EPILOGUE
They sat in the small, cloistered room inside the Florida Supreme Court waiting for his name to be called. Just three years ago JJ was in the fight for his judicial life. Manny Davis looked like a shoo-in to defeat him at the polls. But then he married Tish, and she hit the campaign trail telling her story instead of the lies Manny and his surrogates had been telling on her. And everything began to turn around for them. His poll numbers improved. Her popularity soared. And not only was JJ reelected to serve as judge in the fourth judicial circuit, but he was named chief judge once again.
Now, three years later, the governor of Florida had just appointed him to become the newest member of the highest court in the state. And they were still in disbelief.
“James Joseph Brant.”
When they heard his name, they all stood up. JJ looked at Tish. “Ready?” he asked her.
“I’m ready,” she said.
Then both of them looked at their gorgeous twins: James Joseph Earl Brant the third, and Mylie LaTisha Viola Brant. “Ready?” JJ asked their two-year-olds.
“Yes, sir,” said James.
“Yes, sir,” said Mylie.
Earl, who with his wife were also in the room, stood up and took young James’ hand. Viola stood up and took Mylie’s hand. They never would have dreamed, in their wildest dream, that their daughter would someday marry a man that would sit as a justice of the highest court in the state, and that they would be there to witness it. And for their daughter and son-in-law to have given them the loves of their lives: their two sweet grandchildren, was a gift that kept on giving. Tish’s brother Ricky was even in attendance, along with his wife and three children, and Earl and Viola were now happily involved in those children’s lives as well. Artie was also there, with his new girlfriend, and so was Bill Goslin and his wife and son. They were one big happy, imperfect family.
And then JJ took Tish’s hand, and they all made their way into the conference room at the Florida Supreme Court where the chief justice was there to preside over the ceremonial investiture. Tish held the family Bible as JJ laid one hand on the Bible, and lifted one hand up, and swore to uphold the constitution of the United States of America and of the state of Florida.
“So help me God,” JJ ended his oath, and everybody applauded, including their children, which made them giddily happy.
JJ took the podium to give the traditional thank you remarks.
And he began by thanking his wife. “I wouldn’t be here,” JJ said as he looked lovingly at her, “without you.”
But Tish spoke back. That was what endeared her to the citizens of the fourth circuit: she always spoke her mind with no pretense. “I wouldn’t be here either,” she said, meaning every word, “without you.”
As the invited guests applauded the loving couple with great applause, Mylie looked at her parents, then she looked at her twin. “I wouldn’t be here,” she said out loud to her brother, “without you.”
“And I wouldn’t be here either,” said her brother right back to her, “without you.”
And everybody in that solemn room, including the chief justice, burst into laughter.
“Welcome to my world,” JJ said joyously, like the proud father and husband and son-in-law and brother-in-law and uncle that he was. He was totally involved in mankind now. No longer an island to himself. “It doesn’t get any better than this!” he added, to even more applause, and then placed his arm around Tish’s waist.
But the twins, never to be outdone, wrapped their arms around their parents’ legs too. Until their parents lifted them up into their arms.
The Brants of Florida. All for one and one for all. Happy as a lark.