Dinner Without Contracts

Dinner happened at Greta's inn because no Hart house had earned the right.

Greta put soup on the table, bread in a basket, and a stack of blank paper beside every plate.

Elise stared at the paper. "You are joking."

"Notes," Greta said. "Not contracts. I am old, not reckless."

June sat between Claire and Ruby because she had chosen the chair before anyone else arrived. Claire accepted it with a tight smile. Ruby accepted it with both hands around her water glass. Adam sat at the far end, where people who had betrayed everyone but brought useful ledgers belonged.

Theo sat beside Elise. He did not take her hand under the table. He did not need to. His knee touched hers once, and she let it stay.

No one prayed. No one toasted. They ate like survivors who did not trust quiet yet.

Halfway through soup, June said, "I want to keep June."

Claire put down her spoon.

Ruby nodded before Claire could speak. "It's yours."

"I want Lily in the file," June said. "Not hidden. Not as a secret account. But I am June."

Claire's eyes filled. "Yes."

"And I want both of you at the custody meeting."

Ruby cried openly. Claire reached across June and took Ruby's hand. It was awkward. It was real.

Adam cleared his throat. "I can wait outside the custody meeting and be a cautionary tale."

June looked at him. "You can be a ride if you pass background checks."

It was the kindest insult anyone had given him.

Elise's phone buzzed on the table. Roslyn.

She answered.

"Martin wants a plea," Roslyn said. "Full allocution on Vivian, Lenora, the death claim, Greer, and the van fire. He insists on one condition."

"No."

"You have not heard it."

"I heard Martin."

Roslyn paused. "He wants to speak to you first."

The soup went cold before Elise put the phone down.