Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Blaise
NOW
Jack puts his hands on my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Never better.”
“She had no right to come here and say any of that to you.”
“She’s a mother trying to protect her son. I don’t blame her. Of course she doesn’t want to believe it’s possible he did this.”
“You need to tell Houston she was here and what she said.”
“I will.” I turn to him and put my hand on his cheek. “I’m okay.”
“Have I mentioned that I admire your determination?”
“Don’t admire me. If I’d spoken up at the time, there wouldn’t be three little kids facing the rest of their childhoods without their father.”
“Stop beating yourself up. The past is gone. All you can do is your best today, and that’s what you’re doing.”
“Thanks for the reminder.” I give him a kiss and head to my cabin.
“Hey, while you’re over there?”
Turning back, I raise a brow.
“Pack up the rest of your stuff and bring it over here.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
He shrugs and flashes an adorable grin. “I guess maybe I am.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“You do that.”
My phone rings, and I grimace when I see Wendall’s name on the screen. “Duty calls,” I tell Jack as I take the call. “Hey, Wendall. I’m just getting to work.”
“We need to talk, Blaise. I, uh, hate to say this, but… I’m afraid I’m going to have to let you go.”
“I understand.” I do fast math in my head, and quickly put two plus two together to realize I’ll have to sublet my apartment in New York quickly.
“You do?”
“Yes, you need someone there, and I can’t be there right now.”
“You were supposed to tell me you’d come right back so you won’t lose your job!”
As I grasp that the firing was a ruse to force me back to work, I try hard not to laugh. He’s such a dope. “I appreciate that you want me there, but I can’t come back. Not now.” Not when I’m falling in love with the most extraordinary man and dealing with a past that’s haunted me. “I can help you find someone to take my place.”
“I don’t want someone else. I want you .” He sounds like a petulant toddler who isn’t getting what he wants, which is on-brand for him.
“I’m sorry, Wendall. I think I might be done with New York.” I let my gaze travel across the yard to where Jack is playing ball with Fenway. This place has started to feel like home to me over the last few weeks. In fact, I’m more at home here than I’ve been anywhere since the dreadful summer that changed everything.
“You don’t mean that. You’re New York through and through.”
“Not so much anymore. I think it’s time for you to get someone else. I’ll do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition.”
“I didn’t mean it when I said I was letting you go! That was supposed to bring you back not drive you away.”
This is why working for him has driven me crazy! “You should talk to Kim. She’s been looking for something more permanent. And if she needs an apartment, she can take over my place.”
“I don’t want Kim! I want you!”
“I’m sorry, Wendall. If you can convince Kim to come to work for you, treat her well so she won’t hate you. Do you hear me?”
“You’re really not coming back?”
“I’m really not.”
“What’ll I do without you?”
“You’ll be fine.”
“I’m not sure I will be.”
“You will. Kim’s great, and she knows the theater inside and out. She’ll be a true asset to your career.”
“So that’s it? We’re done? Just like that?”
“It’s not just like that. I’ve already been gone a month, and you’re doing fine.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You are. I’ve been checking on you, and everyone says you’re doing great.”
“They don’t know how it really is.”
“Do you want me to call Kim for you?”
“I guess I have no choice.”
“And you’ll be nice to her?”
“I’ll be nice to her.”
“Excellent.”
“You were, you know. Excellent, that is. I didn’t say it enough, but it’s true.”
“Thank you, Wendall. That means a lot to me.”
“What’ll you do now?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
“I hope whatever it is makes you happy.”
“I’m sure it will. I’ll call Kim and make her day.”
“And you’ll train her?”
“I said I would. It’ll all be fine. Thank you again for the opportunity.”
“Keep in touch, okay?”
“I will. You too.”
“Oh, you’ll be hearing from me.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
After we say our goodbyes, I let out a giddy laugh. I just quit my job! What the hell was I thinking? Did I do that because of Jack? No. I did it because of me . Because I’m happier in this place than I’ve ever been, and I want more. Do I know for certain he’s it for me forever? Nope, but I’d sure like to find out if he might be.
With that in mind, I pack up my stuff, strip the sheets off the bed, gather the towels, put on my backpack and troop across the yard carrying the bundle of laundry in one arm while pulling my suitcase with the other hand.
Fenway runs ahead of me. I wish she could get the door.
I bump the suitcase up the three stairs and stumble into the back door, nearly dropping the laundry on the way in.
“Well, well, well. Look at what the cat dragged in.” Jack puts down his coffee mug and takes the laundry from me, dumping it on the floor in front of the washing machine.
“Actually, it was the dog who dragged me in. She convinced me to move across the yard.”
Smiling, he kisses me as he removes my backpack from my shoulders. “Remind me to thank her later.”
“I have news.”
“I’m listening.”
“I quit my job in New York.”
The smile that stretches across his face makes his lovely golden eyes dance with happiness. “Is that so?”
“That is so.”
“What now?”
I shrug. “How do you feel about hosting a homeless, out-of-work freeloader for a little while?”
