The Justice of Love: Prologue

Love Is...

Three brothers, Douglas, Justin and Alex Hylton watched as their mother, Ella came down the stairs dressed in a ball gown. It was the first time that any of them could remember her going out on New Year’s Eve.

“You all have plans for the evening,” Ella stated as she picked up her purse. “I cannot for the life of me understand why any of you have an issue with me doing the same.”

“I do not believe we have an issue with it,” Douglas, the oldest, stated.

“Right,” Justin the NFL quarterback agreed. “It’s just that we have never seen a woman as beautiful or as graceful as you.”

“Exactly,” Alex the youngest brother and a newly appointed Judge, added as he held out his arm. “It is my honor, to escort you to Aunt Ophelia’s mansion for her annual party.”

“It’s about time the old bat included you,” Douglas huffed.

“Don’t speak that way about your great-aunt,” Ella scolded as she took Alex’s arm. “Besides, I am certain that it was Horace and Eleanor who extended the invitation.”

“Will Paige be home from New York?” Justin inquired.

“I’m sure she will,” Alex replied as he helped his mother with her coat. “She would never miss one of her Grand-mere’s parties.”

“Are you going to hang around when you drop Mother off?” Douglas asked.

“No, Tess, my friend from law school invited me to another party in the vicinity. I’ll be there until after midnight. Then I will pick Mother up.”

“The same Tess that dumped you?”

Alex glared at Douglas. “She did not dump me. We agreed we were better as friends.”

His brothers glanced at each other with a smirk. “Oh,” Justin stood. “The ‘let’s just be friends’ talk.” The two laughed.

“And what are your plans tonight, Douglas?” Alex asked as he put on his coat. “Another New Year’s hoping that Karen will give you a chance?”

Douglas’ laughter turned into a frown. “Why do you have to go there, Alex?”

“Anything to get that smirk off your face.” Alex shrugged. “The only one lucky in love is Justin.”

“Speak for yourself,” Ella chuckled. “None of you know what I know about love.”

The three boys glanced at each other with knowing looks.

“We know, Mother,” Douglas started. “Love takes time.”

“Love is patient and kind,” Justin added.

“Love has no bounds. Love is forever. Love does not take. Love gives. Love protects. Love brings joy and heals pain.” Alex smiled as he recited the words his mother had instilled into her boys. “And last, and the most important to remember is…” He looked at his brothers as they all spoke in unison.  “There is love and then…there is love. You will understand when you are older.” Douglas and Justin smiled with a knowing nod as Alex laughed. 

Ella smiled with a nod as she spoke to Alex. “You see, your brothers aren’t laughing. They know what I told you all is true.”

“Speaking of love,” Justin put his jacket on. “I’m going to spend New Year’s Eve with my wife.”

Douglas did the same. “I have to get to the club. It’s a big night for us.”

They kissed Ella on the cheek. “Enjoy your evening.” Ella beamed. “Don’t forget the midnight call.”

Alex walked out the door with no thoughts on how the words shared between them were going to impact his life. Before the night was over, he would learn that love also kills. 

…

Alex arrived at the New Year’s Eve party hosted by Tess’s friend Samantha E. Montgomery in Georgetown. He had only heard of Samantha but had never met her. Since a few of their classmates would be attending, Alex decided to join them. Alex, Tess and another classmate from Howard, Gregory Lathrop, were all standing on the second-floor balcony of a beautiful three story home, enjoying the opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives.  Alex was about to take a sip of his champagne when the motion stopped prior to the rim of the glass reaching his lips. A vision walked towards him dressed in a sleeveless cashmere top with matching winter white slacks and a simple gold belt adorning her waistline. Her hair was up, in a ball. She had the sweetest, brown, oval face with the brightest smile Alex had ever seen. She spoke with a smooth sensuous sophistication along her route to them. Alex lowered his glass, then closed his mouth as the woman approached.

“Contessa,” She held her arms open to Tess. While the two friends exchanged greetings, Alex noticed the genuine smile that reached the woman’s eyes. There was a gold tint that could light the universe or at the very least, his heart.

“Samantha,” Tess called out ecstatically, “You are the picture of a glowing pregnant woman.  Looks like you should be on the front of somebody’s magazine.”

Samantha smiled as they held their hands out observing each other. “I apparently don’t look as good as you do. You have two handsome men at your side, and I can’t seem to find the one I’m married to.”

