36. Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Joker
We walk into the conference room together, the last to enter. Because we were late. For reasons. Naked, orgasmic reasons. Totally worth it. We sit down side by side, with everyone watching us. I’m sure I interrupted something that’s probably important, but they can fill me in later if needed.
“Umm, hi.” Ginny waves awkwardly at everyone around the table. Sammy smiles at her, Aiden waves, and Daniel nods.
“That’s Nate and Grady,” I point them out, respectively. “Nate’s the one who used to give me shit before you were my girl.”
“So I need to give him as much shit as I can?” she whispers to me.
“Always.” I smile at her.
“Before we start the shit-slinging portion of the meeting, why don’t we let the law officer fill us in, hmm?” Daniel asks, a grin on his face.
“Probably a good idea, I’ve watched Ms. Mills sling shit before and it should be criminal how badly she can create a burn.” Sammy laughs. “That’s your warning.”
Ginny reaches over me to fist bump the officer, and I smirk at all the guys. “High school teacher, remember?” I remind them.
“Oh, fuck,” Nate mutters. “Nice to meet you officially, Ginny.”
Grady narrows his eyes, sizing her up, before smiling. “While I think I could put up a good fight, I know when to walk away.”
“Smart man.” She grins back at him.
“Okay, now that the boys have all been put in their place, Officer Carmichael?” Daniel brings us back around.
“The newest development is that all four boys have been checked into rehab. They are going to go through it together with the same team of counselors to help them get through, and will also have a teacher come in to keep them on track for graduation. They have very limited recollection of what happened that morning. They know that Mr. Brown gave them a substance that he said would make them feel invincible. I guess it did the trick.”
“I still feel so bad for those kids,” Ginny says quietly, more to herself than anyone else.
Sammy turns to her. “They feel absolutely horrible. And their parents wanted me to pass along the message that they appreciate what you tried to do.”
Ginny nods, acknowledging him, but doesn’t say anything.
“We want to know what she did, if possible,” Daniel states.
Sammy gets the nod from Ginny, and he continues. “Part of their punishment after rehab was community service, and that they had to repay Ginny for her cello. She spoke to the judge, and he agreed that instead of purchasing her a new cello, they could split the funds up over the next two years and purchase new instruments for the school.”
“But don’t you play?” Aiden asks. “I mean, I’ve been watching all your stuff online. You’re going viral with your old performances.”
“I do play, but that wasn’t my only cello,” she tells him. “It wasn’t even my most valuable one. But it was the most sentimental one, and nothing was going to replace that.”
“I feel like there should have been more. They could have killed someone,” Grady grumbles.
“Well, they can’t play baseball for a year,” Sammy tells them.
“And to a sixteen-year-old boy who’s played since he was four, that’s crushing,” Ginny confirms. “Just ask my brother how he would have felt if he couldn’t play in high school. It was their entire identity. Gone.”
“Are you going back?” Daniel asks Ginny.
She’s shaking her head before the words come out. “No. Not there, at least. I loved that school, but I feel that my presence will keep reminding everyone about what happened and cause drama that doesn’t need to be there.”
“What else do we know?” I ask Sammy, taking the attention off Ginny. She sighs in relief and I see her sag a little in her chair, knowing she’s not in the hot seat still.
“We’ve mostly finished going through all of Keith’s belongings, and I think I have a few names you all might be interested in. Stefon Devore, Heather Bailey, and a third name—Katya Sokolova.”
“Katya?” Daniel clarifies. “Not Karina?”
“Nope.”
“Do you think it might be a coincidence?” Aiden asks.
“That we have two women from Russia connected to Keith?” I ask.
“Oh, she wasn’t born in Russia,” Sammy tells us.
“Tell us more,” Grady demands.
“She was born outside Diamond Cove. Her mother was Russian born.”
“What happened to her mother?” I inquire.
“She died very suddenly and under some suspicious conditions when the girl was five.”
“And what happened to her?” Daniel asks.
“She was put into foster care.”
“So we have one person who was in foster care that is alive. We have a second that was also in foster care who is now dead, and we have a third who started in foster care and was adopted by those same parents who also kept bringing in foster kids. Is that all correct?” Grady asks, making notes.
“Keith was adopted, Stefon is dead, this Katya or Karina chick is alive,” Nate clarifies for everyone.
“There was a fourth,” Ginny speaks up.
“Who?” Sammy asks.
“Stefon has a sibling. Stephanie. When he…did what he did,” she swallows. “He told us about her. Said she was in and out of foster care with him. Something about their parents taking her back but leaving him. I’m sorry. I can’t remember a ton about what he said that night.”
“It’s alright,” I assure her, squeezing her hand.
“They might not be connected,” Aiden offers. “Were they all together?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Sammy tells us. “It looks like the Katya never stayed with a family for long, moving every six months or so. We are having some issues tracking some of the placements.”
“We can help with that,” Nate offers, pulling open his laptop.
“We’re forgetting someone,” Daniel reminds us. “Stephanie Turner. Or Marks.”
“Davis’s FBI handler?” Ginny stiffens. “What’s she have to do with this?”
