Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Houston
NOW
I return from a routine appearance at District Court in Newport to someone waiting for me outside my office. Her head is down, so I can’t see her face, only her long, shiny dark hair.
“Ryder Elliott’s wife,” Marge says quietly.
Oh, shit. “Thanks.” I go over to her. “Caroline?”
She looks up at me, and it’s all I can do not to gasp at the way grief and sadness have ravaged her face. “I’m sorry to bother you. Ryder and Dallas always spoke so highly of you, and… I…”
“Come in.”
I hold the door while she goes into my office ahead of me.
After I close the door I take a seat behind my desk while she takes one of my visitor chairs. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m not sure, exactly. I…I guess I want to understand…” She looks up at me with brown eyes swollen and red with dark half-moon bruises under them. “Why is this happening now?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
“Because a witness came forward who saw the attack.”
“Where has that witness been for all this time?”
“She grew up in Hope, but she’s lived away for most of her adult life.”
“Why confess to it now?”
“I believe it was because she heard he was running for Congress.”
“So for all these years, she knew he’d done this, but she didn’t tell anyone?”
“Yes.”
“ Why? ” Her tone is full of despair.
“Because he was her brother’s close friend, among other reasons.”
“Arlo’s sister.”
“Yes.”
I pause, feeling uncertain about whether I should say more. But she came to me looking for answers. The least I can do is tell her what I know. “You have to understand what it was like when Ryder was charged the first time. As an outstanding student and athlete, he was enormously popular with the other kids. He’d been widely admired for standing by Louisa during years of serious illness. People were shocked when he was charged with such a crime.”
“Did you believe he’d done it?”
“I didn’t know what to believe. Denise was a friend of mine. All she talked about was the boyfriend she loved, who lived overseas at the time. I found it hard to believe she’d make up a story like this, but it didn’t fit with what I knew of him, you know?”
“I guess.”
“It got really ugly for her after news of his arrest got out. His friends attacked her on Facebook and in court, basically forcing her out of town. Blaise would’ve seen how it went for Denise and feared the same thing happening to her if she reported what she’d seen. I’m not excusing what she did, but having once been a teenager myself, I understand why she was afraid to speak up.”
“It’s very hard for me to believe that the man I’ve loved with all my heart, the father of my children, is capable of such a thing.”
“I can’t imagine how difficult this has to be for you.”
“It’s like someone has died, even though he’s very much alive. He’s dead to me, I suppose, because how could I ever forgive him for something like this? Not only did he lie to me for all those years, now there’s someone saying he did attack that poor girl…” She doesn’t seem to notice the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Before we were married, he told me he’d been accused. He looked me in the eyes and told me he didn’t do it.”
I get up and go around the big desk that was once my father’s and take a seat in the chair next to hers, handing her a tissue. That’s when she seems to realize she’s crying.
She takes the tissue from me and wipes her face. “Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.”
“I’m sorry this is happening to you and your family.”
“Are you allowed to say that?” she asks with the first hint of a smile.
“Maybe not, but I’ve known Ryder a long time. The witness account came as a huge shock to me, too.”
“When he was charged the first time, you didn’t think he did it?”
“I couldn’t reconcile the charge with the kid I knew. He’d been close friends with Dallas for years by then.”
“Dallas came by the house this morning. He’s devastated, too.”
“I know.”
“Is he angry with you?”
“He’s not happy with me, but hopefully he’ll come around to understanding I have a job to do.”
“So our family isn’t the only one being torn apart by this?”
“No, you’re definitely not alone.”
“The party where the attack happened… It was at your house?”
I nod. “My parents’ place. They were out of town, and I took full advantage of the opportunity. If I had it to do over, I never would’ve had the party.”
“No one blames you.”
“I know, but I was responsible for providing alcohol to underage kids. I was lucky I wasn’t charged for that.”
“I suppose we all have our regrets.”
“Indeed.”
“My friends in town… They’ve been amazing, rallying around the kids and me and bringing food and support and so much love.”
“I’m glad you have that.”
“Me, too, but I keep thinking I should move the kids away from here, so they don’t have this as part of their story.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
She shakes her head. “I love it in Hope. We have such a wonderful group of friends and neighbors, and Ryder’s family is there, too. The kids are close to their cousins. I know it would be an added trauma for them if we moved somewhere else, but what happens when they’re in high school and the other kids resurrect this crap?”
