The Lawman's Legacy (Love Inspired Suspense) (19 page)

EPILOGUE

Fitzgerald Bay Courthouse

S
ilent as a tomb, the courtroom seemed to hold its breath as it waited for the judge to arrive.

Or, maybe, it was just Merry who held her breath.

Her throat clogged, and she forced back tears. She’d cried so much during the past three weeks beginning with Olivia’s death, she didn’t know how she could have any tears left.

“Breathe, Merry, or you’ll end up on the floor, and Jethro Shaffer will take a picture and post it on the front page of the
Fitzgerald Bay Gazette
,” Keira hissed, patting Merry’s back with a little too much force.

“I can’t believe you’re worried about such a thing on a day like today,” Vanessa Connolly said, and Keira shrugged.

“I can’t, either. But it really burns my boat that we’ve had to allow this trial to be made public just to prove that we’re not manipulating evidence or people.” She scowled, shooting daggers at Burke and Christina Hennessy.

“It’s okay that it’s public,” Merry said.

“It is not okay. It isn’t okay by a long shot.”

“Shhhhh. Do you want to get us kicked out?” Fiona whispered, and Keira fell silent.

Merry glanced at her watch for what felt like the fiftieth time, wondering why the minute hand didn’t seem to be moving. Two minutes and the judge would arrive. Two minutes and she’d know what the future would be.

“Can I take your seat, Keira?” A familiar voice washed over her, and Merry stood, threw herself into Douglas’s arms.

“I thought you were stuck in Boston.” He’d traveled there to view the evidence the Boston police had found when they decoded the message on Nicole’s journal. It had revealed the address of a bank where Nicole had opened an account in Tyler’s name. A safety deposit box there contained a piece of paper that listed Tyrone’s drug contacts in Mexico and the dates of his drug transactions. With that in hand, the police were putting together enough evidence to try him for Nicole’s murder.

“There was no way I was going to miss this.” Douglas had dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his jaw, but nothing could distract from his gorgeous smile.

“I’m glad you’re here. Your sisters are about done with my nerves.”

“I’m sure you haven’t been that bad—”

“All rise!” the bailiff called, and Merry squeezed Douglas’s hand, her eyes on Tyler. He sat just a few feet away, his feet swinging under his seat as he sucked on a lollipop Aiden had given him.

“It’s going be okay.” Douglas held her hand as the judge walked into the room, and she wanted to believe he was right.

“I see we have a full courthouse again today. I can’t say I’m pleased,” the judge said as she took a seat. “Bailiff, if you could take the minor into my chambers, I have a special treat for him there.”

The bailiff took Tyler’s hand and led him from the courtroom, and Merry’s heart constricted, her body numb with fear.

“I won’t beat around the bush with this, since I know everyone is anxious. Counsel, approach the bench. Ms. O’Leary, you may approach the bench, as well.”

She wanted to.

She really did, but her legs were like Jell-O, and she wasn’t sure they would hold her.

Douglas squeezed her hand, and she looked into his eyes, saw his confidence, his certainty.

“Go,” he mouthed, and she went, approaching the bench, looking into the judge’s eyes.

“Breathe.”

Merry wasn’t sure if she was hearing Keira or her oxygen-starved brain’s desperate plea, but she inhaled, exhaled. Heard the judge speaking through the whooshing of blood in her ears.

“I’ve heard from the counselors. I’ve heard from witnesses. In the end, though, what matters most to me is not the testimony of character witnesses or psychologists or doctors. What matters most is the child himself. There is obviously a very strong bond between the minor and Ms. O’Leary, but that is not enough.”

Merry’s heart dropped, the tears she’d been holding back began sliding down her cheeks.

“Children must be fed an abundant diet of love and attention. They must understand their value and worth. More than that, children must always know they have a loving and safe place to go home to. Tyler has found that in you, Ms. O’Leary. That, combined with the evidence submitted by your counsel and the testimony of the witnesses, has led me to grant your request. You are hereby awarded legal custody of Tyler Rodriguez. Congratulations. Court is adjourned.”

The courtroom erupted in applause and cheers, but Merry barely heard.

She was too busy running toward Tyler as he was led out of the judge’s chambers, an oversize teddy bear in his hands.

“Mommy!” He giggled as she lifted him, hugged him tight.

“We did it!” Douglas pulled them into his arms, wrapping them in an embrace as warm and welcome as a summer day.

She burrowed in, Tyler wiggling and giggling as he was sandwiched between them.

“I know.” She sniffed, but the tears just kept pouring down her face.

“Then why are you crying?” He brushed moisture from her cheeks, his touch tender and light and filled with love.

“Because, happily-ever-after wouldn’t have been so happy without all of us in it.”

“There was never any worry that would happen.” He smiled, but something in his eyes made her heart catch.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, letting go of Tyler, letting him run to Aiden’s side.

“Nothing that you need to worry about.”

“We’re not going back to that again, are we?” she asked, and he raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“That thing where you treat me like I’m going to break.”

