Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
The tension in the room snapped like a live wire.
“Is that so?” Judge Adams asked. “Miss O’Neill, two days ago, you ran away from your wedding to Matt Jones, and now, you want me to believe you’re suddenly engaged to this man?”
“This man” is a United States Marine who has a clean record and a successful business.
It didn’t matter that he’d shaved off his beard and borrowed his dad’s khakis, coat, tie, and dress shoes because Jude was frozen in the judge’s mind as a scruffy teenager. But the question wasn’t directed at him, and Finlay had just dropped a bomb in the courthouse.
How the hell’s she going to explain this one?
“Well, you don’t know the whole story.” She sounded almost defiant.
“Jude McKenna’s the love of my life. We were torn apart the night of our prom when you sent him away.
Yes, he was the getaway driver, but did you know he was on his way to pick me up when Marco called and asked for a ride? He didn’t commit the crime.”
“Aiding and abetting a criminal is still a crime, Ms. O’Neill.”
Jude watched her carefully to see if she’d lose steam after being called out. But she didn’t even flinch.
“He knows he shouldn’t have responded to their call, but there was history there and a deep sense of loyalty. Since then, he’s served in the Marines and built a life outside of Calamity with the express purpose of reinventing himself.”
“I always wondered why he was wearing a bow tie in that mug shot,” the judge said. “Still, Miss O’Neill—”
But Finlay held up a hand. “Please, let me finish. When he came to town to see Cody, he heard I was getting married, and he told me he still loved me and that if I held on to any of the feelings I once had for him, then he wanted us to be together. And I’m sorry for what I did to Matt—I truly am—but the only thing we shared was the same goals.
We’re not, nor have we ever been, the loves of each other's lives, and I will not apologize for saving him from a doomed marriage and giving myself the happy ever after I’ve dreamed about for half my life. ”
Anyone could see the judge’s demeanor change. Jude’s attorney looked like she was reading a romance novel and had just gotten to the swoony part. Hell, even he was moved by her speech.
“I see.” The judge turned back to Jude. “So if I place him with you, where will Cody live? Are you taking him to Florida?”
“No, your honor,” Finlay said. “We’re going to live in my house on Bloom Lane.” She smiled proudly. “We’re going to be a family.”
His dad stood. “And they’ll spend Christmas with us.”
Boone rose, too. “My dad makes the best chocolate chip pancakes you’ve ever tasted.”
Wyatt stayed seated but chimed in. “And I have a litter of puppies that need a good home if anybody wants one.”
Laughter filled the courtroom, and the judge looked at Ava. “And I assume you’re going to take the boy caroling and buy the family matching onesies?”
Ava grinned. “And if I wasn’t going to, I sure will now.”
The judge lifted his gavel. “All right, take the McKenna show on the road and get out of my courtroom. The petition is signed.”
“I’m going to get arrested.” Anxiety had her pacing the room she’d shared with Willa.
“Why didn’t I give Matt back this stupid engagement ring?
The fake engagement idea would never have occurred to me if I hadn’t been wearing it.
I mean, it’s so traceable. You just have to check my social media to see it’s the ring Matt gave me. ”
“Are you done?” Her best friend had landed in New York less than an hour ago and was currently in a cab heading to her apartment.
But Finlay’s mind was racing. “And what about the position I just put Jude in?” A tremor of fear ran through her. “If he gets arrested, too, then what happens to Cody?”
“Fee, listen to me. You weren’t sworn in, so no one’s arresting you for lying to a judge.
That’s number one. If he does find out the truth, there might be consequences, but you’re not going to jail.
Number two, you were thinking about that little boy.
If Jude didn’t get custody, they would’ve put him in foster care.
The judge expected his dad and brothers to stand up for him, but you’re outside the McKenna clan.
In Calamity, you’re as trustworthy as they come. Fee, you saved the situation.”
That made sense. Finlay pressed a hand to the cold window.
It was a front-facing room that overlooked the town green.
Blinking multicolored lights festooned the gazebo, and town trucks unloaded folding tables and erected white tents in preparation for Snowfest. “I hate that the judge holds his childhood against him. Shouldn’t he be impressed by how well he’s turned his life around?
He’s a good man. He’s got such a big heart.
I know he looks all grumpy and dark and broody—”
“We know that, but keep in mind who his friends were. From the judge’s perspective, he hung around hoodlums.”
“Hoodlums.” Finlay smiled. “Okay, Grandma.”
