Perfect Wreckage

by Cowles, Catherine

A huge smile spread across Zoe’s face. “Loki is Daniel’s ferret. We got to play with him last night, and he’s really cool.” She looked up at Ingrid. “But I don’t think he’d eat a bunch of paper.”

  Ingrid chuckled. “I thought it might be worth a try.” She turned her attention back to Kenna and me. “Please, come on into the kitchen. I’m not the best cook, my husband is more the chef around these parts, but I have mastered the art of toaster waffles and cutting up fruit.”

  Kenna studied Ingrid carefully. If the middle-aged woman could tell she was under the microscope, she didn’t seem too bothered by it. But then again, she and her husband had put up with the third degree from me the day before.

  We settled at the large, worn kitchen table that had enough chairs to seat eight. The scratches on the surface spoke of many meals held in this spot, and no one too overly concerned about a ding here or there. Ingrid placed a large platter of waffles, a bowl of mixed berries, and some whipped cream on the table.

  I began pouring Zoe a glass of orange juice. “This looks amazing.”

  Zoe nodded, a look of wonder on her face that had me cursing the girl’s mother and her earlier foster parents.

  Kenna cleared her throat. “Thank you for letting us come over before school. I know it was last-minute.”

  Ingrid gave Kenna a gentle smile. “I completely understand. I’m glad Zoe’s got two such caring champions in her corner. As I told Crosby, you’re welcome to come by anytime. And I’ll give you my cell number. You can text me if you want to check in.”

  The set of Kenna’s shoulders eased a fraction, and I knew Ingrid was winning her over in the same way she had me. These were good, caring people, who worked with the foster system for all the right reasons. “Thank you. That would be wonderful. And if you and your husband ever need a date night, I’d be happy to babysit.”

  Ingrid laughed as she sat. “Careful what you offer up. We might be calling you more than you’d like.”

  “Gross, Mom,” Daniel muttered as he scooped berries onto his waffle.

  She ruffled his hair. “You’re taking a few girls of your own out these days.”

  “That doesn’t mean I want to hear about you and Dad going out.”

  Ingrid rolled her eyes heavenward. “You should hear him when we kiss.”

  Daniel made a gagging noise, and the rest of the table dissolved into laughter.

  The remainder of breakfast went by in a blur of Ingrid and Daniel sharing funny stories about their family. Zoe was quiet as if she didn’t entirely trust this place to be as good as it seemed, but I knew she’d ease in here over time.

  Ingrid rose from the table. “Zoe, let’s go get your backpack and make sure you have everything you need for school. Daniel, will you clear the table?”

  “We’ll help,” Kenna immediately offered.

  “Thank you.” Ingrid led Zoe back towards her new room.

  Kenna and I began gathering cups and plates while Daniel took the platter to the counter. He turned back and paused to take us in. “They’re good parents.” I stilled, Kenna going motionless beside me. “I overheard them talking last night. They said that Zoe was in a bad foster home.”

  Daniel’s cheeks reddened. “I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but I wanted to know what happened to her. My parents are good people. I was in five different fosters before I came here. A lot of them were really shitty. And I was a jerk when I got here, but Mom and Dad…they never gave up on me, no matter what I did. And then, after a year, they asked how I’d feel about joining their family forever.”

  Kenna’s hand slipped into mine, squeezing the life out of it. Daniel swallowed, his eyes shining with the threat of tears. “It was the best thing to ever happen to me.”

  I cleared my throat. “Thank you for telling us. We’ll be able to rest easy knowing that Zoe’s in such good hands.”

  Daniel gave a chin jerk that belonged to someone much older than his fourteen years. “And I’ll look out for her.”

  Kenna released my hand and moved to the sink with her pile of dishes. “She’ll be lucky to have you.”

  We finished cleaning up and said goodbye to Zoe, making plans to see her in a few days. Ingrid and Kenna exchanged phone numbers and, to my surprise, hugs. Then we were off.

  I glanced over at Kenna as we waited in a line of cars to get back onto the ferry. “Do you feel better?”

