Chapter 25: The Next Chapter

The Atkins and Chisaka family left the court room surrounded in the chorus of celebration as News teams broadcasted the latest and final juncture of the Celeste Atkins case.

"This just in, Dale Hewitt was sentenced to death for the sexual assault and murder of Celeste Atkins. With the public outrage of the case and Hewitt's record of harming children, the judge had this to say. That Mr. Hewitt's crime granted him the mercy of twenty years evading law enforcement and accountability for this despicable conduct. That the justice system had no mercy left to spare. That this murder was a cold, calculated and depraved crack into humanity's values, and that his time had run dry. Celeste Atkins will be his downfall indefinitely, and her memory will be celebrated, while his forgotten. The judge's apathy to the defendant was a greater contrast to her sympathy for the Atkins family – who we see are leaving the court before us. Surely relieved to finally exact justice for their Celeste. They offered crushing impact statements before the ruling, an emotional weight in the courtroom and the jury, all family members on the stand wishing for the verdict today. With any hope, being able to finally heal and move on with her memory – knowing their justice was served. Back to you, Cadence."

Throughout the court proceedings, Max and her family had barely eaten. They met at a breakfast spot, seizing a large seater table to finally eat and absorb the ending. That twenty years of nothing but stagnancy was finally brought back to life with Celeste's memory – granting them the justice she deserved. That it was finally over.

Afterwards, all of them were slowly coming back to their selves after days of grieved fog. Including Eiko, who was berating the cook at the till.

"Over easy means the yolk still runs out of the damn egg. Look at it" She showed her plate to the trembling cook angrily, "They are fully cooked, the yolk is solidified, you know what that means? Means it's over hard! Did your mom not teach you how to cook an egg? Isn't that a requirement for working in a kitchen where it's the main attraction? It says Dumpty's Eggs outside in bold, nauseating, comic sans! You can see it down the fucking freeway! You know what? The name is apt. Looks like you took a massive dump on my plate and charged me seventeen sixty-five for it. Go back, make me what I ordered, and it better be quick so I can enjoy with my family, who are already halfway done their plates!"

The cook snatched the plate in a startle and pathetically walked to the back kitchen. Eiko yelled after him, "I'll give you two minutes to cry in the break room then I expect some culinary skill. My sixteen year old daughter can cook an egg better than you and she doesn't even know how to take a chicken out of the freezer!"

Max said to the table as they all watched Eiko rip the staff a new one. "She's an actual gremlin."

"That's your auntie for you." Yumi chuckled, "She needs to strike fear in at least one person a day or she'll lose it."

Max received a text, catching Edward's attention to her side. He saw a glimpse of her father, and Max said aloud. "Hey, I have a question. Totally up to you guys but… figured I'd ask."

"What is it, Hana?" Jiji asked as he cut his sausage.

"Can… can dad join us?"

The table struck in surprise then. Some dropping their cutlery to gawk at Max as if they were waiting for her to start laughing. Max was earnest in the question, wide eyes almost pleading. Wanting nothing more than to include all the people she loved, even her father.

Sobo was most disturbed. "Oh… I don't know, Hana. I mean, it made sense he was there with us for court, but there is still a lot of things that need to be addressed. Isn't it possible you meet with him later on your own? You and Edward can spend your own time with him, I'm sure."

Before Max could dejectedly accept it was too much to ask, Jiji piped up, "No, dear. It's not up to us. It's up to Yumi, I feel. He's Celeste and Max's father, and despite the past, doesn't change we were all family in that room. All of us. Yumi? What do you think?"

Max amended, "He said he will if it's okay with everyone. Obviously, he's a little skittish, too. But… things are different now. Figured if there was ever a time to mend fences it's now, right?"

Eiko came stomping over with a huff and puff after being a terror to minimum wage staff. Yumi said it surely enough it struck her like a statue. "Of course he can, Max. He's your father."

