Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Blaise
NOW
I’m awakened from an unusually sound sleep by a dog barking in the yard. It takes a second for me to recall where I am and why. The events of the last two days come flooding back to me. I told Houston what I saw. He’s contacted the AG about reopening the case against Ryder, and he’s working to locate Neisy.
I wait for my stomach to turn at the thought of people finding out about what I’ve done, but the only thing I feel is resolve and relief. I want everyone to know what he did, and I want him to pay for it. I don’t care anymore who might hate me for coming forward. I have to live with myself, and it’s a lot easier now that I’ve taken the first step toward making this right.
My phone buzzes with a text—the eighth of the day from my boss.
I ignore the texts. Whatever he wants can wait while I start my day.
I use the Keurig in the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee that I take with me when I go outside to see what’s going on.
Jack is throwing the ball for a gorgeous Golden Retriever. The dog sees me and loses interest in the ball as she charges over to greet me.
“Watch out for the lethal tongue from hell,” Jack says.
I sit on the stairs and find he wasn’t kidding as I’m bathed in dog spit, which makes me laugh for the first time in longer than I can remember. It takes about two seconds to be completely covered in dog hair and spit.
Jack rushes over to rescue me. “I’m sorry. I keep thinking she’ll grow out of her puppy behavior, but she’s three.”
“She’s beautiful. Where was she yesterday?”
“Having her teeth cleaned at the vet.”
“What’s your name, gorgeous?”
“Fenway.”
“I love that. A tip of the hat to the Red Sox.”
“Yep. Are you a fan?”
“Of course. And let me tell you, that’s not an easy thing to be in New York City.”
“I’ll bet it’s not.” He tosses a tennis ball that has the dog sprinting toward the main house. “Did she get hair in your coffee?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Sorry if we disturbed you.”
“You didn’t.”
The dog comes back with the ball, which she drops at his feet. She waits expectantly for him to throw it again.
“How many times do you have to throw it for her?”
“Two to three hundred a day?”
I laugh at his grimace. “My brother has a bat he uses to wear out his dog faster.” I know this because I’ve seen video of Arlo playing with his dog, not because I’ve ever met the dog.
“That’s a great idea. I need to get out my Little League slugger.”
I sip my coffee as I watch them play while wondering what he does for work.
He’s good with the dog, laughing at her antics and praising her for rare seconds of good behavior.
Though I hardly ever give much thought to men or dating or any of the baggage that comes with such things, I can’t deny that Jack is truly adorable and sexy in a rugged sort of way. His faded jeans fit him just right, and his flannel shirt is mostly unbuttoned, revealing a muscular chest and abdomen, as he wanders the yard barefooted. I want to ask if his feet get cold, but he speaks before I can.
He throws the ball for what must be the hundredth time. “How long are you in town?”
“I’m not sure.”
He waggles his brows at me. “You’re a woman of mystery.”
“Not so much.”
“We don’t get a lot of visitors around here who aren’t vacationers, and we don’t get much of those this time of year.”
I know that because I grew up across the river. The area is quieter in the fall, winter and spring before the busy summer season kicks in.
“How long have you lived here?” I ask, hoping to put the focus on him rather than me since I have no idea how to answer questions about what I’m doing here.
“All my life. This was my parents’ place. They passed a while back and left it to me. I added the cottages to help pay the taxes, which are substantial.”
“I’m sorry about your parents.”
“Thanks.”
“Were they sick?”
He nods as he throws the ball again. “Both had cancer and died six weeks apart. That was two years ago.”
“Oh God, Jack. I’m so sorry. That must’ve been awful.”
“It was pretty shitty. I was their only child, so it was a lot.”
Hearing his story makes me see how everyone is dealing with something heavy. I’ve carried around my own heavy load for so long that sometimes I forget that. For the first time in fourteen years I feel less burdened. Houston knows what I witnessed, and he’s doing what he can with the information I gave him. Whatever happens from here is not up to me, and there’s relief in that.
My phone rings, and Houston’s name pops up on my screen.
I take the call and go inside with a wave to Jack. “Hi.”
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“All right. You?”
“I have a few updates for you. First, I went to Virginia yesterday to see Neisy, who now goes by Denise. I told her a witness has come forward who can corroborate her story and that the AG is considering reopening the case. She’s not interested in revisiting it.”
