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  “I’m sorry about that.”

  He looked up at her. “Why? You didn’t do it.”

  She pressed her lips together so as not to laugh. She didn’t want him to misunderstand what she found funny. “I meant I’m sorry your dad died.”

  He nodded. “Mom was really upset.” He looked at the two attorneys, then back to her. “I have to tell the truth, right?”

  “Yes, you do.”

  He pursed his lips together. “I heard Uncle Roger talking on the phone about Grandma Izzy. She did something that really hurt my mom’s feelings right after my dad died.” He frowned again. “That made me mad. I don’t think Grandma Izzy likes my mom. But Mom’s been really happy now that we’re in Florida. I like living at Grandpa’s house. And I really like Sam and Pete. And Grandma Betty. She’s not really my grandma but she feels like one and I call her that.”

  And now they were at the crux of the issue. “Jason, can you tell me who Sam and Pete are?”

  “Yeah. They’re Mom’s friends. And I like them a lot. They do stuff with me.” He shot an indignant glare at his grandmother’s attorney. “I don’t care what Grandma Izzy says about them. I like them, and I want them to be my dads.” He looked at her again. “You’re a judge. Can’t you make them marry my mom so Grandma Izzy leaves them alone?”

  She closed her eyes and desperately tried not to burst out laughing. This would be hysterical if it wasn’t such a sad situation.

  I can’t wait to tell my husband about this when I get home.

  After a moment, she opened her eyes again and found Jason intently studying her.

  That almost made her start laughing again.

  “Can you tell me why you like Sam and Pete so much?”

  He eagerly nodded. “They do stuff with me. My dad would come to my swim practice, but he was always on the phone or on his computer or busy. He never paid attention. Sam and Pete taught me how to ride a horse, and Sam’s the one who got on the roof to get me down.”

  “Get you down off the roof?”

  He slowly nodded. “I didn’t mean to scare Mom.” He glanced at the attorneys again before returning his attention to her. “I wanted to tell my dad how mad I was at him for doing what he did. But I didn’t tell Mom that.” He blushed. “I fibbed to her. She was already upset. I didn’t want to make her more upset.”

  She felt like she’d missed something. “What do you mean you fibbed to your mom?”

  “I didn’t tell her why I wanted to talk to Dad.”

  “But why were you on the roof?”

  “Because the old lady at Aunt Dana’s shop told me Heaven was in the sky and I thought I’d be closer on the roof.” He frowned. “I don’t think Aunt Dana’s really my aunt because she’s Mom’s cousin. But I call her my aunt.”

  “Oh.” That didn’t help clarify things any, but she felt they were running astray.

  “So what did you fib to your mom about?”

  He looked angry. “I’m mad at Dad for being on the phone and getting in the wreck. For making Mom cry. Sam and Pete don’t make Mom cry. She’s always smiling around them. And they never tell me they’re too busy to spend time with me, either. Grandpa said judges can marry people. Can you please marry Mom to Sam and Pete? Make them get married?”

  Oookay, off topic again. This time, she couldn’t hold the laughter back. “I can’t force people to get married, Jason. I’m sorry.” Not to mention Florida didn’t allow plural marriages to begin with, but she wasn’t about to get into that discussion with him.

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “So back to my questions, Jason. If I gave you a chance to live with your grandmother, would you rather live there?”

  He shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she never let us play in the house anyway. She never really did stuff with me.” He frowned. “Grandpa never tells me to stop playing unless it’s because I have to do homework or to eat or go to bed or something. And he plays with me. So does Grandma Betty. Grandma Izzy never did that.”

  She caught the plaintiff’s attorney starting to rise from his chair to speak and she held up a finger in warning to him.

  He shut his mouth and sat again.

  Returning her attention to Jason, she smiled. “How do you like school here compared to New York?”

  “I like school here better.”

  “You don’t miss your friends in New York?”

