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Autumn peers up at me with a sparkle in her intoxicating eyes. “Oh, did you now?”
I nod. “Yep.”
After a few minutes, we exit the courtroom. Before parting ways with Theresa, she tells Autumn she will reach out to her as soon as she receives the paperwork. Should be straightforward and only need signatures.
We walk down the steps outside the courthouse, hand in hand, smiles plastered on our faces. “We should definitely celebrate,” I suggest. “A nice dinner, or maybe a special dessert. Something.”
“I…” Autumn stops short and I follow her line of sight. To my Jeep. Where her parents stand, arms tight across their chests.
Not sure what their game is, but I kept an eye on them the entire time in the courtroom. They sat behind Leo, hands folded in their laps, expressions blank. Mostly.
As soon as Autumn told me who they were, something didn’t sit right with me. Why the hell would they show up to a custody hearing for Clementine? One—Autumn hasn’t spoken to or seen them in almost as long as Leo. So, it’s not as if they heard the news from her. Two—they sat behindLeo. Her parents sat behindhimin silent support.
Why?
Not as if he and Autumn had been dating for several years and her parents developed a loving relationship with him. From what Autumn said, she and Leo had been together less than a year. During their time together, not much of it revolved around time spent with either of their families.
And then it clicks into place. The puzzle pieces lock together and form the bigger picture. I see it now. When their faces turned bright red in the courtroom as Leo forfeited. The way Autumn’s father gnashed his teeth as the judge announced Autumn the sole custodial parent of Clementine. Their balled fists as they rose from the bench. The disgust in their eyes as they left the courtroom.
They did this. They went to Leo and orchestrated this whole mess.
Her father steps closer. “She doesn’t belong with you,” he seethes.
Pissed, I step protectively in front of Autumn and point a finger at him. “You need to back the fuck up.”
“What are you going to do, boy.” He steps closer. “You gonna hit me? Go right ahead. Plenty of cops around here to haul you to jail.”
“Actually, I won’t hit you. That’s what you want. To see me hauled off in cuffs.”
Autumn’s mother comes to her father’s side with a sneer on her face. “That’s what you deserve, lowlife.”
Behind me, Autumn’s body tenses. Her nails dig into my biceps. Before I can stop her, she steps around. “No,” she shouts. “You don’t get to come here and act high and mighty. Not after sending your daughter to live on the streets. Not after you shielded yourselves behind a man who abandoned his child. Who the hell do you think you are?”
Her father steps within feet of Autumn and I shove him back. “Don’t test me.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “You don’t scare me, boy.” Then he faces Autumn. “You don’t deserve her. What kind of mother works in a tattoo parlor and dates a mechanic? Don’t you realize the damage you’re doing to that girl? She won’t live up to her potential.”
“Think you can do better,father?” Autumn breathes heavily. “Because, in your eyes, I didn’t turn out so great.”
Her remark meant to make him falter has me wondering if she sees herself this way. As a failure. But I don’t dwell on it now. There isn’t time. Because he steps closer. Too close.
“How dare you speak to me with such petulance. Your mother and I raised you with good morals and faith. You best respect me, girl.”
“Respect you?” Autumn inches closer to him. I remain on her heels. “Respect is earned, not handed over. Clergy collars don’t make you righteous,father. Nor do they mean youdeserverespect more than someone else.”
“I warned you,” he sneers.I warned you. The note on Autumn’s car yesterday. Moments ago, he saidshe doesn’t belong with you.
Holy shit. Holy. Shit.
“It was you,” I mutter.
Autumn faces me, brows pinched. “What?”
I meet her eyes. “The notes, your windshield. It wasn’t Leo.” I point at her father. “You did this.” His smug smile all the response I need.
But before I react, Autumn’s mother storms forward and backhands her. Autumn falls to the ground and everything around me goes red. I won’t hit a woman, but I sure as shit won’t stand for anyone hitting Autumn.
I reach out and grab her wrist. “Get your filthy hands off me,” she screams. But I refuse to loosen my grip.
