Who I Am With You (Imagination #10) - Staci Stallings Page 0,60

strike 35,” the lawyer said.

“Juror 35 struck.”

Taylor’s gaze had been on the jurors. They all looked so normal, like they’d been going to work and simply got rerouted to come here. It was only when Greg’s arm on the armrest between them flinched that her gaze trailed up to his and then followed it up to the front. That was strange because Chris was looking forward. His hands were resting in his lap like they had been the entire time. Besides, it wasn’t like he was any existential threat or real threat to any of them right now, most especially to her. She wound her lips under her teeth at the thought of who would kill Chris first if he dared try anything right now. If she had only known how not alone she really was…

“Move to strike 15,” Jason said.

As that juror stood and trekked out, Taylor took in a deep breath. It had already been more than three hours, and there were at least 50 people still sitting in those rows. She marveled at the calm inside of her. This must be that whole peace that surpasses understanding thing Yoli had told her about. It made no sense at all to be at this much peace right now. She should be freaking out, so why wasn’t she? She glanced at Greg, and his gaze came over to hers, asking if she was all right. It would be impossible to explain just how all right she was.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, more mouthing the words than anything. “God’s got this.”

Confusion traced across his face. Then, it was like the sunshine breaking through after a storm, he smiled softly and nodded.

“Move to strike 27.”

At just after noon, the judge explained the way lunch would work, and the possible jurors that were left filed out the front with one of the bailiffs. The judge had already vacated her seat as well. When the door closed on the jurors, the lawyers and Chris began moving up front.

With that, their little group fell into a discussion of their own.

“What do you say we all head over to The Silversmith?” Taylor’s dad asked. “It’s buffet style. Something for everyone.”

“Works for me,” Mitchell said. “Oh, hey, I’m going to go talk to Jason right quick. I’ll meet you guys over there.”

Taylor had turned to talk with Clara, and she wasn’t even really paying attention to who was where. It was Clara’s gaze going dark that jumped hers over her shoulder as Chris came up the center aisle, talking with his lawyer. He really did look different than she had ever seen him, and she realized why then. He was wearing that mask she had talked about with Merel, at least he was trying to, but it was slipping badly. She smiled at him as crazy happiness burst through her, and just like that, she turned back to Clara and rolled her eyes. “What was I thinking?”

Clara’s gaze fell from him to her, and she shook her head. “I have asked myself that a million times.”

“Come on,” her father said. “We don’t want to take too long.”

For the situation, lunch turned out to be very laid back. Greg and Ryan talked about classes, Taylor and Clara talked about the dance class Ryan and Clara would be going to on Thursday. Clara insisted that Taylor should come. “I’m telling you, you would love it.”

Mitchell joined the group but had to take and make several calls, and in no time they were headed back to the courthouse.

“How’re you?” Greg asked when they were alone in his car again.

Taylor smiled. “Good. I mean, yeah, I’m good.”

“Well, I’m glad. Wonder how much longer this is going to take.”

“I heard Dad ask Mitchell about that. Mitchell said we could still be doing this tomorrow.”

“Still? Oh, man. That’s insane.”

A breath and Taylor tipped her head at him in confusion. “Wait. I thought you had work today.”

“Yeah, well, I switched with Barry on Saturday.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” she said in frustration.

Greg shrugged. “Trust me, it was more than worth it to see Chris looking like he wanted to crawl under that table.”

“What’re you talking about?” Taylor asked as they neared the courthouse.

“Well, I could be wrong, but he’s definitely lost some of his swagger if you ask me.”

She laughed. “It’s just that monkey suit they’ve got him in. Totally not his style.”

“Better than that orange jumpsuit he’s going to be wearing by the end of this.”

“Let’s hope so.”

They had reassembled