I feel strangely deflated at hearing that. But what did I expect? “Oh. Well… I can understand that.”
“As can I. However, we may not need her to proceed. I’m talking to the AG’s office this afternoon to go over the particulars. Your testimony may be enough added to Denise’s sworn statement from when the charges were originally filed.”
The thought of being the sole reason for the case being sent forward is daunting, but I’m undeterred. “Whatever’s needed, I’ll do it.”
“I’m sure the AG will want a statement from you, taken under oath, before they decide whether to go forward.”
My mouth goes dry at the thought of having to relive the excruciating details of that night, but I’m determined to do whatever it takes to make this right. “That’s fine.”
“I know I keep saying this, but I want you to be ready for a firestorm.”
“I appreciate your concern, and I’m as prepared as I can be.” As I say that, I notice my hands are trembling and my mouth has gone dry. Deep inside, that intimidated seventeen-year-old is still there and still afraid of people hating her.
“I think you should tell Jack what’s going on.”
“Why?”
“I want to make sure you’re safe. If and when the case is reopened, I’ll increase patrols around his place.”
His concerns about my safety send my anxiety into the red zone. “How long do I have before people will know?”
“That depends on what the AG decides. I’ll get back in touch after our meeting. It’s a different proposition without Denise’s testimony.”
“Did you tell her who’d come forward?”
“I did. She wasn’t sure she remembered you, but she knew Arlo.”
“She must’ve been angry.”
“She was confused and disappointed.”
“I hope you told her I hated myself then and now for not doing the right thing.”
“I told her. I’ll get back to you after I talk to the AG’s office.”
“Do you think I should give my family a heads up about what’s going on?”
“You might want to wait until after the meeting today. If the AG decides not to pursue it, there’d be no need to tell anyone.”
“I understand. Thank you, Houston. I appreciate all you’re doing.”
“Just doing my job.”
After he signs off, I sit for a long time thinking about what he said and how I should handle my mother, who wants to see me today.
I decide I’ll tell her—and only her—what’s going on. I text to ask if I can come by.
She responds right away. Of course. I’ll make lunch. Can’t wait to see you.
Be there soon.
Denise
NOW
I spend the morning in bed with coffee Kane brought me, listening to him deal with getting Charlotte and Levi to the bus stop and the twins down for their morning nap.
I giggle more than once at the frustrated tone of Kane’s voice as he deals with Levi.
He comes into our room, crawls onto the bed and lands face down. “I want to go back to sea.”
Laughing, I stroke a hand over his dark hair, which is prickly from being cut to military standards.
He turns his head so he can see me. “How do you do this day after day and not kill one of them?”
“I never think about killing them.”
“I know,” he says with a big grin. “You think about killing me for gifting you with four little angels.”
“You weren’t supposed to know that!”
“Ah-ha! While I’m off protecting our country, you’re having homicidal thoughts about me.”
“Every day, and yet, I still can’t wait for you to get home.”
He puts his arm around me and snuggles in close, resting his head on my chest. “I couldn’t wait either. I miss you all so much when I’m away.”
I wrap my arms around him, giving thanks as I do every day for him and our life together. I give him full credit for putting me back together after that traumatic summer with his steadfast love. We were just kids, but he knew exactly what I needed and how to provide it. I’ll never forget that. We got married right after we graduated from high school with only our parents in attendance. No one at UVA knew we were married, and we liked it that way. It was our little secret.
“Dee?”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“About?”
“Houston’s visit.”
Every muscle in my body goes tense. The news Houston brought overshadowed the usual thrill of Kane’s homecoming. “What about it?”
“I keep thinking about that son of a bitch out there living his life like nothing ever happened and running for Congress like the arrogant asshole he is with no fear of his past coming back to haunt him. He has no idea the full extent of what you endured because of him. And now there’s a chance to make him pay for it.” He raises his head off my chest and gazes at me imploringly. “I want him to pay .”
“It’s all I can think about.”
He cups my face and compels me to look at him. “I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling. To have your nightmare resurrected after all these years, to learn there was a witness who didn’t come forward at the time… It’s the worst kind of betrayal.”
“I want him to pay for it, too, but I’m afraid.”
“Of what, honey?”
“What if I tear open that wound and it wrecks me again? What if I can’t take care of the kids?”
