That was both good and bad news. It was going to take some time and a lot of therapy for Bri to get through all this, but she would because she had a loving family and an extended support system to help guide her through it.
“Has the jury reached a verdict?” the judge asked.
“We have, Your Honor,” the presiding juror said as he handed the security guard a piece of paper.
The judge opened it. “We the jury find the defendant guilty of rape in the first degree on all four counts.”
A collective gasp filled the room.
Courtney leaned into Jack, squeezing his hand even harder.
“I want to thank the jury for their service,” the judge said. “Sentencing will be tomorrow morning at nine. Bailiff, will you please take the defendant into custody.” The judge hit his gavel. “This court is now adjourned.”
Jack stood, taking Courtney into his arms.
She rested her head on his shoulder and cried. “It’s finally over, isn’t it?”
“It is,” he said softly, stroking her hair. “So, does this mean we can get married now?”
She glanced up at him and smiled. “Yes. But I have one stipulation.”
He arched a brow. “Do I want to know?”
“The first time I got married it was at town hall.”
“Me too,” he said with a chuckle.
“Well, this time, I want a big wedding. The white dress. The church. My father walking me down the aisle. Bri as the flower girl. Nicole as my maid of honor. The whole ball of wax.”
“Babe, I wouldn’t want to marry you any other way.”
“There’s one other little issue we need to discuss.” She took his hand and raced out of the courtroom, dragging him down the hallway.
“Where are you taking me?”
She pulled him through the main doors, around the corner, and into the courtyard. “I didn’t want to say this in front of everyone, only because I’ve only done the home test.”
“Home what? Babe, you’ve lost me.”
Her smile was as bright as the sun, and she giggled like a schoolgirl. “Do you think we can throw a church wedding together in a month?”
“I suppose we can, but we can’t expect a ton of people to show up on such short notice.”
“That’s fine because I don’t want to be fat when I marry you.”
“Fat? Again, totally lost.”
She cupped his cheeks. “I love you, Jack, and all our hopes and dreams are coming true.”
Normally, Jack had no problem following anything Courtney had to say, but right now, in this moment, he hadn’t a clue. “I love you right back. I want to get married, and the sooner the better because I’m tired of sneaking in and out of your room at night because of your father’s rules and because of Bri. But we’ve waited this long, so it doesn’t have to be in a month if we need longer to plan the wedding you want.”
“Well, the wedding isn’t as important as being married to you, but it will have to be quick because soon I will be showing.”
“Showing wh…oh, shit. Are you pregnant?” His heart jumped to the back of his throat. In the last couple of months, they’d talked about all sorts of things, and having more children had been one of them, but in the future.
Well, the future was now.
“The home test says I am. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow to confirm, but I know my body. I’m about as sure as I can be.”
The air in his lungs left his body. A wave of dizziness washed over him. “I think I need to sit down.” He managed to make it to one of the benches. “A baby.”
“Are you okay with this?”
He nodded, pulling the envelope from the inside pocket of his suit coat. “I hadn’t expected to become a father times two in the same day.”
“What are you talking about?” She sat next to him, taking the paper in her hands.
“Since Tom gave up all parental rights, I thought I’d ask to legally adopt Bri once we married. I spoke to her therapist, and she thinks it’s a good idea, if done correctly, and this is the plan she laid out for us. But only if you want me to. I love you and Bri so much that sometimes it hurts.” He patted his chest. “And now I’ve got another one to love.”
She pressed her palm against his cheek. “Biology doesn’t make someone a father, and I know for a fact that Bri would love to be able to call you daddy, and I want to be able to call you husband.”
“Then let’s do this, wife.”
About Jen Talty
Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/6atcf7g1be) where I often give away free books before publication.
Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where I post exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Never miss a new release. Follow me on Amazon:amazon.com/author/jentalty
And on Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/jen-talty
About the Author
Welcome to my World! I'm a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.
I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
I'm currently enjoying the next phase of my life...the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.
Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/6atcf7g1be) where I often give away free books before publication.
Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where I post exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!
Never miss a new release. Follow me on Amazon:amazon.com/author/jentalty
And on Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/jen-talty
Also by Jen Talty
BRAND NEW SERIES!
The Monroes
COLOR ME YOURS
COLOR ME SMART
It’s all in the Whiskey
JOHNNIE WALKER
GEORGIA MOON
JACK DANIELS
JIM BEAM
Search and Rescue
PROTECTING AINSLEY
PROTECTING CLOVER
NY State Trooper Series
IN TWO WEEKS
DARK WATER
DEADLY SECRETS
MURDER IN PARADISE BAY
TO PROTECT HIS OWN
DEADLY SEDUCTION
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS
NY State Trooper Novella
HIS DEADLY PAST
Brand New Novella for the First Responders series
A spin off from the NY State Troopers series
PLAYING WITH FIRE
The Men of Thief Lake
REKINDLED
DESTINY’S DREAM
Federal Investigators
JANE DOE’S RETURN
THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS
The Aegis Network
THE LIGHTHOUSE
HER LAST HOPE
THE LAST FLIGHT
THE RETURN HOME
THE MATRIARCH
The Collective Order
THE LOST SISTER
THE LOST SOLDIER
THE LOST SOUL
Coming soon!
THE LOST CONNECTION
Special Forces Operation Alpha
BURNING DESIRE
BURNING KISS
BURNING SKIES
BURNING LIES
BURNING HEART
BURNING BED
REMEMBER ME ALWAYS
The Brotherhood Protectors
Out of the Wild
ROUGH JUSTICE
ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
ROUGH RIDE
ROUGH EDGE
ROUGH BEAUTY
The Brotherhood Protectors
The Saving Series
SAVING LOVE
A Family Affair
Nightshade
Taking A Risk
Tee Time
The Twilight Crossing Series
THE BLIND DATE
SPRING FLING
SUMMER’S GONE
WINTER WEDDING
Witches and Werewolves
LADY SASS
ALL THAT SASS
Coming soon!
NEON SASS
PAINTING SASS
Boxsets
LOVE CHRISTMAS, MOVIES
UNFORGETABLE PASSION
UNFORGETABLE CHARMERS
A NIGHT SHE’LL REMEMBER
SWEET AND SASSY IN THE SNOW
SWEET AND SASSY PRINCE CHARMING
PROTECT AND DESIRE
SWEET AND SASSY BABY LOVE
CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE LODGE
THE PLAYERS: OVERCOMING THE ODDS
CHRISTMAS SHORTS
CHRISTMAS DREAMS
All That Glitters
INVINCIBLE SECRETS
UNFORGETABLE SUSPENSE
Novellas
NIGHTSHADE
A CHRISTMAS GETAWAY
TAKING A RISK
WHISPERS