Page 40 of Betrothed To Love

“Yeah…okay,” she says dismissively. “Saturday will do.”

“Actually, Saturday will be for the three of us. You and I still need time together. We have to talk about and figure out the living together situation without Niya.”

“I know,” she sighs. “Duke was all over me about that too. I just feel like I’m disrupting everything for you and Niya.”

“You’re not disrupting anything. We’re married; we should be together. How else am I going to get my wife to fall for me?” I ask. “Wednesday after my hearing, I’ll just stay in Crescent Falls and take you out for dinner. I know you like the winery but what’s your favorite restaurant or food?”

“We don’t have to go out. Since we have so much to discuss, I can order in and you come here,” she counters.

“I’ll bring the food, so my question still stands. What’s your favorite? Let me feed you,” I reiterate.

“I love Creole food so I’ll say Nawlins. I can eat anything on their menu.”

“Noted. I can bring Nawlins.”

“What time is your hearing? My last trial is at two.”

“Late. It’s at four but it’s just an evidentiary hearing. Ace really didn’t have shit to do with the drugs, and I still can’t figure out how they got in the truck, so I’m trying to get them excluded from evidence.”

“What’s your argument?”

“Fourth Amendment and fruit of the poisonous tree with arguments from the dissent in Davis versus the United States. They searched his truck and found the drugs based on information found in a random’s home search. The home search was warrantless and invalid,” I tell her without having to explain or simplify legal terms.

“Can I offer a different perspective?”

“Hell yeah. You’re a judge.”

“And I’m not presiding over your case so there’s no conflict or misconduct.”

“True. What’s your perspective?” I ask, truly curious about her opinion of my argument.

“Dissent opinions provide great insight but they are only secondary sources of law. It’s a good thing I recused myself because I would deny your motion. I don’t consider the dissenting opinions only the majority ones as a matter of law.”

“No offense but your strict application of law is why I wanted you off the case,” I admit.

“Now, I know, but honestly, your argument is good, really good. Most attorneys would never have thought about Davis. You know what you’re doing,” she says, sounding impressed.

“I know a little something.”

“Clearly but maybe find another primary source just to nail it. With that, the D.A. is going to have a hard time refuting and you have a better chance of getting the drugs thrown out.”

“And the case,” I add. “I’ll see what I can find tonight and get with Aven. Thanks.”

“Any time, husband,” she says and I hear the playfulness in her voice. “I like this.”

“What? Being married to me?”

“Talking legal authority and case law with a person who actually understands. I always found myself simplifying things in my past relationships, but this is different; I really like it.”

“Me too,” I admit. “Not everybody gets it.”

“At all. I can talk the law all night but I’m truly exhausted and you have research to do.”

“I do and you need your rest. I can’t have my wife yawning on the bench and shit.”

“We definitely can’t have that. It’ll make the news. Good night.”

“Good night,” I reply.