Page 65 of Can't Get Over You
“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 tothisman?”
“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, andtown 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?—”
“Weknow 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.”
