Taylor set her down on the bed to recover, then joined her under the covers. Moments passed before their breathing evened. Jude stayed in his arms, never wanting to leave them again. They became a tangle of relaxed limbs, sleep starting to arise, but then she asked, “Why do we cry out ‘God’ when we come? We’re not even that religious.”

He burst out laughing. “I seriously missed you.”

“I missed you too. But really, do you think it’s because there’s nothing more powerful in that moment? It feels that way to me.”

Amused, he kissed her temple, and said, “Maybe it’s because we’re closer to Heaven when we’re joined together.”

“Oh, that’s a really good answer.”

“Glad you like it.” He closed his eyes, still smiling.

A ringing made both of their eyes open. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. “I’ll be right back.”

“Is that your phone?”

“Yes.”

He lay back with his hands under his head. “I still can’t believe you have a phone. Do I get the number?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, giggling as she ran out of the room. She grabbed it and answered it. “Hello?”

“It’s Caleb. We got our expedited hearing. Monday at eleven.”

“This is amazing news.”

“It is,” he said. “Now what are you going to do until then? Where are you going to stay? It’s not safe for you to be there. They’ll know in the next hour.”

She looked over her shoulder and saw Hazel in all his naked glory leaning against the door to the bedroom. “I’m with Taylor.”

There was a pause, and then Caleb questioned, “With with or talking with?”

“With with. For good. I’ll stay with him.”

“Are you safe there? They may come for you, like last time.”

“This time they have no right to take me, correct? The order of protection is in place?”

“That’s correct, but that doesn’t ultimately protect you.” He sounded worried, and said, “Don’t go out on your own. Stay with Taylor. Just lay low until Monday. All right?”

“Okay. I will.”

“And say hello to him. It’s good to hear you so happy.”

“Thanks,” she said, smiling though he couldn’t see. But she did feel happy. Happy in love. “And I will.”

When she hung up, Taylor said, “I don’t want you to think I’m prying, but I want to know.”

She went to him. “You’re not prying. You’re my husband. I have no secrets from you. Caleb said we got our expedited hearing. Next Monday at eleven.”

He hugged her. “That’s great news.”

With her cheek to his chest, she said, “He told me to lay low, to protect myself if they come after me. There’s a restraining order in place, but he fears, like I do, that it won’t stop them.” Tilting her head up to look at him, she asked, “What do you think?”

He tightened his hold on her and spoke in a low tone, caught somewhere between anger and possessive, “We protect you.”

The moment she went to shower, Taylor went to work to secure her safety. He alerted the doorman that no one, not even the police were allowed up to his apartment without a warrant. He called a locksmith to get a new bolt added to the door, and he didn’t let her leave the apartment until she freaked out on him on Saturday because of her cabin fever. And then, with extreme caution, they went to the park, had lunch out, bought her a dress for court, and then returned home that evening. She was exhausted, but happy. And that made Taylor just as happy.

The next day and a half passed not so fast, but not too slow. It went by, taunting them with all the possible outcomes that could come of this hearing. They tried to distract themselves with blueprints and movies, books and light conversation. But Monday loomed and caused stress whether they thought about it directly or not.

When it was finally time for court, they walked in together, hand in hand, to face the hard glares of her family. Caleb walked to the right of them, making sure the respondents didn’t talk to his client.

Right away, Jude noticed her mother was missing. Her aunt and stepfather sat down and spoke quietly with their lawyer while Hazel and Jude sat down at their table with Caleb.

The introductions and background information were told by both parties and then they spent the next three hours dissecting all that was Jude, Taylor and Jude, Jude and her family dynamics, Jude and Bleekman’s, and the evidence presented.

The other side made convincing, though fabricated arguments. When Jude took the stand, she happily rebuked them. She held her head up and her shoulders back. She wasn’t meek anymore. She was prepared to face this alone, head-on. But Hazel being there made all the difference and she held strong in the belief that she would win by reason of sanity.

Caleb had told them to let the evidence speak for itself. And Jude only answered what was required of her. When she spoke, everyone in the court stared at her, trying to decide if she was crazy like the opposing counsel had claimed. She saw Dr. Robert and Lacy there and found comfort in their presence. After a grueling day, the judge took the information and retired to his chambers. It was over. Now they waited…

The next morning, Caleb, Hazel, and Jude, along with Dr. Robert and Lacy waited in the courtroom. Jude didn’t have a way to contact her mother and she had been worrying about her absence all night. As if she knew her daughter needed her, the doors opened at the back and in walked Renee Boehler, her mother. She looked good—healthy, happier, and more importantly, happy to see Jude. Her mother took her side and sat behind Jude’s table, in the closest chair to her daughter. Reaching forward, she rubbed Jude’s back and said, “This is a good day. I can feel it.”

Judge Lathrop walked in and with all eyes on him, sat down on his throne. His expression was unreadable, severity set deep in the lines on his face. Would he see the truth behind the lies? He didn’t appear to be a man who would give a young girl her life back with a simple ruling, but she held on to hope as tight as she held on to Hazel’s hand.

Nine months ago, Jude had no idea her life would be about to change its course. She had no idea that attending a party her parents had been invited to, but didn’t attend—a party she attended without them knowing—would lead to this. She often thought of how she met Hazel, how he came to her and stood by her side, protective from the beginning. “Feels like our whole lives.” And it did, even from the first moment she looked at the broken man with dashing eyes.

Theirs had not been an easy journey. No doubt at times he had hated her ability to stay, to try to weather the storm of her past. She had hated herself for that very same reason. But today she knew, she knew, she was not crazy. She had been wronged and today she would face her future, whatever may come. But not alone. Never alone again.

Hazel needed her as much as she needed him. She also knew this. A party invitation had led them to each other—to their destiny.

Her life for his.

His life for hers.

Together no matter if they had a piece of paper saying so or not.

Hazel squeezed her hand and kissed her temple.

Judge Lathrop found Bleekman’s, Dr. Conroy, and Brewster Boehler liable for criminal charges that would be filed against them that day. All monies she was forced to sign away while at Bleekman’s would be returned as well as additional monies for the abuse she endured. As the case continued, he ruled that Judith Boehler was the only one in charge of her life and that full rights to her own guardianship would be returned to her immediately. His final ruling was on an item that Caleb Monroe added after the case was scheduled. The judge had agreed to the addition over whisky and a cigar late Friday evening.

Taylor and Jude were already breathing easier on regaining her freedom, her independence, but both sat with their fingers entwined with each other’s awaiting the final piece—the legality of their marriage.