hand in a warm grip. “No business. Just wanted to talk with you, Judge, if you’re not tied up.”
