Page 63 of Can't Get Over You
“Don’t know.” Wyatt tossed the bag onto the counter. “It was sitting on a snowbank on the driveway.”
“Damn delivery drivers.” Beneath the packing ice, his dad unearthed a fancy wooden board. “What is this?”
Jude pulled out the accompanying container and peeled off the plastic wrap to reveal a variety of meats, nuts, cheeses, and crackers. “It’s a charcuterie board.”
“The fuck?” His dad read the card. “It’s from Finlay.” He barked out a laugh. “She’s thanking me with a meat board for letting her stay the night.”
A clutch of protectiveness had him yanking the board out of his dad’s hands. “That was nice of her.”
“Not sayin’ it wasn’t.” His dad pulled out almonds, figs, prosciutto, and olives. “Just didn’t expect it.”
Jude had to grin. It was a nice gesture but probably sent to the wrong crowd. Not because they didn’t like the food. They did. They just weren’t delicate eaters. One of them could polish it off single-handedly and then sit down to a full meal of steak, potatoes, garlic bread, chips, and guacamole.
Grabbing a butter knife, Wyatt cut off some soft herbed cheese and smeared it on a thin cracker.
“This is the kind of thing Ava would do,” his dad said.
“Yeah, that’s because she’s civilized,” Jude said.
Wyatt gave a chin nod to a bag he’d also brought in. “Got gloves for Snowfest. Don’t know Cody’s size, but they’re pretty much one-size-fits-all.”
Jude rooted through the bag, pulling out a tiny pair. “Appreciate it, man.” He didn’t know why his voice came out so rough. But his chest tightened, and he found himself caught between sorrow and a ferocious anger.
“You okay?” Wyatt asked.
Of course, his brother would notice. Jude held up the gloves. “He’s just a kid.”
“Yeah.”
Wyatt had been the same way. A little, lost boy. Neglected. Teased relentlessly. No one looked out for him. “He needs protection. He needs…” He looked at his brother and dad. “Family.”
“Yeah, he does.” His dad clamped a hand on his shoulder. “But he’s got it now. He’s going to be all right.”
Was he, though? Jude didn’t even have temporary custody yet. He had no idea what life would be like for this boy.
“We’ll make sure of it,” Wyatt said.
Jude could almost believe them. His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. He wouldn’t usually answer if he didn’t recognize the number, but now, he had Cody to worry about. “Yeah?”
“Is this Jude McKenna?” a woman asked.
“Who’s this?” he asked in hisdon’t fuck with mevoice.
“This is Jenna Halston, a lawyer from Winter, Browne, and Sampson. We’re handling the guardianship case?”
“Oh, right. Yeah, this is Jude. What can I do for you?”
“Well, we’ve got a hearing.” She sounded pleased. “Can you be at the courthouse in twenty minutes?”
“I can. What do I need to bring with me?”
“Wear a coat and tie. If you can get your father to show up with you, that should help.”
“Sounds like there’s a possibility the judge will say no.” He’d hoped the legal guardian’s choice would be honored.
“There’s always a possibility when a child’s well-being’s at stake.”
Jude came to a stop the moment he entered the courtroom.
