“I see that. Can you share with me what led you to that decision? It’s a serious one, and I want to hear how you arrived at it.”
Julia glanced at Candace, who merely raised her eyebrows as if to say, “Go on. You’re the one who dragged us here.”
She took a breath, hoping her voice was steady. “I filed for emancipation because my parents died earlier this summer.”
“I am very sorry to hear about that. The loss of any parent to a child, let alone both, is a trauma. My sincerest condolences.” His brown eyes were kind, and indeed, he looked very sorry as he said it.
“Thank you, sir. I mean, Your Honor.” She could feel her cheeks flush, and that made her annoyed at herself. There were so many reasons she was here, all of them just and right and good, and she needed to pull herself together and get them out or this judge was going to think she was as incapable and idiotic as she was presenting herself to be. She took another deep breath. “When my parents died, I thought that was the worst thing that could happen to me and my little sister, Pippa. She’s only six, and she’s outside in the hallway now,” Julia added, gesturing to the double doors behind them.
The judge nodded for her to go on, and she could tell he was listening carefully.
“But then I learned that our aunt, a person we had never even met before, was going to be our guardian, and that she wanted to move us away from our home in Saybrook all the way to London. A different country.” She said the last part so it would sink in.
The judge only smiled. “Indeed it is.”
“Pippa and I have spent our whole lives here, outside of when I was really little and lived in New York with my parents. Pippa was born here, and Saybrook is our home. It’s where we go to school. It’s where all of our friends live. Everything I love and know is in Saybrook. To move us away from all that, to a place we’ve never been, with a relative we barely know, is like another death all over again.” She was so nervous she’d run completely out of breath, but she’d gotten most of the important stuff out. She reached for the glass of water, suddenly grateful for it.
The judge waited as she took a few gulps, his hands still clasped thoughtfully. “So, this move to London has come as a surprise to you?”
Julia set the water glass down. “A shock, to be perfectly honest.”
He nodded. “I like perfectly honest.” He turned to Candace. “I imagine this has not been easy for you, either.”
“No, Your Honor, it certainly has not.”
“Would you please share with the court what has transpired between you and Julia and her sister since you arrived?”
Candace was sitting slightly behind her, but Julia did not turn around. “I arrived two days after the death of my brother. I agree with Julia, it has all been a shock.”
Julia swiveled to look at Candace. There were plenty of synonyms for shock; that word was hers.
The judge continued, “I imagine it’s been quite a strain for everyone involved. And I would like to hear how the three of youhave been getting on since your arrival here in the States. But first, having heard what Julia has just shared with the court today, what are your thoughts about her petition for emancipation?”
Candace sighed, somewhat dramatically, Julia thought. “My thoughts are that she is grieving too hard to know what is best for her right now.” Candace looked over at her. “Julia is correct that we do not know each other well, but that is something time can take care of if she would be willing. Her father and mother’s wishes were to appoint me as guardian, and it has not been easy for me. But it is a wish I feel obligated to honor and uphold.” She paused. “Besides, Julia is a child.”
Julia scoffed, and Jamie gently put a hand on hers and squeezed. “It’s okay,” she whispered.
The judge made a note in the file. Julia did not like that. Nor did she like Candace’s word choice. Where was the honor in selling a child’s horse out from under her? “Excuse me, Judge Bartlett.”
The judge looked up. “Yes?”
There was another squeeze from Jamie, but Julia went on. “I feel it important to share certain facts, since you ask about what has taken place since my aunt arrived.” Her heart was racing, but she needed to set the record straight.
“All right, please go on.”
“I had a horse.” Julia ignored her aunt’s audible groan behind her. “A horse that my father gave to me as a gift. Radcliffe is his name, and he was the most important thing to me in the world besides my family. Radcliffe and I competed in shows and competitions all around New England. He wasn’t just a pet; riding is my sport and a huge part of who I am. Two weeks ago, my aunt called up a local stable and arranged to sell him without my knowing. I just happened to hear a commotion and look out my bedroom window to see a stranger leading my horse out of the barn and away.” She paused, catching her breath. “I ran outside to stop them.I begged her not to. But she ordered them to load him up and take him away.” She turned to face Candace. “That was the last part of my father I had. And she took that part away from me without even having the guts tell me first. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
The judge’s brow furrowed. He looked to Candace. “Is this true?”
“It is, Your Honor. But not quite as it is being portrayed. With our plans to sell the family property and move overseas, I had many decisions to make in a short amount of time, and there was no other choice but to sell the horse as well. It’s not like we could load it on a plane and take it with us. Had it been a dog or cat, I would have been happy to. But a horse?” Here she threw up her hands, and the jangle of her bracelets echoed in the small room.
The judge cocked his head. “I’m curious why Julia was not informed of this decision. Wouldn’t it have been kinder for her to have a chance for closure?”Kinder. Julia’s hopes rose. He was seeing in Candace all the things she lacked. All the things Julia and Pippa would need.
Candace nodded. “For that I am sorry. At the time I thought it would only upset her more, and it also was not made clear to me when the stable was coming to pick him up; their communication about transporting him was a bit spotty, so I didn’t want the horse lingering and therefore drawing out her upset. I did, however, make a lot of calls and get the best recommendations for a stable who would take excellent care of the horse and ensure a good home.” She flashed a look in Julia’s direction, but instead of seeing sorrow, Julia saw only competitiveness in her aunt’s eyes, as if she had just scored some kind of point. Julia hoped the judge saw it, too.
“So, you feel you did your best to find the horse a good home, given that you could not possibly bring him with you.” The judge repeated this as Candace nodded along, and he made another noteon the file. He looked up at Julia. “It sounds like your aunt did try to find a suitable home for your horse, given the difficult circumstances and the timing. Still, it’s little consolation to you, I suppose.”
Julia shook her head. “It is no consolation,” she said firmly.
