Chapter 12
Monday morning was the hardest time to stay awake, especially during Contracts class, listening to the droning voice of his professor as he read from the textbook.
Collin’s phone buzzed, a surreptitious glance revealing an incoming text. Having arrived early to secure a seat on the back row, he felt comfortable checking his messages, despite his professor’s strict rule requiring all cell phones be turned off and stowed away.
Olivia: I still need David’s cell number.
Collin: Why?
Olivia: My business.
Collin would’ve been happy if Olivia never spoke to David for the rest of her life. Not that he didn’t love his brother, but David was still stuck in a cycle of drinking and partying. Olivia was strong enough to resist any such temptation, but she was too pure to be exposed to it. Plus, Collin didn’t want to be judged by his brother’s actions.
Collin: No reason, no number.
Olivia: Need volunteers for medical school study. Cirrhosis of liver.
Evidently, she knew about his drinking. Collin let out a chuckle, quickly turning it into a cough when his neighboring fellow law students turned to stare.Collin frowned, fastening his gaze on the imposing figure of his professor who never looked up from the book on his lectern.
Striking and aggressive, Professor Burkhalter held the record as the youngest man in the U.S. to graduate from law school, passing the bar at the age of nineteen. At some point, however, a female had broken his record, passing the bar at eighteen years of age, a fact that delighted Collin as much as it must have irritated Burkhalter. The man had an ego the size of Texas, and though much of it was justified, Collin detested him. He put no effort into preparation for their lectures, yet he expected respect and admiration. At the beginning of the semester, a number of the female students crowded the front row to be near him, claiming he was movie-star handsome, but over time his exterior charm had worn thin, exposing the narcissism that was his true nature.
To battle sheer boredom, Collin always read the chapter during the first fifteen minutes of class, and then found other means of entertainment for the rest of the hour. But today, he was having a hard time getting into the new science fiction book he had folded between the covers of his textbook.
When no one appeared to be watching, he returned to his phone, smiling at her cirrhosis comment.
Collin: Not a good candidate. Too far gone.
He waited for at least five minutes for a reply, the time ticking away so slowly on the clock he felt he was in a warp zone, like his sci-fi novel. Finally, his phone vibrated again.
Olivia: Stop making me laugh! You almost got me caught texting in class! LOL
Noticing a nosy neighbor on his left, Collin waited a minute before responding.
Collin: Me, too.
Two more minutes passed, and she responded.
Olivia: Can I have his number?
Collin: Can I have a valid reason?
Olivia: I want to talk to him.
Collin: Great explanation. In that case, no.
Olivia: Never mind, I’ll get it from someone else.
His left-hand neighbor stared down his rather large nose, disapproval written clearly on his face. Collin returned a scowl so fierce, he quickly averted his eyes. Why would Olivia want to talk to David? He couldn’t think of a single good reason. But she could probably get his phone number if she worked hard enough. Charlie probably had it, and didn’t they have weekly lunches together?
Collin: I’ll send it after class.
Olivia: Thanks.
He would send her David’s number, but not until he’d warned David she was strictly off-limits.
“Mr. Sterling!”
Every head in the room swiveled to face him as he tucked his cell phone under his seat—too late. His left-hand neighbor sported a self-righteous smile, and Collin wanted to smack it off his face. How does the professor know my name?
“Yes, Professor Burkhalter?” He threw all the innocence he could muster into his voice, hoping his professor might not have seen the cell phone.
Burkhalter’s face reddened, highlighting his prominent cheekbones, which Collin speculated had been surgically enhanced. “I suppose, Mr. Sterling, since you were blatantly ignoring my rules, using a cell phone instead of listening to my lecture, you already know this information. Why don’t you stand up and explain the concepts of agreement and consideration for the benefit of the rest of the class?”
Collin rose to his feet, ignoring the knot in his stomach and the heat in his face, and recited verbatim the summary paragraph on agreement and consideration from the end of the chapter.
As he remained standing, he glanced to his left, where his neighbor stared with his jaw hanging to the floor.
Mr. Burkhalter’s upper lip lifted in a sneer. And in that moment, Collin knew he’d made a mistake. His professor wanted to humiliate him, and he wouldn’t stop until he succeeded.