  “I thought I would, but I’m on a swim team here. And Aunt Dana’s kids joined, too. And we’re in the same class. I’ve got a lot of friends here. And I’m supposed to go to a birthday party next week. I don’t want to miss that. He said his mom is getting him a Spiderman cake.”

  “Do you want to go to New York to visit your grandmother?”

  “No, ma’am. I don’t want to go back to New York.”

  “What if she visited you here?”

  “Do I have to?”

  She studied him. “You don’t want to visit with your grandmother?”

  He pursed his lips again as he thought about it. “I can’t lie?”

  “No, you can’t lie.”

  He sighed. “I don’t like Grandma Izzy very much. You won’t tell her I said that, will you?”

  “I certainly won’t tell her you said that.” Although she could read it for herself in the transcriptions. “Did anyone tell you to say that?”

  He shook his head. “No. Mom and Grandpa told me to come tell the truth. That’s all they told me to say.”

  Considering his age and demeanor, she suspected he was telling her the truth. “Well, you’re doing great, Jason. Is there anything else you’d like me to know before we finish here?”

  He thought about it for a moment before nodding. “Can you please tell Grandma Izzy to stop saying mean things to my mom? And I really don’t want to go back to New York.”

  She sent a glare to the plaintiff’s attorney. His gaze dropped to the floor. “You can bet I will tell her that, sweetheart.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  She adjourned them back to the courtroom, grabbing her robe and putting it back on before leaving her office. The mom was huddled up between her dad and the neighbor woman, with Pete and Sam sitting directly behind her with their hands on her shoulders.

  After everyone had retaken their places, and Jason had gone to sit in his mom’s lap, she called court into session again. “I think I have all the information I need to make my decision, but before—”

  The grandmother stood, an angry look on her face. “But you didn’t even hear the rest of what I wanted to say!”

  Her attorney tried to reel her back in while the judge grabbed her gavel and slammed it onto her desk. “One more outburst out of you, Mrs. d’Antonio, and you’ll be spending the night in a jail cell.”

  The woman looked pissed off, but let her attorney coax her back into her seat behind the table.

  “Is Jason’s uncle Roger here, by any chance?” she asked the courtroom.

  Two rows behind the plaintiff, a man slowly stood. “Um, I’m Roger d’Antonio.”

  Isabella d’Antonio looked startled and confused by his presence, as did Sarah, who quickly craned her neck to stare at him.

  “Good,” the judge said. “Up here, please.” She pointed at the witness chair.

  Both attorneys looked at each other and then at her and stood to take steps toward her bench.

  She pointed her gavel at them both. “Sit down. Right now. This is my courtroom, and it’s family court. If I want to speak to a witness, I will. You don’t have a jury to parade in front of. And since neither of you were apparently aware he was here in the first place, I’ll call him up.”

  The two attorneys sat.

  The man walked up to the witness chair and her bailiff swore him in.

  She turned to him. “Please state your full name and address for the court.”

  He did.

  “What is your relationship to Jason d’Antonio?”

  “I’m
his uncle,” he quietly said. “His father was my younger brother.”

  “And Isabella d’Antonio, the plaintiff, is your mother?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Jason testified he overheard a phone conversation you had with someone, talking about how your mother did something that upset his mother. Any idea what he was talking about?”

  His face reddened. “Yes, ma’am,” he quietly said.

  “And what would that conversation be about? I will remind you you’re under oath, Mr. d’Antonio.”

  He looked at Jason. “Your Honor,” he said, “I don’t think…” He swallowed hard.

  She looked at one of her bailiffs and tipped her head toward the little boy before turning her attention to Jason. “Jason, could you do me a favor, please?”

  He perked up. “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Could you please go with Officer Carson back to my office and help him bring me a bottle of water from the little fridge there?”

  He looked up at his mom, who gave him a nervous smile as she nodded.

  “Okay.” He jumped down and ran over to the bailiff, who led the little boy out.

  She turned to Roger again. “Okay, Mr. d’Antonio. You were saying?”

