Page 66 of Shuttered Hearts

As soon as the judge has closed the door behind him, Ava turns around to speak with all of us sitting in the first row of the gallery.

“That’s exactly what we expected and hoped for.” Ava offers a comforting smile to us. “I’ll?—”

“Where is he? Why didn’t you bring him today?” Mom storms over, interrupting whatever Ava is about to say.

Dad slowly turns to look at Mom, studying her. He doesn’t say anything immediately, and his look makes me wonder what he’s thinking. I know he saw her when she showed up at the house, but maybe he was too shocked by what was said, too focused on his response to see how she looked. Right now, as he gets a good look at her face, all I can see is some form of pain.

“We left the decision up to him. He chose to remain at school rather than be here today.” Dad’s voice is calm when he speaks, almost neutral.

“What lies have you been telling him about me?”

“Mom, come on,” Caleb interjects. “No one has told him any lies. What lies would we even have to say? You left him when he was two, and we haven’t heard from you since.” Caleb’s hands clench at his sides, and Emily reaches for him.

“I think it would be best to wait to discuss this in mediation,” Ava says. “Mr. Henry, you have my contact information. Let’s schedule a time to discuss the mediation as soon as possible.” She doesn’t wait for a response. She takes Dad’s arm and ushers him from the courtroom, Emily and Caleb following right behind.

I mean to follow them, but for some reason, I’m frozen. Physically, I can feel Declan’s hand on my back, and while that usually brings me comfort, right now, I don’t feel anything.

“Bean,” Mom says as she turns to me. She studies me for a minute before saying anything else. “You look good. I meant to tell you that when I saw you on Max’s birthday.”

“Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I want my family back. Why else would I be here?”

“Why now? Why like this?” I shake my head. “It’s been ten years. You could have called, written, anything.”

“It’s not that easy, Bean.”

“Yes, it is,” I say before she can continue. “It is that easy.”

Mom reaches out for me, but I step back, right into Declan. I look at him over my shoulder, and he must see something on my face because he immediately moves further into me, wrapping a protective arm around my waist.

“Now isn’t the time for this. You have our lawyer’s contact information. If you want to set up a time to talk to Quinn, youcan do it through her.” Like Ava did with Dad, Declan ushers me out of the courtroom and doesn’t stop walking until we are outside with the rest of my family.

“Everything okay?” Caleb asks when we catch up to them.

“Not really,” I tell them.

“What did she say?” Emily asks.

I shake my head, unable to form words. Declan catches on and answers. “Nothing meaningful.”

“Emily and I were thinking we should have ladies’ night out tonight. To … I don’t know, decompress from this day?” Ava says in the silence, reaching for my hand.

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I’m up for that tonight.” I squeeze her hand before releasing it.

“Then breakfast tomorrow morning. I won’t take no for an answer. I fly back to Boston on Sunday.”

“It’s only for a week.” Declan chuckles.

“I know, but you’re leaving me to deal with Mom and Dad alone for Christmas this year. It’s only fair I get to steal your girlfriend for a bit.”

Declan and Ava’s parents were quite upset when neither of them went home for Thanksgiving, and Ava still hasn’t told her parents about her plans to stay in Ashford Falls. While Declan was used to disappointing his parents, Ava was not. So, she’s going home for Christmas to try and make it up to them.

Ava hasn’t figured out exactly what she wants to do, but she knows practicing law and moving back to Harborview is not it. She applied for the part-time position at the bookstore and was hired on the spot. Ava will be starting in the new year, and from everything she’s told me, she is genuinely excited about it.

Declan chuckles softly before responding to Ava. “Hey, if Quinn wants to go to breakfast with you, I have no complaints. I’m just saying you’ll only be gone for a week. It’s not like you’re leaving forever.”

I lean into Declan’s side, but look at Ava. “Breakfast tomorrow sounds good.”

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