  Kenna startled as if she’d been in another world. “What?”

  “Do you feel better about where Zoe is?”

  She nodded, pressing her lips together. “Much. Ingrid is amazing. I just…I can’t stop thinking about all of the kids who are in crappy foster homes. Truly bad ones, and even ones that are just overtaxed.”

  My girl with the tender heart. God, I loved it when she let it shine through. When she gave me those glimpses of who she truly was. “That’s why there are organizations like the Alliance. To make sure these kids have a voice in what happens to them. Maybe you should think about volunteering there. I know Callie always needs more hands.”

  Kenna nodded thoughtfully, but I didn’t miss the shadows that flickered in her eyes. Something was holding her back, and it was tied to that pain in her past. Maybe it was too painful for her, a reminder of what she’d gone through leaving her mother’s home and going to live with Harriet. “Is it hard for you to be around Zoe?”

  Kenna jerked as if I had struck her. “No, why would you ask that?”

  “Those shadows, Brown Eyes. They came out to play again. And I started thinking about everything you went through with your mom—”

  Kenna made a sound of frustration low in her throat. “If Harriet was here right now, I’d be giving her a very stern talking-to about being a blabbermouth.”

  My lips twitched. “She shared very little, even with all my prodding.”

  Kenna’s gaze cut to me. “You’re a nosy bastard. You know that, right?”

  I shrugged, my smile spreading. I’d always be a nosy bastard when it came to her. My phone buzzed in my cupholder, and I swiped it up, checking the screen.

  Mom: You need to return Alicia’s call. I didn’t raise my son to be so rude. She is extremely distraught.

  Alicia had pulled out the big guns and called my mother. Too bad my mom’s guilt trips didn’t work quite as well as they used to. I dropped the phone back into the cupholder with a thud.

  “The ex again?”

  I shook my head. “Worse.” Kenna arched a brow in question. “My mother.”

  She let out a bark of laughter. “Good to know someone can still put the fear of God in you.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Kenna glanced down at her lap, her laughter fading. “We haven’t talked about the lawsuit.”

  I hadn’t wanted to talk about it because I didn’t want to see the pain and worry in Kenna’s face—the way it was flickering to life now. I’d wanted to simply take this away and deal with it myself. But that was impossible. “The first court date is next week.”

  Kenna’s fingers twisted in her lap. “Is it usually that fast?”

  “No. The system generally moves at a snail’s pace.”

  “So, Grant must’ve thrown his weight around.”

  A muscle in my cheek ticked. It shouldn’t have been surprising that Grant had found a way to jump the line, but I was still shocked at how quickly he’d managed to get on the court docket. “I guess those relationships run deep, even though they’ve been gone for over a decade.”

  “Or their pockets run deep,” she muttered.

  “Do you think they’d try to bribe court officials?”

  Kenna looked up at me, her gaze full of a mix of pain and determination. “I think they’d do whatever they had to do to get what they want.”

  23

  Kenna

  The trembling in my fingers was the only thing that gave me away. That tiny little shake as I smoothed my hands over the gray pencil skirt I wore. Everything else was a carefully crafted lie that said I had it all tog
ether.

  “You look beautiful and business-like. I promise.” Caelyn gave my elbow a little tug. “We need to get going.”

  I let out a shaky breath. A week had flown by. After work each day, I split my time between visiting Zoe and giving Crosby every last morsel of information that might be helpful in his fight against the Abbots. Every night, Crosby and I ended up tangled in my sheets, and I lost the will to ask him to leave. His presence, when so much else was up in the air, was calming. The feel of his body wrapped around mine was the only thing that seemed to lull me to sleep.

  “Kenna?” Bell waved a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Kenna?”

  “Sorry, what?”

  She grinned at Caelyn. “I said I had to fight Crosby pretty hard to be the one to drive you to the courthouse.”

  I stiffened as I took in my two best friends, who both wore cat-that-got-the-canary smiles on their faces. “He probably just wanted to go over what would happen today.” Despite the time Crosby and I had been spending together, we hadn’t been overt about it. And that was by design. I didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about what this was between us. But even as I had the thought, something inside me rebelled against it. This thing between us…it was already turning into more.