“You are only a first-semester law student, Mr. Sterling, like any other. You do not command special privileges or exceptions, no matter who your father might be.”
“No, sir. I would not expect and have never asked for any special treatment.”
“Do you enjoy being the center of attention, Mr. Sterling?”
“No, sir, I do not.”
“I think you do, Mr. Sterling. Please enlighten the class with your legal opinion on a current event. Tell me, if one Rebecca Sterling were to file suit against one Evan Sterling, what are her odds of success?”
The heat in his face disappeared, replaced by something cold and numbing. He opened his mouth to respond and closed it when nothing came to mind. The faces of his classmates blurred to faceless mannequins. He bent over to retrieve his briefcase and walked to the door, his footsteps echoing on the tile floor like gunshots. Though no one dared to make a sound, their laughter pounded on his eardrums. The door closed behind him with a resounding clank, and he moved, unseeing, down the empty corridor.
* * *
“Hey,Olivia. I was returning your call. What’s up?” Charlie’s call came through as Olivia was heading into her class.
“I’m so glad you caught me before my afternoon lab. I’m hoping you have David Sterling’s cell number.”
“Not to be nosy or anything—oh, who am I kidding? I am being nosy. Why do you need his number? Does this have anything to do with Collin’s birthday?”
“Collin’s birthday? Is it coming up soon?” Olivia added one more task to her overflowing list—buy Collin a birthday card. It was the least she could do, since he’d delivered a box of chocolate truffles for her birthday in July. At the time, she’d turned her nose up at the gift, complaining he couldn’t take no for an answer. Of course, that hadn’t prevented her from eating every single, delectable bite.
“Saturday after next, on the thirtieth.”
“The Saturday after Thanksgiving. At least that gives me some time.”
“Does this mean you and Collin have started dating, now? Why didn’t you ask Collin for David’s number?”
“The answer is no, we’re not dating, and I did, but he wouldn’t give it to me. He said he would, but he never sent it. I thought I’d ask you, instead.”
“I’m pretty sure I have it. I’ll send it as soon as we hang up.”
“Thanks, Charlie. You’re the best.”
“But you never said why you need it.”
“Because...” Olivia hesitated, wondering if she should discuss Collin’s personal life with Charlie. But in the end, she decided Charlie probably knew as much as she did. “I think Collin is struggling with all this stuff about his mom and needs to talk to somebody about what’s going on. I figured David would be a good person for that, since he already knows about it.”
“Hmmm. I’m not sure David will take you seriously.”
“I suppose you and Josh would be a better choice than David,” said Olivia. “I was thinking his brother was the only person who knew the whole story, but I guess you guys know all the details about his mother, too.”
“I only know he was five years old when she left them. Collin never explained what happened.”
“If he was five, that means David was only three,” Olivia mused. “I’m guessing he doesn’t remember anything at all.”
“Are you sure it’s his mother that’s thrown him off kilter? He could be upset about his friend from the homeless shelter, the one with kidney failure. Or maybe—don’t get mad at me for saying this—maybe he’s upset because you still refuse to go out with him, Olivia.”
“It can’t be about Martha, or he would be in a better mood since she’s doing better now. And it’s not about me turning him down, because he’s no longer interested in me.”
Charlie gasped. “Are you kidding me? There’s no way he’s suddenly lost interest after all this time. Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t want to relive my embarrassing moment, but I can assure you, he doesn’t like me anymore. You can ask him yourself.”
“I will,” Charlie promised. “I’ll get him over to the house somehow and find out what’s going on. And Josh and I will try to get him to talk to us about his mother, too.”
“Good. I won’t have to worry so much about him.”
“Do you still want David’s number?”
“Send it on. I’d still like to put a bug in his ear, and I may ask him a question about Collin’s birthday, as well.”
“You got it.”
* * *
When Collin arrivedat Mercy General Hospital, he had no recollection of how he got there. Judging by the time, he must have walked the entire five-mile stretch instead of taking the subway. He rode the elevator to the eleventh floor and navigated the shiny, bleached hallway to Martha’s room, only to find her bed empty. At first, he assumed she was in the bathroom, but the door was open and no one was inside.
