Page 66 of Echoes of a Southern Song

Sam hesitates for a moment and looks down at his hands as if he’s struggling with the memory. “When I realized it was never going to work. It was the hardest decision of my life. I gave up everything to be with her. I had nothing to return to, but I knew my happiness was on the line.”

I glance sideways at Jack. He looks like he’s trying to hold back a snort.

The attorney nods solemnly. “So, would you say you suffered financial hardship as a result of this relationship?”

“Yes,” Sam says simply. “I made sacrifices for love.”

It takes everything in me not to leap to my feet and call him names.

“That’s all I have,” his lawyer says.

Mr. Langley is already getting to his feet. He approaches the bench. He straightens his cuffs, stepping up like he’s been waiting all day for this moment.

“That was quite the story,” Mr. Langley says.

“It’s what happened,” Sam says.

“I have a few questions.”

Sam shifts in the witness seat. For the first time since he sat down, he doesn’t look so smug.

“Mr. Crawford, you say you gave up a business. Could you provide the name of this business?”

“Uh,” Sam fumbles, eyes darting. “It didn’t really have a formal name yet. We were still in development.”

“Was this business registered with the state?”

“No, but—”

“Any proof of income? A business plan? Partners?”

Sam swallows. “No. But I—”

“So to clarify,” my lawyer says, pacing now, “you gave up something that didn’t legally or professionally exist?”

Sam’s jaw tightens. “It was going to exist.”

“Right. A business you never filed for, never made money from, and can’t document.”

The courtroom is dead silent. I sit up straighter.

“And this sacrifice, was made out of love?”

Sam nods, slowly. “Yes.”

“Interesting.” My lawyer stops in front of the judge. “Because I have evidence that while Mr. Crawford claims to have been head-over-heels in love with my client, he was also married to someone else.”

My breath catches. Wait. What?

Sam blinks. The judge leans forward. Even Sam’s lawyer looks at him with a ‘what the hell are you talking about?’ expression.

“Objection,” Sam’s lawyer says, jumping up.

But my lawyer raises a folder. “I have proof. A legal marriage certificate. Sam Crawford married a woman named Regina Harmon in Vegas six months before he married my client. I have copies of the certificate and photos.”

He walks the evidence up to the judge like he’s presenting a birthday cake.

“Your Honor, this not only calls into question the legality of the marriage to Ms. Parker—it may render it void entirely.”