“Maybe you should worry about that then. Focus on right now. If it’s easier for you to stay put, then do it. Doesn’t have to be forever.”
“You’re right. That’s true. I’m sorry to have taken up so much of your time.”
“It’s no problem at all.”
“Ryder always spoke so highly of you. I can see why.”
“That’s nice to hear.” I reach for the business cards I keep in a little stand on the desk and hand one to her. “My cell number is on there. If I can ever do anything for you, even just listen, give me a call.”
“Thank you for being so kind to a distraught wife.”
“It’s no problem at all.”
“Ryder’s mom came to stay with the kids, so I could have some time to myself. I got in the car and ended up here.”
“I’m glad you did.”
She gives me a wan smile. “You’re very kind.”
Her heartbreak has touched me deeply. “That’s nice of you to say.” I wish there was more I could do for her than simply listen.
“I’ll let you get back to work.”
I walk her out to her minivan and hold the driver’s side door for her. “Call me. Any time you need to talk. I’ll always be here to listen.”
“I will. Thank you again, Houston.”
“Of course.”
I watch her drive off, feeling somewhat stunned by the encounter with a woman I’d only met in passing and barely knew before she came to see me. Dallas and his wife, Jane, have been great friends with Ryder and Caroline forever, so I’d certainly heard about how much they adore her. But this is the first time I’ve talked to her one-on-one.
My heart goes out to her. No one should have to go through what she is.
Blaise
NOW
After a restless night plagued with dreams about fires, Glocks, dead animals and people chasing me through the woods, I’m a wreck in the morning. Judging from the barking, I determine Jack is outside with Fenway. I wonder how long they’ve been up.
I stare at the ceiling for a long time, thinking through the events of recent days and coming to the same conclusion I reached yesterday—I should get out of here until this is over. Jack didn’t sign on for all this drama when he rented his cottage to me. Now that gorgeous little cottage is a pile of smoldering wreckage and most likely a crime scene.
Because of me.
I can’t bear to think about what else might happen before this is over.
If anything ever happened to him or Fenway or the home his parents left him…
What if they’d tried to torch this house where all his priceless art is stored?
I’ve spun myself into a full-blown panic when he appears in the doorway holding two steaming mugs.
Just that quickly the panic is replaced with a deep appreciation for this incredible man, who came into my life under the strangest of circumstances and has never once wavered, despite many reasons to.
“Morning.”
Fenway comes bounding into the room and up on the bed to give me relentless morning kisses that make me giggle.
“Down, girl,” Jack says.
She actually sits.
“Wow. Miracles do happen.”
I stroke her silky ears. “She’s a very good girl.”
“No, she isn’t.”
Before Fenway, I wouldn’t have thought dogs could smile. She’s proven me wrong. I’m as crazy about her as I am about her daddy.
Jack sits on what’s become his side of the bed and hands me one of the mugs.
“Thank you.”
“How’d you sleep?”
“Not great. Lots of weird dreams.”
“You were restless.”
“Did I keep you awake?”
“Not at all.”
“I was thinking…”
“Uh-oh.”
The thought of leaving him and Fenway is painful, but I want to do the right thing. I know how it feels not to, and I never want to be in that place again.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I should go.”
He shakes his head. “No, you shouldn’t.”
“Jack, listen to me. This could get much worse before it gets better, and while I love the idea of running away to the Cape with you, we’d be leaving your home unprotected. If they’re watching me, by now they know that you mean something to me. I wouldn’t be able to bear it if they hurt you in any way.”
“It would hurt me if you left. I’ve waited my whole life to feel this way, Blaise.”
His sweetness is my undoing. Tears fill my eyes. “Me, too, but—”
He leans across the pillows to kiss me. “No buts. We’re in this together to the bitter end.”
“I don’t want the end to be bitter. That’s what I’m saying.”
“That’s a figure of speech, and you know it. I spoke to my friend Cory this morning, and he’s coming today to install cameras and a security system.”
“How much will that cost?”
“It’s worth every penny, and I’ve been meaning to do it for a while now anyway, especially since we now have guests here in the summer.” He caresses my face. “I don’t want you to worry about anything where I’m concerned.”
