Characters This Could Be Us Kennedy Ryan

Judah Cross: The Forensic Accountant Who Built a Fortress of Love

Overview of Judah Cross

Judah Cross is a forensic accountant at CalPot and the devoted single father of autistic twin sons, Adam (level 1) and Aaron (level 3). Introduced in the prologue mediating his divorce from Tremaine, Judah prioritizes his children above all else. When he meets Soledad Barnes at the Christmas party in Chapter One, he is immediately drawn to her warmth and strength—even as he investigates her husband Edward for embezzling six million dollars. Over the course of the story, Judah evolves from a guarded, justice-driven professional into a man willing to bend rules and wait years for the woman he loves.

Plot Role and Significance

Judah serves as both the catalyst for Edward’s downfall and the steady anchor for Soledad’s healing. He uncovers the financial fraud that leads to Edward’s arrest (Chapter Three) and later helps Soledad secure evidence by accepting her USB drive in exchange for freezing her assets (Chapter Eleven). Beyond his professional role, Judah becomes Soledad’s emotional sanctuary. He respects her self-partnering journey, refuses to push for commitment, and ultimately chooses Soledad’s freedom over corporate justice by letting Edward flee the country (Epilogue).

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Judah’s primary motivation is protecting those he loves—his sons, his ex-wife Tremaine, and later Soledad. In Chapter Seven, he blocks board members Brett and Dick from cutting Soledad’s family benefits, stating the move would jeopardize the FBI case. His patience is evident when he calmly de-escalates Aaron’s meltdown at the barbershop (Chapter Seventeen) using breathing exercises and weighted toys. He also demonstrates deep self-awareness: in Chapter Seven he admits his interest in Soledad goes beyond her appearance; he values her “strength and fortitude and humor.” His decision to remain celibate and wait for Soledad to be ready (Chapter Thirty-One) underscores his respect for her autonomy.

Other traits include:

  • Analytical precision: He meticulously tracks Edward’s offshore accounts.
  • Emotional restraint: He holds back from commenting on Soledad’s solo-date livestream (Chapter Twenty), recognizing her need for space.
  • Vulnerability: He reveals he may be autistic himself (Chapter Thirty-One) and shares his “Me List” with Soledad.
  • Loyalty: He continues to co-parent harmoniously with Tremaine, attending Career Day together (Chapter Thirty-Nine).

Chronological Arc

  • Prologue: Judah mediates his divorce; Aaron’s plea “Stay with me” leads to Judah gaining primary custody.
  • Chapter Five: He manages the boys’ morning routine and thinks of Soledad while on a call with Tremaine.
  • Chapter Seven: He defends Soledad in the board meeting and resolves to protect her from corporate ruthlessness.
  • Chapter Seventeen: He buys a pressed-flower bookmark for Soledad at the Harvest Festival and eventually gives it to her at the farm-to-table dinner.
  • Chapter Thirty-Nine: He bonds with Soledad at Career Day; Inez catches them together, causing tension.
  • Chapter Forty-Four: After Adam’s seizure, Judah and Soledad reconcile in the hospital stairwell; he accepts her desire to avoid marriage.
  • Epilogue: He lets Edward escape to ensure Soledad’s permanent peace, telling her, “I wanted him out of your life more than I wanted to catch him.”

Key Relationships

Soledad Barnes

Their relationship builds slowly, through shared moments of vulnerability and mutual respect. Judah first sees her at the Christmas party (Chapter One), then watches her interact with Aaron. He sends groceries after her assets are frozen (Chapter Four). Their physical connection deepens in the shed scene (Chapter Thirty-Four) where he brings her to orgasm twice, yet stops himself to prioritize her family. He declares his love without demanding marriage, saying, “I don’t need that, only a life with you” (Chapter Forty-Three).

Tremaine (ex-wife)

Their co-parenting is amicable and supportive. Tremaine offers Judah the new house so he can have primary custody (Prologue). She teases him about his crush on Soledad at Career Day and encourages him to pursue happiness.

