Honeysuckle Dreams

by Denise Hunter

  “Objection!” the opposing counsel called.

  Judge Alders gave the attorney a look over the rim of his glasses. “Asked and answered, Counsel.” He gave Calvin a nod. “Proceed.”

  Brady’s short nails bit into his palm. He leaned forward in his seat, breathless.

  “Mrs. Greer . . .” Calvin stepped toward the bench. “Did your sister ever tell you whom she’d want to raise Sam in the event of her death?”

  Heather’s gaze flickered over Calvin’s shoulder to her parents, then back. Her Adam’s apple bobbed. “Yes, she did. She told me she’d want Brady to raise Sam.”

  A stunned silence fell over the gallery. Then a murmuring arose.

  Calvin gave Heather a modest smile, then addressed the judge. “The defense rests.”

  The Parkers’ attorney had finished questioning Heather on redirect, but nothing could outweigh Heather’s assertion that Audrey had wanted Brady to raise her son.

  Heather offered Brady a tired smile on her way back to the gallery. Beside Brady, an energy vibrated from Calvin, and a new spark in his eyes fed Brady’s hope.

  All that remained was the judge’s decision. Brady’s eyes cut to Judge Alders, who was looking down at either documents or notes. His glasses had slid down his nose, and the court lights gleamed off the dome of his head.

  Brady couldn’t pull his eyes from the bench where the judge was either about to break his heart or offer him the best gift he’d ever received. His heart was ready to leap from his chest. He pressed his palm against it.

  Finally the judge looked up and cleared his throat. He pushed his glasses back with his index finger.

  Come on, Brady thought. I’m dying here.

  “I want to begin by thanking the parties for being here today and thank the witnesses who have testified,” the judge said in a rehearsed tone. ”After careful consideration of the evidence and testimony and arguments made by counsel, it is the court’s order that sole custody of the minor child be awarded to the defendant.”

  Defendant. That was him. Brady’s breath tumbled from his lungs in one unsteady rush. His eyes closed in a long blink.

  “However,” Judge Alders continued, “the court has heard testimony from the plaintiffs as to their relationship with the minor child. Georgia has long recognized grandparents’ rights to visit with a minor child should the child be harmed absent such visitation. Therefore, the court does order that the plaintiffs, the grandparents of the minor child, have visitation on the first weekend of each month. Plaintiffs’ counsel will be responsible for preparing a written order reflecting my oral order today. If there is no further business before the court, we are adjourned.”

  Calvin stood. “Your Honor, that concludes my business with the court today. May I be excused, along with my client?”

  The judge agreed, and Brady stood as the rumble of chatter sounded behind him. Thank You, God! All the emotion he’d stuffed down for the last hour could be held back no longer. A knot swelled in his throat, and his eyes leaked tears of gratitude.

  “We did it!” Hope burst through the gate and grabbed him around the waist, squeezing tight, all but jumping for joy. “Oh, Brady, he’s ours. He’s ours!”

  Brady tightened his arms around her, and he lifted her off the floor. He buried his face in her hair. “Thank You, God!” He’d never been so relieved in all his life. He attempted a prayer of gratitude but couldn’t get past, Thank You, thank You, thank You!

  He felt Calvin’s hearty clap on his back. “Congratulations, you two.”

  Brady set down Hope and pulled his attorney into an awkward hug. “Thank you so much, Calvin. Seriously. Thank you.”

  Calvin chuckled as he pulled away, straightening his suit. “All in a day’s work, Brady. You enjoy that baby now, you hear?”

  “Oh, I will. You can count on that.”

  Brady grabbed Hope’s hand as their eyes locked. Hers were teary but so happy. Having her in his corner today had meant everything. Sharing a smile, he pulled his hand to her lips and brushed her knuckles with a kiss.

  Then everyone was upon them. Zoe, Cruz, Pastor Jack, his dad, and on and on they came, offering congratulatory hugs and teary smiles. These were his people. His family. He felt a rush of gratitude for the people God had put into his life. It was enough to make his eyes burn all over again.

