Page 23 of Rebel Summer

Not on Judge Baylor’s watch.

“I’m aware this is an unusual sentence, Ms. Brooks.” The judge’s kind eyes peered out of his spectacles. “Do you have any questions for me?”

Questions? Sure. I had questions. But none that he could answer.

Judge Baylor had a standing golf tee time once a week with my dad. He was one of many in the community who only knew the politician side of Senator Brooks. The side that could charm, and schmooze, and golf with the best of them. The side that showed up to funerals of people he had barely tolerated while pretending to grieve and spouting flowery things to all. The side that cut ribbons, made deals, shook hands, and said all the right things. The side that would never forgive me if I were to ask the judge how he expected me to live in my dad’s home for seven weeks.

Brookses don’t make mistakes.

“Ms. Brooks? Any questions?” the kind voice of the judge sentencing me to the worst possible punishment for a crime I didn’t mean to commit asked again.

This time, I smiled bright and channeled my dad. “No, Your Honor. I’m happy to serve my time. I’m grateful for the opportunity to right what I accidentally wronged.” There we go. All things considered, dear old dad would have to be proud of that answer.

Did I look at Dax Miller after I said that?

Nope.

“Alright, then.” There was a squeak of movement in Judge Baylor’s chair as he adjusted his position. “Your service hours start tomorrow. I’ll let you and Mr. Miller work out the details. And I will inform the cafe they now have some extra help they can count on.” He gave me a broad smile before smacking his gavel.

Court adjourned. My life upended. For a long moment, I sat there, soaking it all in. To re-cap, I could have had jail time but instead got community service for a crime I hadn’t meant to commit but did. Judge Baylor called Dax Miller a good man. I was now a…criminal…I guess? And I was left wondering what planet I had accidentally landed on from my hellish plane ride three days earlier.

After shaking hands with my lawyer and thanking Beau for…being here, I guess…I fumbled with my purse while Dax sauntered my way. I was tempted to take off toward the front doors, but I knew I’d have to face him eventually.

Like…tomorrow.

“Well, that was entertaining, Caroline.”

I folded my arms and leveled him with a warning stare. “It’s Ivy.”

“I was reminded how fun it is to watch you under pressure,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.

“Yeah, and thank you so much for making sure I couldn’t just pay you and leave.”

“I thought we could build a legacy of togetherness.”

It was the way he so casually used part of my dad’s campaign slogan against me that had me turning my annoyance into a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. I would be here for seven weeks. The worst had already happened. His words couldn’t touch me now.

“Did you get that out of your system?”

He shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that. What time are you coming to work?”

I leaned over to adjust the back strap of my sandal, feigning an attitude of nonchalance. “I’ll see if I can do a morning shift at the cafe and come to your place in the afternoon.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “You know, I’m kind of excited you’ll be back at the cafe again. I haven’t had a mediocre cup of coffee for about ten years now.”

My hands found my hips. “First of all, I made good coffee. Second, I will buy you your own coffee machine if it means you’ll stay out of the cafe while I work there.”

He made a face. “No can do, Books. I’m incredibly lazy about making coffee. See you tomorrow,” he said before striding toward the front door, leaving me wishing my cousin had chosen anywhere else on this planet to have gotten married.

Biology Class

Day 4

“You can’t just threaten to throw up on me every time you don’t want to get your hands dirty, Books.”

“It’s Brooks,” I said.

“I know. But you look like the sort of person who makes friends with her books. It just fits.”

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