The judge bit back a grin. “Case dismissed.” The sound of the gravel was loud in the silent courtroom.
Nick walked back to Pax who stood up. “What do you think, buddy?”
“I think it’s great. I’m relieved.”
“Shame on you.” They turned to see Kramer had come up to them. “It doesn’t matter what the judge decided. You killed my mother.”
“Don’t say a word, Pax.” Nick turned to the man. “Please leave my client alone.” He looked past the guy and said to the other lawyer, “Keep you client away from us. The case is over.”
Chapter 5
Noreen parked her car in the designated area and walked toward the Kirklands’ house. The three-story old Victorian was well lit with strings of Christmas lights.
Let me drive you to the party,as a friend, I promise.
No. People will think we’re a couple.
God forbid…
At the front porch, she found the main door open. A Santa was clung to the glass along with a scripted sign that read,Go right in.
Noreen stepped into the foyer. Steph had told her that she was dressing up, and the guys would probably be in sportscoats. Noreen chose an emerald sequined dress, one-shouldered with a low back and gathered waist. Dressy beige heels and a matching clutch purse completed the outfit. A young girl approached her. “May I take your coat?”
“Yes, thank you.” Noreen removed her coat and handed it to the girl. She walked into a big closet on the left.
The rumble of conversation floated to the foyer and she followed it. The high-ceilinged foyer with slatted wood on the floor led to a formal living room. Couches of blue fabric, leather chairs were flanked by shelving on one wall and two big picture windows on the other.
She entered the back of the house, which was also huge with the same kind of seating in a rich, deep gray. The windows, which were rectangular, lined one whole wall. At the end was an alcove with toys and kiddie tables.
Katie saw her first and hurried over. “Noreen, you look stunning.”
“Thank you. So do you.” Katie wore a red sheath that went beautifully with her dark hair flowing to her back. The material clung to her baby bump which looked even bigger than at the signing.
“Your house is gorgeous.”
“Will and I remodeled everything. It used to be dark inside and chopped up. This space was two rooms and the kitchen over there—” she pointed to the other end of the house “was closed up.”
“I didn’t even notice the kitchen. This room is so beautiful.”
Will joined them. This man was gorgeous too in a rough-and-tumble way. She’d met him at the signing but tonight he was all decked out. “Can I get you a drink, Noreen? We have liquor and wine.”
“I’ll have wine. I’m driving.” She thought of her trip to her mother’s.I had unprotected sex. I could be pregnant.“On second thought, I’ll have a club soda.”
“I’ll get it. I want one too.” Katie walked to the island in the kitchen.
“I was telling Katie how lovely your house is.”
“Yeah, we ripped it apart and put it back together.”
“So she said.”
“Actually, it was fun designing the interior. We finished last month.”
Katie returned with two glasses of soda. She handed Noreen one and clanked her glass. “Cheers.”
Over her shoulder, Noreen noticed Nick talking to a beautiful woman. She blurted out, “Who’s Nick Redmond with?”
“He came alone. That’s Will’s administrative assistant. I’d be jealous of her if I didn’t know this one was crazy for me.”
