Chapter Seven
Alex finished his call and glanced at his mug.
Empty. He could spare ten minutes for a coffee break.
He went over to the coffee machine that was kept permanently filled in the corner of his office, thankful that Clare saw to that.
He’d had one assistant in a previous job who’d tried to get him to drink less coffee.
While he admired the sentiment, he didn’t have time for battles with people who wanted to take away his life blood.
Some people just didn’t get it.
His cell rang as he approached the desk with a full mug. He smiled when he saw the screen, and connected the call. “Hey. Two calls in as many weeks. I’m honored.”
“I just got a call from Mary, Asha’s neighbor.” Manda’s brusque intro cut through to him instantly.
“What’s wrong?”
“They’ve admitted Asha to the Medical center.”
“Oh God.” Alex’s stomach clenched.
“Christ, Alex. Mary says she’s not eaten for three days, because she can’t keep anything down. She’s dehydrated.”
“When are you leaving?” If Alex knew Manda, she was probably calling on her way out the door.
“I’ve missed the first flight out, and the next isn’t until this afternoon.
I’ll get into Billings late tonight, and have a rental car waiting.
I should be in Lame Deer by midnight. Heaven knows how she’ll be when I get there.
” She paused. “Listen, if she’s stable, and they keep her in over the weekend, can I—”
“Of course you can come here. You’re always welcome, you know that.” Then a thought occurred to him. “If you’re around here Friday night, just be advised, I won’t be alone. I’m having a friend come over.”
“A friend, huh?” The emphasis she applied to that word made him roll his eyes.
“You say that like it means something else. And he could say exactly the same thing about you. I’m just telling you so you don’t walk in here and jump to the wrong conclusion. Because believe me, that would embarrass the hell out of him.”
“Aha. A straight friend. Gotcha.” Another pause. “Who is he?”
“He’s actually the father of a guy whose case I’ve taken on. And he’s a sweet guy. He’s coming here so I can help him make a cheesecake.”
“My, how… domesticated.” Manda cleared her throat. “So you’re sure there’s nothing going on with—”
“Manda.” He laced her name with as much warning as he could. “Don’t you have packing to do, or something?”
She chuckled. “Ooh, I think I touched a nerve.”
“And I think you’re delusional.” He softened his voice. “I’m sure Asha will be just fine.” He was pretty certain her speculation was Manda’s way of not thinking about her grandmother. “And if you need a break, you know where I am.”
“Thanks, Alex. Love ya.” She disconnected the call.
~ 0 ~
Joshua had just finished work for the day when there was a tap on his office door. “Come in.”
Micah poked his head around the door. “Got a minute?”
“Sure. I was just finishing up here.” Joshua switched off the monitor and the laptop, cursing when he saw yet another update. Well, at least it’s now, rather than in the morning. “What’s up?”
“I’m putting together a shopping list, and I wondered if you wanted something special for dinner Saturday. As it’s your birthday, you don’t get to cook it, of course, so whatever you want, name it.” Micah grinned. “You can even choose what kind of cake you’d like.”
“Ah. About that.” Joshua hadn’t mentioned his plans for Friday night. “I’m taking care of the dessert.”
Micah raised his eyebrows. “Oh? Okay then, what do you need?” His eyes twinkled. “Hitting the cookery book again? Way to go, Dad. You’ll be the next Thomas Keller before you know it.”
“Who?”
Micah shook his head. “He’s only one of the most famous chefs in the country.”
“Oh.” Joshua resisted the urge to do an eye-roll. “Yeah right. Well, I’ll be buying the ingredients. And while we’re on the subject, whatever you’re planning for dinner Friday night, I won’t be here.”
Micah blinked. “You’re eating out again?” He cocked his head to one side. “This wouldn’t happen to be with Alex, would it?”
“Actually, yes. You got a problem with that?” Joshua couldn’t see why that should be the case.
“Not at all. I think it’s great you’ve got yourself a friend. And judging by the good mood you were in Saturday night when you got home from the movies, you obviously get along really well.” Micah smiled. “Why would I have a problem with that? But why can’t I buy the ingredients?”
“As Greg is so fond of saying…Duh. It’s gonna be a surprise.” Lord, he hoped it would be an edible one.
Micah surprised him by coming into the room and sitting on the couch. He clasped his hands together, arms resting on his knees as he leaned forward. “Greg and I were talking the other night. He… might have told me about your conversation.”
“‘Might have’?” Joshua smirked. “Well, either he did or he didn’t. But it’s okay, son. I know he was worried about me. And you know what? I’m gonna be just fine.”
