Читать книгу From Bags to Riches - Sandra D. Bricker - Страница 8

Prologue

Prologue

All rise,” the bailiff announced, sounding like an old town crier. “The Honorable Victor Preston presiding.”

Jessie managed to push to her feet and stand erect next to LaHayne as the stern-looking judge in the black robe took his place at the front of the room and rapped his gavel. “Be seated.”

The muffled sound of people returning to the rock-hard benches fell to silence.

“Good to see you, Mr. LaHayne,” Judge Preston said without looking up. “Is this your client, Jessie Hart, sitting next to you?”

He stood as if commanded to do so. “It is, Your Honor.”

“It seems like you’re in quite a pickle, Miss Hart.”

She gulped around the lump in her throat. “Yes, sir.”

“And we have Uncle Sam’s representatives here as well?”

She hadn’t noticed the familiar Twin Suits seated at the back edge of the courtroom until the male half stood. “Yes, Your Honor. Special Agent Dale Glenn, Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

“Good. We’ll start with you, Agent Glenn. And then I see we have the corroborating witnesses you promised in the courtroom today as well, Mr. LaHayne.”

“We do, Your Honor.”

“I’ve studied the considerable amount of paperwork you presented to my bailiff, and I’m familiar with the basics of the situation, so let’s get started.”

The testimony of Male Suit—now known as Special Agent Dale Glenn—was direct and unfettered by emotion, opinion, or even an attempt to waylay the efforts to restore Jessie’s life. In fact, after two hours of give-and-take conversation that never once required Jessie to speak, it was Courtney who carried the most weight with the judge when she debuted her testimony with one of those charming and electric Courtney smiles.

“It wasn’t easy for me to be here, Your Honor. I’ve only recently adopted my first child and was spending some time with her at my family’s home in London. We weren’t due to return to the States for several more weeks.”

“London,” he exclaimed, and his entire expression softened. “My wife is from Leigh, Lancashire.”

“Oh,” she cooed. “It’s so beautiful there.”

“And yet you returned early. Can you explain to the court why you did that?”

“I had to come back if there was even a remote chance it could help Jessie sort out this mess. I mean, she didn’t cause it. And she’s done everything short of slinging hammer and nails to rebuild her life with hardly a thing outside of her sense of integrity. That’s got to count for something.” She smiled again. “Doesn’t it?”

The judge turned toward Jessie. “You have some very dedicated people in your corner, Miss Hart.”

Jessie’s heart squeezed slightly. “I can see that. And I’m grateful beyond words.”

“I’ll tell you what, people. Let’s adjourn while I give this some further consideration, and I’ll give you my judgment when we reconvene at four o’clock.”

Blessedly, after such a long time of struggling to breathe—or even imagine what her life might be like after that very day—at 4:05 p.m., Judge Victor Preston took out his giant sharp scissors and cut the cord appending Jessie’s life to Jack’s.

“And while we’re here, Judge,” LaHayne said, but Jessie could hardly hear him over the caterwauling celebration inside her head, “there’s the matter of Miss Hart’s name. Since she was never actually married to John Fitzgerald Stanton in the eyes of the law, we would like to have it stipulated here that she can return to her legal surname of Hart.”

Jessie Hart.

Not Jessie Stanton. Or Hart-Stanton. Just plain and simple Jessie Hart.

Well. Not plain. And certainly not simple.

The overpowering joy bubbling inside her had all the power of a jet engine propelling her into Danny’s arms the instant the gavel rapped for the last time.

“I wonder what the Suit would do if I went over there and kissed him right on the mouth,” she exclaimed in his ear as he held her. But when her eyes landed elsewhere, Jessie gasped. “Oh, I have to thank Courtney.”

And with that, she flew out of Danny’s arms, stopping to hug Amber and Charlotte on her way toward Courtney.

“Today,” she heard Piper softly exclaim to Danny as she moved away. “Not tomorrow or next week, okay? To-day.” But elation kept Jessie from stopping to ask what she meant.