  He swallowed hard. “I was talking to my wife.”

  “In regards to what?”

  He finally looked at his mother. “My mom invited Michael’s mistress to his funeral.”

  She gaveled down a soft wave of murmurs. “Your mother, Isabella d’Antonio, invited your brother’s mistress to his funeral?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And how did his widow react?”

  “She was very upset.”

  “To the best of your knowledge, did she know he had a mistress?”

  He shook his head. “No, ma’am. She didn’t.”

  “And what is your opinion of Jason’s current living conditions?”

  The plaintiff’s attorney stood. “Objection—”

  She pointed the gavel at him again. “Overruled. Sit.”

  He sat.

  She returned her attention to the witness. “Mr. d’Antonio, I asked you a question.”

  “I think Sarah’s a good mom. Jason seems to be happy.”

  “Thank you, Mr. d’Antonio. You’re excused.”

  Just in time, because Bob returned with Jason, who carried a cold bottle of water.

  She turned in her chair and gave him a smile. “Thank you, Jason. You can bring it up here.”

  He stepped up onto the dais behind her desk and handed her the bottle. “You’re welcome.” He returned to sit in his mom’s lap.

  She looked at the people assembled before her. “After talking with Jason, and considering there has been no evidence presented—”

  Isabella d’Antonio stood again. “No evidence? We have pictures of her with those two guys and—”

  She gaveled her down. “Bailiffs, take Mrs. d’Antonio into custody and put her in a holding cell.”

  The judge sat back and waited for the fracas to die down, her other bailiff needing to come help handcuff the protesting woman and remove her from the courtroom. She declared a five-minute recess and followed her bailiffs out the door and down the hallway.

  The older woman had a set of lungs on her, to be sure, struggling against the two bailiffs all the way down the hall to the secure section, where they put her into a holding cell by herself.

  “I’m going to sue you for this!” she shrieked.

  The judge crossed her arms over her chest as she stared through the bars at the woman. “You were warned, Mrs. d’Antonio. I’ll let your attorney deal with you when the proceedings are over and tell you how you can get yourself out of here. I will not have anyone disrupting my courtroom.”

  She angrily walked back to the courtroom, followed by one of her bailiffs while the other one waited until a female deputy could come stand watch over the prisoner.

  Once she called court back into session yet again, she looked at the two attorneys. “Mr. Kennedy,” she said to the plaintiff’s attorney, “I’m guessing you didn’t do an adequate job warning your client of my reputation for extreme intolerance of outbursts in my courtroom?”

  “I tried, your Honor.”

  She nodded. “Get with me after we’re finished and I’ll tell you what needs to be done.”

  He nodded, but otherwise remained silent.

  She looked at Sarah. “The plaintiff’s motions are hereby denied in full. The court finds in favor of the defendant. The juvenile will remain in the custody of his mother, and visitation is hereby denied the defendant. In addition, the plaintiff and any friends, family, or agents are hereby enjoined from harassing, threatening, or otherwise bothering the defendant and her son. The plaintiff is also hereby enjoined from interfering with the defendant’s parental custody of the minor child. This case is dismissed with prejudice. Are there any other matters that need to be addressed before the court in regards to this petition before we adjourn?”

  Jason’s mom leaned in and whispered to her attorney, who smiled. The woman straightened. “My client asks if the court can also please enter a finding of allowing her to return to her maiden name, and to change her son’s last name to her maiden name as well.”

  “So ordered. Counselor, I’m guessing you’ll draw up the orders and get them to my clerk?”

  “Before the end of the day, your Honor.”

  She nodded. “Then we’re done.” She gaveled. “Court adjourned.” She crooked a finger at the plaintiff’s attorney. “You, in a minute. But first, I need to see Sarah, Sam, and Pete up here at my bench. Alone.”

  The three looked at each other, but stood and slowly approached after leaving Jason in the care of his grandfather.

