59

The next morning, she once again found herself seated into the same courtroom, with Edward on one side, Rosie on the other, Emmett, Jasper, Garrett, Esme, Alice, James, Marcus, Maggie, Ben, Angela, and Carlisle seated around them. The amount of people who had shown up for her was . . . overwhelming. She still wasn't used to be people caring.

"I've been thinking," Edward whispered, leaning toward her, a smile on his face.

"Should I be scared?" she replied, earning her a wider smile. "Oh, I should be scared."

Edward laughed, bringing their joined hands up to his lips. "Of course not. But I was thinking, you and I need to go on a date. We kind of skipped all that, didn't we?"

"A date?" she asked, frowning. "Like what we would do?"

"Anything you want. We could go to the movies? Dinner, maybe? Whatever you're comfortable with."

She bit the inside of her lip, and nodded. "Can I think about it? I want to go, I just . . . I don't know about movies and . . ." She blew out a deep breath, trying to figure out the wording. "People watching and stuff."

"Of course you can," Edward said, turning his body toward her, bringing his other hand up to the side of her face. As always when he touched her, she felt the panic inside her ease away. "We'll do whatever you want, sweetheart. I just want to woo you a little."

Bella smiled. "More than you already have, you mean?"

"I'll never stop wooing you, sweetheart. Kind of like doing it."

"I kind of like you doing it, too," she admitted.

Before she could add anything else, the door to the far back corner of the room opened, and like they had for two days now, two guards led Sam Uley into the room. And like the day before, he had more bruising on his face. His left eye was swollen to the point of almost being completely closed, his nose was twice the size it had been the day before, his lips puffy, and he was limping to the left.

"Do you think he fell down again?" she asked, shifting her eyes up to Edward.

"Looks like it," he said, looking over at her. "Maybe he shouldn't be so . . . clumsy, huh?"

She nodded, her eyes shifting back to him as the guards removed his handcuffs. Sam turned and looked right at her, his lips pressing into a thin line, and while she knew she should be scared, she wasn't. He couldn't hurt her anymore. As Marcus had told her, she took her identity back from him, took his power away. Sam Uley wasn't worth losing herself again.

Eleazar gripped Sam's arm, turning him forcefully around, and almost shoving him into the chair next to his. He glanced at her, but quickly turned away as he sat next to Sam, whispering furiously. Whatever he said had Sam shaking his head, only to stop when Eleazar grabbed his chin, forcing him to stop.

"No!" Sam Uley snarled, yanking his face out of Eleazar's grip, and the two guards were behind him in an instant. He put his hands up, his eyes shifting back to her before he turned to his lawyer. "No."

Eleazar sighed, but didn't seem to push the issue again, and before anyone could make a sound, Judge Dwyer hurried into the court, taking his seat, and looking around the room, once again stopping on Sam Uley.

"Mr. Santiago, what happened to your client this time?"

Eleazar shifted his eyes to Sam, who once again shook his head, before he stood up and said, "Apparently he fell down. Again."

"Seems to be happening a lot," Judge Dwyer stated, picking up a manila folder and opening. "And again, the prison medical director has cleared him to continue. Are you prepared to proceed, sir?"

"I am, your honor."

Judge Dwyer simply nodded and said, "Mr. Swan, please take a seat in the witness box."

She blew out a deep breath as she watched James stand up and walk toward the middle, reaching out and grabbing his hand on the way by. He smiled and threw her a little wink before giving her hand a squeeze. Once James was seated again, the judge reminded him that he was still under oath, and motioned for Eleazar to begin his questioning. She didn't that man. He accused her of killing her parents, of deserving everything that Sam Uley had done to her. He was as bad as Sam was, in her opinion, but she kept that thought to herself.

"Mr. Swan," Eleazar started. "You testified that you had concerns about my client's behavior toward your niece, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"But you never saw him to do anything inappropriate, did you? You never saw him touch her, did you? He played with her, that's what you said. He chased her, played with her, isn't that correct?"

"Yes," James said, shortly.

"Did she ever tell you that she was scared of him?"

"No."

"In fact, the night you came back from your trip to Ruby Beach, Miss Swan got mad that her father wouldn't let my client stay and play with her, wasn't she?"

James shifted his eyes to her, frowning. "She was."

"You didn't find that odd? She was eight years old, and wanted a grown man to stay and play with her, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did, but —"

"Her father yelled at her, didn't he? When she became upset, he yelled at her, sent her to her room, didn't he?"

"He did."

"Did your brother spank her that night?"

"No," James said, shaking his head. "Charlie and Renee didn't believe in spanking the girls. They didn't want them to think hitting was ever okay."

"Not even when she yelled and screamed that she hated him?"

"Not even then," James gritted out. "Charlie knew she loved him. She was a little girl, Mr. Santiago, who didn't understand that her father was trying to protect her."

Mr. Santiago nodded. "But he didn't called the police, did he? With the so-called concerns that he had about my client. He told you, he supposedly told my clients uncle, but he never called the police and shared his concerns, did he?"

"Not that I'm aware."

