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Hope in almost a week. She had been busy working at the hospital,
volunteering at the South Side Youth Center, and helping Val plan a
wedding that was sure to cost a small fortune.
Hope looked up from turning the spoon in the potato, rice, and
sausage soup and smiled.
How was it?
James sighed. Rough, really rough.
Hope covered the pot and walked to him. She went up on her toes to
kiss his cheek. I m glad it s over.
He pulled her closer and buried his nose in her hair, gulping the smell
of her hair with greedy breaths. If they went very long without seeing each
other, the scent of her shampoo was one of the first things he missed.
112
A shrill beep started and he sighed. He d have to let her go now.
Will you get the bread out of the oven while I serve up the soup?
Hope asked wiggling out of his grip.
Of course, sweetheart.
Hope spooned the soup into two large bowls. So, now that it s
over& can you tell me about the trial?
James pulled the bread knife from the block and set it beside the
cooling loaf. There s not much to tell, really. I testified about finding the
spiral fractures and the discussion Mr. Rogoff and I had over the phone. The
jury was out for three hours and they came back with a guilty verdict. Now,
one of the toughest weeks of my life is over.
Hope nodded. How long did Mrs. Rogoff get?
I have no idea& sentencing is tomorrow and I m not going. I d be
happy to never see a courtroom again.
Hope put their bowls in front of the barstools at the counter and
went to his side. I m just thankful the baby is recovering.
Me too. I visited the hospital before I went to the courthouse this
afternoon. The swelling is gone now and her vision tests are promising, but
no one can predict what difficulties she ll face in the future.
113
Hope nodded, she slipped her hand into his and squeezed. Looking
down at her, he knew she understood. She spent her work days educating
new parents in an effort to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. He doubted
anyone else in his life could have understood the stress and pain that came
along with such a tragedy.
Hope sliced two pieces of bread and took them to the counter.
I spoke with Val a few minutes ago, said Hope hopping up onto her
the barstool. She said she tried to call you all afternoon and got no answer.
I told her you were in court.
James groaned. Did she tell you why she was calling?
Yup& she wanted to price resorts with you. Hope stirred her soup in
slow deliberate circles.
He dropped his head in his palm and groaned again, longer and louder
this time. Which island did she pick?
Turks and Caicos& .and before you start ranting about the cost of the
wedding, let me remind you that you offered to split the bill with P.J. and
Val.
Why didn t you talk me out of it? He slid onto his barstool and
glowered down at the soup.
114
Hope swallowed her first bite. Hey, she shrugged, you told me that
you love her so much you want to make sure she had everything she ever
wanted in a wedding. I m not going to mess that up for her. She is my best
friend after all.
What am I, chopped liver?
No, Hope cooed. You are going broke.
Very funny, he retorted.
Hope leaned into James and nudged him with her elbow. I m just
kidding. You know I love you, broke or not.
I m most certainly not broke but helping Val with her wedding is
going to put a damper on my plan to keep you around by insisting you use
me for my money. How am I going to get you down the aisle now? He
trained his eyes on hers to make sure she got his point. They d only been
together four months, but it was already clear to him that Hope was the
woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.
Hope s whiskey brown eyes went round and then she smiled. Well,
then& I guess you should consider yourself lucky that I m a Justice of the
Peace kind of girl& not a destination wedding girl.
If that s the case, I most certainly am lucky to have you, he said
leaning in for a long, slow kiss.
115
Oh, James, Hope said when they finally came up for air, I can t
remember a time when you didn t have me& whether you knew it or not.
The End
116
http://destinywallace.literalseduction.com/
Author Bio:
Destiny Wallace grew up in North Carolina. She s been writing stories
since the first grade. After graduating high school, she spent four years in
the military. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and
children.
Red Rose Publishing
Alone At Last
Snow For Christmas
Two of a Kind
Party Girl, Inc.
117 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
Hope in almost a week. She had been busy working at the hospital,
volunteering at the South Side Youth Center, and helping Val plan a
wedding that was sure to cost a small fortune.
Hope looked up from turning the spoon in the potato, rice, and
sausage soup and smiled.
How was it?
James sighed. Rough, really rough.
Hope covered the pot and walked to him. She went up on her toes to
kiss his cheek. I m glad it s over.
He pulled her closer and buried his nose in her hair, gulping the smell
of her hair with greedy breaths. If they went very long without seeing each
other, the scent of her shampoo was one of the first things he missed.
112
A shrill beep started and he sighed. He d have to let her go now.
Will you get the bread out of the oven while I serve up the soup?
Hope asked wiggling out of his grip.
Of course, sweetheart.
Hope spooned the soup into two large bowls. So, now that it s
over& can you tell me about the trial?
James pulled the bread knife from the block and set it beside the
cooling loaf. There s not much to tell, really. I testified about finding the
spiral fractures and the discussion Mr. Rogoff and I had over the phone. The
jury was out for three hours and they came back with a guilty verdict. Now,
one of the toughest weeks of my life is over.
Hope nodded. How long did Mrs. Rogoff get?
I have no idea& sentencing is tomorrow and I m not going. I d be
happy to never see a courtroom again.
Hope put their bowls in front of the barstools at the counter and
went to his side. I m just thankful the baby is recovering.
Me too. I visited the hospital before I went to the courthouse this
afternoon. The swelling is gone now and her vision tests are promising, but
no one can predict what difficulties she ll face in the future.
113
Hope nodded, she slipped her hand into his and squeezed. Looking
down at her, he knew she understood. She spent her work days educating
new parents in an effort to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. He doubted
anyone else in his life could have understood the stress and pain that came
along with such a tragedy.
Hope sliced two pieces of bread and took them to the counter.
I spoke with Val a few minutes ago, said Hope hopping up onto her
the barstool. She said she tried to call you all afternoon and got no answer.
I told her you were in court.
James groaned. Did she tell you why she was calling?
Yup& she wanted to price resorts with you. Hope stirred her soup in
slow deliberate circles.
He dropped his head in his palm and groaned again, longer and louder
this time. Which island did she pick?
Turks and Caicos& .and before you start ranting about the cost of the
wedding, let me remind you that you offered to split the bill with P.J. and
Val.
Why didn t you talk me out of it? He slid onto his barstool and
glowered down at the soup.
114
Hope swallowed her first bite. Hey, she shrugged, you told me that
you love her so much you want to make sure she had everything she ever
wanted in a wedding. I m not going to mess that up for her. She is my best
friend after all.
What am I, chopped liver?
No, Hope cooed. You are going broke.
Very funny, he retorted.
Hope leaned into James and nudged him with her elbow. I m just
kidding. You know I love you, broke or not.
I m most certainly not broke but helping Val with her wedding is
going to put a damper on my plan to keep you around by insisting you use
me for my money. How am I going to get you down the aisle now? He
trained his eyes on hers to make sure she got his point. They d only been
together four months, but it was already clear to him that Hope was the
woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.
Hope s whiskey brown eyes went round and then she smiled. Well,
then& I guess you should consider yourself lucky that I m a Justice of the
Peace kind of girl& not a destination wedding girl.
If that s the case, I most certainly am lucky to have you, he said
leaning in for a long, slow kiss.
115
Oh, James, Hope said when they finally came up for air, I can t
remember a time when you didn t have me& whether you knew it or not.
The End
116
http://destinywallace.literalseduction.com/
Author Bio:
Destiny Wallace grew up in North Carolina. She s been writing stories
since the first grade. After graduating high school, she spent four years in
the military. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and
children.
Red Rose Publishing
Alone At Last
Snow For Christmas
Two of a Kind
Party Girl, Inc.
117 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]