I blinked back at her. It was always the same, she’d come tearing through my life, destroying things left and right, and then act as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t worth it to try and get into the pain she caused or attempt to make her see the consequences of her actions. It would be a waste of energy and precious time. “Drive safely.” I glanced past her to see a cab idling. “Wait. What happened to your new car?”

Her lips pursed. “I might’ve spent some money before I should’ve. I had to return it.”

Apparently, Grant’s bribe came with a money-back guarantee. I grinned. Served the woman right.

Janet looked over to the main house. “Don’t you want to get rid of this monstrosity? You could get a great condo in a Seattle high-rise.” She flashed me a grin. “Maybe get me one across the hall…we could hang all of the time. Really reconnect.”

I swallowed back my snort of laughter. “I think I’ll pass.”

Janet shrugged. “I had to give it one more try. I’ll see you around, Doodle Bug.”

I cringed at the nickname she’d called me throughout my childhood, but Janet missed the reaction, already heading back to the sedan with a wave of her fingers. I stared as the cab disappeared down the gravel drive. I’d never understood how I could’ve come from her. Janet was careless with her affections and her animosity, flitting back and forth between the two like a tennis player trying to cover both sides of the court.

I would never be that. My friendship, my care, my love, they would always be steadfast. Especially to the little being growing inside me. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, silently sending all the love inside me towards my little one, wanting it to be the first thing he or she felt from me.

My eyes popped open at the sound of tires on the gravel once again. This time it wasn’t a cab that made its way down the drive. My spine stiffened, but I stood my ground. I wouldn’t run from this, and Grant would learn that I, like the judge, couldn’t be paid off.

He brought the sportscar to a screeching halt in front of my guest house. He looked ridiculous climbing from the vehicle that was so low to the ground, the gravel had probably injured the undercarriage. “Kenna, we need to talk.”

I raised my chin. “I’m pretty sure we have nothing left to talk about.”

Grant’s jaw hardened as he crossed to my front door. “You need to stop with this ridiculous charade and give The Gables back to my family. It’s ours.”