With his heart in his throat, he ran to the nurse’s desk.
“Room 1105,” he panted. “That was Martha Avalon’s room. What happened to her? She was here yesterday. Where is she?”
“Just started my shift,” said the young man in green scrubs.
Dread settled in Collin’s gut like a belly full of lead as he watched the nurse tap on the keyboard with practiced efficiency. He said a silent prayer. Please let her be alive.
“It seems she’s been released.”
“Released?” He let out a breath, but his relief was short-lived. “To where? She doesn’t have a home.”
“I have no idea where she went.” He scanned the computer screen. “But it’s possible she’s still in the hospital. She wasn’t released that long ago.”
“I came straight from the lobby, and I didn’t see her.”
“There’s a back lobby with a drive-through. Maybe she’s—”
“Thanks!” Collin raced for the elevator and jammed the button. When the doors didn’t immediately open, he opted for the stairs. Ten flights…but at least I’m going down instead of up.
Sweating and winded, he popped out at the ground floor. Seeing no sign of Martha, he hurried to the reception desk for directions to the other lobby entrance. The elderly woman spoke with slow, slurred words, as if she were on slow-play. She enhanced her confusing directions, waving her hands and pointing every which way. Collin checked over his shoulder to be certain he wasn’t being filmed for a secret comedy clip on YouTube.
“Thank you.” He caught sight of a woman in scrubs and rushed to catch her before she got on the elevator.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for the other lobby…the one with a circle drive-through.”
“Behind you, down that big hallway. Take a left at the fountain and follow the signs to President Street Exit.”
He was off and running, yelling his thanks over his shoulder. It seemed he ran a quarter mile through the winding hallways, but when he reached the lobby exit, it was empty except for one elderly man in a wheelchair with a nurse at the helm.
Defeated, Collin sank into a chair, dropping his head into his hands and panting for breath. Where would Martha have gone? He knew her bed was no longer vacant at the shelter. Would she sleep in the subway? Would she try to find another shelter? How far could she walk in her weakened condition?
“Collin? Is that you?” The man’s voice broke through his trance.
He lifted his eyes. “Steven? What are you doing here?”
His cousin folded his arms. “I’m here taking care of my end of the bargain with Martha. It’s Monday afternoon. Why aren’t you in class?”
“I’m here checking on Martha. Do you know where she’s gone?”
“Yes, and so would you, if you’d checked your texts. Anne took Martha to her new temporary home. She has a room at a rehab facility for the next month, and it can be extended if she has a transplant operation. All the bills will go straight to me after Medicare pays their part.”
Relief flowed through his veins. “Thank you, Steven. I really don’t know what to say.”
“We spent an hour talking to her this morning. She’s a remarkable woman, and we’re honored to be able to help her. This rehab center will drive her to and from her dialysis appointments each day.”
“There’s a good chance she’ll start refusing her dialysis in a few weeks or days, even. I’ll go talk to her and convince her she won’t have to do it for long.” Collin stood, searching through his pockets for his phone. It must be buried in my briefcase.
“You should go to class now and visit Martha later. It’s been a while since I was in school, but as I recall, Columbia doesn’t take kindly to students skipping lectures.”
“I might no longer be a student at Columbia.”
Other than a single lifted eyebrow, Steven didn’t move. “And why is that?”
“I broke the no-cell-phone rule in Contract class with Professor Burkhalter.”
“I would agree that utilizing a cell phone during a lecture is rude, but I wouldn’t think it would warrant dismissal from law school. I would expect a grade deflection for that type of offense.”
“Yes, but when he tried to put me down in front of the whole class, I made an error in judgment.” Collin blew air between puffed cheeks. “I should’ve sucked it up and wallowed at his feet like everyone else, but instead I quoted part of the chapter back to him. He didn’t like it.”
Steven’s lips twitched at the corners, like a smile was lurking there. “Let me guess—you have a photographic memory?”
“Yes. But I don’t usually show it off.”
Steven’s smile was full-blown, now. “I’ve made that mistake a few times, myself. That precise memory must run in the family, and I agree it’s usually best if you don’t brag about it. Envy breeds enemies.”