“Mary was looking into it. We still aren’t sure. But she knew Keith,” Daniel replies.
“She set up Trish to be killed. Isn’t she in jail? She’s supposed to be in jail.” Ginny’s breathing increases, her worry evident.
“She’s not coming after you or your family,” Grady assures her. “She’s most definitely still in jail.”
“We still need to find the connections. That’s our focus,” Daniel demands, standing. “I think the meeting is over, Sammy has an appointment at the police station with Detective Goode today. Hopefully that will go well and we’ll see more of him around here.” He smiles at Sammy.
“Thanks. I’m hoping for that as well.”
Sammy gets up and shakes the hands of all the men around the table. He pulls Ginny in for a brief hug and leaves. Everyone else starts to gather what they have, and Ginny sits, watching.
“We’ll figure it out,” I promise her.
“You have to. My friends can’t be in danger.”
“Come on, let’s go see an old friend.” I pull her up and out of the conference room, hoping to take her mind off what happened with Marks.
“What friend?” she asks as we walk down the hallway off the main lobby.
“This one!” Claire exclaims from in front of her office. “Took you all long enough. I never thought your meeting with Daniel would end.”
“Claire!” Ginny lets go of my hand, and the two women hug.
“Come on in,” Claire says, ushering us into her office. “How are you doing?” she asks Ginny.
“A little better every day.”
“And the nightmares?”
“Staying away as long as he’s near.” She smiles at me. “We haven’t really tried to see what happens if I’m alone.”
“She’s no longer screaming out if I have to get up at night. That’s a huge improvement,” I tell the women.
“And we’re still on for next week?” Claire asks her.
“That’s the plan.”
“What about work?”
“I’m not going back. I told them this week. I think I’d be more of a distraction at this point.”
Claire purses her lips, but doesn’t argue. “Have you thought about the other thing we talked about?”
“About leaving Boulder Canyon?” Ginny clarifies. Huh, news to me. “I have. But I don’t think I can. I mean, for one, Joker’s there, and I won’t leave him. I refuse to leave him.”
I raise my hand like we’re back in second grade. “Umm, Joker’s only there because you’re there.”
“What? Really?” She turns to me, her face a range of emotions. I nod. “I thought you were there for work, though.”
“No, Beautiful. Daniel’s letting me stay there because he knew I wouldn’t leave you.”
“Well, son of a bitch, Harrison, I wish you’d have told me that earlier.”
“Ginny, you made it clear that you wouldn’t leave Boulder Canyon. And I would never make you.” She stares at me like she wants to argue about it, but she knows I’m right. “Is it possible that you might be willing to think about leaving now?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugs, turning to Claire. “Know of any openings at the high school here for a music teacher?”
Claire laughs. I think we all feel lighter with Ginny’s question. “There might be something. You never know. I’ll ask around.”
We say our goodbyes and I take Ginny to the diner, where Ms. Sandy grabs her in a big hug. “I’m so dang happy to see you again!” she exclaims, a wide smile on her face. “And thank you for sending that hunky brother of yours down here to say hello.”
Ginny laughs. “No worries. I was glad to yell at him for you. Might have told him you were going to hunt him down in his sleep if he didn’t find a way. And that I’d tell Ms. Mable.”
“Oh, now that is a threat. I love that woman.” Sandy smiles at her. “So, what are we having today? Your usual?”
Ginny squeals, clapping her hands. “I have a ‘usual’!”
I watch her interact with Sandy and George and the other patrons of the diner. I could see her flourishing here. I could see Claire pulling her into the fold. Abigail and her sisters would love her.
After Sandy delivers our drinks, I take her hand. “Could you really see yourself happy here?”
She shrugs. “Yes? I think if there’s anywhere I could be happy, it’s here. Everyone has always been so nice to me here. I know I couldn’t do a big city again. There are way too many fucking people, but this place has always been special. It’s why I came to visit Trish so much when she was in school here.”
“What are your reservations?” I ask, trying to figure out her obstacles. “Talk to me.”
“I think the biggest is that I can’t continue to rely on you.” When I start to protest, she hurries up to add, “Financially. I have to be able to help financially.”
“I understand that. And I think that’s fair.”
“You give me so much already, and I love you.”
“But you don’t want to feel beholden to me?” She nods. “I never want you to feel that, Beautiful. I never want you to feel trapped or like I’m a danger. Also, I love you, too.”
“I think if we could figure out the financial piece, it would be a conversation worth having,” she finally tells me, already looking both excited and terrified.
“I can’t wait.” I smile at her. Changing the subject, I ask, “Aubrey meeting up with you this week?”
“Tomorrow. She’s coming to your place.”
“You going to pull out the good cello?” I ask.
She looks at me suspiciously, and I wink. “What happens if I pull out the good cello? Will it earn me some extra favors after she’s gone?”
“Now that I know I can’t break you? I think we can probably talk about some extra favors.”
“Then I think the good cello just might be coming out later,” she grins.
It’s good to be me. I’m a lucky fucker, that’s for sure.
