Page 132 of Cloudless
Whispered words from the other end of the room sends a chill down my spine before Mr. Thorne says, “Why were my clients not alerted to the fresh injury?”
Judge Harris’ face flashes with annoyance as she says, “Miss Sullivan was under no legal requirement to report Posey’s injury to your clients, Mr. Thorne.”
His flawless skin turns a bright shade of red as he fumes in his seat. “It might not have been a legal requirement, but it is common courtesy, Your Honor. We need no further evidence of Miss Sullivan’s lack of capabilities here, Your Honor. The children are obviously not safe in her care.”
“Common courtesy holds no weight on our case today, Mr. Thorne. And since this is the first injury either child has suffered in the six months they have been in Miss Sullivan’s care, it is not concerning.” Softness takes over Judge Harris’ face that’sonly fitting for someone who loves a child of her own. I’m not sure if she’s a mother, an aunt, a bonus mom, or what, but she knows the love of a child. “I’m so happy you’re here, Jasper and Posey.” They settle into the two seats placed in the middle of the room, pointed toward the judge. I don’t miss the irony of the placement. “I’m just going to ask you a few questions, then I’m going to ask if you have anything else you want to say. It is very important that you tell the truth here today, even if the truth might hurt someone's feelings. Does that sound good?” Posey’s pigtails bounce as they nod. “First, I want to ask how your school year is going?”
Posey’s voice shakes as she says, “It’s been good. We like our teacher. She smells really nice.” The waver in her voice falls away as Jasper clenches her hand in his. “Math has been really hard, but Dax helps with our homework.”
Judge Harris’ brows raise as her eyes flick to me before falling back on my brother and sister. “Oh? Who’s Dax?”
Posey’s smile beams in full force as she looks over her shoulder and points to where Dax sits behind me. “He’s over there with my other friends.” Her eyes move along the line of our friends behind me as she introduces them one by one. “That’s Mace. He’s a really good cook. And that’s Wyatt, we love him even though he’s grumpy sometimes. And Ellie is Kam’s twin, just like I’m Jasper’s twin.” Her smile never falls as she looks back at the judge. “Dax likes to make people think he’s not very smart, but I know it’s not true. I want to be a teacher when I grow up. That’s what Dax wants to be when he grows up, too.”
Judge Harris nods along with Posey’s words before turning to Jasper. “What about you, Jasper? What do you want to be when you grow up?”
It’s his turn to look at our friends sitting behind me with a beaming smile on his face. “I want to play hockey like Kam.” His eyes stay bright as he turns back to the judge. “But it’simportant to have a backup plan in case I get hurt or I don’t like it anymore.”
A small smile pulls at Judge Harris’ lips. “And what is your backup plan?”
Jasper’s shrug moves their clasped hands up and down. “I don’t know yet. Kam said I don’t have to know right now.”
The judge’s smile grows as she nods. “That’s right. It’s okay if you don’t know.” She tilts her head as she says, “If you could plan your perfect day, what would it look like?”
“Ummm.” His eyes scrunch as he tilts his head in thought. “Mace would fix us breakfast. Probably scrambled eggs and chocolate pancakes. Then we would get to play outside on the swing set our friends got us for our birthday. We could build a sandcastle with Lulu and Ellie at the beach. Oh! Then we can go play in the water, but not alone. It’s not safe for us to be alone in the water.” He tilts his head even further to the side. “Do you know what a rip current is?”
Judge Harris nods as she laughs. “Yes, Jasper. I know what a rip current is.”
His smile brightens as he straightens in his seat. “Good! They’re dangerous. That’s why you shouldn’t swim alone.”
Mr. Thorne’s voice makes Posey jump as it booms through the space. “Objection, Your Honor! Narrative! The Court does not need to know about rip currents and playing on the beach!”
Jasper’s hand tightens around Posey’s as I fight to stay in my seat. His whispered words flow through the space as easily as if he yelled them. “It’s okay, Posey. Lulu and Kam won't let them hurt us.”
Judge Harris’ eyes turn to steel as she levels a glare at Mr. Thorne. “Overruled. And do not use that tone in my courtroom again, Mr. Thorne.” She leans forward with her elbows on the desk in front of her. “What else would you do during your perfect day?”
He tilts his head side to side. “Probably go home and watch a movie.” He laughs as he shakes his head. “I would be the one to pick the movie instead of one of the girls. They always pick the sad movies.” He raises a finger before he says, “We can only start the movie after Posey beats Dax at their racing game, though. And Mace will fix us dinner before we go home. He always fixes something extra for Posey to eat, since she’s so picky. She’s gotten a lot better about that, though. She even ate a pea yesterday! It was only one, but Lulu said it was a good start.”
Judge Harris’ attention falls on Posey. “What about you, Posey? What would be your perfect day?”
Posey’s feet swing inches off the ground as she says, “I wouldn’t change anything that Jas said except the movie part. Kam let me pick the movie when I got pictures taken of the inside of my arm.” Her beaming smile turns on her brother. “Everyone butyouloved the princess movie. Even Wyatt teared up at the end.”
Judge Harris inclines her head toward the neon pink cast on Posey’s arm that I’m pretty sure could be seen from space. “What happened to your arm, Posey?”
I know the judge knows the answer. She has a copy of the hospital report on her desk.
Posey waves the cast around in front of her face. “Oh, I just fell on some ice yesterday. Kam told me not to run on it, and I didn’t listen.”
Judge Harris sits up farther in her seat to get a better view of the monstrosity. “What are all those markings on your cast?”
Posey bends her arm in unnatural positions as she examines the Sharpie marks. “All my friends wrote me notes so I would have them with me until I get the cast off in six weeks.” Her brows crease as she reads the notes off. “Kam’s note says, ‘Get well soon, Rosie Posey.’ And Dax’s note says for me to get better soon so he can beat me at our racing game.” Her eyes lift as shesmiles. “It’s funny he thinks he can beat me.” Her eyes venture back down to the cast on her arm as she reads off the names and notes of all the people who love her.
Judge Harris’ brows crease as Posey finishes. “Your grandparents didn’t sign your cast?”
Mr. Thorne’s mouth twists into a sneer as he says, “Objection, Your Honor! Relevance.”
Posey shakes her head like she didn’t even hear him as she lays her injured arm in her lap. “No. Why would they?”
The judge’s eyes flash with something I can’t quite make out before she once turns to Mr. Throne. “Overruled, Mr. Thorne.” Her eyes soften as they fall on the twins in front of her. “You both have done very well. Is there anything else I should know before you leave?”