Micah nodded. “That’s why we’re really glad you and Alex are friends. You needed someone to talk to on your level.”
Joshua gave him a frank stare. “What you really mean is, someone who’s my age.”
Micah flushed. “Yeah, well, that too.” He cleared his throat. “So are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”
Joshua sighed. “Fine. Alex, it turns out, is a real good cook. He’s gonna help me put something together for my birthday.”
Micah’s eyes lit up. “But that’s great!”
“It is?”
He nodded enthusiastically. “He likes cooking, you want to learn…Sounds like a perfect match to me.” Micah’s gaze met Joshua’s. “And I think it’s… healthy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… it just seems to me that you’re… moving on.” Micah shifted uncomfortably on the couch.
“You mean, I’m finally stopped wearing sackcloth and there are no more ashes sprinkled on my head?
” When Micah gave him a puzzled look, Joshua chuckled.
“I guess sackcloth and ashes is definitely before your time. It’s what the Old Testament guys used to wear as a sign of mourning.
I guess you missed church that Sunday.” Rachel had taken them, when they were little, but once they got old enough to think for themselves, she said it was up to them.
Micah bit his lip. “But I bet Alex would know what you were talking about, right?”
“Jeez, you’re about as subtle as Greg, you know that?” Joshua shook his head. “Kids.” Then the full import of Micah’s statement finally sank in. “What you said about moving on… You know I’m never gonna forget your mom, right?”
Micah nodded, his eyes suddenly bright. “Yeah, I know. Just like I know you’ll never forget Hayden.”
“Exactly.” Joshua smiled. “Two people who will always have a place in my heart. But… I guess the ache has lessened a little these last few months, and a lot of that has to do with last Christmas. When I realized how much she’d hate to see me living the way I was…”
Whatever else he’d been about to say was forgotten when he caught the sound of wheels over gravel.
“Sounds like Detective Riley has brought Greg home.” Micah smiled. “Nice timing. I was about to call him to see how things were going.”
They left the office and went into the living room to greet Greg. To Joshua’s surprise, Detective Riley was there too. What got his heartbeat racing was the look on Greg’s face.
He was smiling.
“Looks like this meeting went a lot better than the last one,” Joshua commented.
“Yeah, you might say that.” Greg’s face was flushed.
“We talked about this, remember?” Detective Riley laid a hand on Greg’s arm. “You can’t get your hopes up. I know this is a step in the right direction, but…”
Greg lowered himself onto the couch and put his crutches on the floor.
“The guy we were expecting didn’t show, but his sister did.
She wanted to see what it was all about.
Anyhow, it turns out her brother is gay, but she’s the only one he’s told.
He feels so ashamed about what those bastards did to him, and so scared about what will happen if it gets out.
His sister and I talked for an hour. She could see where I was coming from, and she wants him to testify.
She thinks like me, that this can’t happen again, not if we can put a stop to those guys. ”
“Was he hurt like you?” Micah asked.
Greg shook his head. “He got a lot of bruises, but he thinks something happened before they could do worse. All he knows is that they hightailed it out of there. Apparently, he told his parents he’d been in a fight, but wouldn’t give them any names.
Not that he knew who they were.” He sighed.
“She said it was months before he told her what had really happened. Of course, he thinks it was just him, that he’s all alone in this.
She’s going to do her best to convince him.
He’s still hurting, she says. The shame is what burns him most. She’s gonna try to get him to see that if he comes forward, this will bring an end to it. ”
“And it’s a big if,” Detective Riley said gently. “But at least she came to talk to you. Let’s see what happens, all right?” He rubbed Greg’s shoulder. “I’ll be in touch when we have more news.”
“Thank you. And thanks for bringing me home.”
Detective Riley chuckled. “Well, you’re not roadworthy yet. Not long now though.” He nodded to Joshua and Micah. “I’ll be seeing you soon, I hope.”
“Thanks for taking care of Greg,” Joshua said as he accompanied the detective to his vehicle.
“No problem. I only hope something positive comes of this.” Detective Riley got into his car and pulled out of the driveway. Jordan closed the door and went back into the living room. Micah was sitting next to Greg on the couch, holding him. Joshua crept out of the room and headed for his office.
They need a little privacy right now.
What heartened him was the conversation with Micah. He didn’t want the kids to think he’d just brushed off the last two years like they were lint. But he’d come to realize it was time to emerge from his cocoon of grief and heartache, and start living again.
It seemed his children had had the same realization.
Good to be on the same page.
The last two weeks had been a catalog of firsts: cooking dinner from scratch; going out for dinner with a friend; and going to a movie theater with neither of his kids.
Joshua had to admit, he liked the way things were going.