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me?”
    “Crow admitted being with the girl and even said they left the party and went to the woods. He said they’d been kissing, but that he didn’t hurt her. He swore he didn’t hurt her.”
    Aurelia cursed under her breath.
    Jeb spoke again. “His dad’s hired a lawyer. Raymond Butler. We asked Crow a few questions, but his lawyer wouldn’t let him answer any more.”
    “Raymond Butler’s such a slick bastard,” she said. “But he’s sure good in the courtroom, if it comes to that.” She waited a moment. “I hope this doesn’t go to trial, Jeb.”
    “Yeah, me too.”
    The judge didn’t speak for a long moment, and Jeb thought the line was disconnected. “Judge?”
    “Yeah, I’m here.” Then she asked, “What time did this happen?”
    “About midnight, we think. You can’t serve as judge on this case,” said Jeb.
    “You’re right about that,” said Aurelia. Aurelia was a powerful woman in this town. It was difficult to think of another judge stepping in to fill her role as protector of the community, but given the fact that Crow was Bobby’s best friend, there was no way she could take this on.
    “I’ll call a county judge from Jasper,” said Jeb. “We should have someone who doesn’t live here, don’t you think?”
    “Absolutely,” said Aurelia. “But will you call me after the hearing tomorrow?”
    “Sure,” said Jeb.
    Judge Bailey set in order the papers on her desk, made a few more calls, then dialed her own number. “Bobby?” she said when he answered in a sleepy voice. “You up?”
    “Yeah.”
    She had no idea how to say the next thing.

Six
    J OHNNY DID NOT hear about Crow until his father called around noon on Sunday. Carl soft-pedaled the news. He urged Johnny to stay in the north Georgia woods to finish the course. Carl had helped finance the course for the school, though he did it mostly for Johnny. Carl had always worried more about Johnny than Crow.
    “But I want to come home,” Johnny said.
    “You can come home with the rest of the group,” Carl told him. “On Tuesday.”
    “Why does Crow have to stay all night in jail?”
    “We can’t post bail on Sunday, son. Don’t worry.”
    “I want to see to him,” said Johnny.
    “Wait until Tuesday.”
    “I’m coming home,” Johnny insisted. “I’ll get somebody else to bring me home.”
    “Okay,” said Carl. “I’ll come get you. If you have to leave, I’ll come.”
                      
    On a full moon in late July, Johnny came into this world, and Carl gathered his pride around him. He had the boy he wanted—though Helen had prayed for a girl.
    “I carried this child so high,” Helen said. “I thought if I carried a baby high, it’d be a girl.” She couldn’t hide her disappointment.
    With Crow’s birth, Carl hadn’t shown this much pride. He couldn’t help thinking how Crow had come from another man; and though he’d grown to love Crow as his own, had given Crow the family name, Johnny was his blood son.
    “Look at him, Helen!” He was yelling. “Just look!” Carl held the red-splotched baby out to his wife. “I can’t believe it!”
    The baby took Helen’s breast. His tiny mouth searched for a nipple and began to suck. Helen had not seen Carl this happy in years.
    “Where’s Crow?” she asked.
    “He’s with Louise and George. Antony wanted him to spend the night, so I said yes.”
    “But I want to see him. I want Crow here.”
    “C’mon, Helen,” Carl urged. “Let’s enjoy our son.”
    Helen had never heard Carl refer to Crow in this way. He might say “son” or “your son,” but never “our” son. He’d been saving this phrase for the right moment. Helen felt sad for Carl, and sad for herself and Crow.
    Johnny’s sweet breath and affable charm made him adored. As a baby he lay in bed for hours, not whining, his eyes open, satisfied with life.
    Johnny belonged to them, clean and simple. Carl favored him without apology. But as Johnny grew older,