Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
ONE WEEK LATER
Laurel
“Ms. Evans, that’s enough,” Judge McCray banged his gavel and shouted.
“No, Your Honor.” I turned and faced him. “This witness is lying under oath! How can you not see that? You have been sustaining the ADA’s objections when you should have overruled them. Have you forgotten how the law works, Your Honor?”
“How dare you, Ms. Evans.”
“It’s the truth, and you know it!” I pointed at him.
“You need to cool off. I’m holding you in contempt, and you’ll spend the night in a cell to think about your actions. Bailiff, get her out of here. The trial will resume Monday morning.”
“Fine by me,” I said.
“Do you want to make it two nights, Ms. Evans?”
“No, Your Honor.”
I flinched when the steel door closed and locked.
“Enjoy your stay, counselor,” the guard said with amusement. "Judge McCray said you can rejoin the land of the free when you're ready to apologize.”
“Over my dead body,” I mumbled.
I ran my hand down my skirt and sat on the hard bench. Sometimes, the truth demanded uncomfortable persistence. I was already on thin ice with him but didn’t care. I would prove that the witness was lying after I got out of here and dismantle the prosector’s entire case against my client.
“Excuse me,” I shouted, banging on the steel bars. “I want my phone call.”
The burly security guard walked over and looked at me.
“Come on, Charlie. You know I get a phone call regardless of what Judge McCray said. By the way. How is your wife feeling?”
“A lot better. Thanks for suggesting she see Dr. Christian Kind. He’s really been taking good care of her.”
“Good.” I smiled. “Stick with him, and your wife will be in good hands.” I held out my hand for his phone.
He reached into his pocket and handed it to me. “Make it quick.”
“I will.” I smiled, took the phone, and sat down on the bench. I dialed Julian.
“Julian Hamilton.”
“Hey, babe. It’s me.”
“Laurel? Whose phone are you calling me from?”
“Charlie, the security guard. Judge McCray is holding me in contempt and threw me in a jail cell overnight. Please make sure you take care of the girls.”
“Jesus, Laurel. Not tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“Uh, well. It’s a Friday night, and I made dinner reservations for us. ”
“Sorry, babe. I’m afraid we’ll have to do dinner tomorrow night.”
“How much is the fine?” he asked.
“I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow morning.” Charlie stuck his hand through the bars. “I have to go. Charlie needs his phone back. I love you. Tell the girls I love them, and I’ll see them tomorrow.”
“I love you too, babe.” He sighed.
I ended the call and gave Charlie his phone back.
“I’m sorry, Laurel.”
“It’s my fault. I went off the rails.” I smiled.
I sat back down and placed my hand on my belly. “Sorry, little one. I know it’s not an ideal sleeping place, but Mama got us in trouble.”
I found out yesterday that I was pregnant—that another human life was growing inside me—a baby that Julian and I created out of love. Okay, it was an accident, but nonetheless, I was very happy about it. I was going to tell Julian tonight over dinner. Now, I’d have to wait until tomorrow.
A few hours had passed, and I was bored out of my mind. I took off my shoes and paced around the small cell, thinking about Julian, the girls, and my big, comfy bed that would miss me tonight. I shouldn’t have yelled at the judge as I did, but I couldn’t help it. My hormones were all over the place. I turned my head when I heard what sounded like a cart being rolled across the floor. Gripping the bars, I extended my neck to see what was happening and saw Julian approaching my cell, rolling what looked like a small table covered in a white tablecloth.
“Julian?” My brows furrowed.
“Since you can’t be home for dinner, I brought dinner to you.” He grinned.
“How? ”
“Simon did me a favor. Hey, Charlie. Can you let me in there?”
“Of course, Mr. Hamilton.”
“I ordered your favorites from Four Kinds.” He lifted the lids off the plates.
“Cherry butter?” I grinned.
“You bet.”
“You do know you can get in big trouble for this, right?” I raised my brow.
“I don’t care. You’re worth all the trouble.” He leaned in and kissed my lips.
“Where are the girls?”
“Parker is keeping an eye on them.”
“It’s Friday night. He’s not going out?”
“He had a date, but she canceled at the last minute.”
After we finished a fantastic dinner in my cell, Julian reached over and took hold of my hand.
“You know how much I love you, right?”
“Yes.” I smiled. “I love you too.”
“Every morning, I wake up thinking how lucky I am to have you and the girls in my life. And every night, I fall asleep grateful for another day with you. You four are the center of my universe, and that’s how you’ll always stay.” He stood up, walked around the small table, pulled a box out of his pocket, and dropped to one knee. Instantly, my hand flew over my mouth. “Laurel, this isn’t how I planned to do this, but it is what it is because I can’t wait any longer. Will you marry me?”
My head nodded as tears streamed down my face. “Yes, Julian. Yes, I will marry you.” He placed the gorgeous diamond on my finger, and I threw my arms around him. He picked me up and swung me around as our lips tangled.
“You have made me so happy, baby.” He smiled .
“Gah, I can’t believe we’re engaged!” I happily spoke. I couldn’t think of a better time to tell him the good news. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I’m pregnant, Julian.”
“What? How?”
“I think you know how.” I smirked.
“Duh, but when?”
“The night of Roman and Morgan’s wedding. I just found out yesterday. I’m about eight weeks.”
“Oh my God, Laurel.” He hugged me tight. “We’re having a baby!” He spun me around. “God, I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“What the hell is going on in here?” Judge McCray stood on the other side of the bars.
“Look, Your Honor. We’re getting married.” I proudly showed him my ring.
“Congratulations. Really, Mr. Hamiton? You proposed to her in a jail cell?”
“Your fault, Your Honor. I had every intention of doing it over dinner tonight at a nice restaurant. There’s another thing. You need to let her out of here tonight.”
“And why should I?”
“Because Laurel just informed me she’s eight weeks pregnant. Now, I know you wouldn’t let a newly pregnant woman sleep on that.” He pointed.
“Is that so, Miss Evans?” I saw a hint of a smile on his face.
“Yes, Your Honor. I just found out yesterday. Hence, the reason I was out of control in court. My hormones are all over the place. I sincerely apologize for my actions and promise it won’t happen again.”
“Fine, Ms. Evans. I accept your apology. But I am fining you a thousand dollars. You can get out of here as soon as you pay it.”
“Thank you, Your honor.”
“No more outbursts in my courtroom.” He pointed at me.
“That witness is lying, and I’m going to prove that he lied under oath.”
“I have no doubt you will, Ms. Evans. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Come on. Let’s get out of here and go home.” Julian hooked his arm around me and kissed the side of my head. “You shouldn’t have told the judge you promised no more outbursts. We both know that’s a lie.”
“It worked, didn’t it?” I grinned.