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My brows drew together. “Really? I saw his car in the garage, but I figured you dropped him off today or something. I thought I’d have to go to the courthouse to see him if I didn’t want to wait until tonight.”
“You definitely won’t find him there today.” She polished off the rest of her wine and poured another glass. “Or anytime soon, for that matter.”
I blinked a few times as I moved closer, my excitement quickly turning to concern. My mom had wine with dinner every night, but I couldn’t remember ever seeing her drink during the day by herself. My dad being at home was just as strange since it was the middle of the day during the week. He should have been busy presiding over a case. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, dear.” She dropped the empty wine bottle in the recycling bin. “Everything is fine, just like it always is.”
She didn’t sound very convincing. Her high-pitched tone was the same fake one she used when talking to someone she didn’t like but felt she needed to impress. “Then why are you having a liquid lunch? And what’s Dad doing at home when he should be at the courthouse?”
“Those damn bikers have driven me to drink,” she muttered.
My eyes widened as my head reared back. My mom hardly ever used swear words, and I didn’t think she had any clue motorcycle clubs existed. She didn’t watch the same shows as I did, and the people she hung out with were more likely to drive a Rolls-Royce than a motorcycle. “Bikers?”
“Your father went up against a local biker gang during his last case.” She rolled her eyes with a huff. “And he failed miserably.”
Staring at the bottle of wine she was opening, I wondered if it was the alcohol talking. “That doesn’t make any sense. How could Dad lose? He doesn’t try cases; he’s a judge.”
“No, hewasa judge.”
I felt a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach. “What do you mean?”
“He’s been suspended from the bench.”
My chest tightened as I shook my head. “I don’t understand. Everything was fine the last time I visited. How could all of this have happened in such a short time?”
“It feels like forever to me,” she grumbled. “You were lucky to be at school because time has been moving in slow motion for me with all of this going on.”
“I was literally just here for Thanksgiving.”
“You were only here for a few days, and we didn’t want to worry you. But there’s no point in trying to keep it from you when you’re bound to notice that your father is home all month. ” She heaved a deep sigh. “The suspension is temporary while the judicial commission determines whether there’s sufficient evidence for disciplinary action. If those bikers manufacture more evidence against him, the decision may very well go against your father. Even if they don’t, he could still be removed from the bench and disbarred.”
“Disbarred?” I sputtered.
“But hey, at least a grand jury hasn’t been convened…yet.” She lifted her glass as though she was toasting the good news. “So he might not end up in jail.”
My knees felt weak, and I reached out to grab the marble counter to steady myself. “There’s a chance he can go to jail? Is one of his lawyer friends representing him?”
“Absolutely not! The proceedings have been kept confidential so far, but there are already enough rumors about why your father isn’t presiding over any cases. The last thing we need is for some office busybody to gossip about our business.” Wrapping her fingers around my wrist, she hissed, “You can’t tell anyone what’s happened, Kiara. I’m doing my best to keep this situation out of the limelight while your father figures out a way out of this mess.”
Appearances had always been important to my mom, so I wasn’t surprised she was more worried about me blabbing than my reaction to the fact that my dad might lose his position on the bench. “You don’t have to worry, Mom. I won’t say a word to any of my friends. I don’t want to make this any worse than it already is.”
“Good.” She gave me a jerky nod before lifting her glass to her lips again.
“I’m going to check on Dad,” I mumbled.
There wasn’t any sound coming from his office as I neared. I knocked on the door and peeked inside, my heart dropping when I saw him slumped over his desk as he ran his fingers through his hair. His head lifted, and his eyes lit up with joy when he spotted me in the doorway. “Kiara, you’re home!”
“I am,” I whispered, walking toward him as he got up and rounded his desk to hug me.
“I’m so happy to see you.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “How was your drive? I hope you didn’t speed to get here early.”
He sounded like his usual protective self, making my lips curve into a small smile. “Of course not, Daddy.”
“Let me get a look at my girl.” Gripping my shoulders, he took a step back and stared down at me. “I swear, you get prettier each time you come home for a visit. Even with the stress of finals.”
“They weren’t too bad,” I assured him.
“I don’t want you to worry, Kiara.” He patted my shoulder before rounding his desk again and dropping onto his chair. “I knew when I became a judge that it could earn me some enemies.”
