"And where was this meeting?"
"The Velvet Antler in Crimson Hollow." This part is true enough.
"Yet you married less than a week later." He raises his eyebrows dramatically. "Quite the whirlwind romance."
"When you know, you know." I meet his gaze steadily.
He turns to Judith. "Ms. Mars, what brought you to Crimson Hollow? It's quite a change from Toronto."
"I needed a fresh start." Her voice remains calm, professional. "I'd ended a difficult relationship and wanted somewhere peaceful to rebuild."
"And you just happened to meet Mr. Wallace."
"Yes."
"And fall instantly in love."
Judith smiles, the expression disarmingly genuine. "Not instantly, no. But when I got to know him, saw the care he took with his craft, the way he valued tradition and family legacy... yes, I fell in love."
Something shifts in my chest at her words. The conviction in her tone. The warmth in her eyes when she glances my way.
"And what are your plans after December 26th, Mr. Wallace? Once the inheritance deadline is satisfied?"
All eyes turn to me. Including Judith's, questioning, uncertain.
"To continue building our life together." The words come without conscious thought. "The deadline is irrelevant to our marriage. It simply accelerated our timeline."
Judith's sharp intake of breath is audible only to me. We hadn't discussed this. Hadn't decided anything beyond acknowledging we weren't ready for December 26th to end what we'd started.
The county attorney senses weakness. "So you're testifying, under oath, that you married for love, not to secure your inheritance?"
"I'm testifying that I married Judith because I want her in my life." I meet his gaze without flinching. "The inheritance situation accelerated our timeline, but doesn't define our relationship."
"How convenient."
"Enough." The judge interrupts. "The couple has answered your questions, Counselor. I see no evidence of fraud here, only suspicion and innuendo. The marriage is legal, the requirements of the will are met, and the land transfer shall proceed as outlined in the original petition."
She bangs her gavel with finality. "Case closed."
Relief floods through me, but when I turn to Judith, her expression is unreadable. We follow Silas from the courtroom in silence, not speaking until we're outside in the winter air.
"Congratulations." Silas shakes my hand firmly. "The paperwork will be processed by end of day tomorrow. The land is officially yours, free and clear."
"Thank you." I glance at Judith, who stands slightly apart, arms wrapped around herself.
Silas follows my gaze, reading the tension between us. "I'll leave you two to celebrate. And... good luck tomorrow."
He doesn't need to specify what he means. Marc's arrival hangs over us like a storm cloud.
The drive home is weighted with silence. Judith stares out the window, fingers restlessly tracing patterns on her thigh. I focus on the road, giving her space to process.
Only when we're back at the cabin, fire rekindled and coffee poured, does she finally speak.
"You made a decision without consulting me." No anger in her tone, just tired resignation that somehow cuts deeper.
"I did." No point denying it. "The situation required immediate response."
"The situation." She sets down her mug carefully. "You mean our marriage. Our future. Whether we're actually staying together past December 26th."