"Huh?" Eiko struck like a cop. "What's happening?"

Sobo tried to remain well-mannered. "Uh. It seems Jeff will be joining us."

Jiji was discreetly pleased to see them offering the olive branch. He was in no way condoning Jeff's mistakes. However, they remembered the change was only after Celeste's death. As a father to two girls once upon a time, he had sympathy. However, Eiko was less sentimental.

She glared down Yumi for a short moment in silence. "You're pulling my dick right now?"

"Sure, whip it out." Yumi laughed.

"Have you guys lost the plot or something? Am I in the fucking twilight zone? We just went through all of that shit to have a new steaming pile of shit slapped on the table?"

Max groaned in her hands, "Auntie."

The waitress came by in a squeaky voice like a dog toy. "Hey everyone! Need any refills or anything else?"

"Yes, I need a mind condom." Eiko said it in a grunt. "Cause I'm getting mind fucked!"

"Uh… okay." The waitress muttered with a horrified and blank stare.

Jiji confirmed warmly, "We're fine, dear. Thank you."

Edward was trying so hard to stifle his laughter. Pushing the napkin against his mouth as he craned his head, almost letting his glasses fall into the plate. The waitress walked away with a deer in headlights look, and Eiko took that time to rant.

"I get everyone has the fuzzily wuzzilies because we got our way in court, I get it. But are we just going to forget everything he did because of it? Can we take a moment to be realistic here. That man was a drunken asshole, left you," she pointed spitefully at Yumi, then Max, "And you, then ran off only showing his face a few weeks a year for his daughter. Never apologizing, never trying to make things right. He was at court for obvious reasons, doesn't mean we invite him back in!"

Max battled, "What are you talking about? He apologized to me and he's sober. How is that not at least an attempt to make things right?"

"As long as he does right by Max, I don't mind if he sits down for a couple eggs."

Yumi was cut off by Eiko, "Are you serious? He abused you!"

"That was over ten years ago when he was drinking. When he thought there wasn't a snowballs chance we'd ever find Celeste's murderer and look where we are!" Yumi raised her hands up in an almost celebrating way. "We did it! We got the fucker on death row. It's time for a new beginning. Not saying things go back to what they were but grow from where we are now. The more people who loved Celeste and want to celebrate her life with us the better."

"If Celeste was here, she'd want dad with us," shrugged Max in a guilt-trip way to Eiko, who made a droll glare.

"Really. You're gonna pull that card?"

Max said as she took out her phone, "I'm texting him a yes."

Eiko raised a middle finger, "Here. Snap a pic of this for him, too, while you're at it."

"What's your issue with him, honestly. I mean he wasn't your drunk ex-husband, so what's the deal?"

Eiko grumbled a story, "Remember when he skipped out on Max's award ceremony and you, and I tracked him to that bar? Not only did he try to fight James, but he also pissed on my car, called me every name under the sun, then he threw that chicken salad sandwich at me before getting pulled away by the cops."

"Well in his defence, you did come at him with a beer bottle saying you were gonna shove it up his ass." Yumi added dryly.

Max had never heard the story, but she was mostly amused to hear it. Edward was simply confused.

"He never apologized to me! I don't even think he's apologized to you, Yumi."

"That's a conversation between me and him. How else we gonna do that if we're not friendly first?"

Jiji muttered through a mouth of food, "Where did he get the chicken sandwich from?"

"Before Celeste, let's admit it. You and Jeff were thick as thieves," said Yumi. "I remember you saying he was the only guy I've ever been with that you genuinely liked. I remember that, because it was the most startling shit I've ever heard from your mouth!"

"Nope. Don't remember that, sorry," grunted Eiko distantly.

"You did!" Yumi wagged her finger. "You're not just being a defensive sister, you're mad because you lost a friend. Deep down you want to make things right, too. Just give it a shot. Don't do it for me, do it for Max. It's her dad."

