whole lot, but it’d be enough for you to live on awhile till you get your bearings ... wherever it is you endup.”
“I can’t take your money.”
“Sure you can. If my money can help you, take all you want. Money’s never meant much to meanyhow.”
Lily was overwhelmed by Jack’s kindness. “You’ve already helped me. You’ve helped me keep amodicum of sanity in an insane situation. I don’t think I would’ve stayed here if I hadn’t met you.”
Jack watched Mimi play in the yard for a minute, then turned to Lily. “I’ll sure miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Lily burrowed her face in the collar of Jack’s hay-smelling coveralls and letJack hold her while she cried.
The test results would be revealed in court on Monday morning, and so the days before passed likethe last days of a death-row inmate’s life—miserable, nerve-wracking, and yet over too soon.
When Monday morning came, Lily, with red, bleary eyes and a dry mouth, assumed her positionat the table with Buzz Dobson and Ben. Jeanie and Big Ben sat behind them, supposedly for moralsupport, but their presence only made Lily more anxious. So much of the McGillys’ support, Lily thought,had come from their desire to protect Mimi, since Mimi was a McGilly, even if her last name did notreflect that fact. What would they do when they found out that Mimi had no McGilly blood whatsoever?
Hamilton and the Maycombs sat at their table, looking crisp and confident. If Lily had heldGranny McGilly’s shotgun in her hands, she would have blown them all away.
When Judge Sanders took his place at the bench, he said, “We have with us today, Doctor... Doctor
...” The judge looked at the brown-skinned young man seated in the courtroom. Doctor or not, he couldn’thave been much over thirty. “You’re gonna have to help me again with that name, buddy.”
The young doctor smiled patiently. “Anuj Mahatjan,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s it. The doctor here has the results of Benny Jack McGilly’s DNA tests in a sealedenvelope.” Judge Sanders savored the phrase “sealed envelope.” Clearly, this revelation was high dramacompared to the humdrum cases that were usually heard in the Faulkner County Courthouse. “Doctor,you may take the stand, if you like, and open the envelope there.”
Dr. Mahatjan carried a manila envelope to the stand. Lily had never looked upon an inanimateobject with the amount of fear she felt for that envelope. Dr. Mahatjan opened the envelope withpainstaking slowness. He removed some papers from it and looked them over for a few excruciatingmoments before he spoke. “The test indicates that Mr. Benny Jack McGilly and Mimi Maycomb do share