Drew

Adie jumps down carelessly from Vivien's desk, and the judge attempts to catch her. Fortunately, the waiting bailiff, an older, heavyset man who had looked bored up until now, catches her, and Adie grins up at him.

"Thanks, mister. Do you like cookies, too?"

"I love them," the bailiff says seriously, placing her gently on the ground in front of Trace. "You take care of her," he tells Trace gruffly, in a tone low enough that the judge can't hear. "You take care of that little girl."

Trace nods fiercely, and then buries his face against Adie as he holds her tight.

"Andrew Cain, can you come forward please?"

Trace squeezes his shoulder encouragingly, and Drew tries to smile bravely.

"Give 'em hell," I whisper, and he actually grins this time.

"Andrew?"

"Drew," he says quietly, shifting in his chair.

"I'd like to ask you a few questions about your oldest brother, Trace."

"Okay." He looks nervous.

"Drew, can you tell me what it's like in your house? What is it like to live with Trace and Rory and Adie?"

"Well, Adie's crazy," Drew says immediately, and around me the people are laughing. "She asks everyone for cookies, so you're not the only one."

Vivien laughs, and the sound surprises me. It sounds like Kinley's laugh, throaty and infectious, but fierce like the sea.

"Drew, what can you tell me about Trace? Do you feel like he's around, or does he leave you alone often?"

"Oh, he's around," Drew says, rolling his eyes. "He's overprotective, if you ask me. Aaron's dad lets him walk on the island by himself, but Trace never lets me, even during the day. Trace is anal about it"-- he looks guiltily at Trace. "Sorry, he worries, I guess."

Vivien Anise is trying to bite back a smile. "He doesn't leave you alone?"

"Sometimes it's just me and Rory and Adie, but never for very long. Usually just for an hour after school while Trace is still at work. One time, Rory got detention, and Trace wouldn't even let us walk home by ourselves so he left work early."

"He left work early to walk you home?" Vivien looks over at Sara, who purses her lips. "And that was okay with his boss?"

"Yea, I guess, but Trace doesn't like to leave work early cause we really need the money," Drew says, and Trace shifts uncomfortable, not liking their need to be so publicly broadcasted.

"Okay," the judge says kindly. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

Drew shakes his head. "Trace is a good brother," he says stubbornly. "I want to stay with Trace and Ken."