"If he were really so concerned that my client was a danger to his daughters, why wouldn't he call the police, Mr. Swan?"

"I don't know."

Mr. Santiago nodded and leaned against the front of the table, his arms folded in front of him. "Are you married, Mr. Swan?"

"No."

"Have you ever been married?"

"No," he replied.

"Why not?"

James shrugged his shoulders. "Never found the right person, I guess. After Charlie and Renee died, Rosalie needed me. I focused all my time and attention on her, on finding Bella."

"I bet you did," Mr. Santiago quipped. "Where were you the night your brother and his wife were murdered?"

"Objection, your honor," Kate said, standing up. "Mr. Swan is not the one on trial here. His whereabouts had already been verified by the police eight years ago."

"Overruled, but tread lightly, Mr. Santiago," Judge Dwyer warned.

"Yes, your honor." Eleazar turned back to James. "Again, where were you the night your brother and his wife were murdered?"

"I was in Portland."

"And were you alone?"

"Objection, your honor!" Kate declared, standing up again. "The witness is not on trial here!"

"Sustained. Move along, Mr. Santiago."

"Yes, your honor." Eleazar turned back to James. "You testified that you arrived home from work and suddenly my client was behind you, correct?"

"Yes."

"That's not true, though, is it?"

"No, it is true."

"Mr. Swan, isn't it true that on the evening my client allegedly assaulted you, you had picked him and brought him to your home with the full intention of forcing my client to have sexual relations with you? And when he refused, you assaulted him?"

"No!" James said, cringing, swallowing against the bile that crept into his throat. "Of course not! I may be a homosexual man, Mr. Santiago, but even I have standards, and I certainly wouldn't have anything to do with a child-raping bastard like Sam Uley!"

"The jury will disregard that last statement," Judge Dwyer instructed. "Mr. Swan, please attempt to control yourself."

"Yes, your honor," James gritted out, leaning back in his seat.

"I don't have any more questions for this witness, your honor." Eleazar turned and settled back in his chair, but when he moved to place his hand on Sam's arm, the man shrugged it off.

"Mr. Swan, you may step down."

James moved out of the witness box and made his way back to the rest of them. As she had when he walked past her, she found herself taking hold of his hand again. This time, though, he refused to look at her, which hurt more than she wanted to admit. He was her Uncle James, he fought dragons for her.

—SfH—

By the time Judge Dwyer dismissed for the day, James was absolutely fuming. He should have expected Eleazar Santiago to attack his character, but knowing that his girls were seated in the courtroom when he insinuated that James and that animal had had any type of sexual encounter made him sick.

James wasn't ashamed of his sexuality. He'd come out proudly at the age of fourteen, and while it had taken his parents a while to accept that their youngest son was gay, Charlie simply patted him on the back and told him he had someone he needed to meet. That was just the kind of guy Charlie was, though. Accepting of everyone, until you mess with his girls.

When Rosie and Bella were born, James became a doting uncle and his girls became his world. Sure he dated, and on occasion, he enjoyed the company of a man when on business trips, but he'd always been very careful not to let his private life keep him from being in the girls' lives. After Charlie and Renee were murdered, and Bella was kidnapped, he pushed men away entirely and focused all his attention on Rosie. She needed him more than he needed a man in his life.

It wasn't until Rosie sat him down about six months before Bella was found and told James that he needed to start dating again that he even entertained the idea of having a relationship. He met Laurent Masters about a month later at a business meeting and the two had dated casually until James got the call from Rosie saying she'd found Bella. So once again, he put his love life on hold so he could focus all his attention on his girls.

The night Sam Uley almost killed him, James had met Laurent for a drink, where he told him he wouldn't be able to see him anymore. It was one of the hardest moments of James' life, but he would do anything to keep Bella safe from a world that only wanted to hurt her. Even though she hadn't remembered him, he was prepared to do everything in his power to protect her. His only regret was not killing Sam Uley when he had the chance.

As they had done the last two days, they found themselves at Carlisle and Esme's house. Bella had hurried inside, probably to relieve the babysitter and take Beth for herself. She couldn't have Hope, he thought, so she tended to monopolize the six month old baby any chance she could.

James settled on the front porch, sighing when Rosie sat next to him, her hand covering his. "I'm okay, Rosie."

"No, you're not," she said, shaking her head. "None of us are okay, James. The last couple days, reliving everything over again . . . It hasn't been easy on any of us, but especially you and Bella."

James tried to smile, but when tears filled his eyes. "I just don't want to hurt her. She's been through enough."

"You're right, she has," Rosie admitted. "But I think she'd want you to be happy, James. You need to talk to her. She's . . . She's stronger than you think, and right now, she thinks you're mad at her."

"Why? Why would she think that?"

Rosie frowned. "She grabbed your hand and you didn't look at her. Go talk to her. And then call him, because I know you miss him."

"Rosie." James shook his head before he leaned over and kissed her temple. "You're a good girl, Rosie."

"I try," Rosie laughed. "I love you, James. I know I didn't make the last eight years easy, but I'm so thankful that you were there when I needed you the most."