“I don’t know what came over me. But it’s possible they were looking for a way to be rid of me, anyway. Burkhalter brought up my mother’s threat to file suit against my father. He did it publicly, in front of the whole class. I don’t think he would do that, if they weren’t planning to dismiss me from school. In fact, since I was sitting in the very back row, I don’t even know why else he was paying attention to me.”
“Why would Columbia Law School dismiss a student because his parents were in the news?”
“I don’t know.” Collin scrunched his shoulders up. “Negative publicity?”
“I doubt it, very much. I imagine you’ve only made an enemy of one professor. But I’ll be happy to talk to Dean Whittier. He’s a friend of mine, and I have some influence as an alumni patron.”
Collin shook his head. “Please don’t. I appreciate the thought, but I don’t want special treatment because of my family. Anyway, the truth is, I’m a coward.”
“A coward?”
“I’m afraid to face my classmates after what happened. It was bad enough that my mother made a scene, but none of my friends had any idea I was connected to that Sterling family—the wealthy family with the scandal in the news. Now everyone in the whole school will know my family’s dirty secret. And they won’t believe I was accepted into Columbia on my own merits, either. Like you said, envy breeds enemies.”
Steven put a hand on his shoulder. “Collin, like it or not, you’re a part of this family. If you don’t want to take advantage of the benefits of being a Sterling or the cousin of a Gherring, you’d better at least learn to disregard the opinions of the people around you. Any student who would judge you poorly based on what they learned today is not your friend. You have the distinct advantage of having a gauge by which you can measure your acquaintances to determine their merits. A true friend, like family, will support you no matter what happens.”
“I don’t want to criticize you when I’m indebted to you for Martha’s sake, but haven’t you made a habit of distancing yourself from my family?”
The great Steven Gherring actually rolled his eyes around in his head, like a teenager. “Yes, my wife has been lecturing me about that. I’ll admit I’ve held a few grudges against your father, though I maintain he does his utmost to keep me agitated. But even when I wanted to wring his neck, I would’ve stood up for him in a fight. Evan is still family. And so are you and David.”
Family. I seem to have more of it than ever before. Too bad I’m a domineering control freak who can’t trust his own motivations. If I’m not constantly on watch, I’ll find I’ve taken advantage of my family and friends, coercing them to do my will, the way I treated my mother when I was a child. Is that what I did with Steven? Did I use an emotional sob-story to pressure him into compliance?
Collin’s head throbbed, and he reached up to rub his temples. “I appreciate your counsel, Steven.”
“Check your messages, and you’ll find Martha’s address and phone number.”
“Phone number? You got her a cell phone?”
“Yes. Anne wanted her to have one, and Anne generally gets what she wants. You can rest assured Martha is in good hands, so you can go back to Columbia and straighten things out with your professor.”
“Sure thing,” said Collin as he turned toward the revolving door, knowing he had no intention of returning to school. Maybe tomorrow he would feel more courageous, but for now, the only thing he wanted to face was the television in his living room.
* * *
“Hello.David speaking. If this is a sales person, I’m not interested. If this is a woman, I am interested.”
Olivia chuckled into the phone, holding it on the crook of her shoulder as she dug for her apartment key. “What if I’m a sales person and a woman?”
“Then I’m definitely buying. What’re you selling?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not a salesperson, though. This is Olivia.”
“Olivia?”
“Olivia Marshall,” she added.
“Oh, that Olivia. Well, hello again, beautiful. And I’m definitely buying. But don’t tell my jealous brother—it’ll be our dark little secret.”
“I take it you haven’t talked to Collin lately,” Olivia replied, as she turned the key in the lock. “Since he’s foisting me off on his roommate, I don’t think he’s particularly jealous, at least not of me.”
“This is news to me. Talked to him last week. He didn’t mention giving up his affections for you. I admit he hasn’t been too forthcoming lately.”
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling you. He’s not too forthcoming with anyone, and he needs to be. I think he’s depressed and needs someone to talk to.”
“Depressed? I wouldn’t be too worried. He gets that way when anyone brings up the subject of our happy childhood, so I imagine having our mother plastered on the news this weekend has taken a toll. But I should be able to take care of that at his birthday bash.”