  She stood and leaned forward, covering her mic with her hand. “Who’s Sam, again?”

  The man with brown hair held up his hand. She looked at the other man.

  “That makes you Pete, right?”

  The other man nodded.

  She smiled. “Jason confided in me that he wanted me to marry the three of you.”

  Sarah let out a gasp and covered her mouth with her hand.

  She continued. “I didn’t get into the finer intricacies of Florida law with him, but I did tell him I couldn’t force people to get married. However, I offer up a little bit of friendly advice. My daughter had a handfasting with her boyfriend and girlfriend and they’re living happily together five years later. It’s not legally binding, but a seven-year-old boy doesn’t need to know that. I’m sure your attorney can draw up any appropriate paperwork that gives you the necessary custody rights, permissions, and powers of attorney to make it as legal as you can under the circumstances. Do I make myself clear?”

  All three nodded, the two men now smiling.

  She smiled back. “Good. Mazel tov. And I expect an invitation.” She sat back and released her microphone. “Mr. Kennedy,” she said to the plaintiff’s attorney. “Please step up to my bench for a discussion about your client’s behavior…”

  * * * *

  Sarah ignored her father’s curious looks, knowing she now hovered dangerously between laughing and crying and wasn’t sure which one would come out on top.

  Either way, she was happy.

  “Did we win, Mommy?” Jason asked.

  Sam scooped him up and smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Yes we did, Jason Heckman.”

  He grinned. “Heckmans first!” he yelled.

  “And to heck with the rest,” Sarah, Pete, Sam, her dad, and Betty all replied.

  She noticed Roger standing a few feet away, watching them, as if afraid to approach.

  After taking a deep breath she walked over to him and offered him a hug.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah,” he whispered. “I’m so damn sorry I didn’t speak up sooner.”

  Now crying threatened to take the upper hand, but she somehow held back. “It’s okay, Roger. I know you’re not like her. And you and Barb are welcomed to come visit or call Jason.
Or we can set up Skype or something.”

  He nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate that. And I meant it. I’ve always thought you were a good mom.” He glanced over at where her dad now stood between Sam and Pete. “Barb and I have actually been talking. Last week, her firm offered her a chance to transfer down to Orlando. We weren’t sure if we would take it or not. Now we’re thinking we might.”

  She smiled. “You won’t regret it. Especially after your first winter here.”

  He finally returned her smile. “I’m thinking you’re right.”

  “Why did you come today?”

  “Barb overheard her talking on the phone to her attorney and found out from the maid what was going on. I did a little snooping of my own and decided I would try to be here in case you needed me. Sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but my flight was delayed.”

  She hugged him again. “Thank you. And if you’ve moved here by Christmas, I’m extending an open invitation to you and Barb to come over for dinner.”

  “Thanks. I suspect Mother won’t be welcoming me back into her home anytime soon.”

  She looked up into his face. Of all the brothers, he and Michael had looked most alike. Unlike Michael, he’d always had a kinder, more relaxed expression.

  Why didn’t I ever see that before?

  “We’re heading out for pizza and ice cream. Would you like to join us?”

  He nodded. “Thank you. I’d like that a lot.”

  She led him over to the rest of them. Sam put Jason down, and he hugged Roger around the legs. “Thank you, Uncle Roger.”

  He reached down and ruffled Jason’s hair. “I told the truth, buddy. You’ve got a good mom.”

  She introduced him around, not missing how Sam and Pete both warily eyed him. But by the time they finished eating nearly two hours later, everyone had greatly relaxed. They were saying good-bye to Roger and loading up to head home when Sarah’s cell phone rang from Lucy’s number.

  “Hello?”

  “Just wanted to let you know Judge Ingalls signed the order. I’ll get everything finalized and get you your copies.”

  She stepped away from the group. “Thanks. Um, can I ask what happened to Isabella?”

  Lucy laughed. “Expect an extremely detailed, handwritten letter of apology in the mail.”