“I am worried. This could go on for months.”
“Does that mean you’re planning to be here for months? Maybe years or decades?”
“I’m being serious.”
“So am I. If I could have anything I wanted, I’d want you to stay forever.”
“It’s like that, is it?” I ask, smiling. He can make me forget all my worries and fears like no one else ever has.
“It’s been like that for a while now, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“So what do you say?”
“What’s the question again?”
“Would you please stay forever and make my life complete?”
I shocked nearly speechless. “Uh… Is that like a…um…proposal?” Does my voice sound high and squeaky, or is that just me?
Laughing, he says, “Not quite yet. It’s more of a statement of intention.” He kisses me. “When I propose, it’ll be a heck of a lot more romantic than sitting in bed with coffee.”
“That’s pretty romantic if you ask me. No one has ever brought me coffee in bed before.”
“If I promise to do that every day for the rest of your life, will you consider sticking around?”
“Yes.”
His eyes go wide, which makes me laugh. “That’s all it takes?”
“Yep.”
“You’re easy.”
“That’s what you like about me.”
“I like so many things about you it would take the whole day to tell you all of them.”
“I’m free all day.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I love you, Blaise.”
“I love you, too.” I’m so relieved to be able to tell him that. “When I came here to right a terrible wrong from the past, I never imagined for a second that I might find my future.”
“When I built the cottages, I never imagined that one day the woman of my dreams might rent one of them.”
“You give a good compliment.”
“Even with the trouble you’re dealing with, I’ve never been happier in my life than I’ve been since you arrived.”
“I feel the same way, but how can I be so happy in the midst of the craziness going on in my life?”
“The craziness is out there. Let’s keep it there, okay?”
“That sounds good to me.”
“So we’re staying put here and toughing it out together?”
“I guess we are.”
“We’ll do the Cape after the trial.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
He takes my mug and puts it next to his on the bedside table. “Now how should we celebrate this somewhat major decision?”
“I can’t think of a single thing.”
“Really?”
His surprised expression makes me laugh, which happens a lot with him.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed laughing until Jack made it part of my daily life again.
“You just got serious on me.” He kisses my neck and makes me shiver. “What gives?”
“I was thinking about how much I’ve missed laughing until you reminded me what it’s like to laugh all the time.”
“I’ll do my best to keep you laughing every day.”
“Sometimes I wonder how this can be real. I didn’t even know you six weeks ago, and now I can’t imagine life without you.”
“Then my work here is nearly finished.”
“No way! Your work here is just beginning.”
“Oh damn, what am I signing on for?”
“A lifetime as my favorite person.”
“Yes, please.” When he kisses me, I forget the many worries and fears I woke up with and am thinking only of him as he quickly has me clinging to him. The flashpoint of desire that happens with him is new to me, and I can’t get enough of it. But I want to give him as much as he gave me, so, I push on his chest to get him to turn over.
When he’s settled on his back, he looks up at me with a curious expression. “What’s going on?”
“Just a little of this.” I kiss his chest and nuzzle his chest hair, making him groan.
Fenway barks, and we laugh.
“He’s okay, girl,” I tell the dog.
He twirls my hair around his index fingers. “Am I, though?”
“Let’s see, shall we?”
“Oh yes, please.”
Keeping my gaze connected with his, I kiss a path to his well-defined abdominal muscles as my chin nudges his erection.
He sucks in a sharp deep breath and gives a gentle tug on my hair.
Who knew that could be arousing?
I break the eye contact as I wrap my hand around his thick erection and take him into my mouth.
I’ll never forget the sound he makes or the way his hands wrap around my hair or how his hips come off the bed. I’ve done this a handful of times and never enjoyed it. Not like I do now with this man I love and who loves me. His excitement is mine. His pleasure is mine. Love makes everything different.
I pull out all the stops for him.
“Blaise… Wait…” He gasps as I apply some suction before letting him pop free of my lips. “Let’s do this together.”
I straddle him and do some serious teasing.
His gaze darts over my body with full appreciation. “Sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I take him in, so slowly his eyes roll back in his head. “That can’t possibly be true.”
“Oh, it is very true.”
His hands slide from my hips to my breasts, his thumbs gliding over my nipples. “Mmm, so hot.”
Being with him is like the best kind of fever dream.
I hope it never ends.