Page 86 of A Trial of the Heart
“Relax.” I couldn’t stop laughing through my tears. “I am okay. It’s nothing with the case, and the babies are okay.” I answered his questions in the order they were asked.
“So, what’s up? Some shit changed.” He finally dropped his brush.
Before I spoke, I just gazed into his beautiful yet concerned eyes. I reached out, touching his forearm. He was on alert, and I needed him to relax. This moment wasn’t anything like what Rashad was thinking.
“I love you so much.” Tears streamed down my face. My crying had been out of control lately, and I cried more than I cared to admit. The pregnancy hormones were on front street. “Thank you for not giving up on me when you should have. I won’t sit here and pretend I would have been as noble as you, had the cards been reversed. Rashad, you showed me what it is to be truly loved and how to love. You’re truly God’s gift. You’re mine…” I paused for a moment. “I am grateful, and I love you so much. I do not know what tomorrow holds for us, but for now, I am blessed to call you mine.”
Rashad just stared at me, and it almost seemed as if he wasn’t breathing.
“I love you, Shiloh.” He finally spoke before leaning into me and kissing me in an unhurried way. I kept my eyes open unlike him to not miss any moment. I needed to ensure this moment wouldn’t be snatched away from me.
Finally pulling back, we gazed into each other’s eyes. No words spoken; we communicated without them.
“I love you more,” I confessed after the silence.
Once again, Rashad leaned in and kissed me. “I love you, and we’re good.”
I smiled with a nod. “Okay.”
In my mind I didn’t deserve Rashad, but his words told me otherwise, so I’d go with that.
Chapter
Forty-Three
Shiloh:
My designer heels tapped with a purpose on the marble floor as I headed for district courtroom four. The last time I had stepped foot into this same courtroom was two months ago almost to the date. I had heard my not guilty verdict and went into labor immediately after. The last two months had been nothing short of amazing. It had been a little chaotic but amazing, nonetheless. The twins were almost two months. Kai was still calm and rarely made noise. K’nai was the compete opposite. She was demanding and had no problem crying to get what she wanted. They were night and day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Rashad and I were doing great. He was the best father to our children that I could have asked for. When he said he’d take care of his creations, he meant that. He’d shown up and out every chance he got. When it came to our relationship, he didn’t play either. Now in a committed relationship, I hated I had played with the situation as long as I had.
I was jobless and having a hard time finding a job because Arthur’s name carried so much weight in the streets. The places I’d applied to barely gave my résumé a second look. If they did entertain me, once they realized the connection, I was dismissednicely and wished good luck in the near future. I couldn’t deny it; Arthur had done exactly what he said he would. Even with that, happiness still consumed me, and I had faith that what was for me was around the corner.
“Shiloh? Hey, Shiloh, wait up.”
I heard my name being called. Stopping, I turned to see Isla power walking my way.
“Hey.” I smiled.
“Oh my gosh, hi.” She sounded breathless while tucking her thick, long tresses behind her ear before adjusting her glasses on her face. “Ready for this?”
When the investigation had started with Rashad’s case, I was served with papers; so was Arthur and William, and today was verdict day for them. Isla and I both had to testify. Unlike me, Rashad’s case wasn’t the only case they were being investigated for, so many people, incarcerated and not, came forward during the process. They had some hefty charges against them. I knew for years they were not good people and were racist, but the things that had come out in court had me shocked I’d ever been connected with such people.
“Absolutely.”
I wasn’t sure what the jurors would say since they had argued and represented themselves so well. In my eyes, they were guilty, but honestly, if I was a member of the jury, I may have voted otherwise. They both were persuasive, which was why the office had a 99 percent conviction rate.
“What do you think will happen?” Isla questioned once we both started walking again.
I shrugged. Once I got my not guilty verdict, I knew I was beyond blessed. I hadn’t done anything per se, but I was guilty by association. Many times, I wondered if they would get a slap on the wrist simply because they were well-known lawyers, and just maybe they’d paid off the right people.
“I am truly hoping not, but at this point, whatever happens will just have to happen. I just pray justice is done and karma shows up and out.”
“Me too. I ju—” Isla was mid-sentence when her words halted, and she seemed to freeze instantly.
Shifting my eyes in the direction of hers, I spotted both Arthur and William headed our way from the opposite end of the courthouse. They were dressed in cheap polyester suits with their briefcases in hand. Lauryn was on William’s side, and Arthur’s almost never present wife Rebecca was on his side. They wore intimidating expressions that didn’t faze me in the least. I couldn’t say the same for Isla as she stood there motionless. When they passed, I was sure to give them the same expression they’d given me.
My eyes never left them as they walked into the courtroom. Their entourage looked more important than they were.
“Welp, let’s go see what happens.” Hearing Isla had me turning her way. I’d been stuck staring at Arthur and William in disgust.