“I’d be right there with you through the whole thing.”
“You have work. Who knows where you’d be if this went to trial?”
“I’m going to separate from the navy. I love my job, but I love my family more. I want to be here for everything with you and the kids. I don’t want to miss soccer or dinners or game nights. I want to be with you guys.”
“We want you here with us, too, but only if it’s what you really want. I know how much you love being in the navy.”
“I do, but not as much as I love you and the kids.”
“What’ll you do for work?”
“I’ve got some feelers out for jobs. How would you feel about going back to the DC area?”
“I’d miss our friends here, but most of them will be moving in the next few years anyway, and DC is home.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. This means I’d be right there by your side when or if the case went to trial. We’d be near your dad and my parents, who’d help with the kids.”
My parents divorced years ago. My mom, who succeeded in getting sober after years of stopping and starting, lives in Denver now with her second husband. Dad has a longtime girlfriend that we all love and is enjoying being retired.
“You really think I should do this?”
“I think you should do whatever works for you. If the answer is no, it’s no. But I want you to know that if you choose to go forward, I’d support you every step of the way—and I’d be around to do that in person, not remotely.”
“That makes all the difference. Everything is better when you’re here.”
Smiling, he leans in to kiss me. “That’s how it is for me, too. Funny how that worked out, huh?”
“It’s the best thing in my whole life. I wouldn’t have survived this the first time without you.”
“Yes, you would have because you’re tougher than you give yourself credit for being.”
“No, I’m not.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that, but in my opinion, you’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”
“You need to get out more.”
“Haha, you know there’s nowhere else I want to be than right here with you.” When he kisses me again, I wrap my arms around him and let all my worries fall away for now. They’ll still be there after this stolen interlude with my love.
“There was a tradition we forgot when I got home last night,” he says against my lips.
“I didn’t forget. I was hoping you’d let me make it up to you this morning.”
“You don’t need to make up anything to me.”
“What if I want to?”
“Are you sure?”
“I refuse to let him or Houston or any of this set me back to where I was then. We worked too hard to get past it to let that ruin anything now.”
“And I hear you. I really do. But I want you to be certain.”
“I’m certain that I know exactly who I’m in bed with—the love of my life.”
Smiling, he kisses me and touches me and takes me away from all my worries and fears the way he has for as long as I’ve known him. It took a long time, more than two years and several unsuccessful attempts, before I was able to finally make love with him and not experience anything other than pure happiness and excitement.
He never wavered in his devotion to me or his determination to wait until I was ready for more. I credit him with saving me in more ways than one. After the twins were born, he had a vasectomy, which has freed us to enjoy being together without worries about more babies. We got twice what we bargained for when we decided to have a third child. Now our family is more than complete.
I want so badly to enjoy this reunion with him, but my brain is stuck in the past, which makes it impossible to do anything other than go through the motions with Kane.
“Dee.”
I look up at him as he moves inside me.
“Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere.”
He tips his head as he studies me. He knows me better than anyone and is fully aware of what’s going on in my mind. “It’s you and me, sweetheart. Just you and me.”
“I know.”
“Stay with me.”
“I’m here.”
“I love you so much. You’re my whole life.”
His sweet words bring tears to my eyes. “You’re mine, too.”
“And as long as we have this, we have everything. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t. I never could.”
He gathers me into his warm embrace as we chase the finish that doesn’t happen for me. I’m just too distracted as much as I wish I wasn’t.
After a long moment of silence as we catch our breath, I say, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, love. I know what this situation does to you, and I don’t blame you at all.”
“I’m thinking about what you said before… About not letting him get away with it.”
He gazes down at me as he brushes the hair back from my face with his index finger. “It’s totally up to you, and I’ll respect whatever decision you make.”
“I’m afraid of what it’ll do to me and us and our family. But when I think of him out there living his life—and running for office, of all things—like he’s done nothing wrong… I want justice. I want people to know what he did to me. I want them to know about the baby he left me with and how I had to suffer through losing it while he went on with his life like nothing had happened. And I want to say again, in open court, that the other boys who swore they’d slept with me were liars.”
“I’ll be right there with you, Dee. Every minute of every day for as long as it takes to get justice.”
“That’s the only reason I can do this, because we’d be doing it together.”
“Like always.”
“I’ll call Houston today.”