Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 16103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Our grandmother raised us after our mother and father decided three little girls cut into their time to party. Gramma Liz died two years ago, leaving us each a small inheritance. When I graduated from college last spring, Jazzy, Skylar, and I decided to take a chance and pool all our inheritance money together to finance a boutique dedicated to curvy women. The three of us have spent our entire lives hunting for clothing that complements our full figures.
We chose Silver Spoon Falls for our new adventure after Jazzy traveled to the small Texas town for a conference. She fell in love with the small yet quirky town and forced us to come and visit to see for ourselves. From the second I stepped foot here, I felt like I’d finally found my forever home.
Since I have an accounting degree, I take care of the business side while Jazzy uses her fashion merchandising background to run the buying side. Skylar invested her inheritance in the boutique and will help with staffing while she takes online classes to finish her marketing degree.
“Here, let me help you.” Jazzy, my older sister pushes the door open. “I was just about to call you again.” She grabs the coffee cup from my hand and helps herself to some of my white chocolate mocha before locking the door behind us.
“I had to go slow. Sheriff Armstrong followed me all the way here,” I admit and prepare myself for her lecture. “And I have to go to court for this ticket.”
“Court? Why?” Jazzy slams her hands down on her hips.
“I uh…” She’s going to flip. “Sheriff Armstrong added reckless driving to my speeding ticket,” I explain, leaving out the part where he threatened to take me to jail.
“Yikes.” She winces. “That’s not good. I told you to get Betsy fixed,” Jazzy tacks on her older sister dig.
“I haven’t had time.” Or money, I add silently. My sister would insist on helping me if she knew how fast my savings is dwindling, but I refuse to add any more to her already full plate. “Once we get Curvology up and running, I’ll make sure to take her to the garage.”
Chapter 2
LEX
I walk through the courthouse’s back entrance and run into the clerk of court.
“I’m so glad I caught you.” Melissa Monte walks up and smiles at me. “I’m afraid Judge Hamilton caught the nasty flu bug going around town.” I rub the back of my neck, hoping she gets to the point of this so I can grab a cup of coffee before my first session. “So, I’m going to need you to preside over traffic court this morning.” What the fuck?
Melissa has been the court clerk for as long as I can remember. In fact, my father hired her when I was still in grade school. She’s like an honorary aunt to my younger sister, Wren, and me. “What about the cases on my docket?” I ask.
“I’ve arranged to have them pushed back until eleven am. There are only two traffic court cases, so you should be done with time to spare.” Fuck my life.
I’ve spent the last several years in Las Vegas. For five years, I was an Assistant DA in the Crimes Against Women division, then I became a family court judge. When my dad announced his retirement after forty years on the bench in Silver Spoon Falls, I reevaluated my life and realized I wasn’t happy in Las Vegas. Within weeks, I’d moved back to my hometown to finish my dad’s term. Now, I have two years to decide if I want to continue along this path or find another one.
The small-town courthouse doesn’t run the same as a large city court. Judges move around and cover wherever we’re needed. In my opinion, it’s a fucking crazy way to work, but it’s the way things have been done in Silver Spoon Falls since the Civil War so I doubt things will be changing anytime soon.
“Okay,” I tell Melissa and turn to head to my office.
“By the way,” she calls to me. “I had your office refrigerator filled with bottled water. It’s best if you avoid the Silver Spoon Falls water until you’re settled in.”
She’s the third person that’s mentioned the Silver Spoon Falls water since I arrived last week. First, the clerk at the convenience store recommended I buy bottled water, and then, my sister made a remark about me avoiding the town water that was seconded by my dad’s housekeeper. I make a mental note to investigate what the fuck is going on with everyone before making my way to my new office, the same office my dad had for the last four decades.
Not ready to tempt Karma or fate or whatever evil force is contaminating the water, I grab a bottle of water and pour it into the ancient coffeemaker my father left me. While my much-needed coffee brews, I look around at all the boxes stacked up and realize I’m going to have to spend my weekend organizing this shit before it drives me nuts.