Page 37 of More Than Anything

“So I was wondering… Would you consider dropping the charges if she promises me she’ll leave you alone?”

Avery thought for a few seconds. “She sitting right there?”

“No, no. She’s out in the holding area. I wanted to talk to you alone before I called her in. I’m not happy about being called down here on a Saturday afternoon, but my daddy and her grandpa Donald were good friends, so I’m doing it as a courtesy to the family. Otherwise, she’d sit here until Monday.”

“You don’t think that would do her some good?” Avery asked.

JudgeBennett laughed. “I didn’t say that! But I hate to see this happen to her when I know she knows better. This thing with the farm is really eating at her. After everything that’s happened to her, if I can spare her a little grief, I will,” he said. Avery didn’t know what he meant by that and, at that moment, he really didn’t care.

He thought about it for a few more seconds before he said, “Yeah, sure. Can you make it a stipulation that she has to call me and apologize?”

“I most certainly can. I was going to suggest it anyway. And you let me know if that apology’s not sincere, you hear me?”

Avery chuckled. “I sure will. Thank you, your honor.”

“You’re more than welcome. Have a good evening.”

So Lydia would be calling to apologize. Yeah, he wasn’t holding his breath for that.

The sun had gone down and Avery was piled up in the big bed in his room, watching a documentary about the Titanic, when his phone rang: Lydia’s number. He looked at it, then thoughtHere we go!before he answered it. “Hello?”

“Avery?”

“Yes?”

“It’s LydiaKinsey.”

I’m not cutting her any slack, he decided. “Yes, I know. What do you want?”

There was silence for a few seconds. Finally, just about the time he thought she’d hung up, he heard her say softly, “I’m sorry.”

“What?”I shouldn’t poke at her, he thought, but he had to do it.

“I said I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve been bothering you, but I just… well, I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted?ifyou’re going to leave me alone now.”

“I am.” He waited. Finally, she said, “I just wish you understood why…”

“I wish I did too, Lydia, but yelling and screaming at me, threatening me, filing all kinds of crazy legal documents against me, none of that is going to help me understand. It just makes me mad, puts me on the defensive, and makes me want to throw you to the wolves. Surely you can understand that.”

“Yes. I do. And I’m sorry. It’s just that… well, I can’t. I can’t explain it.”

“Or won’t,” he interjected.

“Yes. Or won’t. I’ve been hurt too much. I won’t give anyone any more ammunition to hurt me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Lydia, really, I don’t.”

“But you’re hurting me now.”

“Not on purpose. Never on purpose. But I can’t just walk away from a piece of property that I’ve staked all my hopes and dreams on. This is my home now. It’s my place in the world. And I can’t just turn tail and run when the going gets tough.”

“I understand.” There was silence again.

“You still there?” Avery asked after a few seconds.

“Yes.”