“Do you remember the big freeze during freshman year of high school?”
“Of course.”
“There were parts of town that didn’t get their power back for ten days. My dad let people stay in the B&B for free. And guess what Marco did?”
“I don’t even want to know.”
“He raided housekeeping’s utility cart. Yes, that’s right. He stuffed complimentary soap and shampoo into his pants. I mean, he would’ve stolen the false teeth out of an old man’s water glass if he’d found them just sitting there.”
A knock on the door wiped the smile right off her face. Terror sliced through her. “They’re here.”
“Who’s there?” Willa asked.
“The police. I don’t know. Maybe Family Services.”
“So Family Services is showing up at the inn to cuff you and do a cavity search? Is that how it works now?”
“Okay, but who else would it be?”
“In an inn? How about housekeeping?”
Reality broke through. “You’re right. But just in case it is the police, I’ll come clean. I’ll tell them I acted impulsively because it looked like the judge wasn’t going to grant Jude custody, and they have to know Jude’s a good man, and there’s no one better to take care of Cody than him.”
“I’ll make you a deal. If it’s the police, I’ll walk naked through Times Square with a sign around my neck that says, Spank me.”
“This conversation is being recorded for quality assurance purposes and to hold you to your promises,” Finlay said on her way to the door. “Stay on the line with me.”
“Switch the call to FaceTime so I can watch them drop you to the ground and handcuff you.”
“That’s not funny.” Of course she trusted her friend, but she was a hot mess. It was enough that she’d blown up her life and was going to lose her house, but now, she might’ve compromised Cody’s safety.
She peered through the peephole to find a broad chest covered in a white dress shirt, and when she opened the door, she found it wasn’t the police at all.
It was a tall, broad-shouldered man with green eyes and a mouth that unleashed her deepest, darkest desires.
“Jude?” Without his beard, boots, and worn jeans, she almost didn’t recognize him. “What’re you doing here?”
“Figured you’d be spiraling.”
“What? No.” She sputtered. “That’s not…” She let out a huff and brought the phone back to her ear. “It’s not the police.”
“No shit.” And then, Willa shouted, “She’s spiraling,” making Jude chuckle.
“You two suck,” Finlay said.
“But you love me anyway,” her friend said. “Let me know what happens.”
“I will. Thank you.” After they disconnected, Finlay stood aside to let him in but couldn’t help checking the hallway.
“Coast clear?” Jude asked.
She closed the door and bolted it. “Yes. And I don’t know what led you to believe I wasn’t handling the situation well. I was perfectly composed in the courtroom.”
“Until you ran out of the building like your ass was on fire.”
She clasped her hands together. “Well, Jude. I might’ve ruined everything for you. What was I thinking, announcing an engagement…” She held up her finger. “While wearing Matt’s ring? But how dare he reduce you to a single bartender—”
“That’s what I am.”
“No, you’re not. You’re so much more.”
“Well.” Pink tinged his cheeks. “It all worked out.”
“We don’t really know that yet.” There was one part that could blow the whole deception wide open. “Not only aren’t we engaged, but I might not even have a house.”
“Yeah, that’s what I came to talk to you about.”
“The house?”
“I don’t know how it works—whether Family Services will check on me and Cody—but since I have a history with this judge—”
“And I’ve just told them you’ll be living on Bloom Lane.
” Her eyelids squeezed shut. “I can’t believe I did this to you.
You were probably hoping to live with your dad.
” How did she fix it? “Look, I have to put it on the market, but I don’t have to move out right away.
It’ll take time to get financing, and, you know, there’s escrow.
So we should be okay. And if someone wants to move in sooner, then we can live at your dad’s house.
I don’t think the judge will care about our address as long as we’re a couple and giving Cody a good home. ”
“That won’t be necessary.”
What have you done? “Look, right now, we’re the only ones who know.
Well, except for Willa. If we live together for the next six weeks, we can pull this off.
For Cody’s sake. I promise you won’t be responsible for me.
You can do your own thing. Work…” Hook up with tourists at Wild Billy’s.
“I won’t cramp your style. We’ll hardly even see each other. ”
His expression changed. “My style, huh?” Was he amused by all this?
“Yes. You just go on about your business like I don’t exist.”
“But you do exist.”
She grew even more agitated. She couldn’t tell if he was playing with her, and that made her want to clarify. “Just because I forced this situation on you doesn’t mean I expect us to be something we’re not. You don’t have to entertain me.”