  A quick glance around showed the Parkers had vacated the room. He couldn’t blame them. He even felt a sharp pinch of pity for them.

  A text came in. Miss Ruby sent her hearty congratulations. Zoe must’ve texted her. He would respond, but first there was something else he had to do.

  He squeezed Hope’s hand. “I’ll be right back.”

  He made his way through the throng and out the back of the courtroom. The halls were empty and quiet. He was probably too late. But when he rounded the corner he caught Heather emerging from the restroom. She came to a stop when she saw him approaching.

  Her eyes were bloodshot, but she managed a strained smile. “Congratulations, Brady. It worked out just the way it was supposed to.”

  “Heather . . . I don’t even know how to say thank you.”

  She blinked rapidly. “Just raise that little guy up right. And let me see him sometimes?”

  “Of course. I want him to know his auntie.” He shook his head, staring at her with disbelief. “I can’t believe you did that for me, Heather.”

  “I did it for Sam,” she said, not unkindly. “And for my sister. Audrey wouldn’t have wanted Mom and Dad raising her son. She went to a lot of trouble to make you Sam’s daddy, and for once she chose well.”

  He swallowed hard. He’d never be able to pay Heather back for what she’d done today. “Thank you.”

  “It was the right thing to do.”

  “Your mom and dad . . .” They were grudge holders. They’d see this as the ultimate betrayal, and they were going to rake her over the coals for this.

  “They’re not going to be talking to me for a while, but they’ll come around eventually. I hope. But I don’t regret what I did. I feel at peace about it.”

  “I’m glad.” He wondered anew how she’d turned out so great. Audrey had never been very kind to Heather, and still her sister only wanted to abide by her wishes. “Audrey was blessed to have you for a sister.”

  “Thanks, Brady. You take care of that boy.” She turned to go.

  “Call me anytime you want to spend some time with Sam.”

  Heather tossed a smile over her shoulder. “I’ll take you up on that.”

  Ten minutes later, Brady’s seat belt was the only thing keeping him from floating right into the sky. The adrenaline still coursed through his veins, and Hope, fidgeting with her seat belt and talking a mile a minute, seemed to be experiencing the same thing.

  Their troop of supporters had wanted to go out and celebrate, and Brady had hated to turn them down. But right now he only wanted one thing: to go home and scoop his son into his arms.

  chapter twenty-eight

  Later that night weariness fell over Brady as he went downstairs. He’d rocked Sam to sleep tonight, an indulgence he didn’t allow very often. But he just couldn’t seem to soak in enough of his son today.

  His son.

  A feeling of pride washed over him, and he couldn’t stop the smile that curled his lips. When he reached the first floor his phone was buzzing from the coffee table, but he ignored it. As his son slept peacefully in his crib, all he wanted right now was his wife.

  Finding the living room and kitchen empty, he peeked out the back door and found Hope leaning against the deck railing, staring out into the dark night. The twinkle lights she’d added weeks ago glittered around her, adding to the light from the lamps.

  He slid open the door and slipped outside. The cool evening air brushed his skin, and a chorus of cicadas and crickets greeted him. The earthy smells of decaying leaves mingled with the crisp October air. Fall had eased into the valley, and he’d been so preoccupied he’d hardly even noticed.


  Hope turned and offered him that wide, trademark smile of hers. Her eyes sparkled as she leaned back against the deck railing. “Sammy down for the night?”

  “Out like a light. I just wanted to enjoy him for a few minutes.”

  “What a great day, huh?”

  “The best.” He went straight to her and drew her into his arms. He wanted nothing more than to hold her close.

  She accommodated, slipping her arms around his waist. “I’m glad it worked out so well. And I’m so relieved.”

  “Not going to lie . . . I was worried there for a while.”

  “You and me both. That other lawyer was kind of vicious.”

  “Thank God for Heather. I think she really swayed the judge, don’t you?”

