Tommy delivered the whiskey to Katherine, who added it to a mixture she was stirring. Katherine’s coloring and cough were so bad he sat her down and prepared a honeyed tea for her. She actually fell asleep at the table, head on her arms, in the time it took him to fuss with the kettle at the stove. She stirred and woke when he set the fragrant tea in front of her, but her eyes were slits. She ran her fingers along her neck. “Glands are swollen. Fighting something.”
“I can’t leave you like this,” Tommy said.
She waved him off. “Go. I’m fine. The drink will help.”
He stared at her, blue veins visible beneath her pale skin. “Go, Tommy. Please. It won’t help for you to stand here staring at me. Tea will perk me up.”
“No, rest while I’m gone, when Mama sleeps.”
“I’ll rest when I’m dead,” she said with a half smile.
“No. No more dying.”
“I’ve eighty more years to live, at least . . .”
“Let’s hope we both do.”
He knew Katherine was right; staying there, watching Mama sleep and Katherine worry would be useless. He left for the courthouse before dawn cracked at the horizon. The hearing for Yale wasn’t until later, but he wasn’t willing to wait for a public display to demand answers. Judge Calder arrived and stopped at the sight of Tommy. “I’m not the judge of record, Tommy. Smythton is.”
Tommy followed him into his chambers.
“Get out,” Judge Calder said.
“I know things about you, Judge. If you think you’re just going to roll right over Yale and hurt her because she’s already vulnerable, you’re the idiot you think she is.”
“That’s going to help you? Coming in here, chest pushed out, insulting me?”
Tommy felt his powerlessness like a boulder on the chest. Like with the reverend, Tommy could certainly tell everyone everything the judge was up to, but people either wouldn’t believe him or would be too afraid to cross the judge. “Don’t send Yale away. Please. Mama will . . . Please. For all the years you knew us before I showed up in your courtroom, when your wife and Mama were friends. You were my parents’ friend. I’ll do whatever you want to make it up to you. I’ll work for free for you . . . forever.” Tommy shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
“You can’t give me what I want, Tommy. Don’t be a stupid asshole. I’ll have to commit you into Glenwood along with your sister if you keep it up with this absurdity, thinking you have anything I want.”
“Then what? Why’re you doing this? Because my dead grandfather lost your money more than half a decade ago? You look to be doing fine to me.”
Judge Calder loosened his tie and retied it. “The mysteries of the universe, Arthur. They’re really something when they have you by the balls. He’s not the only Arthur I have business with.”
The clerk stuck his head into the judge’s chambers. “All right?”
The judge scoffed. “’Course I’m all right.” He stared at Tommy. “You’ll have your day in court. Out.”
Tommy couldn’t move. “Please.”
The judge turned away, a policeman entered the chambers and marched Tommy out.