“I feel very good about that. In fact, if you’re looking to earn your keep around here, I could use some help getting my shit organized on the third floor.”
“I could help with that.”
“Does that mean you’re sticking around indefinitely?”
“I believe I will, if you’ll have me.”
“Oh, I’ll have you,” he says, waggling his brows.
“I need to return the rental car that’s putting me into debt.”
“We can go do that this afternoon. You can use my mom’s car in the garage. I’m sorry I didn’t think of that sooner.”
“You’re making this far too easy for me.”
“Am I?” he asks with the little grin that gets to me every time.
“You know you are. You’re sure you’re okay with it?”
“I haven’t been this okay in a very long time.”
Smiling, I kiss him. “Me either.”
I still need to tell Houston about Mary Elliott coming to see me, so I give him a call.
“Hey,” he says. “What’s up?”
“Mary Elliott was waiting for me at Jack’s this morning.”
“She was waiting for you? What’d she want?”
“To talk me out of testifying.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“That’s witness tampering. I’ll pass it on to the AG.”
“I don’t want her to get in trouble.”
“He’ll give her a warning. She’s got no business bothering you or asking that of you.”
“I told her I wouldn’t change my mind about testifying.”
“That’s good. She needs to accept this isn’t going away, no matter what she tries to pull. I’ll give the AG a call and have them talk to her. I’m sorry that happened. It was wildly inappropriate for her to come there, and we’ll make sure she understands that.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Keep in mind if she came there, then word’s out about where you’re staying. You and Jack need to keep your wits about you, all right?”
“Will do.”
“What’d he say?” Jack asks when I put down the phone.
“He’ll have the AG’s office reach out to let her know it’s inappropriate for her to be confronting me and it could lead to witness tampering charges.”
“Good. I hope that scares the hell out of her.”
“He also said to keep our wits about us now that word’s out about where I’m staying.”
“Since you wouldn’t let me hire security, I ordered cameras to put around the property. I don’t like that she was able to sneak up on us this morning. Even Fenway didn’t hear the car.”
“Probably because we were making so much noise.” As I say the words, I feel my face get warm.
“Ah, I love that.” He smiles as he caresses my cheek. “So sexy.”
“You have work to do, mister.”
“I really do, and I hate that I do.”
“Show me what I can do to help. I want to make myself useful.”
He stirs something on the stove. “I will. After I feed you.”
I go to see what he’s making. Eggs with veggies and potatoes mixed together. “That looks yummy.”
He tosses some spinach into the mix and puts bread in the toaster. “I can’t let my new assistant work on an empty stomach.”
“I’m not your new assistant. I’m helping you out temporarily.”
“We’ll see,” he says with a smile.
“Yes, we will.”
Ryder
NOW
I’m at my parents’ house because I don’t have anywhere else to go. I wouldn’t dare go to Cam’s right now with things so tense between us. Arlo sent a brief text to tell me Caroline and the kids are staying in town after her close circle of friends rallied around them. That’s a relief to me.
Arlo’s wife, Jenn, is one of Caroline’s best friends, which is probably one of many reasons she told him to stay away from me. Of course she’ll take Caroline’s side against me. Everyone will, even though most of them were my friends long before they ever met her.
I haven’t heard a word from Dallas, which is concerning. Having my friends drop off the radar makes me lonelier than I already am without Caro and the kids.
My mother comes in with groceries that I help her put away.
I remember where everything goes here and ache when I recall Caroline being amused by that once upon a time.
Mom’s phone rings, and she glances at the screen. “Who’d be calling me from Providence?”
“No idea.”
She takes the call. “Yes, this is she.” As she listens to what the other person is saying, her entire body goes tense, her expression conveying anger and maybe fear.
What now?
“I didn’t do that. I just wanted to talk to her.” After another period of silence, she says, “I understand.” She puts down the phone without saying goodbye to the caller.
“What was that about?”
“I went to see Blaise Merrick.”
“What? Why would you do that? ”
“I did it for you! If she doesn’t testify, this whole thing goes away!”
“Who called?”
“The guy from the AG’s office. That Spurling fellow. He said what I did is technically considered witness tampering, and I could be charged if I approach her again.”
I go to her and put my arm around her shoulders. “I appreciate what you were trying to do, but you have to stay out of it. It’s bad enough without us making it worse. Remember what happened when Dad confronted Captain Sutton? We don’t need more trouble.”
“We have to do something! We can’t let that woman ruin your life.”
“She’s not the one who ruined my life. I did that, Mom.”
She turns to look at me, seeming shocked. “What’re you saying? You never went near that girl!”
“Yes, I did, and apparently Blaise witnessed it.”
“No. You wouldn’t have done that.”
“I did do it, and I’ve hated myself for it ever since.”
She pulls back from me. “ What? ”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I hate that I’m putting you through this again.”
In barely a whisper, she says, “You attacked that girl.”
“Yes.”
She shakes her head as her eyes fill.
I take a step toward her.