Eiko curled her lip at the eyes staring at her. Including Max, and Eiko couldn't keep the front up for much longer. "Fine! But I get to say whatever I want to him. Whatever I want! No one stops me. Understand?"

Jeff came to the table with far more hesitation than anyone else. Seeing him again was viscerally strange for Sobo, Jiji and Eiko. Even Yumi. After years of estrangement, having him back in such a benign setting as if nothing changed was glaring. Not many were so equipped to ease the tension as Max was.

She scooted out the booth to give him a hug. "Hey daddy."

He hugged her back, but his greeting was silent and wheezed. He was trembling in Max's hold. Trying so hard to shroud his nerves, but it was obvious he was nervous. He was someone to have lost everything only to have it all back staring at him. A previous life full of fond and dour memories. Each person at the table (except Edward) a whisper of all his regrets. He sat at the edge of the booth next to Max and Edward, adjacent from Eiko and Yumi. Yumi was more awkward than anything, keeping sparse eye contact. But Eiko could have glared right through his skull.

Sobo broke the tension, "Hello Jeff." She gave a warm, motherly smile.

He muttered, "Hey Amaya… Haiko. It's been a while."

"It was good to see you in court. I know it was… very difficult for you to be there for some of it. For all of us." Jiji affirmed, "But how is the sobriety? Max tells us it's been a very good thing for you."

"Very good, yeah. Can finally hold a job now. You know, trying to… work on myself more and more. The relationship I had with Max, for starters. That was something I've always wanted to change."

Sobo encouraged, "Yes. That is the most important. It seems you two are making strides."

He replied nervously, "I mean… I hope so."

"We are dad," comforted Max in a smile. Edward was quiet but observant. He couldn't help but see how inward and a shell of a man Jeff was. Much like myself. Then he got to thinking of all their similarities. Same shade of hair, same large glasses. The height was different but not by much. Same build, same sad, downturned eyes. Only thing really different about them was the age. In fact, Edward could see himself in ten years just looking at him. Maybe that's why she took such a shrine to me in the first place? A comforting reminder of the most important man in her life. He snapped from the thought quickly. Especially when Eiko opened her mouth.

"You look old." Eiko said flatly, her face unchanging. The rest of the bodies at the table cringed.

Jeff smiled as if he was about to laugh. "Thanks, Eiko."

"And you're getting bald."

Jeff brought his hand up to his widow's peak. "It's just receding a little, it's not bad."

"Yes, it is." Eiko broke out. "And you're an asshole."

Yumi wanted to break it up, but remembered she wouldn't butt in. This was their time to finally hash it out.

"I know I am," said Jeff sincerely. "And I'm sorry. For everything. To all of you, I am sorry. I was an asshole to you, Eiko. I don't blame you for hating me. There was a time you were one of my best friends, and I betrayed that. Treating you like that was inexcusable. Doesn't matter how drunk I was, it happened and there was no reason for it. Worst of all, you were only trying to protect your sister and your niece. I should have been protecting them; that's the worst part."

"You know I had to take care of them when you left. You know how devastated they were? Both of them. What kind of husband and father does that?" Eiko had lost her glare, her eyes were leaning now. As if she was genuinely asking in concern.

"I know…" He said sheltered, "you had a young family of your own, you shouldn't have been worried about anything else but that. I wish I had just listened to you that night, maybe you would have slapped some sense into me. You were good at it. I couldn't listen, though. I was…"

"You weren't you." Eiko affirmed, "That wasn't you. As soon as you picked up the bottle you became someone entirely different, you know that. A real prick, and I warned you about that. But you kept on…"

"I thought it was doing something to help, but it never was. After Celeste, not much helped. Because I wasn't actually letting myself feel the grief. When I stopped drinking, I was finally able to feel it. I still feel it. I don't know if it gets any easier but…"

Then Yumi interrupted, her voice soft as he remembered. "It does get easier, Jeff. You went all those years not feeling that grief, but I can promise if you do, it will get easier. Sometimes it comes back in waves, but each wave you're a bit more prepared. More weathered."