  “She saved the day.” Hope pulled back, still in the circle of his arms. “What’d she say to you?”

  He thought back to Heather’s bloodshot eyes and felt a little prick of guilt. “That she did it for Sam, and for Audrey. That it’s what her sister would’ve wanted.”

  “That was a big sacrifice for Heather to make. I can’t imagine it’s going to be a happy holiday at the Parkers’ this year.”

  “I hope they’ll forgive her in time. She’s their only living child, and she has their other grandchildren, so maybe that’ll speed up the process a little.”

  “You’d think. She wouldn’t have risked the relationship if she weren’t sure she was right about you.”

  He tipped up her chin, gazing into eyes that were warm and inviting. “I don’t want to talk about the Parkers anymore.”

  “Yeah?” she said softly, flirtation flickering in her eyes. “What do you want to talk about, Collins?”

  His thumb brushed her cheek. So soft. “I don’t want to talk at all.”

  Her sweet mouth didn’t even have a chance to curl upward. He took her in a kiss like he’d been wanting to since the other night. But now was even better, without the final hearing hanging over their heads. Now was perfect.

  She gave back with equal abandon, stirring all the desire he’d been feeling for months. Had it only been months? It seemed like he’d wanted her forever. More than anything he wanted to finish what they’d started Saturday night. But was it a good idea? Would she be this happy if she knew how deeply he’d fallen for her?

  But maybe this was exactly what they needed. Maybe she’d forget all her reservations about love and fall for him too. Then they’d be on even footing.

  She made a little mewling sound that had him hauling her up against him. She was perfect, all soft curves and warm, heavenly woman. He could kiss her like this all night long. For the rest of his life.

  Yes, please.

  He pulled back, needing to see her. Needing to connect on a deeper level, look into those soulful, green eyes. Their gaze locked, her eyes at half-mast, and all the feelings he’d had at Zoe’s wedding rushed over him again. He really loved this woman. The feeling swelled inside until he thought he’d bust with it.

  “Hope . . . I . . .”

  She claimed his lips in a bold move that was seductive, though the timing gave him pause. But with her lips on his, desire fogged his brain, and the qualm was soon forgotten. If he wasn’t going to tell her how he felt . . . he’d just have to show her.

  Hope couldn’t catch her breath. Wasn’t sure she wanted to. Brady had brought every cell to life until she was humming with raw energy.

  There was no denying the intensity of his kiss or where he hoped it would lead. They’d made it this far Saturday night and had only turned back because of Sammy’s cries. Tonight there would likely be no interruptions. He’d courted her slowly, patiently, and he’d done his job so well. Hope was ready to take things further.

  Boy howdy, was she ready.

  Something tweaked her conscience, something vague and indistinguishable. Something easy enough to forget with the way his mouth and his hands moved on her.

  “Thank you,” he murmured against her lips a long, delicious moment later. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Hope. For us.”

  That tweaking returned to Hope—and with it some clarity. The kiss was perfect. It was the timing that gave her pause. He’d just won custody of his son and was feeling grateful.

  She wanted this. They’d been building up to it for months, but . . .

  When he leaned in to kiss her again, she palmed his face and pulled back, looking him square in the eye. Those eyes. They smoldered, sucking her in until she’d almost forgotten what she was going to say.

  “What?” he asked softly.

  It was hard to breathe. Hard to think with him looking at her like that. But the tweaking had become a full-fledged pinch, and she needed to be sure.

  “Brady . . . I don’t want to do this just because you’re feeling grateful.”

  A dozen emotions shuffled across his face, too quickly to follow them. Then his lips turned up and something flashed in his eyes. Something that unsettled her a little with its intensity.

  He took her hands from his face and kissed both of them slowly before meeting her gaze again. “There are a hundred reasons why I want to make love to you, Hope. Grateful is way down the list.”

  She couldn’t look away from the sincerity in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to say more, but suddenly she didn’t want to talk anymore.

  She leaned in and brushed her lips across his.