“You
did
break. As a matter of fact,” he said, lifting her casted arm, “you’re still broken.”

“And healing nicely, according to your brother. So, tell me what’s wrong.”

“We’ve got a new guy joining the police force.”

“When did that happen?”

“I just heard the news. He’ll be starting this week. It’s good. We need the extra manpower. I’m just worried that Burke will start planting thoughts in the new guy’s head. Get him digging around and looking for trouble.”

“He’s not a local?”

“No.” Douglas sighed, ran a hand through his hair.

“That doesn’t mean he’s going to buy into Burke’s conspiracy theories.”

“It doesn’t mean he won’t, either.”

“It’s going to be okay, Douglas.” She squeezed his hand, and he smiled.

“Isn’t that my line?”

“It used to be, but I thought I’d try it on for size, because I really do think everything is going to be okay. Once the DNA evidence comes in, Charles will be completely cleared in the eyes of the community. Soon, you’ll find Olivia’s murderer. I know you will. The new guy will probably even help you do it.”

“I’m glad you have so much confidence.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You and your family are a pretty impressive team.” She patted his cheek, and he captured her hand, looked into her eyes.

“You’re pretty impressive, too. So how about we stop talking about the murder investigation for today? This is a time to celebrate, and I know just the way to do it.”

“Dinner out?”

“With Tyler? I don’t think so, Mer. I love the kid, but he can’t sit still long enough to eat a chicken nugget let alone a four-course meal.” He wound his fingers through hers, took a step closer.

“Then, what do you suggest?”

“Something that begins like this.” He tugged her in, kissed her with a passion that left her breathless.

“Go on.” She slid her arms around his neck, inhaling his masculine scent, not caring that Jethro Shaffer was standing ten feet away, just waiting to snap a picture.

“And ends like this.” He kissed her again, and she was sure lightning flashed.

Or maybe it was Jethro’s camera.

She didn’t know, didn’t care, as she looked into Douglas’s warm blue eyes.

“So, what do you think?” he asked, his voice just a little uneven, and she smiled.

“I think I really like the beginning and the end. What comes in middle?”

“How about we work that out together as we go along?” He grabbed her hand, tugged her toward Tyler, toward his family and toward all the dreams they’d build together.

* * * * *

Dear Reader,

When I was a kid, summer and winter vacations meant trips to Massachusetts to visit family. Since then, I’ve had a love for New England. Beautiful fall foliage, cold crisp winter, bright blue summer sky… You can’t beat it for seasonal changes, nor can you help feeling the history of the places you visit there. It thrilled me to be asked to participate in a continuity series set in the area. The small town of Fitzgerald Bay is quaint and tight-knit, the people that live there full of character and strength. Writing the story of Douglas Fitzgerald and Merry O’Leary brought me back to those wonderful days I spent with people I loved in a place I loved. It also reminded me of God’s power. Even in the worst times of our lives, even when we aren’t sure we’ve made right decisions, done the right thing…even when we know we haven’t… He is there, His love so powerful and strong, His desire for us so great that it rises above our failures and pulls us back to Him again and again.

I hope that you enjoy the first book in the Fitzgerald Bay continuity series.

I love to connect with readers. You can visit me at http://shirlee-mccoy.blogspot.com, connect with me on Facebook or drop me a line at [email protected].

Blessings!

Shirlee McCoy

Questions for Discussion

1. Four years ago, Merry O’Leary made a decision that changed her life. Would you have made the same one? Explain.
   
2. When she arrived in Fitzgerald Bay, Merry felt an affinity for the small town and the people there. What other reasons did she have for staying?
   
3. How did the burden of Merry’s secrets impact her relationship with the townspeople?
   
4. How did it impact her relationship with Douglas?
   
5. Why do you think she agreed to go out to lunch with him?
   
6. Douglas has a reputation for being the town’s most eligible bachelor. How does he feel about that?
   
7. When he sees Merry for the first time, what is it that catches his attention? What is it that keeps it?
   
8. Merry has made two promises. One to Olivia. One to Nicole. How do those promises influence her decisions after Olivia’s body is discovered?
   
9. A lie is a lie, and the Bible is very specific about God’s feelings regarding lying tongues. Merry felt forced into lying because of her fear for Tyler. Explain your feelings about this. Was there a way she could have protected her son and told the truth?
   
10. Olivia’s murder is the catalyst that forces Merry to allow Douglas into her life. She is reluctant but unable to refuse him. Have you ever had a time in your life when something you haven’t wanted has been thrust onto you? How did the experience change you?
    
11. At what point do you think Merry begins to truly trust Douglas? Does it happen before or after he finds out the truth?
    
12. Faith and family is the Fitzgerald family motto. How does Douglas show that he lives by this?
    
13. Do you think that Merry regretted her decision to flee Boston? What makes you think this?
    
14. In Merry’s circumstances, what would you have done?
    
15. Who do you think killed Olivia?
    

ISBN: 9781459219991

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Shirlee McCoy for her contribution to the Fitzgerald Bay miniseries.

Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.

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