Those Sweet Words (Misfit Inn 2)

How could they not see her as he did?

“All her life, she’s been the one you could all count on. Anticipating your needs, cleaning up your messes, being your rock. You’re all so used to it, you don’t even think about it or consider that she might need or appreciate someone doing the same for her.” He’d done that for her. He’d given her the foundation she hadn’t even known she’d needed. And it had been one of the most fulfilling things he’d ever done. “She’s the most selfless woman I’ve ever met, and she needs all of you. She’ll need you more before all of this is over.”

Kennedy frowned. “What are you getting at, Flynn?”

“This is my fault. All of it. And I intend to make that clear to the judge.”

“Clear how?” Athena asked.

He gave in to the urge and leaned over to pour himself more whiskey. What did it matter if they judged him now? “I’m going to tell him the truth. I am, apparently, the problem, so if the judge deems it necessary, if he’ll let Ari stay with Pru, I’ll go.” The mere thought was a knife to his gut. To leave the home he’d found here, leave the woman he loved, the child he adored. But what other choice did he have? What other means did he have left to fix what he’d broken?

“You’d walk away from her?” Maggie asked.

Flynn’s hand fisted so tight around the glass, he thought it would break. “If I have to.”

“She loves you,” Kennedy murmured.

“And I love her. But she can eventually get over me. She’ll never get over the loss of that child. And there is nowhere on earth better for Ari than with Pru. She’s more important than I am. It’s what she needs. So, if the judge will agree, I’ll do it.”

He took the shot, but it didn’t give him the numbness he wanted. It did nothing to dull the ache around his heart. He had a feeling after this was over, nothing ever would.

~*~

Because of the very public nature of Ari’s disappearing act, Lydia Coogan was able to get an audience with the judge within twenty-four hours of her return. It was only through the fast-talking of Robert Barth that Pru and any of the family were present for the occasion to present their side. It wasn’t enough time for Robert to work up any kind of a solid defense. They’d barely had time to fill him in on what was actually happening before making the collective pilgrimage to the courthouse, where they were nearly late for lack of parking.

“All rise for the Honorable Jefferson Moseley.”

As she got to her feet, arm tight around Ari, Pru felt the first glimmer of hope. Judge Moseley had been on the bench since God was a boy. He himself had presided over her own adoption and that of all her sisters. He knew their family. That had to count for something.

But Judge Moseley wasn’t looking friendly as he emerged from chambers and took the bench. His black hair had gone gray since Pru had last seen him. It stood out now in stark relief against his mahogany skin. His thick, salt and pepper brows drew down in a scowl over dark, serious eyes, and his mouth was a thin line of disapproval as he surveyed their group.

“Be seated.”

Ari leaned over and whispered. “He’s scary looking.”

“Shhh,” Pru murmured, giving her a squeeze.

Judge Moseley opened the file he’d carried in, presumably the complaint issued by Lydia Coogan. He read over it in silence before looking up at Pru and her sisters. “Well, this is certainly not what I’d expected to see you in my courtroom for.”

Pru resisted the urge to duck her head in shame.

“I was sorry to hear about your mother.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He shifted his attention to the social worker, who sat at the opposite counsel’s table on her own. “Miss Coogan, you’re new to DHS in this region, are you not?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ve taken on much of the caseload of Mae Bradley, while she’s been out recovering from back surgery.”

“That is correct, sir.”

“Tell me why, exactly, you have dragged us all here today.”

“As I explained in my report—”

“I’m not interested in reading your full