  “You two have been spending a lot of time together,” Caelyn hedged.

  I gave a shrug that I’d intended to look casual but was far too forced to be convincing. “We’re just hanging out.”

  “Hanging out, huh?” Bell drummed her fingers against her lips. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

  I groaned. I should’ve known that I’d never be able to hide something like this from these two. “I might’ve misjudged him a little.”

  Bell’s brows flew up. “That’s a hell of a one-eighty from calling him a slacker lawyer.”

  I winced at how hard I’d been on Crosby. How wrong I’d been. He was nothing like Grant, growing up in privilege and believing the world owed him everything simply because he existed. Believing there were no consequences to his actions. Crosby might live his life on his own unique terms, but he showed up for those who were important to him. Always.

  “He’s a good man.”

  Caelyn’s hands flew to her mouth. “Holy snickerdoodles! You’re sleeping with him.”

  My cheeks heated, and I couldn’t meet Caelyn’s gaze. And that was all Bell needed for confirmation. “I knew it! Pay up, Caelyn.”

  My mouth fell open. “You bet on whether I’d have sex with Crosby?”

  Bell shook her head. “No, we both thought you’d eventually at least hate-bang each other. We bet on when. I had by the end of the year.”

  Caelyn pouted. “I thought it would take a little longer. Your restraint is legendary. Dang it, now I’m out twenty bucks.”

  “You’re both assholes. I think it’s time for me to put an ad out for some new friends.”

  Bell and Caelyn both pounced, wrapping me in one of those group hugs we hadn’t had in far too long. I let out an exaggerated groan, but really, I loved it.

  “Suck it up, buttercup. You’re stuck with us.” Bell grabbed my side in an especially ticklish spot.

  Caelyn squeezed me even harder. “Just try and get rid of us.”

  “I could always file a restraining order.”

  Bell pulled back slightly. “Nah. I’ve got Sheriff Raines in my back pocket. He’d never let it go through.”

  A throat cleared from the doorway, and I looked up to see Ford with an amused smile on his face. “As adorable as this is, we have to get going if we don’t want to be late. I’m guessing being late when you’re called to testify wouldn’t be a good thing.”

  All the warmth that had filled me fled in an instant. It was time. There was no avoiding Grant any longer. A small shudder ran through me at the memory of his rage in the parking lot. His threats.

  “You’re stronger than they’ll ever be,” Bell whispered in my ear.

  Caelyn slipped her hand into mine. “And you’re not alone.”

  I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Let’s do this.”

  The car and ferry rides seemed to take forever. Not even the sea breeze and the presence of the people I trusted most seemed to ease me. I tugged at a loose thread on my clutch as I climbed out of Ford’s SUV, twisting the string so tightly it finally popped off. I stilled my movements. No. I couldn’t give any sign that Grant or these proceedings had any effect on me. If I gave the Abbots that, they’d only push harder. And I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

  I took a slow, deep breath, picturing ice sliding through my veins as I did. Cool, calm, collected. They would get no reaction from me.

  Bell came up next to me. “Ready?”

  “I’m ready.”

  “She’s got the scary face on. She’s definitely ready,” Caelyn piped up.

  Ford grinned at the three of us. “I wouldn’t want to mess with you.”

  My cheeks itched to smile, but I quickly pushed the feeling down. I looked up at the brick building. It was quaint, with a nod to times of the past. I’d always thought it was beautiful, but now, it terrified me. I wouldn’t let that show. I climbed the stone steps, one at a time, my friends beside me. I caught sight of Crosby as soon as I entered the main hallway.

  He crossed to me quickly, weaving around people waiting to be let into various rooms. Crosby grabbed my arms, and I could see the war in him. He wanted to kiss me but knew it was a bad idea, given the circumstances. His gaze traveled over my face, taking inventory. He scowled. “I hate the ice mask.”

  I blinked in surprise. But surprise shouldn’t have even been in my vocabulary when it came to Crosby anymore. “I need it. I have to block him out.”

