Chapter Ten
Bree couldn’t believe her engine light came on as she pulled into her driveway, and in addition to that crisis, Hank called with one of his own.
He had an emergency request for Bree to pick Gabby up at school at seven fifteen after a theater club rehearsal.
Rachelle was sitting in urgent care with her mother, and he was out of town for work.
He’d tried the parents of Gabby’s friends who were also at the rehearsal, but he hadn’t been able to reach any of them.
“Hank, my engine light is on, but I can call a rideshare so that I can go get Gabby.”
He agreed. She quickly hung up and moaned. One thing at a time. She rubbed her temple, then called Tess.
“Now, don’t tell me you’re standing me up already?” Tess said instead of offering Bree a greeting.
Bree’s pleasure at the return of teasing Tess was undercut by having to tell her the reason for her call. She explained the situation. There was a long silence.
“I just fed my two famished felines. I wouldn’t object to adding chivalrous chauffeur to my résumé.” Tess’s delivery was that matter-of-fact one that revealed little, but Bree took encouragement at the humor in her reply. She knew Tess well enough to recognize the woman underneath that facade.
“Yeah. And in case you ever decide to apply for a second job, I’d vouch for the chivalrous since you’re saving the day,” Bree replied. “But you don’t have to do this. I can call a rideshare and go get my niece.”
Tess cleared her throat. “There’s no reason to derail the entire evening. I’ve got your address, so I’ll see you at seven to go collect your niece.”
“Are you sure?”
“Are you suggesting I’m someone who doesn’t mean what she says? We can have that discussion, or I can head to your house so we can collect her on time. What’s her name?”
“It’s Gabby.”
Promptly at seven o’clock, Tess pulled into Bree’s driveway. They headed to the school with an agreement that they’d figure out the rest of their evening after they’d collected Gabby.
“Whoa, Aunt Bree. A red Mercedes—nice wheels.” Gabby cocked her head as she climbed into the back seat and surveyed Tess. “Where’s Mom, not that I’m complaining?”
“She’s at the doctor with your grandma, and your dad’s in Santa Barbara. This is Tess. She’s a judge too.”
Bree looked across the console as Tess concentrated on the road.
She had no clue how Tess would respond to Gabby, or to her declaration that she approved of Tess’s car.
As she took in Tess’s profile, the tiny lines that chronicled the upward twitch of the corner of Tess’s mouth made Bree’s heart do an extra thump or two.
“Hi, Gabby. I work with your aunt and we had a meeting tonight.”
“My car developed a problem, so Tess agreed to help me pick you up,” Bree quickly added. “You owe her a big thank you.”
“Mega thanks, Tess. And where’s your meeting?”
Neither of them answered for a long moment. Then they simultaneously replied, “Maria’s Café.”
“I’m starving, and I love Maria’s Café. Can I crash your meeting?”
Bree pulled down her visor and looked back at Gabby from its mirror, catching Gabby’s grin. Bree considered how to respond, not sure how Tess would feel about this request. This had certainly morphed from simply professional to something significantly different with Gabby along.
Tess spoke first. “You’re welcome to join us for dinner, Gabby. Do you have homework?”
“Just some math. But I can’t possibly do that without brain fuel, and you wouldn’t want to shoot down my future career chances because I flunked Algebra 2 at sixteen.”
Bree knew her niece and snorted, but Tess laughed. A rich melodious laugh that caused Bree to join in.
“Hey, math homework and a starving teenager aren’t that funny,” Gabby replied, but her tone let them know she was enjoying herself.
“Alright, it’s off to Maria’s Café to save Gabby’s future,” Tess said, and Bree considered that having Gabby along just might loosen Tess up.
Bree called her brother and updated him on the plan before they pulled into the café parking lot and climbed out of the car.
“Shall we order food and eat first?” Tess asked. “Then while your aunt and I conduct our business meeting in the parking lot, you can stay at our table, Gabby, and figure out your quadratic equations, polynomials, and linear functions if I remember correctly.”
“A meeting in the parking lot?” Gabby asked.
“We’re judges. Confidential court issues,” Bree replied.
“Oh, are you checking out the scene of a crime?” Gabby looked back over her shoulder at the lot as they headed into the restaurant.
“We’d tell you, but we’d have to kill you,” Tess replied.
