The Divorce He Asked For, The Empire I Took Away novel · Chapter 7 of 32

Chapter 7: The Hearing

The courtroom in Santa Rosa was full by nine.

I hadn't expected that.

Growers in clean work shirts filled the back three rows.

A couple of wine club people. The photographer from the party, with no camera this time.

Augie sat in the second row with his arms crossed, taking up two seats.

He'd left Goldie with a neighbor, under protest.

Hers, not his.

Winona sat beside me at the table with her straw hat in her lap and her cane across her knees.

Across the aisle, Dex wore a navy suit and his wedding ring.

I noticed that.

I'd stopped wearing mine.

Coralee sat behind him in pale pink, with a tissue ready.

His lawyer was a silver-haired man from San Francisco who charged more per hour than my tractor was worth.

I had no lawyer.

I had a shoebox.

The judge was a tired woman with reading glasses on top of her head.

"Mr. Arnott," she said. "Tell me about this lease."

Dex took the stand.

"Seven years ago, I sat on that porch with Mr. Kessel." He shook his head, fond. "Hell of a man. He knew what I was building. He shook my hand and said, 'Ten years, son. The Old Block's yours for ten years.'"

"Was it written down?"

"Out here, Your Honor, a handshake is a contract. Ask anyone in this room."

He looked at the growers in the back.

None of them nodded.

"And you've paid for the fruit each year?" the judge asked.

"Every year. On time." He smiled at me. "My wife handled the paperwork. She can confirm it."

"Ms. Kessel?"

I stood up.

"He paid every year. By the ton. For that year's fruit."

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