  Crosby’s hand slipped to the small of my back. “I get it. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” The growl in his words had me fighting a smile. “Oh, it’s funny, is it?”

  “Maybe a little.” I took a deep breath. “What should I expect?” Crosby had been over what was about to happen more than once over the past few days, but I needed to make sure there were no surprises.

  “The judge will hear initial arguments from both parties. There are no juries in probate cases, so it will just be the judge making the ruling.”

  I gave a small nod. “The judge we got, what do you think?”

  Crosby came to a stop outside a courtroom. “He’s tough but fair. Judge Moore is on the conservative side, so he might lean in the Abbots’ favor, but he has no tolerance for drama. If Grant or his lawyer pushes him or acts out, he’ll slap them down.”

  I silently wished for Grant to lose it. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d pitched a fit when he didn’t get his way. “Okay. Do you think they’ll call me to the stand?”

  Crosby rubbed a hand up and down my back, the warmth and comfort of the movement seeping into my bones. “I don’t think so, but you never know. Just stay calm and tell the truth.”

  I nodded just as the large, wooden doors to the courtroom opened. My stomach pitched. There was no sign of anyone on the Abbots’ side of the room, yet that only amped up the adrenaline running through my system. Crosby ushered me forward, keeping a hand on the small of my back. He motioned for the rest of the crew and me to sit on a bench behind the little fence that separated the onlookers from the lawyers, judge, and the other staff.

  Ford, Bell, and Caelyn slid into the front row, but I found myself not wanting to leave the warmth of Crosby’s presence. I gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Good luck.”

  He winked. “You know I don’t need luck, darlin’.”

  I scowled at him. “Don’t call me that. I have a name.” But inside, I was fighting back a laugh. The man was trying to piss me off so I’d forget about being worried and find my mad.

  “All right. Brown Eyes, it is.”

  I gave my head a little shake and took a seat next to Caelyn, who immediately grabbed my hand. I was grateful for the reassurance. To not be sitting alone in the courtroom. The sound of shoes on t
he tile floor had me straightening in my seat.

  Grant gave a snort of derision as he passed with his lawyer. “She’ll be out of The Gables in no time.”

  Caelyn gripped my hand harder at his words. I kept my gaze focused straight ahead, pretending that I couldn’t hear or see him. But it didn’t stop the anxiety that took root in my stomach. Crosby had warned me the judge might require me to leave my home while the trial was underway. Where I’d go if that happened, I had no idea.

  “All rise.” A bailiff’s voice cut through the murmurs in the room, and I rose on instinct. This time, I couldn’t help it when my gaze drifted to the other side of the room, to the person trying to take my safe place away from me. Grant stared right at me. I couldn’t decipher what it was I saw in his expression. Part pity, part disdain likely. But whatever it was, it sent a shiver down my spine.

  As I turned away from Grant’s cold glare, I caught sight of the Abbots’ lawyer. I wanted to laugh at the incestuous nature of it all. Ben Hotchkiss was none other than Lacey’s father. I wondered if my high school boyfriend’s side piece would show up in court. Maybe she’d get her claws into Grant, after all.

  I shifted my focus to the judge, a man who looked to be in his fifties with salt-and-pepper hair. His gaze held shrewdness as he studied the people before him. I only hoped that meant he could see the truth.

  The opening remarks came and went, and once Crosby and Ben Hotchkiss got into the details of the case, I began to lose some of my understanding of what they were saying. The terminology sounded like an entirely different language. Grant sat at the table with their attorney but did none of the speaking, simply whispered in Ben’s ear.

  “All right,” Judge Moore said. “I think I’ve heard enough for today. Mr. Hotchkiss, are you ready to proceed with the trial?”

  “Yes, your honor. We wish to move through this process as quickly as possible.”

  The judge nodded. “What about you, Mr. McCoy?”

  “We’re ready, your honor.”

  “Good. I’m placing you on the docket for next week. Any arguments?” Judge Moore lifted his gaze to meet Crosby’s and Ben’s. Neither said anything.