“The Saturday after Thanksgiving, right?” She didn’t want David to wait that long to intervene, so she gave him a subtle hint. “That’s almost two weeks away.”
“Did you ever tell me why you’re so interested in my brother’s emotional wellbeing? Last I heard you wouldn’t give him the time of day.”
The blood rushed to her face, and she was glad he couldn’t see her over the phone. “I’ve been putting him off, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him.”
“Oh?”
“As a friend,” she added.
“The six words no man ever wants to hear—I like you as a friend—second only to I love you like a brother.” David’s chuckle rumbled into the phone, his deep voice so like his brother’s it sent a ripple down her spine.
“I never meant to hurt him, you know.”
The phone was quiet so long she thought she’d lost the call.
“David? Are you there?”
“Yes…I was thinking.”
“Don’t strain yourself.”
His loud laughter almost burst her eardrum. “Sarcasm. Of course that’s why he likes you.”
“Liked me. As I told you, he’s no longer interested in me. Not in a romantic way.”
“That’s what I’m trying to discern. Why would my brother suddenly lose interest?”
“Because he finally got to know the real me, and my star lost its luster.” She huffed a humorless laugh. “Either that, or the thrill of the chase was gone.”
“I don’t buy it, Olivia. My brother was devoted to you, despite a rather large amount of harassment on my part. He hasn’t even been on a date in over a year. If pursuing you was some sort of game for him, he wouldn’t have given up his side diversion.”
“I’m not a man—don’t understand how the crazy male brain works.”
Another few seconds of silence, and then, “Why don’t you come to Collin’s birthday bash?”
“I can’t,” she said, automatically. “Too awkward. He wouldn’t want me there.”
“Nonsense. We’re going to a club called The Slipstream. Have you heard of it?” He paused for less than half a second. “Of course not. Forget I asked. Just come. I’ll put your name on the list.”
“Not a good idea.” She didn’t bother to tell him her friend at work had mentioned the club. “If I came it would ruin his birthday.”
“Are your sisters still single? You can bring them along.”
“Guess you didn’t hear me. I’m not showing up to spoil Collin’s party.”
He cleared his throat. “I might feel obligated to tell Collin you called me. I owe him that much.”
“You can’t do that, David. I spoke to you in confidence.”
“Don’t remember making that agreement.”
“It would hurt his feelings if he knew I talked to you about his mental health.”
“Could be right. I suppose, if you agree to come to The Slipstream for Collin’s birthday, I could forget all about this little talk.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“One could say that,” he agreed, without a hint of apology.
Olivia sighed, knowing she’d lost. “Text me the details.”
* * *
Collin stared unseeingat the flickering television screen, groaning at the pain in his abdomen. He shifted his feet on the coffee table trying to find a comfortable position, knocking an empty pizza box onto the floor. He couldn’t believe he’d eaten two entire extra-large pizzas by himself, but it was better than drinking a case of beer, which had been his first thought.
The rattling doorknob drew his attention. Blake swept into the room. “Here you are. Hiding out all day, were you?” Blake tossed something at him—something hard. It hit his leg and bounced onto the carpet. “There’s your cell phone. You left it under the desk in Burkhalter’s class.”
“Thanks.” Collin didn’t bother to pick it up and check his messages. He wasn’t feeling sociable.
“I can’t believe you made that scene in Contracts and didn’t hang around afterwards to reap the glory. You’ve got some cahoonas to show up Burkhalter like that.”
“Not much glory in that scene, unless you’re into self-mutilation.”
“Are you kidding me? Burkie was fuming that you answered him without so much as a stutter.” Blake rummaged through the refrigerator, yelling across the room. “Any of that pizza left? I’m starving.”
“I ate it all.”
“Surely not—there are two large pizza boxes in here.”
“Believe me, I know. I discovered, belatedly, eating to assuage one’s depression is not the wisest of plans.”
Blake returned to the living area with his hand buried in a box of cereal and collapsed on a dilapidated chair. “I always fall asleep in that class, listening to him read the textbook in monotone. I don’t know how you pay attention. How did you happen to know the answer to that question?”