Adam and Aaron (sons)

Judah’s devotion to his twin sons shapes every decision. He adjusts their routines to accommodate sensory needs, attends Adam’s Career Day to speak about accounting, and rushes to the hospital when Adam has a seizure (Chapter Forty-Five). His love for them is unwavering, as seen when he hugs them after a meltdown (Chapter Seventeen).

Delores Callahan

Delores acts as an ally, warning Judah that Brett will break Soledad if necessary (Chapter Seven) and approving Soledad as the Christmas party caterer after Judah pitches the idea (Chapter Twenty-One). She sees through his excuses and teases him about his feelings.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Blocking the board from cutting Soledad’s benefits (Chapter Seven): This protects Soledad from immediate financial ruin and earns her trust later.
  2. Giving Soledad the pressed-flower bookmark (Chapter Twenty-Three): It becomes a token of his patience and hope, symbolizing his willingness to wait.
  3. Accepting Soledad’s proposal for a one-time physical encounter (Chapter Thirty-Six): Though he wants more, he honors her need for agency, which strengthens their bond.
  4. Letting Edward escape (Epilogue): He prioritizes Soledad’s long-term peace over legal closure. The consequence is that Edward remains free but also permanently out of their lives.
  5. Declaring love without demanding marriage (Chapter Forty-Three): This allows Soledad to remain committed to self-partnering while building a life together.

Theme and Symbol Connections

  • Self-partnering and self-love: Judah’s own “Me List” (Chapter Thirty-Four) mirrors Soledad’s journey. He learns to love himself and honor his needs, including acknowledging his possible autism.
  • Betrayal and trust: Judah’s integrity contrasts with Edward’s deception. Soledad’s ability to trust again is only possible because Judah consistently proves his reliability.
  • Neurodiversity and parenting: Judah’s hands-on care for Adam and Aaron—managing meds, sensory breaks, school transitions—embodies the novel’s portrayal of autism with respect and nuance.
  • Healing and second chances: Judah helps Soledad heal by respecting her timeline. He himself heals from a loveless first marriage and finds contentment.
  • Symbols: The Rubik’s Cube that Soledad shares with Aaron (Chapter One) symbolizes the patience required to connect. The All About Love book Judah reads and annotates (Chapter Thirty-Eight) represents his commitment to understanding love beyond possession. The bookmark he buys at the Harvest Festival becomes a quiet promise.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Judah let Edward escape instead of turning him in? Judah discovers Edward has violated probation and fled the country. Rather than report the trail to CalPot or the FBI, he chooses to let Edward go because he wants him “out of your life more than I wanted to catch him” (Epilogue). This decision prioritizes Soledad’s emotional safety over corporate justice.

2. What does Judah’s “Me List” reveal about his character? The “Me List” is a personal manifesto Judah shares with Soledad in the shed (Chapter Thirty-Four). It includes goals like happiness, self-acceptance, and being present for his sons. It reveals that Judah has actively worked on his own self-love, parallel to Soledad’s journey, and that he values internal fulfillment over external success.

3. How does Judah support Soledad’s independence after Edward’s arrest? Judah refrains from offering financial handouts but provides tangible support: sending groceries (Chapter Four), promoting her catering business to Delores (Chapter Twenty-One), and attending her farm-to-table dinner (Chapter Twenty). Most importantly, he respects her self-partnering commitment and does not pressure her for a relationship until she explicitly signals readiness.

4. Why does Judah stay celibate and wait for Soledad? In Chapter Thirty-One, Judah reveals his celibacy and possible autism to Soledad, explaining he wants their connection to be meaningful. He recognizes that Soledad needs to rebuild trust in herself first. His restraint demonstrates that his love is not conditional on physical intimacy; he values her whole person and her timeline.

5. How does Judah’s possible autism influence his relationships and parenting? Judah identifies with sensory sensitivities and social challenges, which he discusses with Soledad (Chapter Thirty-One). This self-awareness helps him empathize with his sons’ needs—he calmly navigates Aaron’s meltdowns and Adam’s seizures. In his relationship with Soledad, his directness and respect for boundaries (e.g., not commenting on her livestream) reflect traits often associated with autism without pathologizing him. The novel uses Judah’s experience to normalize neurodivergent love and parenting.