Secrets in a Still Life, Kari Ganske [best fiction books to read .TXT] 📗

with a wave of a hand and throwing a cardigan at me. "And for the record, your Aunt Delores had impeccable taste."

I hid my snort behind a cough. Auntie Delores gave Mom a run for her money in terms of outlandish prints. She even liked to mix and match them in inventive ways. According to my aunt, cheetahs and zebras lived together in the same country, so they could live together on her body as well.

I checked the time. "It'll have to do. I'm running late already."

"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Mom asked for the bajillionth time.

"Yes. I'll be fine. I'll apologize profusely, promise to pay for the damages, and be on my way," I said. Although I wouldn't have minded the moral support, I knew my mother wouldn't be able to refrain from talking. And based on my many years of true crime binge-watching, silence was golden in the courtroom.

"Call if you need anything," Mom said as I shut the door of her car. She gave a wave as I backed down the driveway and headed to the courthouse.

I sat in the back row, head lowered, and waited for my turn. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long since there were only a few minor traffic violations and a drunk-and-disorderly ahead of me. The sooner this was over, the sooner I could go crawl back under my rock.

"Now, Mr. Oliphant, this isn't your first time standing before me," the judge said. Mr. Oliphant hung his head dutifully. "Now I know a man likes to have a cold one or two after a hard day's work."

Mr. Oliphant lifted his head expectantly.

"But," the judge continued, "it isn't fair to the citizens of Piney Ridge to have drunkards wandering through town being belligerent. Especially when they aren't wearing any pants."

Mr. Oliphant hung his head again. "I 'pologized 'bout that," he mumbled. "Not my proudest moment."

"I would guess not. I'm ordering you to three hundred hours of community service to be served at the businesses along Main Street since that is where you ran amok. If I find you in front of me again, Mr. Oliphant, it will be jail time." The judge leaned forward and added, "Listen, Teddy, just stay home and drink. Lock yourself in the house if you have to. Or call your sister to babysit you."

"I know, I know," Mr. Oliphant said. "Thanks, Judge."

"Pick up your order and pay the court fine on your way out." He looked at his docket. "Alexandretta Lightwood."

I stood and walked to the front of the courtroom, avoiding eye contact with everyone else.

"Go get 'em, Lexi," a familiar voice whispered as I passed the front row. I snapped my head around, hoping I mis-recognized the voice. But no, Linc sat there with an amused smile on his handsome face. Perfect. I rolled my eyes to the heavens but didn't stop moving. Was he going to be present for all of my misfortunes from now on?

"Lightwood," the judge repeated. "Any chance you're Connie and George's girl?"

"That's me," I squeaked. A small laugh bubbled from the gallery. I cleared my throat. Off to a great start.

"You're the one who knocked over the Welcome sign," he said without even looking down. My reputation preceded me.

"Also me," I said with an apologetic smile.

"I have the police reports here. It seems pretty cut and dry. Anything you want to say for yourself before I proceed with sentencing?"

I paled. Sentencing sounded serious. Still, if Mr. Oliphant could run through town pantless and only get community service, perhaps my punishment wouldn't be so severe.

"I'm really sorry. It was totally an accident. I'm happy to pay for the damages. Although, depending on how much it will be, I might need a payment plan."

The judge smiled. "According to the estimate from our local woodsmith, the sign itself wasn't damaged. You'll be responsible for replacing the posts and the labor to remount it. Truth be told, I'm surprised a strong gust of wind didn't knock that rotted thing down sooner."

"Thank you, sir," I said. I'd thought the same thing.

"I'm also ordering one hundred hours of community service to be served with the fire department," he said.

I almost opened my mouth to protest, to ask for a few nights in jail instead. The fire department meant I'd have to see Linc. A lot. Well, at least for one hundred hours, much more than I'd planned on spending with him. I tried to avoid awkward situations as much as possible. And things between me and Linc definitely qualified as awkward.

"Ms. Lightwood? Did you hear me?" Judge Cockran asked. I refocused on him. "One hundred hours community service, and you'll surrender your driver's license for three months or until you complete a driver's safety class."

"Three months? How am I supposed to get to my community service?" I asked before my brain reconnected to my mouth. When it finally caught up, I backpedaled. "I mean, thank you, sir. That's very kind. I promise to stay out of trouble from now on."

Finding a body notwithstanding, of course. But I kept that thought to myself.

"See that you do. Pick up your order, hand over your license, and pay the court fine on your way out," he said. He moved on to the next case as I hung my head and exited the side door toward the clerk's office.

A little while later, sans license, I was trying to figure out how to get my mother's car—and myself—home as I exited the courthouse into the bright sun of the afternoon. I squinted my eyes, adjusting them from the artificial light of the inside, and ran smack into someone before they could adjust fully.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," Linc said, holding me by my elbows to steady me. "If I didn't know any better, I'd