“That’s not going to happen, Stuart. You need to find somewhere else to stay tonight. I never want to see you again.”

“No . . .” he says, looking confused. He actually reaches for my hand, not in an aggressive way, but as if we’re still a couple.

“Don’t make me scream,” I snarl. “There are a dozen cops who would like nothing more than to shoot you. And I swear, if I see you anywhere near the house, I’ll shoot you myself.”

He relaxes his grip and smiles at me, his expression totally out of sync with reality.

“I understand,” he says. “This must be incredibly emotional for you. Take some time to be alone with Jacob. You’ve earned it. We can talk about this tomorrow.”

I watch him leave the courtroom. It’s not until he fades from view that I’m able to breathe again. I’m going to take Jacob away—tonight. Somewhere I can start again.

59. ELLA BRODEN

59.

ELLA BRODEN

Dana Goodwin’s words still ring in my ears when I turn to face Gabriel again. She was right about one thing: she is the very last person on earth from whom I should take relationship advice. Then again, I think she’s also right. Nothing is more important than being with someone you love.

My father has come through the railing separating the spectators from the participants. He came to watch what he assumed would be the closing arguments.

“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” he says.

It occurs to me that this will be his first time meeting Gabriel. At least as my boyfriend. They met during the investigation into Charlotte’s murder, but never since then. Even on Thanksgiving, we agreed to go to our separate families. My thinking at the time was that it was too soon after Charlotte’s death to subject my father to guests; Gabriel had said that he understood, even though I could tell he feared that I still didn’t view him as meet-the-father material.

“Dad, do you remember Gabriel Velasquez?”

My father shakes Gabriel’s hand and offers him a big smile. “Of course I do. So nice to see you under better circumstances. Ella has told me so much about you.”

“She speaks of you all the time too, sir.”

My father laughs. “Sir? No, that will not do. Clint, please.” To me he says, “Ella, after you finish up here, I’d like very much to take you and Gabriel out to celebrate. Would you both do me that honor?”

When he’s nervous, my father can be overly formal. Do me that honor? I find it sweet that being around Gabriel makes him uneasy. I don’t recall him ever acting that way around Jeffrey or my other boyfriends. There must have been something in the way I’ve described my life with Gabriel that has given my father reason to believe this relationship has legs.