Chapter 23
HONEY
I wake with the beautiful thought that I might have found two big, good things all at once.
The baby. And John, who’s sleeping next to me, scrunched up in a chair, his legs propped up on the bed.
He’s frowning, even in his sleep, his thick hair is scruffy, and his face is stubbly, and I’ve never seen him look so handsome.
My heart wants to take a photo of this very moment.
He shifts in his sleep, and grumbles something. I notice that his right hand has a bandage on it now. He still hasn’t told me exactly what happened after I hit my head. Just that he and Trey “had a chat.” I’m assuming it wasn’t a pleasant exchange of words.
I slide one of the ultrasound pictures off the bedside cabinet next to me. John’s right. It’s hard to make out the details, but I’ve already fallen in love. I think of how Cat would trace my heart-shaped face when I was young and tell me I was destined for a life filled with love.
This baby won’t erase Trudi. He will be another good thing. Small at first, then large enough to fill everything while still leaving room for Trudi’s memory.
“Morning,” John says, and I smile over at him.
“You should go home and get some real sleep,” I tell him.
“I’m fine.”
I level him with a stare. “I’m not going to be discharged today, so I need you to go check on Monster, give him some hugs, and spend some time with your mom. Please.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone, Tiny.”
“I won’t be alone. There are way too many people going in and out of here. I couldn’t be alone if I tried. And Emma and Danni are visiting me this morning. But, before that, I’m going to take a few naps.” I stare him down until he nods and reluctantly reaches for his boots.
Danni and Emma arrive after John has slipped his boots on, real slow because he’s stalling, and I’m sipping at a mug of tepid tea.
“What’s going on here?” John says, his jaw tight as he eyes the man with Danni and Emma.
“This is Tate Stratham,” Danni says. She turns to me. “Tate is a lawyer.”
“Sorry to disturb you while you’re recovering,” Mr. Stratham says.
I set my tea down, and John stands and frowns at everyone.
“I’m not going to press charges. If that’s why you’re here,” I tell him. “I’ve already decided.”
Mr. Stratham folds his arms. “You don’t want to pursue any legal action even though I’ve been told there is video footage that may clearly show what happened?”
I sit up, then wince as pains shoots through my head.
“You should leave,” John tells Mr. Stratham, crossing his arms and glaring.
“What video?” I ask before remembering the camera that Ned set up. “Oh.” Hot tears of shame prickle at my eyes as everything that happened before John arrived rushes toward me. “You didn’t see it, did you?” I stare at John. “Tell me you didn’t see it.”
John crouches down next to me but my gaze has already turned to Danni and Emma, devastation rushing through me. “Did you both see it?”
“They didn’t see it,” John sits on the bed and tries to pull me to him. I push him away. “But you saw it, John?” But I know the answer. I can see it in his eyes. I fall into him, sobbing into his chest. “I wish you hadn’t!”
“It’s okay,” he says, his gruff voice low. “It’s okay, Wren.”
“I wish you hadn’t seen me that way!”
He tilts my head up, so I’m looking at him. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. You were tough and smart. You handled yourself well in a bad situation.”
Emma rushes to the bathroom and returns with a warm rag and hands it to me.
I wipe my eyes, then take a deep breath before I look at Mr. Stratham.
He’s patiently staring at the floor. “Mr. Stratham, I appreciate you coming down here.” He looks up.
I rub at my temples. My head feels like it’s going to explode.
“But Trey doesn’t learn lessons. I am not taking any action. I just want this to be over.”
Danni sits on the bed. “Wren, I’m so sorry.” She glances at John and lifts an eyebrow.
John scowls at Danni. “I said to give her some time.”
“Obviously, there’s more I need to know?” I turn to John, and he shakes his head, still scowling.
“Wren should know.” Danni stares at him hard. “She’s tough and kind, and she’ll want to help you.”
Emma nods. “I agree. Stop being so hardheaded and give her a chance to help.”
John sighs and turns to me. “Bishop is suing me for battery.”
“But… you were protecting me.”
John stares down at his boots, shaking his head. “Maybe I shouldn’t have punched him that second time, but it sure felt good.”
Nausea roils through me. It doesn’t matter what happened.
Either way, Trey will twist it. He’s a master at manipulating the truth.
And so are the lawyers he keeps in his back pocket.
I sit back against my pillows as anxiety hits me like a freight train.
Without even blinking, Trey will financially annihilate John.
Mr. Stratham steps forward again. “Your actions, Mr. Fox, could be construed as protecting Miss. Hale. Or not. I don’t know the full account.
However, my guess is that there’s plenty on the video that Mr. Bishop will not want anyone to see.
I’m not giving legal advice here. But perhaps if Mr. Bishop is personally informed of the video surveillance, pointed out by numerous signs in Heaven as legally required, and he knows that we will use it in your defense, and if you all decide to supply him some snippets of the most damning parts for him to preview”—he raises an eyebrow—"specifically where he’s with you, Honey, he might feel compelled to drop the case against you. ”
John’s scowling down at his boots again. “This is too much pressure on Wren.”
“No, let’s do this,” I tell him, my voice firm. “But I need help.”
“This next part is out of my hands,” Mr. Stratham says. “It will require personal, not legal, negotiating.” He nods to Danni and Emma. “In fact, let’s pretend I’m not here right now.”
Danni slides onto the bed next to me. “Do you have Trey’s cell number or his personal email?”
I nod.
Danni looks at Emma. Emma sits on the bed, shoving Danni over a little then taking my hand.
“I’m sorry. My last husband, Cole, was… well, we didn’t have a healthy relationship.
” She holds my gaze, her eyes filled with compassion.
“I’m so glad you’ve kicked Trey to the curb.
It took me way too long to do what you’re doing.
I feel bad about bugging you while you’re in the hospital, but maybe if we punch this guy where it hurts—a few, quick, powerful jabs to show him that you’re not playing around—it will make an impact.
I think we should pick out the parts that Trey needs to know we have and discard, for now, the ones that won’t make as much of an impact.
He’s built up this good guy persona over years and years, and my guess is that whatever is on that video won’t support it. ”
I snort. “That’s for sure.”
“Would you like someone—maybe Ned, who’s already seen the video—to pick out some parts you can okay to send to Trey?”
I look away, shame pouring through me again, thinking about Ned and John having to watch what Trey did to me. “Did the tape capture everything—from the time Trey arrived until…”
“Yes,” Danni says softly. “That’s what Ned said, anyway. Everything that happened on the front porch.”
“But what if Trey doesn’t respond?” I ask.
“Then Tate will do his lawyery stuff and send the evidence that he has—the full video, and let’s see what they make of that.”
“Okay.” I close my eyes briefly. “But first, I want to see the video.”