Page 52 of Shattered

Her parents sat at a table on our right. Both of them were laser-focused on the two people at my side, while they quietly conversed with their attorney, who—if the brand of his suit was anything to go by—cost a pretty penny to hire.

“Here we go,” she whispered when we were instructed to take our seats.

“It’ll all be good, Angel.” I laced our fingers together. “Take a breath and relax.”

Judge Monroe, as he was introduced, had a no bullshit policy and it was clear he thought that’s exactly what this entire proceeding was. He was not wrong.

“I don’t have the first clue how this crap made it onto my docket.” He flipped through the files in front of him. “But let’s see if we can clear up this…misunderstanding quickly. Shall we?”

“It’s not a misunderstanding, your highness,” Trudy Trumble stumbled to her feet and bowed.

“Jesus Christ. Is she high?” Jade muttered.

“And you would be?” The judge eyed her with disdain.

Their lawyer yanked her back into her seat, then stood, adjusting the lapels of his suit jacket. “Apologies, Your Honor. These are William and Trudy Trumble, the biological parents of Jett Michael Trumble.”

“Mica,” Jade called out.

“Excuse me, young lady?” Judge Monroe shifted his gaze.

“His name is Jett Mica, not Jett Michael. You’d think hisparentswould know the name they gave him at birth.”

My lips twitched. Score one for my girl.

“Yes, one would think that.” Turning back to the over-priced ambulance chaser, he asked, “Counselor, do you have anything to add before I rule on this case?”

“Wait, what?” he stammered. “But you haven’t heard any testimony.”

Closing the file, he moved his wire-rimmed glasses to the top of his head. He was older, maybe in his early seventies, with a full head of short gray hair. His eyes were wrinkly around the edges, but they were sharp.

“There’s really no need. What we have here is precisely what I said in the beginning…amissedunderstanding.” Holding up his hand, he silenced any further outbursts from the other man. “You see, these two individuals abandoned their children, leaving them to fend for themselves. Now they’ve come intomycourtroom expecting me to… what? Forget about the last four years? Well, they missed out on any understanding I may have had two minutes after they walked out the door.”

Bill slammed his fist against the table. “Judge, you can’t believe a word our brat-of-a-daughter says. She’s been lying since she could talk.”

The gallery erupted into chaos as the city of Huntington came to the aid of one of their own. Jade tightened her grip on my hand, then reached across my body to grab ahold of Jett’s. The three of us sat in silence as the judge banged his gavel repeatedly until the room was brought back to order.

“I have a letter and a Post-it note which says otherwise, Mr. Trumble.”

He didn’t respond. How could he?

“The petition to remove Jade Trumble as guardian for her brother, Jett Trumble, is dismissed.”

I could barely hear over the roar of celebration behind us. But I couldn’t mistake the confusion in Jett’s voice when he leaned forward, elbows to his knees, and said to his sister, “Post-it note?”

“It’s over,” she replied, ignoring his question.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever won in court without even having to say one word. Congrats, Jade.”

“Thank you so much, Michael.” She offered her hand. “Please send me the bill.”

“Not a chance. My husband and I love moonshine too much to risk Aunt Betsy’s wrath.”

“You have our gratitude either way.” I shook his hand next.

Michael walked off as Duncan, Keaton, Henley, and a grinning Phoebe approached. The girls threw their armsaround Jade, the three of them rocking back and forth for long minutes while I received slaps on the back.

“Lunch is on me,” Duncan offered. “Wherever you want to go.”

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