“This court is adjourned.”

The judge walked quickly out of the courtroom, and the door to his chambers clicked shut.

For a moment, nobody moved.

The rain beat a steady rhythm against the glass.

Then Trevor turned on his heel, his face dark with fury.

He shoved his documents into his briefcase and slammed the latch shut.

“Are you happy now?” Kelsey hissed, stepping into the aisle toward me.

Her hands were shaking.

“You’ve ruined everything,” she said.

“I didn’t buy the land next door, Kelsey,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “You did.”

My mother stepped into the aisle, placing herself between us.

She didn’t look at Kelsey.

She looked directly at me, her mouth twisted in a bitter line.

“You always have to be the martyr, don’t you, Meredith?” Denise said.

“Mom, they lied to the court,” I said.

“They were trying to build a future for this family,” my mother said, her voice trembling with anger.

“And you just took bread out of your sister’s mouth.”

My father stood up slowly, his joints popping in the quiet room.