Page 31 of The Defense Rests
"Do you have a few minutes? I…I think I found something that could break this case. And it isn’t diabetes."
Seventeen
Shaun
The electric hum of anticipation in my chest is an extreme contrast to the typical dread that has been my default setting over the past year; the legal battle at the forefront of my brain has been constantly there as I've been trying to keep my name clean and my patients from jumping ship.
But tonight isn't about dissecting this case anymore; we have our evidence, and the dates have been set for the bench trial. Now, it's anticipating the prosecution's next move; will Ms. Maddison settle, or will we go to trial?
As I adjust the collar on my shirt, a new wave of feelings stirs in my gut. It's a mixture of vulnerability and profound gratitude for Kai and the truth that has quietly taken root in my heart since that first day of our reconnection. A truth I've longed to express to Kai for years, and why I never dated much.
The restaurant is a haven of quiet murmurs and dim lighting, a far contrast from the sterile formality of clinic exam rooms, conference rooms, and courtrooms.
My eyes sweep over the softly lit dining room, finally settling on Kai, who is standing next to the hostess stand. I haven't seen him for a few days since he's been working out of his apartment in the city. As he gets closer, I stand to wrap him in a warm embrace and plant a soft kiss on his lips. His cheeks darken.
"Nice to see you, too," he whispers as I pull his chair out for him. "And who says chivalry is dead?" He winks.
When I sit, I glance across the table and watch as candlelight flickers across his features. The exhaustion that clung to me like a persistent shadow begins to dissipate, replaced by a warmth spreading through my chest. The legal battles, with all their attendant stress and uncertainty, seem to recede into a distant, muted background.
Kai's presence is my anchor.
As Kai looks over his two-sided menu, I search for the right words to convey how my heart feels. Is it too soon? The task feels both daunting and exhilarating. The carefully prepared phrases I planned suddenly seem inadequate.
Taking a slow, steadying breath, I meet Kai's expectant gaze.
"Kai," my voice a low murmur, "there's something I need to say." The words feel like a confession. "This lawsuit…it's been complicated. You've done more for me in the past month than my old attorney did in a year. It was like they just wanted me to settle. They didn't care if I was guilty or innocent. Through all of it," my voice gaining a quiet intensity, "I was starting to lose hope. But then you came back into my life. That day changed the trajectory of my future. Not just as a medical professional, but as someone who longed for the boy who once got away. I let you slip through my fingers once. I don't want to let you go again."
A subtle shift occurs in Kai's expression, a momentary widening of his eyes that conveys an element of surprise, but is quickly followed by a softening that sends a hopeful tremor through me, suggesting that maybe he, too, wants the same thing.
Here goes nothing.
"Kai…I'm falling in love with you all over again." The admission hangs in the air between us. It is both terrifyingand liberating. A truth that I've wrestled with and then finally embraced. I look into Kai's eyes while my heart hammers against my ribs in anticipation of his response.
Vulnerability is a naked thing, exposed and raw.
Kai's response isn't a flood of words, but a subtle, profound shift. A slow, understanding smile spread across his face. It's as if the years of repressed emotion and unspoken longing have been gently lifted.
"Falling?" he asks in a teasing tone.
This guy.
The legal proceedings had undeniably forged a unique reconnection between us, but the love we undeniably share made it blossom into something far more profound.
"I want more than just getting through this, Kai," I confess, voice breaking. "I want to build something with you. Something real. A life beyond the courtroom, beyond this case. A life where we can…explore this. Us. Together. I can see it so clearly now— a future where we're just being together. And no, Kai, I'm not falling. I already fell," I admit.
The quiet murmur of conversation around us fades into an indistinct hum. I will always be grateful for this man who navigated the lawsuit storm and led me safely into the quiet harbor.
I let out a soft whisper-laugh.What's with the ocean metaphor thoughts? Anchor. Storm. Harbor.
The conversation, having reached a peak of emotional intensity, I wait for Kai's response. A new pensive hue settles over his features as he clears his throat softly, gaze drifting for a moment towards the window before returning to look at me. That's when I notice his blue orbs are glassy. A complex swirl of emotions play across his face.
"Shaun," he begins, his voice gentle and deliberative. My stomach feels fluttery with anticipation. "I've been doing a lot ofthinking about what comes next. After…all of this." He gestures vaguely, encompassing the legal ordeal that has consumed him for the past several weeks. "I've decided to move back to Rockport Ridge."
The words hang in the air, not as a pronouncement, but as a confession. My initial reaction is a massive sigh of relief, a surge of uncomplicated joy at the prospect of Kai's return. But quickly followed by a more nuanced understanding of the gravity of Kai's statement.
He's returning to Rockport Ridge.
He didn't say…me. I can sense Kai's internal struggle, the push and pull between the comfort of familiarity and the trepidation of what's to come.
