For most of the afternoon, I had been telling myself the party was going well.

Word count: ~1,500 words

The county courthouse was cold, smelling of stale coffee, floor wax, and restless anxiety.

I sat on a wooden bench in the back of the courtroom alongside Arthur, wearing a sharp navy-blue blazer and dark slacks. Across the aisle, sitting alone at the defense table, was Luca.

He looked like a man who hadn't slept in three days. His designer suit was rumpled, his hair was uncombed, and dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes. When he caught sight of me sitting across the aisle, his expression twisted into a mask of pure, poisonous hatred.

He stood up, walking toward our table with clenched fists, but two armed bailiffs immediately stepped into his path, resting their hands on their utility belts.

“Back to your table, Mr. Carter,” the lead bailiff warned.

Luca stopped, pointing a trembling finger directly at my face.

“This is your fault,” he snarled, his voice echoing off the high ceiling of the courtroom. “You ruined my mother’s life! You destroyed our family over a temper tantrum!”

I didn't flinch. I didn't look away. I simply stared at him with absolute, icy indifference—the exact look my grandmother used to give men who tried to intimidate her.

“Mr. Carter, one more outburst and I will hold you in contempt of court,” Judge Alpert’s stern voice boomed from the bench as he entered the courtroom, adjusting his black robes. “Sit down.”

Luca swallowed hard, glaring at me one last time before retreating to his seat.

“All rise for the Honorable Judge Alpert,” the bailiff announced.

We all stood as the judge took his seat, shuffling a stack of yellow-backed legal files.

“First case on the docket: State of versus Wendy Carter. Violation of a domestic protective order and criminal trespass.”

A side door opened, and Wendy was led out by a bailiff.

Gone was the arrogant, impeccably groomed matriarch who commanded holiday dinner tables and sneered at my parenting choices. She wore an orange county jumpsuit that swallowed her frame, her hair was limp and unstyled without her weekly salon blowouts, and her eyes darted frantically around the courtroom until they landed on Luca.

“Luca! Luca, get me out of here!” she cried out, her voice cracking with pathetic desperation. “These animals put me in a cell with—!”

“Quiet in the court!” Judge Alpert slammed his gavel down, the sharp crack silencing her instantly. He looked down over his reading glasses at the pale, shaking woman standing before him.

“Mrs. Carter, you were served with a strict, legally binding protective order yesterday afternoon prohibiting you from coming within five hundred yards of your daughter-in-law’s residence,” Judge Alpert said, his voice dripping with severe judicial disapproval. “Instead of complying with the law, you chose to march up to her door, pound on it, and scream threatening obscenities. Is that correct?”

Wendy opened her mouth, her lower lip quivering. “Your Honor, she’s alienating my son! She’s keeping my granddaughter away from us! I was just—!”

“Mrs. Carter, you were trespassing,” the judge interrupted sharply. “You are facing one count of criminal contempt of court and one count of criminal trespass. How do you plead?”

Before Wendy could speak, her court-appointed public defender quickly leaned over, whispering urgently into her ear.

“Not... not guilty, Your Honor,” Wendy stammered.

Judge Alpert reviewed the charging documents, shaking his head slowly. “Given that this violation occurred less than six hours after the protective order was issued, and given your complete disregard for judicial authority, the state’s motion to deny bail is granted. You will remain remanded in county custody pending your trial date next month.”

“Remanded?!” Wendy shrieked, clutching the wooden railing. “You can’t keep me in here! I have high blood pressure! I need my medication! Luca, do something!”

Luca leapt to his feet, waving his arms frantically. “Your Honor! Please! My mother is an elderly woman! She can’t survive in jail! I’ll post bond! I’ll pay whatever fine you want!”

“Mr. Carter, if you speak one more word without being recognized by this court, you will be joining your mother in the holding cell behind me,” Judge Alpert warned coldly. “Bail is denied. Next case.”

The gavel struck one final time.

Two bailiffs stepped forward, grabbing Wendy’s arms as she began to sob hysterically, dragging her backward through the side door as she wailed her son’s name.

Luca collapsed back into his chair, burying his face in his hands, trembling with a mixture of grief, humiliation, and impotent rage.

Arthur leaned over to me, whispering quietly.

“Well, Jessica,” my attorney murmured with a faint, grim smile. “That’s act one. Are you ready for act two?”