Max sullenly agreed, "Yeah. But you still can't do it alone. I'm always gonna be there for you, dad."

Jeff took Max's hand. It was unbelievably rewarding to finally make true amends with his daughter, especially after years of guilt and distance. Then Yumi said rather startlingly, "Me too, Jeff."

He glanced to her and smiled. Despite the darkest of times, their friendship within their marriage was still salvageable. Eiko nodded in agreement, she wasn't usually so soft in the face, but her expression was falling to all the good memories she had with her brother-in-law.

Jiji said aloud, "We are family. You may not be married to my daughter, Jeff. But you are still family in our eyes. If it is in Celeste's, it is in ours, too."

The next morning, Max, Edward and Jeff were waiting at the air port for boarding. Sobo, Jiji, Eiko and Yumi had caught their flight back to Nebraska and hour earlier. They were still wrangling with the teary goodbyes even then. Now it was Jeff's turn as his flight for Metropolis was soon to board.

"Alright, sweetie. I better get going."

Max enveloped her father in a hug he surely needed. Every hug from her then on was another ode of healing from years of not feeling anything due to alcohol. Or due to numbness. He was slowly coming back to life. She quaked weakly, "Call me when you land, okay?"

"I will."

"And come visit us! Gotham is only a few hours away."

"I promise I will this time. I swear, Max. I'm… sorry for…"

Max pulled away and scolded, "Stop saying sorry. I get it. We get it. Let's build from it now, alright?"

Jeff beamed a small smile of pride in her before turning to Edward and giving him a gentle shake of the hand. "It was nice to get to know you, Edward. I hope we can continue to do so later on."

"I'm sure we will," nodded Edward with a faint smile.

Jeff patted his shoulder then, "Take care of my girl." In his way, it was a silent form of giving his blessing.

"Of course."

"Boarding for Metropolis, calling group A."

Jeff shrugged, "That's me. You two take care of yourselves."

As Jeff left with a final and sullen wave, Max and Edward retook their seats in the busy hum of the airport. Silently absorbing the events of the days in California. All of the stress finally resting and bringing a bout of air to breathe. Max wasn't sure what to say, or what to think. She stared and spaced into the floor in the realization Celeste's story had finally been told. That their questions were answered – only to leave a stagnant and harrowing limbo of what's next. In the growing fear, she felt Edward gently take her hand. No words were needed. As he said in the past, it was safe to be quiet. That safety was extended to Max as she squeezed his hand back.

After some time, she finally managed to mutter, "It's finally over."

"Yeah." Edward replied lowly, "Are you okay?"

"I don't know. I've been hunting Hewitt my whole life. I've wanted yesterday to happen for twenty years. As if it was the reason I was taking in air everyday. Now that it's over it's… a lot less climatic than I thought it would be."

Edward smiled, "You once told me that in order to grow, we have to leave behind what's taking up space."

"That was about your book hoarding, remember?" She said in an amused tone.

"Yeah, but it can be about this, too. Your allowed to move on, now. Celeste is avenged, your family is united again, kind of. It was the happy ending you were looking for?"

Max sighed, "I know that. But I just don't know… how to feel about it."

"Happy?"

Max flicked her gaze to him then, and he continued, "Relieved? Excited for the next chapter?"

"What is the next chapter?"

"I don't know. I know what mine is." Edward stated confidently.

Max scoffed to herself, "Gotham Mountain Security? Justice for Joon? Bringing down privileged old white dudes with sadistic power trips?"

Edward laughed in his throat and shook his head. "No. You. Whatever my next chapter is, I know it'll be with you. That makes me excited. What about you?"

Max didn't reply, she simply laid her head on his shoulder as they both watched the airplanes take off the runway out the wide windows. "Let's start our next chapter, then."