Emma's Wish

As if he'd read her mind, he prodded, "Is that all?"

Emma's brows knitted. What was he getting at? "Excuse me?"

"You're just friends? Or have you both found out there's more to your marriage than you expected?"

Mercy, how could she answer him without admitt

ing just how deeply those feelings ran? "I--"

"Isn't it true that during your time together, you have fallen in love with your husband?"

Emma's breath caught in her throat. She glanced around the courtroom. Every eye was on her, waiting for her response. The silence was overpowering.

Sam's gaze met hers. She'd barely admitted it even to herself, but now she was under oath to tell the truth.

"Yes, Mr. McCallum. I have."

"Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins."

Jonas winked at her as he turned away.

Chapter 16

Emma met Sam's gaze, and her heart fluttered. He was smiling at her with open admiration, and she smiled back. Her smile disappeared as Mr. Ambrose approached her and stared at her through narrowed eyes.

"Mrs. Jenkins, is Mr. Jenkins your first husband?"

Emma was surprised by the question. It was common knowledge she'd never been married before. "Why ... yes, he is."

"How old are you?"

"I don't see--"

The judge leaned closer to her. "Answer the question, Mrs. Jenkins."

"Twenty-three.”

"Isn't that a little old to be marrying for the first time?"

Emma felt her face heat. "I suppose so ..." she murmured.

"You're an attractive woman, Mrs. Jenkins. Didn't you have any other offers of marriage?"

Emma straightened. He was trying to embarrass her, to intimidate her. She couldn't allow him to fluster her thoughts. Think about your answers, Jonas had said. Taking a deep breath, she answered steadily. "I did have offers. I refused them."

The attorney's eyes widened. "Oh? And why is that?"

"I chose to remain single."

Mr. Ambrose turned his back on her and faced the crowd. "You chose to remain single. Isn't that rather unusual?"

"Well ... I suppose it is ..."

"Yet you married a complete stranger. Can you explain to the court why you refused proposals of marriage from men you were already acquainted with, yet you chose to marry a virtual stranger, and take on the task of raising his three young children?"

"I ... wanted to help him."

Shaking his head, the attorney gave her a disbelieving look. "Please, Mrs. Jenkins. Don't insult the court's intelligence. You expect us to believe you'd sacrifice your freedom, your entire life to help someone you'd barely knew. Tell me, Mrs. Jenkins, what do you get out of this arrangement?"