“What? Everett, they’re just glorified friends. Dash is going with them. They’re all practically going stag.”
“That tells me you have selective hearing. I heard facts. She has two boyfriends, both of which asked her and are escorting her to a dance in which she is going to wear something that costs more than the school will have to pay to rent the ballroom for the night. There are many things off in that entire scenario. Besides, my goal in life is to be a better father than the one I had. And that means I need to get involved, even if it means getting my hands dirty. Believe me, I can’t wait to be one hundred percent involved with our baby.” He reaches over and pats my knee. “I’m in love with both of you more and more every day. Just when I don’t think my love can grow another inch, it stretches out a mile. Thank you.”
“Thank you for what? And by the way, you could melt all the snow in Vermont with your sweet words. I love you, too, Everett.”
“Thank you for saving me from myself. I was a mess, and we both know it. You made a real man out of me.”
“Everett, you bypassed boyhood in the womb. You were born a real man. Speaking of manly things, how did it go hiring the contractor? Did you pick one? Will the house be ready for the baby?”
His eyes widen a notch as he stares out the windshield.
Last night, the topic came up before bed, but as soon as he helped me take off my dress, we got distracted with other, far more delicious things, like keeping each other warm the old-fashioned way. And boy, is Everett an expert at heating things up.
“Actually, that’s just what I wanted to talk to you about.” His lips flicker with the hint of a smile. “I vetted about seven contractors. They were all pretty solid. You won’t like the time frame of the completed projects, but they were all more or less shooting for some point next summer. Which is quick,” he’s ironically quick to add, but I slump in my seat regardless.
“Why do I feel a but coming on?”
“No but. Just that one of the contractors made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Was she a leggy redhead whose figure hasn’t been transformed within an inch of a beach ball? Because if so, the deal is off the table.”
“Nope. It was a burly man with a barrel chest who happens to be married to your best friend.”
“Oh no,” I moan. “No, no, no. We can’t hire Bear. He still hasn’t finished Grandma Nell’s house, and it’s been over a year now. We’ll never move into our dream home. Evie will be married and have kids of her own, and Sugar Cookie here will be leaving for college by the time we get the keys. That is, if they still use keys that far off into the future.”
“I don’t know if I should spoil the surprise, but Bear told me he’s putting the finishing touches on Nell’s place and that he might be done as soon as next week. Although I’m not entirely sure he was telling the truth.”
“Wow, that means Carlotta could be out of our hair in a week. Is it bad that I’m kind of missing her already? But not too much. Carlotta doesn’t stray too far.”
His brow hikes as he nods in agreement. “He says he can have our house done by the date the others were quoting. But—”
“Here we go.”
“He said if I hired him he’d do all the repairs on the house for free for life.”
A dull moan comes from me.
“Everett, what kind of repairs is a new home going to need? Never mind. Don’t answer that. If Bear is building it, we’re looking at a repair a week.”
Everett sighs. “I can tell you’re not too keen on the idea of using him. Don’t worry. It’s not set in stone.” He exits the highway, and I can already see the tall white stately building we’re headed to. “There was one more thing Bear mentioned, but he did ask that I don’t share it with you.”
“Judge Baxter, I demand you tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Fess up.”
“He said he and Keelie were tight right now, and they could really use the money. He says they’re looking to buy a house themselves, and they’re barely eking by. And a job like this doesn’t come along all that often in Honey Hollow.”
Another moan works its way up my throat. “I guess I could give Keelie a raise at the Honey Pot, but the place is barely making ends meet as it is. This winter has been really brutal. People want to stay in and curl up by the fire. No one is going out to eat anymore.” I sigh. “Fine. Give it to Bear. As long as I find you in my bed at the end of the day, all is right with the world.” The baby kicks in agreement.
Everett pulls into a secured lot and parks in the underground garage in the spot marked number seven, his very own private parking space.
He reaches over and brushes his thumb over my cheek.
“You’re going to do great in there, Lemon. Whether or not you’re chosen to participate, I want you to know I’m proud of you. Text me and let me know when it all shakes out. And let me know the name of the judge. I’ll tell him to go easy on you.” He gives a little wink.
“Hopefully, I’ll be out of here by noon. Noah promised me a pizza at Mangias to celebrate, and believe me, I’m already craving the anchovies.”
Everett helps me out of the car. “I take it the anchovies are a new craving?”
I give a little nod as I wrap my arms around my handsome husband. “I’ve also got a very serious hankering to get inside of your robe. Don’t think for a minute I came all the way down here without paying a visit to your chambers. This day ends well for both of us.”
“Now that’s something I’m going to hold you to.”
“Oh, I’ll keep my word, Judge Baxter.” I give his buns of steel a quick squeeze, and a dangerous smile curves on his lips. “I wouldn’t want to be found in contempt.” A thought hits me. “Hey, does the judge have the ability to dismiss me?”
He tips his head to the side. “Yes, but only if he found valid grounds.”
“Perfect. Send a picture of me to every judge you know inside that building. If you get me out of this, there’s something far more tempting I’m willing to give than anything Bear has to offer. What I have planned is outside the bounds of anything we’ve ever done before.” And that’s saying a lot, considering this is Essex Everett Baxter I’m speaking to.
“You’ve piqued my curiosity.” He frowns as he says it, and I can’t help but note he doesn’t look pleased.
Something tells me Everett isn’t going to mass text my picture to his cohorts. I’ll have to get out of this myself.
The Ashford County Courthouse is your iconic white marble wonder with thick Roman columns with a million tiny steps leading up to the wide glass doors. It’s warm inside, smells like glue, the floors are marble, the walls are covered with dark mahogany, and the entire front of the building is teeming with people. Once we get through the security checkpoint, Everett gives me a mouthwatering kiss before we part ways.
Before I know it, I’m shuffled into a long line of potential jurors as we’re marched into what looks like a tiny theater and given a fifteen-minute speech on the dos and don’ts of what will happen once we enter the courtroom.