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"I hope so," James said, but there were some eren’t as confident as William Carr Generally those under the influence of Ralph Southworth To Jaed to prejudice several supporters against him

"You remind me of myself thirty years back," Carr told hih praise "Thank you"

"But you needed a little softening around the edges You cae,a little more hu this but kneas for his own good, however uncoment of others when you live in an ivory tower"

James frowned uncertainly "I don’t understand"

"Until you married Summer, your life was a bit…sterile Protected If you don’tso…A ine you’ve done things to make your wife happy that you wouldn’t normally do"

He nodded

"In e matures a man It helps him sympathize and identify with his fellow huy stuffed shirt before I ht

Williarinned "Couldn’t have said it better ht" James reached for a tiny crab puff

"By the way, I wanted to congratulate you on a job well done That multiple homicide was your first murder trial, wasn’t it?"

"Yes" To be honest, he was happy it was over The ordeal had proved to be exhausting for everyone involved The jury had found the young uilty, and after careful deliberation, James had pronounced the sentence

His naht for weeks It ithout saying that a lot of people atching and waiting to see how he’d rule Liberals were looking for leniency, and hard-liners wanted the death penalty Jaonized over the sentence

There werethose hours of madness Three families had lost loved ones Seventeen others would always carry the ed

James had delivered a sentence he felt was fair He didn’t try to satisfy any political factions, although the outcoment He’d sentenced the killer to life without the possibility of parole, with mandatory psychiatric treatment

It would’ve been impossible to keep everyone happy, so his decision had been based on what he considered equitable for all concerned Soed

"Thank you," James said, "I appreciate your vote of confidence"

"The decisions won’t get any easier," Williareen olive and popped it in histheir opinion poll about the time your wife’s due to have those babies of yours"

James knew that whether or not the results were published was at the discretion of the bar The vote could sway the Nove tired Despite her smile, William Carr seemed to realize this He wished them his best and drifted away

"Are you ready to leave?" James asked

"No," she protested "We’ve barely arrived"

"We’re going" His ument

He ed Suress was slow, and he knew she was uncomfortable, especially in the heat

"Charlotte’s due in teeks," she said when he helped her inside She sighed as she eased into the seat The seat belt barely stretched all the way around her

James paused "What’s that comment about Charlotte about?"

"I envy her Look atat you," he said, and planted a kiss on her cheek "You’re the most beautiful woman in the world"

"I don’t believe you," she muttered

"You’d better, because it wouldn’t take ht here and now"

"Ja honest"

She s her a second tiot home, Summer sat outside in the sunshine She propped her feet on a stool, and her hands rested on her stolass of iced tea

She smiled her appreciation "You spoil me"

"That’s because I enjoy it" He sat down next to her "I don’t suppose you’ve thought about packing up and leaving led "Once or twice, but by the tio"

"You’re teasing"

"Of course I’ of suitcases, do you have one ready for the hospital?"

"Aren’t we being a little pre" James’s hand joined hers It thrilled hiht want to take more than your toothbrush, a book and your bedroooes to show you the ain," Jaainst his shoulder and sighed "Never again," she agreed

The day of the Septeish and out of sorts Getting out of bed was a task of monumental proportions She felt as if she needed a forklift

Ja her carefully all week To everyone’s surprise, including her doctor’s, Summer hadn’t delivered the twins yet She’d read that tere often born early But not Mutt and Jeff, as they’d been affectionately named by James