Chapter 38 Elodie
Elodie
Iwalk into the visitation room, and my heart lodges in my throat when I see Jack.
He’s sitting on the other side of the table, his wrists bound in front of him and his shoulders hunched like he's trying to fold himself into something smaller. He’s wearing the traditional orange suit I’ve only ever seen on prisoners on TV, and his face is stripped of every ounce of the bravado he wore at dinner three weeks ago.
This is the first time I’ve been able to see him. Sentencing took a week, and he was transferred here a week later. I wasn’t allowed to see him during that time. But there was a whole week when I could have. I just couldn’t face him yet. Honestly, I still can’t.
I’m here because I realized delaying things any longer was gnawing away at my insides. It would only get worse, so I’m here for closure.
I cross to the table with a confidence I don’t feel. Dorian is waiting for me outside the door. His presence is the only thing keeping me going.
Jack meets my gaze as I sink into the metal chair. He knows I know the truth.
The fluorescent light overhead does nothing kind for anyone in this room, but on him, it's brutal. It carves out every shadow, every line of exhaustion, every trace of the fight that's left him.
In the corner across from us stands a guard. His arms are folded across a wide chest, and he’s watching us with the blank indifference of someone who’s seen this scene a thousand times.
Sister visits brother. Sister tries not to cry. Brother pretends he's fine.
I wonder if he knows our story, though, and the seeds of betrayal that got us here.
I press my hands flat against the table to stop them shaking, then I level Jack with a hard stare, uncertain of how I’m going to speak to him. And what I’ll say.
“Thanks for coming to see me,” he says, his voice rougher than I’m used to. It’s strange how I used to take comfort in that voice. I don’t anymore.
“I thought I’d come.” I don’t sound like myself either.
“How’ve you been?”
The question throws me out, although it’s perfectly normal. He’s always asked me how I’m doing within the first few seconds of seeing me. I just can’t stand the question now because of the situation.
“How do you think I’ve been Jack?” I drag in a deep breath.
He lowers his head for a moment, then lifts it, tentatively. “It was a stupid question.”
“Yes. It was. And a little insensitive too, considering you were seeing Clara, never told me you knew where she was, and you knew how much danger I was in.” The sharp bite in my tone is almost palpable. I can’t hold back and I don’t want to. “How did you two even get together?”
“We just sort of happened. I ran into her at a bar. I never told you about her because I didn’t know how you’d react. She was one of your best friends. And I didn’t know if we were serious enough to cross that line.”
“What about the money?”
“That changed everything. I actually didn’t know about the loan until you told me. She’d been gone for a while. Told me she was working in Europe. Then the last time I saw her I …”
His voice trails off and he looks ashamed. Good. He fucking should be. I may have been able to overlook the other parts of his relationship with Clara, but the last time he saw her, he would have seen her knowing all that she put me through. Yet he was kissing her on the beach.
“Couldn’t resist?” I fill in.
“It wasn’t that. I just fell for her lies again. She told me she was going to pay everything back and apologize to you. But that last visit was to set me up. I was too blind to see she was stinging me along.”
“How ironic.”
“I’m sorry, Elodie. I…know nothing I say will make up for what I did, but I can say I’m sorry.”
Apparently, Jack was one of many. Clara screwed over fifteen other guys in her little scheme. But none was as dumb as Jack. They didn’t get as deeply involved with her, or allow her to get close enough to get trapped with drug charges.
She was picked up last week in a spa in Switzerland but her actual boyfriend—the Cartel leader—is still at large.
She got fifteen years.
Jack got seven. It was originally ten, but he was cleared of some of the drug charges, and his lawyer worked out a plea deal. Most of the sentence came from what he did before—stealing all that money from our business.
“Elodie, please say something,” he says after the silence between us stretches too long. “I understand you’re upset, but we have less than ten minutes.”
That feels like eons to me. I never complained that the time was too short when the warden first told me. New transfers and high-security inmates were only allowed ten-minute visits. Jack was both.
“I don’t know what to say to you Jack. It’s so easy to say sorry, but nobody ever thinks that the damage is still done and can’t be undone. And exactly are you saying sorry for? Clara? The past? God the past is enough to make me hate you.”
“Please don’t.” Eyes laden sadness gaze back at me. “That would kill me.”
“What did you expect to happen? Love? Jack, your sorry you got caught. That’s all.
If this hadn’t happened, the truth would never have come out and I’d be none the wiser.
I’d never know you were in cahoots with Clara, and you’d still blame Dorian for not helping us to save our business.
It was all you jack. All of it. It was you.
And you lied to me by keeping the truth to yourself. ”
His skin pales and a faraway look comes into his eyes. “Dorian Vale. He had it all. He always did. Brains. Money, Power, Girls. I guess I thought he would help me because he always did. But that was the one thing I needed help with the most.”
“He couldn’t help Jack. It was as simple as that.”
He nods once. I don’t know if he’s agreeing or just giving some form of response. Either way I’m sure deep down he’s still holding onto his grudge.
“One minute remaining!” the guard calls out.
Jack and I stare at each other. It’s time to say goodbye.
“When will I see you again?” Jack asks, his tone hopeful.
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I need time. Time away. Time to move on, move past this.”
He nods understanding. “Okay. I understand. I get it.” He draws in a breath but a tear runs down his cheek. “You may not believe me, but I never meant for you to get hurt. If I never see you again, I just want you to know that. You owe me nothing, but please believe that about me.”
I press my lips together and nod.
The door behind me opens and Dorian comes in. I stand just as the guard comes over to usher Jack away.
“Dorian,” Jack says.
“Yeah.” Dorian looks him straight in the eye.
“Take care of her for me. Please.”
“I always did.”
“I know.” Jack dips his head, the he stands and allows the guard to lead him away. He looks at me one last time before her disappears through the door.
I promised myself I wouldn’t cry but I can’t stop the tears that run down my cheeks.
Dorian puts his arm around me and pulls me close. “It’s okay. I got you. I got you, Elodie.”
I gaze up him, take in the love in his eyes and it soothes me. Through my tears and sorrow, my heart warms, taking comfort in his arms.
The past is behind us. We can move forward now.