Collin made a noncommittal noise, but didn’t elaborate on his memory.
“And how is it you neglected to mention you’re rich? Why are you living in this dump with two roommates when you’re Sterling of Sterling Industries?”
Collin sat up, still holding his aching belly. “My father is Sterling of Sterling Industries. I’m only his son who gets pulled through the muck every time the media gets wind of something juicy.”
Blake locked his hands together, stretching his long arms over his head and turning his neck until several loud pops emanated from his backbone. “The rest of us only wish we had your problems, you know.”
“That’s because you’ve never had my problems. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. And now I’ll probably get kicked out of Columbia.”
“For what? What did you do after you left class? Did you go tell off Dean Whittier?”
“Of course not. But I figure my sudden notoriety sheds a poor light on Columbia Law School, enough that the powers that be have planned to oust me. Otherwise, why would Burkhalter even know who I am?”
“For a privileged rich kid, you’re sure na?ve. They talked about you, but they won’t want to be rid of you. They’ll want to keep you and turn you into one of their rich alumni, which is easy since you’re already rich.” He held out his palm. “I know, you don’t intend to take any more of your dad’s money, but they don’t know that. Columbia thrives on wealthy donors.”
Collin frowned. Blake’s argument made a certain degree of sense. “Why did Burkhalter call me out in class, if the school is so intent on courting my family for their donations?”
“That’s easy. Burkie’s a conceited, insecure jerk.” Blake pushed to his feet. “The fridge is empty. You want to order something for dinner?”
A painful belch of gas chose that moment to erupt from Collin’s chest. “I’m afraid I may never want to eat again as long as I live.”
Blake laughed, pulling out his cell phone and punching the keyboard. “I’ll text in an order for me, then. This pizza smell is killing me.”
“Me, too.” Collin’s belly rumbled.
“Hey, I haven’t talked to you since I got back. How was Saturday night as Real Santa? Was it better now that you’ve got the hang of it?”
“It was awful, plus double stench inside that suit.”
Blake slid his phone into his back pocket. “Well, I hope you had better luck with Olivia. Did you win her over for me?”
“I almost blew our cover. You didn’t mention you kissed her Friday night.”
“Oh that. It was only a short kiss goodnight. She was a little nervous, so it was nothing spectacular.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much how she described it. Not impressive.”
“Really?” He chuckled. “I’ll fix that on Friday night. Can’t leave her with unimpressive lip lock.”
“You probably shouldn’t. Olivia likes to take things slowly.”
“She mentioned that, but I think I can loosen her up a bit. I’m thinking she might do better with a glass of wine instead of a cup of hot chocolate. Might even get more than a single kiss.”
Collin was on his feet, his face in Blake’s. “You’re not going to ply her with alcohol and sleep with her.”
Blake stumbled backwards. “Back off! I didn’t say I was going to sleep with her. I didn’t even say, ‘ply her with alcohol.’ I only mentioned a glass of wine and more than one kiss.”
“Sorry,” Collin hissed between his clamped jaws. As he unclenched his fists, one finger at a time, his lungs slowly expanded, calming his racing heart. “I overreacted. But I think you should take things really slow. Maybe hold off on kissing for a while.”
Blake pushed his fingers through his hair, leaving it sticking up like dark straw. “I swear, you need to make up your mind. Either you want me to date her or you don’t. I think she’s hot and all, but I’m not smitten. I can back off and pursue other interests. Lacey, this other girl I’m dating—”
“You’re dating another girl? At the same time as Olivia?”
“I already had plans with Lacey when Olivia came along. And Olivia and I have gone out for hot chocolate twice—once while I was infuriating her on purpose. That hardly counts as a committed relationship. I’m not even convinced the two of us will ever click.”
“You’re right,” Collin conceded, lifting one hand in surrender while the other rubbed his aching forehead. “I have control issues. I’ve had them since I was a little kid. To be honest, it’s the main reason I’m not dating Olivia. She’s very independent, and she deserves someone who won’t control her life.”
“I think maybe you are dating her. Only you’re using me as an avatar.”
Collin couldn’t think of a single argument to refute him.