Chapter Fifty-Six
Lainey
At Bess’s trial, it came out that she’d seen that Earl and Joe—Earl’s nephew that had been hiding out at the Schillings’—were watching me on hidden camera.
She was afraid of Earl, obviously, and thought the best solution would be to try and scare me in order to get me to leave.
Bess willingly gave me the bakery’s building, free and clear, and the judge sentenced her to time served and probation.
Joe wasn’t so lucky.
Fortunately, he took a plea deal that locked him up for fifteen years, and I didn’t have to testify. Or have the naked videos of me on display in court for the world to see.
The police did a sweep of my apartment and took the hidden cameras down, but it still creeped me out to be there, so Conor and I moved in with Adam, and I rented out the apartment.
Between not having a rent payment, and the apartment rental income, I had a lot more breathing room and was able to hire more help.
That let me stay home with Conor more, much to Teresa and Hugh’s chagrin.
So, Adam and I had a standing date every Friday in order for Nana and Pop O’Brien to watch their grandson.
And, with Adam’s encouragement, I started wearing Shawn’s ring on my right hand. He’d explained that the ring brought us together, and it’d be a shame to keep it in a box in my jewelry armoire. I agreed and put it on.
Adam held me in his arms and whispered, “I promise I’ll get you one for your left hand, too.”
I looked up at him and smiled. “I’m in no rush.”
“Me neither. But when do you think we can start trying for a brother or sister for Conor?”
“Maybe after he turns a year old.”
****
Adam
I proposed the day after Conor’s first birthday, and we started trying that night.