Page 21 of All Autumn
One rumor was that he’d gone to the Big City—what locals called New York—after graduating high school, hoping to make it big as a comedian. When that failed, he’d made his father happy by following in the older man’s footsteps and going to law school.
His nickname around town was The Funny Little Judge, but he was known to be fair. He fluffed out his robe, then sat in his chair high above us. When he banged his gavel, I almost jumped out of my skin.
Connor put a hand on my knee under the table. “Everything’s going to be okay, Autumn,” he whispered.
Alert brown eyes narrowed onto Connor. “Unless you want to share with the court what you’re whispering into her ear, Connor Hunter, you will be quiet unless told to speak.”
“Yes, sir,” Connor said.
Seriously? Not even a minute into the trial that could ruin my life, we were already being reprimanded? Then the judge winked at me. I had no idea how to interpret that.
Judge Padgett surveyed his courtroom, his gaze stopping on someone behind me. “Glad to see you in the peanut gallery for a change instead of at the defense table, Hamburger.”
“Not half’in glad as me, Judge,” Hamburger said, causing a ripple of laughter, including from the judge.
Judge Padgett’s gaze landed back on Connor and me. “Seems like you two are the entertainment of the day.”
Oh joy. I didn’t want to be anyone’s entertainment.
“Last time I had a courtroom packed this full was back in ’82 when Ruben Crane sued his own self for letting himself get drunk, which resulted in his falling from the bar stool, flattening his nose.” Judge Padgett’s eyes scanned the courtroom. “Y’all remember that?”
A chorus of, “Yes, Your Honor,” sounded behind me, and I think that was Granny cackling and slapping her knee.
“Well, let’s get this show on the road.” He banged on his gavel again, but I was ready for it this time. Connor and I had talked it over with our attorney and had decided to forgo a jury trial. In this town that could have turned into a three-ring circus, and Jed trusted Judge Padgett to do the right thing.
After opening statements, Brian was called to the stand and sworn in. “Your Honor,” Macon Prescott said. “Before I question Mr. Stratton, I would like to show the court the video taken from Mr. Stratton’s dealership’s security camera on the night in question.”
Connor and I had seen it in our attorney’s office after it was entered as evidence. It hadn’t seemed so bad then, but now, watching it along with practically the entire town of Blue Ridge Valley, it was embarrassing. Connor had been right. I did look like a cat burglar’s poor cousin, and I looked guilty as hell. I picked up my pen and, at the bottom of my grocery list, added,Buy a jailhousepillerpillow.
Honestly I could barely stand to look at Brian as he sat on the witness stand, a smug expression on his face. I was beginning to wonder what I’d ever seen in him. But that was good, right? It meant I was over him.
“What’s that Mr. Hunter just tossed over the fence?” Judge Padgett asked, drawing my attention back to what was going on.
“My wife’s sample case,” Brian answered.
“Objection,” I said, the word shooting out of my mouth before I could stop it. Judge Padgett looked at me; Connor looked at me; our attorney looked at me, as well as the prosecutor and Brian. Most likely the entire audience behind me was staring a hole through the back of my head.
If I had one wish in my life—just one—I’d use it right now and have the floor open up and swallow me whole.
“And what are you objecting to?” Judge Padgett said.
“Um . . .”
“Stand up, young lady.”
Oh God, I wasn’t sure my legs would hold me up. I stood, putting my hands on the table for support. “My . . . ah, my objection is to him calling me his wife. Could you make him stop doing that?”
12
~ Connor ~
“Well, she is my wife, so I don’t see why I can’t say she is,” Brian said.
“Then you shouldn’t have cheated on her,” Mary said. A chorus of agreements rumbled through the room.
Judge Padgett banged his gavel. “Order in the court! Order in the court!”
I tuned out the noise, focusing my attention on Autumn as she sank into her seat. “Well, that was fun.”
