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‘Because I love you. And I’ve come to love Annabelle. And I don’t want to see you both hurt because of my actions.’
As if the spell had been lifted, Loukis smiled, broad, wide, beautiful. His eyes sparkled and she’d never seen him look so wondrous.
‘Good. Because I love you too.’
Célia’s heart leapt.
‘But I’ll get back to that in a minute. I promise.’ He turned to face the judge. ‘Your Honour, if the courts are here to decide about protection, about family, then this is me. Protecting my family and fighting for the woman I love. I have a written statement from François Paquet completely freeing Célia d’Argent from any knowledge of what her technical specifications were to be used for. And I am devastated that she was so mistreated by the questions posed by my mother’s lawyers, devastated that someone so good, so full of love and self-sacrifice was hurt bymyactions andmyneeds. A woman who challenges me to be and do more each and every day, a woman who makes me a better person. And if this custody case is the price of Célia’s love for me and my love for her, it is not one I’m willing to pay. Nor am I willing to teach Annabelle that lesson either. Annabelle has told you in her own words that she would like to stay with me. Would like to maintain her life here, with her friends and family that love her. I urge you to take this into consideration in your decision. But for now, I’d very much like to kiss my fiancée if that’s okay, Your Honour?’
A rueful smile played at the mouth of the wigged judge and Célia practically fled the chair, at the same time as Loukis crossed the room, and they met in the middle in a kiss that Célia would remember for the rest of her life.
She gave no heed to the chaos that erupted around them, as his lips found hers and she felt the greatest well of love spring within her. Tears once again escaped her eyes, but this time they were full of joy.
‘I love you,’ he whispered against her lips.
‘I love you too,’ she whispered back.
Finally the commotion around Meredith’s lawyers’ table became too intrusive, Byron’s anger boiling over and Meredith’s panicked voice hastily trying to call him back. The large oil baron’s arm cut through the air punctuating the word ‘done’, and he turned, taking a few short steps towards them.
‘I’m so very sorry about how painful that must have been for you,’ the American said. ‘It should never have happened. And while I do love her,’ he said helplessly, ‘I cannot condone Meredith’s actions. Other than to say that desperation made her...but it is inexcusable.’
As he left the courtroom, Célia looked towards the older woman, recognising some of the devastation across her features. Because she, herself, had looked like that over the last few days and, no matter what had happened, Célia’s heart ached for the woman.
Her lawyers demanded a short recess from the court, and Loukis took Célia’s hand in one of his just as Annabelle launched herself towards them. They were ushered from the room and back into the small office that was suddenly bursting with frantic laughter and happy tears from Loukis, Célia and Annabelle. But all the while, concern that Loukis still might lose custody beat in her chest.
‘Are you sure?’ she whispered to him as Annabelle wrapped her small body around Célia’s waist. ‘The risk, it’s too great...’
‘Not as great as the risk of teaching Annabelle that love has a price. That loveisthe price. Iwon’tdo that.’
They gazed at each other with love blazing in their eyes. It seemed to go on for ever, Célia refusing to break the heady, half-fearful, all-joyous and all-consuming feeling bursting within her.
Until one of Loukis’s lawyers knocked on the door, and entered, the smile on his face as broad as she’d ever seen.
‘It’s over. Meredith has dropped the case. The courts are happy to award you full guardianship. Her only request was that she be able to see Annabelle a few times a year, with your permission.’
Célia’s heart soared, to see the sheer happiness and relief across Loukis’s features.
She felt Annabelle tug at both of them. ‘Can I, Loukis?’
‘Is that something you’d like?’ he asked his sister.
‘Yes.’
‘Then you shall.’
‘Can I...go and see Mummy?’
‘Of course you can,’ he insisted, his eyes returning to Célia’s.
The lawyer stretched his hand out to Annabelle and the two made their way out into the hallway.
Loukis looked at the woman he loved, knowing that they still had more to say. That he did.
‘Can you forgive me?’
She looked so adorably confused in that moment. ‘What for?’ she demanded.
‘For letting you go. For not realising sooner. For putting you through—’
