Chapter 22: Willa's Name

Willa's POV

The hearing was at nine on Tuesday in a courtroom on the fourth floor of the Allegheny County courthouse.

I wore my grandmother's grey wool dress and the flat shoes I stand in at the bakery.

Sam sat in the row behind me with his hat on his knee.

Bree sat beside him with a cardigan buttoned over her stomach.

My assistant sat on her other side, holding her hand and glaring at the door.

Kyle came in last, with a lawyer I didn't know.

He had shaved, and his suit was pressed, and he did not look at me.

He sat at the other table and folded his hands.

The judge, a heavy woman with half-glasses, looked down at two files.

"This is a hearing on temporary orders in the matter of Rutledge," she said. "I understand there's a development."

Kyle's lawyer stood.

"Your Honor, my client withdraws his petition alleging abandonment. He has instead signed a consent to the respondent's counterclaim."

"Consent to what, Counsel?"

"To an immediate decree. The marital home on Alder Street goes to the respondent in full."

"And the rest?"

"Her business, its lease and its recipes are hers in full. No support is claimed on either side."

The judge turned a page.

"Her name?"

"My client consents to her resumption of her own name."

I didn't breathe.

Nobody had told me he'd agree to that, and no one had asked.

"Mr. Rutledge," the judge said, looking over her glasses. "Is this your signature?"

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