Page 66 of Fairy Tale Husband

“We seem to have rumors of a divorce floating around here. Idon’t suppose you’d care to give us the straight poop.”

Jake managed to look suitably shocked. “A divorce? You mean, me?” He fixed the Marsh woman with a cold, feral gaze. “Who the hell said I was getting a divorce?”

The judge glanced at Mrs. Marsh, as well, and his expression soured. “Rumor had it you were off to Mexico.”

“Actually, it was Nevada.”

“Well, Iknow for a fact you can’t get a divorce in Nevada, not in just five days. What were you doing there? If you don’t mind my asking, that is.”

“I don’t mind.” He tugged two small, wrapped packages from his pocket. “I was buying my wife a couple of presents.”

Judge Graydon leaned across the bench. “You spent the last five days in Nevada buying your wife a gift?”

Jake shrugged. “Couldn’t get them anywhere else. And they were important gifts.”

Wynne peeked eagerly around his shoulder. “May I open them? Now?”

He smiled indulgently. “Yeah, elf. Go ahead.” He handed her the first, asmall, square jeweler’sbox.

She ripped off the ribbon and paper and slowly flipped up the red velvet lid. Inside were a pair of wedding bands. Very unique, strangely etched wedding bands. “Oh, Jake,” she whispered.

“Know what they’re made from?”

She nodded, struggling to talk through her tears. “From the tickets to the Cinderella Ball.”

He cupped her cheek, lifting her chin so he could see the expression in her eyes as he said, “You told me your ring couldn’t be replaced because it was part of the ball, part of how we met.”

Understanding dawned. “And so is this.” She touched the larger band, moistening her lips. “There’s two of them.”

“About time I wore one, don’t you think?” He removed the rings and slid the smaller onto her finger. “Don’t go losing it. Ihad a hell of a time convincing the Montagues to part with even one of their precious tickets.”

Then it was her turn. She took his hand in hers and gently, firmly slid the band onto his finger. “You’re not a temporary husband anymore, are you?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think I ever was. But just in case there are any lingering doubts.” He handed her the second present, asmall, flat package.

She opened it, gasping when she saw a familiar, white velvet pouch. Inside were two tickets, the words Anniversary Ball etched in elegant scrollwork on the golden metallic wafers. Tears fell, thick and furious.

Jake straightened and faced the rest of the courtroom, his face settling into savage, uncompromising lines. “Anybody have more questions about the validity of my marriage? If so, they can come up here and discuss them with my fists.”

“This doesn’t change anything,” Mrs. Marsh insisted shrilly. “There’s still the question of my nephews’ safety. He’s a dangerous man. He just admitted as much with his last statement. And look at his hand. Idon’t even want to think about how he broke it. Probably in a fistfight or something.”

The judge grinned. “How did you break it, Jake?”

“Fishing for Wynne’s wedding ring,” he admitted reluctantly.

“Come again?”

“She’d dropped her ring down the drain and I couldn’t get the pipe off.” He shrugged.

“You lost your temper and tried to force the issue.”

“Something like that.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She was crying. I—Icouldn’t just stand there and do nothing.”

“Faced with that choice, Isuppose a busted hand is understandable. So is a five day trip to Nevada.” Graydon shook his head. “The things we men do to make our wives happy.”

There were a few sympathetic chuckles from the audience.

“I guess that leaves one final issue,” the judge said, turning a stern eye on Mrs. Marsh.

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