The court erupted in applause. Liam looked around as Marisa, Sam, Tara, Joe, Bay, Danny, Patrick, the reporters, and people sitting in the gallery joined in. His eyes met Lily's at the defense table, and he saw that she was clapping harder than anyone. The judge allowed the applause to go on for a few beats, and then she banged her gavel.

Edward and his lawyer were huddled, heads close together in conference. The judge stared at them with dispassion, waiting for a response.

“Your Honor,” Lindsey said, “Mr. Hunter already has unfulfilled obligations to one daughter . . . and I submit that his reasons for maintaining to want to know Rose are a sham that go hand in hand with his proven history of abuse. Now, if he would like to pay child support to Rose Malone . . .”

“We withdraw our motion!” Edward's lawyer said hurriedly.

“The child, Rose Malone,” the judge said, “has the right to know who her father is, as well as a right to parental support. Ms. Malone, if you would like me to enter an order compelling Mr. Hunter to take a paternity test . . .”

“No!” Lily said sharply. “I mean, thank you, Your Honor.”

Edward spoke to his lawyer, stood up, and started down the aisle.

“Your Honor,” the lawyer said, “Mr. Hunter asked to request a recess, so that he can—”

Joe Holmes stepped into the aisle, right in Edward's path. He spread his legs, flashed his badge. “FBI,” he said. “And Mr. Hunter, you're under arrest, for violations of the Child Support Recovery Act.”

“How's that for the wheels of justice?” Tara asked under her breath, catching Edward's eye as Joe snapped on the cuffs. “The local cops can get him for what he did to Maeve too.” Across the aisle, reporters were scribbling madly in their pads, and courtroom artists were capturing the scene with sketch paper and charcoal for the afternoon news cycle.

The judge banged down her gavel, telling the marshals to clear the court. Lily was the first down the aisle, right into Liam's arms. Then he watched as she hugged everyone from Hubbard's Point, and everyone from Cape Hawk. She saved her biggest hugs for Judy and Rebecca.

“Thank you,” Lily said, holding Rebecca. “How can I ever tell you how much it means to me, that you'd be so brave and stand up this way?”

“I'm so, so proud of you, sweetheart,” Judy said as tears ran from her eyes, down her cheeks and the edge of her scar.

“I did it for us, Mom,” Rebecca said, her hazel eyes gleaming. “And I did it for Rose.”

“Rose?” Lily asked.

“My half-sister,” Rebecca said.

Chapter 28

Chapter 28