"I love you, too, Rosie," he whimpered. "Your mom and dad would be proud of you. So proud of you for taking care of her, for being her person."

Rosie covered her mouth as she sobbed. "I hope so. I really hope so."

James wiped the tears off his face before he stood and headed into the house, but instead of being seated on the couch with Beth in her arms, as he expected, Bella wasn't in the living room.

"She went upstairs," Carlisle explained, balancing the six month old baby on his lap. "She seemed upset."

James nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets before he made his way upstairs. The door to the bedroom was cracked open, and he could hear Marcus and Edward trying to get Bella to talk to them, to tell them why she was upset. James wanted to kick his own ass for hurting her, even if he never meant to. His sweet Bella had been through enough without him adding his bullshit to her shoulders.

Clearing his throat, he reached out and pushed the door open. He leaned against the doorframe. "Hey, honey."

She tensed, but whispered, "Hey," as she pulled her knees up to her chest.

"Can I come in?"

Bella nodded, so he stepped into the room and walked over to the bed, sitting on the end.

"Crazy day, wasn't it?"

"I guess," she murmured.

James cleared his throat again before shifting his eyes to Marcus and Edward. "Can I talk to you alone, Bella? Would you be okay with that?"

She nodded immediately, and he waited until Marcus and Edward were out of the room, leaving the door open, before he shifted his body so that he was facing her.

"I hurt your feelings, didn't I?"

Though she shook her head, he could see the truth in her eyes.

"No, I did. You grabbed my hand, and instead of reassuring you that everything was okay, I let my own anger get the best of me, honey, and I am so sorry for that."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, of course not," he insisted, putting his hands up in front of him. "I just . . . Bella, honey, the things Mr. Santiago said about me and . . . and Sam Uley . . . Honey, you know that wasn't true, right?"

She frowned, but nodded.

"I was embarrassed that he called me out on the stand like that, Bella." James paused. "Do you understand what he was saying happened between me and him?"

Bella bit the inside of her lip before she shook her head. "Not really."

"I'm gay, Bella. Do you know what that means?"

Though her cheeks turned red, she nodded. "It means you like boys and not girls. That's what Daddy said when Lauren Mallory called me gay when I wanted to play with her and Rosie, but she didn't want me to. He said she said it in a mean way, but that being gay was as normal as being straight."

James smiled. "Sounds like your dad was pretty smart."

Bella nodded. "Is that what he meant? That you and . . ." She took a deep breath. "He meant that you had sex with him?"

"He was trying to make the jury believe that I lured Sam Uley to my house because I wanted to have sex with him, but that's not what happened. I promise that is not what happened."

"I believe you. Is that why you were mad? You thought I believed him?"

"I was afraid you would," he admitted. "I would never do anything to hurt you, though, Bella. You're my sweet Bella, remember?"

She nodded. "You fought for me."

"I did, and I'll keep fighting for you. Forever, Bella."

She smiled. "I'll fight for you, too."

"Thanks, honey. I appreciate that. We all need people willing to fight for us, don't we?"

Bella nodded. "I have a lot of people. They'll fight for you, too. If you want them, too."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, that's what family does."

"You're pretty smart, kiddo."

She shrugged her shoulders, wrapping her arms around her knees. "So, do you have a boyfriend?"

"I was seeing someone for a while, but it . . . it didn't work out."

"Why not?"

James inhaled a sharp breath. "I . . . I guess I was scared."

"Was he mean to you?"

"No, no, of course not. I . . ." James shook his head. "I had just gotten you back, Bella, and I . . . I don't know, I guess I was afraid that I couldn't have you both."

"Oh." She opened her mouth, closed it, and then said, "Maybe he could be your person. You know, like Edward is for me, and Emmett is for Rosie. Then you'd always have someone to love you."

"Yeah, maybe." James reached for her hand, which she let him hold. "We're okay, right? You know that I'm not mad at you?"

She nodded.

"And if you ever think I'm mad at you, I want you to ask me about it, okay? Because, honey, there is nothing you could ever do that would make me not love you."

"Promise?" she asked.

James smiled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I promise."

As he stood up and walked out of the room, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He took a deep breath as he scrolled through his contacts, stopping at Laurent's number and closed his eyes, and tried to be as brave as Bella as he called him.

"Hello."

"Hey."

"Hey," the man on the other side of the phone whispered. "You okay?"

"I, um, no, I'm not okay. I haven't been okay for long time." James paused. "I miss you."

"I . . . I miss you, too," Laurent admitted. "I've been following the trial. I've been worried about you."

"You have?" James asked, leaning against the wall.

"Of course I have," he murmured. "James, I . . . I just miss you. A lot."

James closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before he heard himself asking. "Would . . . would you want to meet? For a drink or maybe dinner? We could talk. I could use someone to talk to."

"I really do. Bruno's? Say an hour?"

"Sounds great. I'll see you in bit."

"I'm looking forward to it, babe."

And though he was nervous, he found himself shoving his phone into his pocket, rushing downstairs, and out of the house. If Bella could be strong enough to let herself fall in love, then so could James.

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews!