CH 13
Elle turns around in her seat just as the double doors open. She stood up when he walked into the courtroom. Bringing her hand up to her mouth, and tears started to fall as she watched her husband walked to the front of the courtroom. Timothy spotted her, making him stop for a moment. With tears falling down his cheeks, he then carried on walking, not taking his eyes off of Elle.
He couldn't believe how beautiful she looks. Over the past three and a half years, she hasn't changed much. Timothy noticed that she's wearing the locket he gave to her on their first wedding anniversary and that she is still wearing her wedding and engagement rings.
When Elle saw him, she couldn't believe it was him alive and well. He hasn't changed much. He looks stronger like he has been working out. Elle saw that he was until wearing the watch she gave him and his wedding ring.
He stopped when he reached her and reached his hand out to her. Reaching out her shaky hand, Elle stepped forward and, putting her hand into his, and she let loose a sob as she stepped into his arms and hugged him as he hugged her back, crying as well.
"What's the meaning of this! Who is this woman?" the judge said sternly.
"This is Mrs Elle Cole, your Honour, Timothy Cole's wife. He's been in witness protection and presumed dead three and a half years."
"You can break them up, please, Mr Watson."
Watson turned to the young couple who have been through so much.
"Mr Cole, Mrs Cole, you're a courtroom. You both will have time to catch up afterwards." They reluctantly broke apart, cup each other's faces and share another quick kiss before Tim continued to walk to the witness stand. Elle returned to her seat, not taking her eyes off of him the whole time.
Mr Watson passed Tim a couple of tissues and began asking Tim questions. He answered all of the questions asked. Then the defence attorney stepped in to cross-examine him. When it was over, Tim walked out of the courtroom, mouthing 'I love you' to Elle as he walked by. Elle mouthed it back.
Elle remained in the courtroom until the jury was excused to deliberate.
Leaving the courtroom, Elle stopped in the hall, looking around for Tim. A Federal Officer had been watching for her and walked over. "Mrs Cole? Follow me, please." Elle followed the agent into a room.
"Tim!"
"Elle!"Throwing herself into his arms once more as they cried.
The agent left the room to give them some privacy.
"Oh my! I can't believe that you're alive!" They kiss again.
"I know, I thought I was a goner, but I knew I had to stay alive. Whenever I closed my eyes, I could hear you telling me to 'open your eyes and stay awake. I did, long enough to be rescued."
"Now I know why you couldn't contact me all this time," Elle says.
"I've been watching you when I had a chance to come here."
"Sometimes, when I show up at the office, I had a feeling that someone was watching me. It happened a few times, and I would look around but never see anyone... it was you!"
"Yes, it was me. You looked so beautiful, and every time I saw you, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I had to just watch you from afar."
"That's over now. Tim, there's so much I want to tell you."
"I know about the business that you kept our dream going. You've done an amazing job with the business both here and in Melbourne, Bendigo, St Davids and Mount Thomas. Wow, I'm proud of you."
"I knew you would be, but there is something important I do have to tell you." There was a knock on the door, and it opened, it was Mr Watson.
"The jury's back, Mr Cole, you can join your wife in the courtroom."
"Thank you."
"I'd better warn you; the judge approved for the media to be there for the verdict. " Holding each other's hands Elle and Tim walk out of the conference room together, heading to the courtroom when the media mobbed them.
Just before entering the courtroom, Elle noticed that Pat, Tom, PJ, and Maggie were there." Hugging them, Elle said, "what are you all doing here?"
"Ken Forbes and Glenn Richie's case starts Tomorrow," Tom said.
"Ok, come with us; the verdict is in."
Entering the courtroom, they find seats close to the front. The judge calls the court to order and instructed the jury foreman to read out the verdict. All three were found guilty.
Tim pulls Elle close, hugging her tight, knowing it was almost over.
When they pulled apart, they kissed. Standing, they each shook Mr Watson and his assistant's hands before turning around to the others.
"My God! It is you!" Tom said, shocked to see Tim.
"Hello, Tom." Tim greeted.
"Tim," Pat said.
"Sargent Pat Doyle, Constable Maggie Doyle, his daughter; and Senior Detective Patrick Joseph, 'PJ' Hasham, this it Timothy Cole, my husband." Elle introduces with tears in her eyes.
"What? I thought he was dead," Pat exclaimed.
"Not dead...witness protection," Tim explained.
"Witness protection?" Tom said.
"Yeah"
"Looks likes we go back to my… our... place to talk and have dinner," Elle said.
"Sounds like a great idea," Pat said.
"Ok, you know my address, so I'll meet you all there. " Then turning to Tim, Elle asked, "do you have to go with the feds?"
"No, because it's almost over and Claire and Dad's trial's next week."
"Alright, let's get out of here," Elle said. The group leaves the courthouse and heads to their cars. Tim went with Elle in her wagon.
"Elle, how have you been?" Tim asked after they left the car park.
"It's been hard, Tim, ever since I was told about what had happened to you."
"I should've listened to you. If I had, I wouldn't have gone up to Cairns."
"That may be true, but we can't change the past but look to the future."
"I agree. Are you seeing anyone?"
Reaching for his hand, Elle gives it a squeeze. "No, not even dated, you?"
"No, every day, I was thinking about you."
"Same here, every morning and night when I wake up to a photo of you on my bedside drawers. It's the last and first thing I see every day. I say good morning and good night to you, wishing you were with me."
"Your wish has come true."
"Yes, it has."
"We sure do have a lot to talk about, " Tim said, smiling.
"We do, but first we're going to need food," She said, pulling into the car park at the grocery store.
"Coming?" Elle asks as she opens her door.
"Love to. It's one of the things I missed doing with you."
"Same here." They got out of the car and walked into the store, grabbing a trolley along the way.
"What are we going to have tonight?" Tim asked.
"My famous sweet and sour pork with veggies and rice."
"It has been a long time since you cooked that up."
"It has." They got everything that was needed for the meal, including three bottles of non-alcoholic wine."
"Why non-alcoholic?"
"One, they're cops, and two, they don't want to be pulled up for drink driving."
"Good point," Tim agreed. Elle picked up two cheesecakes and some ice creams along with other snack foods before heading to the counter.
Ten minutes later, Elle parked in the underground car park.
"Elle," Tim said, "You can't park here; it's for the penthouse."
"Yeah, that's right," smiling as she exited the car.
"You own the penthouse?"
"I'll tell you all about it; come on, let's go up." Getting the bags from the boot, Elle locked the wagon and walked over to the elevators, stepped inside and pushed the button, and the elevator rises two floors. They exit that elevator, and Tim follows Elle to another elevator that's manned by an operator.
"Good evening Elle," he said as Elle approached with Tim.
"Good evening Fred." Once they were in the elevator, Fred pressed the button, taking them up still.
"Fred, I have friends coming over for dinner," showing him a photo. "These are three of them. Can you let me know when they arrive? I'll come down and greet them."
"Of course."
"Thank you. Fred, this my husband, Tim."
"Your husband?"
"Yeah, watch tonights news."
"Ok, I'll do that."
"Nice to meet you, Fred."
"And you, Sir," shaking hands.
Then the elevator stops, and the door opens. They move to yet another elevator, and they step in. Elle uses a key then pushes a button; the door closed then they start moving.
"Wow, how many floors is this place?"
"Ten floors, eight have two-bedroom apartments on each floor except for the penthouse."
"Your kidding. How big?"
"You remember the condo we used to have when we got first got married?"
"Yes..."
"The big ones are like here."
"Then how many penthouses are there?"
"Just the one."
"How many bedrooms?"
"Eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms."
"Why so many?"
"All in due time. You're going to love it."
"I can't wait."
The elevator stops; the door opens.
Tim follows Elle right into the kitchen.
"Wow! My gosh! This place is huge!" seeing how big the kitchen and dining area are.
"Here, let me show you around."
Elle showed him the lounge, the game room, and some of the bedrooms and toilets. Then she showed him the master bedroom and bathroom.
"My gosh, how much did this cost?"
"Well, the previous owners went bankrupt, causing the building company to lose millions of dollars. They had been cutting corners with the construction, and the building wasn't safe. So when it went up for tenders, I checked it out and brought it. I made changes and had it built to what it is now. It was completed six months ago, and all of the apartments are occupied."
" Jeez, Elle, you amaze me."
"Thanks. One thing I did with the construction was make this building able to handle a nine earthquake because of the several earthquakes there has been over the past few years."
"Good idea" He walked over and saw the photo on her nightstand, turned to her and smiled.
"So, did you design this place?"
"Yes, along with an architect. I did the rough design and he finished the rest."
"Amazing."
"Come on." She held onto his hand and she brought him to another door.
"In this room is one of the reasons why I had this place built. Remember the night before you left for Cairns?"
Smiling, "I sure do; it was a good night. Why?"
Opening the door, she then stepped back.
Tim looked into the room and was stunned to see three cots. He stops, and turns to her, and smiles.
"The treatment worked," Elle said.
"Triplets?"
"Triplets..."
Pulling her into his arms, he hugs and kisses her. "Cole and family," he says with awe.
"Yes," Elle said
"Wow... I'm a dad."
"I've got photos and video recordings; we can watch them."
"Please. God, I've missed so much," he said sadly. "What their names?"
"TJ, Victoria and James."
"TJ?" he asked.
"Timothy Junior."
"I love it!" pulling her close for a hug and kiss.
"Come on; I better get dinner on."
"I'll help." Another kiss and they head to the kitchen.
They had just started getting dinner on when Elle's phone rings. "Yes, Fred?… ok, I'm on my way down." She grabbed her keys.
"Our guests have arrived," then she went to meet them.
Tim had just finished putting out the snacks when she returned.
"Wow! This place is incredible!" PJ exclaimed.
"Thanks, PJ." They huddle around the kitchen and talk while Elle and Tim cook dinner.
"You two almost look like pros," Pat said.
"When we were dating, and after we got married, we always cooked together. I suppose it's a habit we've never forgotten. We're a bit rusty; it'll just take time."
"I suppose it would. Does he know about?..." Tom asked.
"The kids? Yes."
"I was a bit shocked but happy. I missed out on so much."
"Well, darling, you're not going to miss out on their birthdays at the end of the month!"
"No, I'm not. I'm looking forward to getting to know them."
"And they are you," Elle said, giving him a quick kiss.
"Elle, is this the only balcony?" PJ asked as he looked out the french doors to a four-meter wide balcony. The balcony has thick glass and a stainless steel rail fence.
"It goes right around the building. Some days I run around the building rather than go to the gym. Plus, it's a great place to hold a party."
"I love it!" PJ remarks.
"Thanks."
The evening passes pleasantly with lots of conversation as they all enjoy each others company.