Page 126 of Backup Plan

And Dad’s lawyers didn’t even cross-examine him.

I can’t quite figure out what the hell Paul is doing, but it doesn’t seem like he’s trying very hard to plant doubt that my father did this.

Which means…well, exactly what it should mean. My father is going to face jail time for what he did. I glance at the members of the jury, and it’s hard to get a read on any of them. But if I were over there, I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have any doubts that he did it.

When we meet for dinner at the Bradley Mansion later that evening, I can’t help but ask aloud over pizza, “What the hell was Dad’s lawyer doing not cross-examining Archer or the rest of us?”

Madden clears his throat. “I asked him. He said Dad adamantly refused to put any of us on the stand.”

“Why? Couldn’t they have tried to pin it on Archer?” I ask.

Archer glares at me, and I mouth sorry to him.

“I think Dad is just finally owning up to his mistakes,” Madden says. “He’s done enough damage, and he knows that Archer has gotten close with the rest of us again. I think he didn’t want to jeopardize that.”

“Well, I gotta hand it to the guy. At least he gave us that,” Archer says, and he lifts his beer. “To the end of this trial, and to everyone getting what they deserve.”

“Here, here,” the rest of us echo as we raise our glasses and press them together in the middle.

I hope his words come true because we all deserve a break after losing our mother in December only to find out what a deceitful bastard our father had been all these years at about the same time.

As I look around the room, I can’t help but think how much has changed in just the past year for the people sitting around this table. First, our parents aren’t here but would have been a year ago.

Madden met Kennedy, and now they’re getting married.

Ainsley literally ran into Dex, and now they’re married and raising Jack together.

Everleigh met Maverick, and they just got married last month.

Ford and Tatum didn’t marry for love—at first—but they’re sure as hell in love now.

Archer and Millie are engaged.

And then there’s me, the man who ran into his sister’s best friend one night at a neighborhood bar, and the rest is history.

I can’t help but wonder when it’ll happen for Ivy, too. She’ll be next, and I can’t imagine who will be sitting at this table months or years from now in the seat beside her.

Through it all, the seven of us have each other, and we all deserve the very best. So yes, I take a gulp from my bottle as I hope all of us get what we deserve.

* * *

We pick up the boys from Wilma’s house on our way home, and we’ve decided to talk to them tonight about San Diego.

We park in the parking garage, and then we take the boys and Liora for a walk along the Lakefront Trail. It was Penny’s suggestion to have this conversation somewhere new and different instead of at home.

We stumble upon a bench, and Penny has the boys sit on it. She takes their picture there, something they’re used to, and then she slips her phone into her pocket. “Hey boys, can we talk for a minute?”

“About what?” Sammy asks.

“Tomorrow we’re going to take a trip to San Diego, and we’re going to move into a house there with Liam.” She wrings her hands a little nervously at the end.

“Can I bring my iPad?” Benji asks, and I chuckle.

“Yes, baby. Of course. You can bring whatever you want.”

“Lego sets?” Sammy asks.

She nods. “Even your video games.”