  “Okay?” he whispered, his voice as thick as honey, as if he needed to be sure.

  “Okay,” she said.

  chapter twenty-nine

  The frenzied thumping of Hope’s heart had diminished a long while ago. Her breath whispered against the fine hairs on Brady’s forearm. She lay snuggled against him, warm and cozy and content.

  He’d drifted off a long time ago—she could tell by his deep, steady breathing and the lovely weight of his arm across her shoulder.

  The lights were out, and the moonlight filtered through the curtains. Despite the long and emotional day, she was wide-awake. Because during the last hour she’d realized that something had happened. Something had changed.

  She’d gone and fallen in love with her husband.

  Until this very moment she’d put the thought on hold. Refused to acknowledge it, much less dissect what it might mean. But now she gathered up a bit of courage and brought the realization out into the open, as if holding it in her hands, examining it in detail.

  It was true. Her heart gave a shudder as the realization sank in. Somehow she’d been so caught up in the day-to-day, so focused on the final hearing, on Zoe’s wedding, on Brady’s mom, and on attaining her dream job that she hadn’t noticed what was happening.

  That the feelings of friendship had shifted into something more. Something much more. And given the way he’d looked at her tonight, she didn’t think she was alone in this.

  The realization should’ve been cause for celebration. The ultimate blessing for their union. But she’d only been in love once before, and she couldn’t help but remember how that had ended. Couldn’t help but recall the pain she’d suffered. The wreck she’d become.

  As the memories took root, the breaths that had been flowing so easily became shallow and thready. A trembling, like an earthquake, started rumbling inside.

  She tried to push it all down. Tried to get a grip on herself. Tried to tell herself that Brady wasn’t Aaron. He surely didn’t have a rare heart defect, waiting to go off like a bomb. He wouldn’t drop dead out of the blue.

  Her fear was illogical. Unreasonable. She knew better. If she could help other people handle their feelings, surely she could control her own. If she could dole out advice, surely she could take it.

  But the fear wouldn’t go away. Instead, it sucked the moisture from her mouth. Flooded her system with adrenaline and planted a seed of dread in the soil of her heart.

  Brady came awake slowly, yesterday coming back in bits and pieces. His eyes still closed, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He was quite fond of yesterday. It had been a ban
ner day all the way around.

  Last night sifted through his mind like the best kind of dream. He rolled over, reaching out, his hands seeking the warmth of his wife but finding only cold bedsheet.

  He blinked his eyes open. The other side of the bed was empty, the pillow still bearing the impression of Hope’s head. Maybe Sam had awakened early. Dawn already filtered through the drapes, and a quick glance at his phone told him it was time to get up anyway.

  He rose and showered, dressing in work clothes. He wished he could take the day off and spend it with Hope and Sam. But he had a customer needing a new clutch on his Maserati Coupe by tonight and a tight schedule the rest of the week.

  The smell of bacon greeted him as he left his bedroom. He stopped by the nursery on his way downstairs. Sam was still sleeping in his crib, his diapered bottom pooched in the air, his hands tucked under him.

  He pulled the door closed and found Hope downstairs in the kitchen, standing over a skillet of sizzling bacon. She wore pajamas, and her hair was pulled into a messy bun. He scoped out his favorite spot on her neck and made a beeline for her.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  Her gaze bounced off him as she scooped the last strips of bacon from the skillet and dropped them on a paper towel– covered plate. “Morning.”

  Not exactly the warm reception he’d hoped for. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Just fine. You?”

  “Like the dead.”

  “Yesterday was a big day.”

  “And a big night,” he added.

  Her cheeks colored as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her against him.

  She turned off the stove and moved the skillet off the burner. “That it was.”

  She’d tensed up, but he didn’t let that stop him from planting a kiss in the curve between her neck and shoulder.

  He heard her breath catch and smiled against her fragrant skin. “We’re not going to be all awkward about last night, are we?”

  “’Course not. We’re man and woman. Husband and wife. Nothing to be concerned about.”