“We go to get Archie,” Helen declared, and holding out an arm for Maria to hook on to she led the way back into court.

Marcy said to Dan, “It feels wrong to walk away as if we’re strangers now. What usually happens in these situations?”

“This isn’t like any other,” he told her wryly, “but we don’t have to walk away, we can at least wait to wish him well.”

“Should we celebrate?” she said, turning to her daughter, who was already looking hostile to the idea. “Do you think they’ll want to come to ours?” She grimaced slightly at the bizarreness of inviting the arsonist back into their home.

“No,” Claudia said shortly. “It’s out of the question, Mum.”

Marcy shrugged, not arguing.

“There you all are,” Richie declared, coming to join them with his voice recorder in hand. “What a story, huh? Didn’t see the suspended sentence coming, I guess none of us did. So now I’m going to need some quotes to get up on the website. Who’s up for it?”

Henry quickly said, “Speaking on behalf of the family, the judge is to be commended for her understanding of how important it is to give second chances to those who deserve them.”

Apparently satisfied with that, Richie turned to Dan. “A great triumph for restorative justice today?”

Dan’s expression was sardonic as he said, “I’m happy to give you an in-depth at some point to make sure we’ve got everything straight, but for now: I’m extremely pleased by this outcome.”

“And what next for Archie, do you think?” Richie prompted.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Marcy replied, and Richie turned to find Archie himself, with his mother clinging to one arm and Helen on the other side of him, coming toward them.

He seemed taller, Marcy thought, and perhaps less gaunt, smarter too thanks to his suit, although his eyes remained wary and hesitant, as though he wasn’t quite able to believe this was happening.

Going to him, Dan wrapped him in an embrace. “Well done,” he said warmly. “We’re all pleased with the verdict.” Standing back to look at him, he added, “I trust you are too?”

Archie broke into an unsteady laugh and Marcy realized this was the first time she’d seen him smile. He was a very handsome young lad.

His eyes finally came to hers, and not hesitating for a moment she walked toward him, arms open to embrace him.

“I have to be honest,” she said, through the lump in her throat, “never in my life would I have imagined a day like this, much less actually feeling happy about it.”

“Yeah, it’s definitely a strange one,” he agreed, sounding emotional and self-conscious. “Like I said in my note, I owe you big-time . . .”

She waved it away as Jasmine and Claudia came to shake his hand.