“Ha ha. So while I’m doing my homework, you two will be doing yours.” Gabby grinned as she dropped her backpack down onto the floor next to her chair at the table where the server had led them. The place was fairly empty tonight.
“Exactly, kiddo,” Bree said.
They all ordered burgers at Gabby’s insistence that there was no reason to go to Maria’s Café if you weren’t going to go for the best thing on the menu. Bree had to agree as she finished her last bite. So much better than a salad.
When they were done eating, Bree and Tess left Gabby at the table to do her assignment with the waitress’s blessing and assurance she’d keep an eye on Gabby while they headed back out to the parking lot.
“I parked over here in this spot.” Bree walked to the now-empty spot where she’d parked the night before, not far from where Tess had parked tonight. She pulled out her phone and took a few photos. She might want to stop in the future and take a few daylight ones too.
“If he was waiting when you came out, maybe he followed you from the courthouse,” Tess said.
“That seems likely. He disappeared on foot in that direction.” Bree pointed.
“Like I mentioned earlier today in my chambers, I followed up and called the police chief, so she’s aware. The office and the other judges have been alerted as well. And any pertinent info from tonight will be added to the written report.”
“I’m sorry to pile onto your presiding judge duties,” Bree replied.
“This way it’s at least been officially noted, a record.
I know Chief Myers,” Tess said. “Since my shooting, we’ve talked a few times.
I think I relayed everything you told me, and she’ll likely pass that on to the county sheriff’s office for their records.
We left it that she might call you if she has any further questions. I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s fine. I’m happy to do whatever you desire,” Bree replied.
Tess gave her a look as the whatever you desire registered with both of them. Desire wasn’t something they were discussing. Then Tess looked away and cleared her throat. “I doubt Gabby’s finished her math yet.”
Bree was happy to refocus on Gabby’s homework. “I probably ended up in law school because I’d prefer a test on case law or even statutes any day versus one with graphs and numbers. I have to confess, though, my efforts at Gabby’s age were on making the cheerleading squad. How about you?”
Tess’s brow furrowed. “I was headed toward law school while I was still in diapers.”
Bree thought that could explain a lot about Tess. “Helicopter parents?”
“I don’t think that term had been invented back then, but that’s an understatement. My younger years were mapped out for me, aimed right at my adulthood,” Tess replied. “And I never measured up,” she quietly added.
Bree could see the vestiges of anguish in her eyes.
Bree had never failed at anything important until her marriage, and then she’d seen a similar look in the mirror after Cora moved on.
“And are your parents proud now, because you look so good sitting up there on the bench in that robe? And now the title of presiding judge too.”
“They’re deceased,” Tess said without elaboration, then added, “But my Aunt Alice is pleased.” Tess changed the subject. “Did you make cheerleader?”
“I did. Pom-poms and all.” Bree set her legs into her old cheerleading stance and lowered her arms before flinging one out, followed by the other, as if she still held those pom-poms. She raised and lowered her arms as she wiggled her ass and chanted, “My name is Bree for those who don’t know.
Stand back and watch while I give you a show. ”
She knew that she looked ridiculous out here in the parking lot, a grown woman carrying on the way she had decades ago, but it was worth it to see Tess’s mood shift from the sad one of a few moments ago to this lighter, laughing version of Tess that Bree had come to know at the cabin.
“Give me a T. Give me an E. Give me an S. Give me an S. Now what does that spell? Queen bee and not princess.” Bree did a final bit of butt twerking just because she was enjoying Tess’s delight so much.
When Tess finally regained control of her mirth, she looked around the lot and said, “As entertaining as that was, I should probably drag you back inside for dessert before someone recognizes the booty-shaking cheerleader in the Maria’s Café parking lot as the Honorable Judge O’Brian.
And for the record, you’re the princess.
” Tess took Bree’s hand and led her back into the restaurant where Gabby waited.
“There you two are. Is your meeting done?” Gabby asked.
“It is. And your math?” Bree looked at the schoolwork spread out in front of Gabby. “I have my heart set on pie à la mode before we get you home.”
“Okay, just one more problem that I need to finish while we wait for our dessert to arrive.”
It seemed so natural when Bree suggested she and Tess share a piece of blackberry pie with ice cream, and Tess agreed.
The waitress collected their order, and Gabby quickly finished her homework and slapped her textbook closed as the plates arrived.
They chatted and ate, then collected their belongings and headed to Tess’s car to deliver Gabby home first.