Six Months Later
I enter the auditorium and take my seat. I look around at those sitting near me and see all of our family, old friends, and new friends. Davis and Trish are to my right, the kids next, then Lottie, Tiny, and Nat next to them. Roger and his wife are next to Quinn, Linda, Nicole, and Paula. Ranger and Elle in the row behind us, Elle talking to Abigail Thorpe. All of her sisters and their husbands are here, as well, including their mom and dad, who are sitting next to Claire and her husband. The seat next to me on the left is empty, and I wonder where Mr. Mills is. We only have ten minutes to go. Her mom is one more over, also looking at the crowd.
As the lights start to dim, he finally settles into his seat.
“You alright?” I ask him quietly.
“I needed to give my baby girl something.” He smiles at me. It’s then I notice his eyes are red-rimmed, like he’s been crying.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Harrison, everything is okay. Thank you for showing my baby girl that she could do whatever she wants with her life. And for making her so happy.”
He sticks his hand out formally, and I shake it, my own eyes feeling a little itchy. Someone must be cutting onions in the row behind me.
“Good evening,” a man in a suit says on the stage, getting our attention. “I’m Dean Pierce, and it’s an honor for me to be able to announce the performer tonight. I have followed this young woman for her entire career. You all are only now discovering her from her old performances on social media, but I’ve known since the beginning this woman was something special. Heck, I even tried to get her to enroll here at Briar Mountain State University. She turned me down for Julliard. I guess if a music major is going to turn you down, the only acceptable rejection is there, right?”
The audience laughs, and he clears his throat to continue.
“But sometimes life has a funny way of bringing things full circle. It took a little extra time, but she’s here. And this is exactly where she’s supposed to be. It is with great pride and a humble appreciation that I introduce to you our newest Musician in Residence, Miss Virginia Mills.”
The audience claps and the curtain goes up. Ginny is standing in the center of the stage wearing a floor length black dress, next to a chair with a music stand to her left. The instrument she’s holding isn’t the Stradivarius I helped her pack, but something new. I look over at her dad, who is crying without reservation. I hear her mom let out a sob and see her grab his hand. Yeah, he did that.
Ginny walks to the front of the stage, holding her cello. The man gives her a one-armed hug and places the mic on the stand for her so she can speak.
“Hi. I’m Ginny. My story is one of struggle and sacrifice. It’s one that so many other people can share and understand. It’s also a story of survival and strength, and finding your passion and love again.” She pauses and I swear she’s looking right at me, even if I know she can’t see me in the darkened auditorium. “I once had someone I care about very much want to know why I was wearing something that physically hurt me. I told him the line we women, and some men, have been saying for years. Beauty is pain. He responded with—and pardon his French—fuck that, beauty is beauty, pain is stupid.”
Mr. Mills gives me the side-eye and shakes his head. He knows only I could have said that to her. I shrug. “Wedding dress,” I whisper to him. He visibly shivers. He gets it.
“I’ve lived with that saying every day since and he’s right. All of us in our own way, every single person here has something that they are insecure about. Whether it’s their looks, their grades, their education, their family, their stomach growling at 2 o’clock on a Tuesday because they haven’t eaten anything in three days. Everyone in here has a fear that they’re lacking somewhere and I’m here to tell you tonight that that’s bullshit. You are perfect. You are beautiful, and you don’t need the pain to prove it.”
The audience stands up, applauding and cheering for the most beautiful woman in the world. I might whistle.
“I’m so happy to have the opportunity to play for you all tonight, in my first live performance in nine years. It’s an original composition called Harrison’s Tribute, and if any of you ever need someone to talk to or someone to just listen, I’ll be available. I’ll also be available if you want to bring your instruments and jam with me. And if I can’t help you, I certainly know a couple of women right here in Briar Mountain who can.”
“Prof!” a man yells from the back of the room.
“Ah, I see you’ve met one of them.” Ginny smiles, laughing with the others in the crowd.
Davis leans close. “I never knew she had this kind of presence in public.”
“I’m not sure she did either,” I reply.
“Sure am glad I haven’t had to kick your ass yet.” He grins.
“Shut up and watch your sister play.” Trish glares at Davis. She reaches right over him to squeeze my hand. “Thank you. Just…thank you.”
All of us settle in and watch this amazing woman play her heart out. You can feel the emotions in the song—fear and longing, acceptance and love. It starts slow and haunting but as it ends, you feel like you’ve won something beautiful.
As soon as the last note ends and Ginny puts her head down, closing her eyes for a second, the audience stands and cheers. She silences us, walking to the mic again.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I brought a friend with me tonight, and while she’s not quite ready to become a Panther just yet, I might be able to talk her into it when the time comes.” She winks from the stage as she opens her palm, welcoming Aubrey out. “We will be playing ‘The Double Concerto for Two Cellos’ tonight. I hope you enjoy.”
I watch them take their seats and start, the music captivating, the crowd enthralled. And I know she’s made all of them fall for her like I did. Ginny has always been beautiful. Watching her find her strength has been something I will always treasure. But the best part? She knows that I was always hers to love. I was always hers to take. I was always going to be her home.