“Well, you know me, one couldn’t handle me, so I had to bring two,” Tess joked as she smiled at her two classmates. “Samantha, this is Gregory Lathrop, a partner with Bainbridge, Tucker and Lathrop.” 

“Mr. Lathrop, your reputation precedes you.  I do hope you are enjoying your evening.”

“As does yours, Mrs. Montgomery.  Your firm has bested us on a number of ventures.  However, with hurt egos put aside I am enjoying your warm hospitality.”

“Eloquently spoken, Mr. Lathrop.”

“And is The Honorable A. Lawrence Hylton, one of the youngest judges on the bench,” Tess boasted.

Alex extended his hand. There was a spark at the moment Samantha’s hand touched his. It seemed she felt a similar effect as she almost pulled away.  His hand closed around hers.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Samantha.” He smiled and prayed his voice was steady.

Samantha politely pulled her hand away and smiled. “You don’t appear to be old enough to be a judge and you certainly don’t look like any judge I’ve had the pleasure of appearing before.”

“You’re an attorney?” Alex inquired.

“Yes.  My husband and I started a small firm a few years ago. Speaking of which.” She glanced around. “I need to find him, it’s getting close to midnight.”

Alex looked at his watch. “Yes, it is. I need to place a call.  Is there somewhere quiet I could go?”

“Yes.” Samantha smiled and pointed to a room at the end of the hallway. “There is a room where the staircase leads to the third floor. You could use that room to make your call.”

“Thank you,” Alex replied as he set the glass on a table, then walked to the room.  Once inside he called his mother first, then Justin and finally Douglas to wish them all a happy New Year.

Alex had just disconnected his call when a scream came from the hallway. Alex rushed out the door. Samantha, the woman he had just met, was falling uncontrollably down the staircase. He immediately ran towards her but was unable to break her fall.  He reached her just as her momentum stopped at the bottom of the stairs. 

“Samantha!” a male voice called out. 

Alex looked up and saw a man rushing down the stairs attempting to adjust his clothes.  Alex turned his attention back to Samantha. He began to examine her for injuries. The first thing he noticed was that the look in her eyes which he’d admired earlier was gone. Her eyes were now filled with tears. 

 As the man bent down towards her, she grabbed Alex’s arms and held him tightly. Her eyes looked up the stairs. Alex followed her look and saw a woman standing at the top with a smirk on her face.

“Samantha, tell me where you are hurting,” the man demanded with a sense of urgency.

“Don’t touch me, Timothy!” Samantha screamed out. “Don’t touch me!” she said again as if the pain was coming from somewhere deep within her soul.

“Baby, it isn’t what you think, Samantha,” Timothy said.  

Samantha clutched Alex’s arm tighter with a plea. “Don’t let him kill my baby.”  

Alex looked at the man, then at the woman at the top of the stairs and assessed the situation. It was pretty clear what had taken place.

“Samantha,” he said calmly. “Don’t try to move. I’m going to check your legs.”  Alex gently placed her head on the floor.  When Alex moved her leg, she cried out in pain. That was when he saw blood under her body.  He looked into her eyes. The hurt radiating from them tore at his heart.

She stared back at him. He knew in that moment that she understood the baby was gone. Samantha slowly closed her eyes as unconsciousness took over.

A few people had begun to gather in the hallway wondering what all the confusion was about. Tess found her way through the crowd and went to Samantha’s side.

“Alex, what happened?”

“Call an ambulance,” Alex said calmly as he frowns at the man beside him. 

“She fell down the steps,” the man said.

Tess gasped. “The baby?”

Alex only shook his head, not wanting to say the words out loud, as he spread a blanket someone handed him over Samantha.

“Oh, Timothy, I’m so sorry.” Tess rubbed the man’s shoulder.

“Where’s your friend who was at the top of the stairs?” Alex asked.

“What friend?” the man replied.

Something within Alex wanted to knock the man on his ass. Instead, he looked at Tess. “Is he, her husband?”

“Of course, I am.”

“Yes,” Tess replied. “Timothy Montgomery.  Judge Alex Hylton.”

The emergency team arrived. “What happened?” one EMT asked.   

“She fell down the steps,” Timothy blurted out as he glared at Alex. 

“She’s pregnant,” Tess cried out.

“Not anymore,” a woman’s voice called out.

The people turned to look at the woman. Tess, who had heard the comment, glared at the woman, causing her to step out of her eyesight. Alex looked up to see the woman from the top of the stairs standing in the back of the crowd. The smirk on her face made him wonder if Samantha’s fall was an accident or intentional.