“No. No .”
Giving me a disgusted look, she leaves the room.
I watch her go with a sinking feeling. I shouldn’t have told her. If they kick me out of here, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’m sick over what I’m putting my family through. Every time I think of that night, I’m filled with revulsion and regret.
Not that it matters now. Who cares if I regret it? Who cares if I’ve wished every day since that I could go back and undo the hideous thing I did to someone who’d never done anything to me?
I pick up the phone to call Cam. I’m almost surprised when he takes the call. “I, uh…I think I’ll plead guilty, so I don’t drag you all through the mud of a trial.”
“If you do that, you’ll never see your kids again.”
I close my eyes as the pain of that possibility sears me. “What else can I do, Cam? Maybe they’ll go easier on me if I express a willingness to own what I did.”
“It’s a huge risk. I’m working on getting you a better lawyer. Bennett is good, but you need someone with more experience with this kind of thing. Wait to hear from me before you do something that can’t be undone.”
“I told Mom the truth.”
“ Why would you do that ?”
“Because she went to talk to Blaise Merrick and then received a call from the AG’s office telling her witness tampering is a crime.”
“Holy hell. What was she thinking?”
“She was trying to protect me. I told her the truth, so she’d stop doing that.”
“Don’t tell anyone else.”
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
“Ryder… Do you want my help or not?”
“I do.”
“Then take my advice and keep your mouth shut . Don’t talk to anyone and tell her not to tell Dad. God only knows what he’d do with that info. If the AG subpoenas Mom, she has to testify truthfully or land in jail if she’s found to be lying. You’ve just given her information she didn’t have before, which is now a legal burden to her. Don’t tell anyone else.”
“I don’t want to put the family through a trial.”
“Wait until you have proper representation before you do anything. I’ll be back to you soon.”
The line goes dead before I can thank him for his help.
I hate the tension between us. We worked long and hard to get our relationship back on track after I initially confessed to him. I put a burden on him, too, with that information. I’d catch him watching me at various times, as if trying to reconcile how I could’ve done such a vile thing after being raised to respect women and girls, to protect and honor them.
I wish I had the answer to the question of why I did what I did, but I don’t, and I never will. Right before Caroline and I were married, I tried therapy for a while as I was struggling to deal with the lie I’d told my future wife, not to mention the guilt over what I’d done to an innocent young woman in a moment of evil madness. Without fully confessing to the therapist, I made him understand I’d done something terrible that I deeply regretted and was having trouble living with it. He talked to me about making amends to the people I’d hurt, which wasn’t possible in this situation.
But I wish it was. I wish I could tell Neisy that what I did was despicable and wrong, and if I had it to do over again, I never would’ve gone near her that night. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that there’re no do-overs in life.
I hope the lawyer Cam is talking to calls soon. I want to take a plea to get this over with for my loved ones—and myself.
Maybe if I confess to my crimes and accept my punishment, I’ll have a prayer of seeing my kids again someday.
My cell has been ringing off the hook with calls from media who want a statement about my suspended congressional campaign and the criminal charges. I’ve ignored every one of them.
I get a text from Cam. Take the call from the 617 area code.
The phone rings half a minute later with a 617 number.
“Hello?”
“Ryder Elliott?”
“Yes.”
“This is Bridget Doyle. I’m a defense attorney. Is this a good time to talk?”
“It is.” I run my fingers through my hair as the sleepless nights suddenly catch up to me in a wave of exhaustion.
“Your brother briefed me on your situation.”
“They have a very strong case.”
“They do, but there’re things we can do to fight back.”
“If those things include besmirching the reputations of the victim or the witnesses, that’s a nonstarter for me. I’d like to discuss a plea.”
“I’ll contact the prosecutor.”
“You aren’t going to try to talk me out of it?”
“Not if you’re unwilling to mount a full-throated defense. There isn’t much I can do for you without that. I’ll reach out to them and get back to you.”
“Thank you.”
I put down the phone as despair and exhaustion come at me from all sides.
Cam calls a few minutes later. “How’d it go?”
“She’s going to talk to them about me pleading guilty.”
“That’s it? You aren’t going to fight it?”
“Not if it means going after Neisy and Blaise, which is what Bridget would do to mount what she called a ‘full-throated’ defense. Besides, how do I fight two eye witnesses?”
“There’s a second one?”
“Ramona Travers saw us leave the party together. After I was charged, she came forward.”
“Oh my God. This gets worse by the minute. Don’t do anything right away. Let the hysteria die down a bit.”
“It won’t change how I feel. I’m choosing not to put myself or my family through a trial that I’ll lose anyway. At least this way, there’ll be some money left for Caroline and the kids.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. The past has caught up with me, and now I have to pay the price.”
“You sound shockingly calm about this.”
“What else can I do?”
“Nothing, I suppose.”
“What’re you hearing about the situation with you guys and the affidavit?”
“I asked Bridget to look to into it.”
“I really hope nothing comes of that.”
“You and me both, brother.”