CHAPTER 31
Summer
Then… the part I’ve dreaded most.
“Your Honor,” Kevin’s attorney says brightly, “we call Mrs. Montgomery.”
My mother goes first, stiff and polished, every hair in place.
She won’t meet my eyes as she takes the stand. My father stares straight ahead like this entire hearing is an inconvenience he can’t wait to be done with.
She swears in.
“Mrs. Montgomery,” the attorney begins, “do you believe Summer is capable of providing Mia with stability?”
My mother folds her hands primly. “No. Not without our help. Summer has always been impulsive. Emotional. She doesn’t think things through.”
It’s a punch.
“And do you believe Mia belongs with her father?”
“Yes.”
Not even a pause.
“Kevin is responsible. Financially secure. Level-headed.”
A lie.
A lie.
A LIE.
But they believe whatever makes their world easier, not what’s true.
My lawyer steps forward. “Mrs. Montgomery, when Mia was born, who changed her diapers?”
“The nanny or Summer.”
“And who was with Mia when she had a fever?”
My mother looks nervous. “I… don’t remember.”
Lie.
“Who went to Mia’s recitals? Her doctor’s appointments? Her first day of school, who brought her?”
She looks at Kevin, then at me.
“I don’t know.”
And in that instant, I stop calling her my mother.
She’s called me fat, stupid, not enough, and I always forgave her. Always tried to see her as someone to respect.
But the moment she lied to take away my daughter is the moment I bury her in my heart.
I have no mother.
I look straight into her eyes and hope she sees it in mine.
My father takes the stand next.
“Mr. Montgomery,” the attorney asks, “in your opinion, who is more capable of caring for your granddaughter?”
“She should have stayed with her husband,” he says bluntly, looking right at me. “Running off in the middle of the night to live with another man was reckless and selfish.”
My throat burns.
Ethan rubs slow circles on my back behind me, steady, grounding.
“I’m here,” he whispers.
When my father steps down, he doesn’t look at me.
And the message is clear:
You’re on your own.
He’s gone, too.
Now, it’s up to my witnesses.
Josh goes first.
“Who are you to Ms. Montgomery?” my lawyer asks.
Josh looks at me, calm as ever. “I’m not her biological father, but I sure do love her like a daughter. Have since she came over for Thanksgiving dinner.” My eyes water.
“Mia is my granddaughter. No questions about that.”
My lawyer continues, and Josh talks about how I care for Mia and for everyone around me, how Mia is happy and has everything she needs.
Kevin’s attorney tries to poke holes, but gets nowhere.
Then Lily is called.
She walks up with her chin high, smile bright.
“How do you see Ms. Montgomery and her daughter?”
“They’re my daughter and granddaughter.” Lily looks at me, then at my parents, her opinion of them written clearly on her face. “Any parent should be lucky to have them in their lives.”
She talks about our morning dance-offs, our story-and-song bedtime routine. “Those two brought happiness and love into my home. No matter what, they’ll always be family.”
Kevin’s attorney again has nothing.
Next is Cas, the sheriff badge gleaming on his chest.
He testifies to my cooperation with authorities, my parenting, how I care for elderly customers at my shop, how I took care of Penny when she was kidnapped. He calls Mia his niece, always will be.
Then Dex, Jace… each sharing small but real moments.
How Mia feels loved here.
Safe here.
Wanted here.
Then Jude stands.
My eyes immediately sting because I know how much he hates attention, and how much it costs him to do this.
“Summer is the kind of mother you read about in books or only see in movies.” He looks right at me. “Up until I saw her with Mia, I thought only my own mother was that selfless. But she proved me wrong.”
A tear slips down. Ethan squeezes my hand.
“And Mia is the brightest, happiest little girl I’ve ever met. If you take her back to her father, you’re not just taking her from a wonderful mother. You’re taking her from uncles and aunts, grandparents, and an entire town that is richer because they’re here.”
Oh, Jude.
I place my hand over my heart and nod at him.
I whisper, Thank you.
And then, Ethan takes the stand.
The courtroom holds its breath.
“Mr. Hawthorne,” my lawyer asks, “how would you describe your relationship with Ms. Montgomery and her daughter?”
Ethan looks at me.
“Summer is the woman I love, the other part of my soul. And Mia…” He shakes his head, smiling softly. “I may not be her biological father, and I’m not trying to replace him. But to me? She’s my daughter in every sense that matters.”
I gasp. Tears spill again.
He talks about pancakes and bedtime stories, tiny dancer ballet classes, cutting the Christmas tree.
But the line that shatters me open:
“She deserves a man who shows up. And I will. Always.”
Judge Hale studies him carefully.
Then Kevin’s lawyer steps forward, smile sharp as a blade.
“Mr. Hawthorne, you are aware Ms. Montgomery left Mr. Masters’ home a little over six months ago?”
Ethan tenses, but stays controlled.
“Yes.”
“And you’ve only known her since September?”
“Yes.”
“And yet you allowed her to move in immediately?”
Ethan swallows. “They moved in because it was safe. Mia is loved and cared for. That’s what matters.”
“So you acted on emotion, not reason?”
“I acted on what was best for them both. Emotion and reason aren’t opposites when you’re protecting the people you love.”
She pounces. “You’ve never raised a child. You have no custody experience.”
“I’m a firefighter and EMT. I know how to care for people. And more importantly, I’ve spent the last four months learning everything about Mia. Her routines, likes, dislikes, allergies, doctors, school. And learning all of it was never a burden.”
A murmur ripples through the room.
Kevin’s lawyer presses on. “Your relationship is new. Isn’t this impulsive?”
“I’ve known for months that Summer is the one for me, and that Mia is my daughter, blood or not. Mia is thriving. That’s not impulsive. That’s responsibility.”
Her eyes harden. “And at Ms. Montgomery’s workplace, you used force against Mr. Masters, didn’t you?”
Ethan’s voice stays even. “Mr. Masters threatened Summer. He grabbed her and refused to let go when asked. What I did was protection, not violence.”
My heart swells.
He’s everything I want for Mia.
Kevin’s lawyer tries one last jab. “So you feel it’s acceptable to use force when someone disagrees with you?”
“No,” Ethan says. “I feel it’s acceptable to protect a woman from abuse.”
The judge scribbles notes.
I don’t dare hope yet, but something in me settles.
Ethan hasn’t wavered.
He isn’t going to.
And that, that is worth more than anything money can buy.
We’re minutes away from closing arguments when the courtroom doors swing open.
People start flooding in.
The diner owner.
The old lady from the local bakery.
Mia’s preschool teacher.
Pastor Hayes.
Joe, the mechanic.
Clients from my coffee shop.
Every single employee from the Hawthorne B my eyes are fixed on my sister.
Tears shimmer in hers. “My sister, Summer Montgomery, has always been a good mother to Mia. Even when her ex-husband, Kevin Masters, came home late, left her alone with a newborn, never looked twice at his own daughter, and had other women in his life ever since he got engaged to my sister.”
“She’s lying!” Kevin yells.
The judge sighs, frustrated. “Order.”
“Court is adjourned,” he says firmly, though he hasn’t given his ruling yet. He rises from his bench. “I have come to my decision.” His voice fills the room, steady, unreadable.