Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chase pulled on a West Oaks PD polo shirt over his jeans. Technically, wearing part of his uniform today violated regulations. But he didn’t care.
Mickey Waverley’s mother was on her way to visit Haley today, and Chase wasn’t above using intimidation on Ruby’s behalf.
He ran a hand over his jaw and studied himself in the mirror, checking if he’d missed any spots shaving.
Ruby was in the kitchen, stirring a pan of scrambled eggs. Haley rested on her hip. The baby kept whimpering like she knew something was wrong.
“Want me to take her?” Chase asked.
“Sure. Set her in the high chair?”
Chase strapped Haley in, but he didn’t sit down at the table. He paced instead, checking the clock.
Ruby poured eggs onto two plates, then scooped some onto Haley’s tray. “Chase, sit and eat. You’re making me nervous.”
“You don’t seem nervous.” He didn’t know how Ruby managed to stay so calm. To smile and laugh, day after day. “I don’t want you to be nervous.”
“Well, I am.” Ruby sat down next to Haley and handed her a plastic spoon.
They’d been dreading this day for the past week, ever since the court had set the date. Ruby would be upstairs in Devon and Aurora’s apartment. They’d already gone over the details a dozen times, but he understood how difficult this must be for her.
Chase took a seat and stretched his legs under the table, seeking out Ruby’s. Her foot inched up his calf.
They’d been a lot more affectionate since becoming friends with benefits. Chase craved that contact with her, and he was glad that Ruby seemed to enjoy it just as much. They’d been giving each other orgasms every night.
Part of him was living in a fantasy world, pretending that Ruby was really his. Getting to touch her like this, cuddling with her in bed. Like this wasn’t just a convenient arrangement.
Despite everything that was happening, he’d never been so happy.
Until this morning. The reality of her situation had come roaring back. Ruby was trying so hard to stay upbeat, and Chase wanted to take all her stress onto himself. Too bad it didn’t work that way, even if his body was doing its best. His stomach was trying to crawl into his throat.
None of them ate much. The minutes ticked by. Chase cleaned up the dishes, and Ruby wiped the eggs off Haley’s face.
“You’re going to stay with Uncle Chay-Chay and a nice lady is going to come see you. Everything will be fine.” Ruby gave Haley a kiss. “I’ll see you soon, bug. Be wise.”
She put Haley into Chase’s arms. Then Ruby kissed Chase’s cheek, which surprised him.
“I thought we weren’t supposed to do that in front of her.”
“It was a kiss on the cheek. Totally G-rated.”
“But the thoughts I’m having right now aren’t G-rated,” he whispered.
She shook her head at him, trying not to smile. “I just wanted you to know I’m grateful. I’d rather be with Haley during this visit, but since I can’t, I’m glad it’s you. Out of anyone else, I’m glad it’s you.”
“Me too.” He kissed Ruby on the cheek. She wiped the spot with her thumb.
“Don’t leave the room? And call me the minute they’re gone?”
“I promise.”
“It won’t be that bad,” she said. Like she was trying to reassure him.
“Hey.” He gripped her shoulder. “I will not let anything happen to her.”
Ruby nodded, backing toward the door. Her eyes were shining. She spun around and left. Chase heard her footsteps receding down the hall, heading for the stairs to go up to Devon’s.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Chase picked up Haley and went to answer it.
Two people stood on the welcome mat. One was a CPS case worker who’d visited before. “Officer Collins, good to see you again.”
The other woman was tall and slim, her silver hair styled into a sleek shape that reminded Chase of a helmet. She wore a pair of khaki pants and a top with a matching cardigan. “I’m Tessa Waverley.”
This was Mickey Waverley’s mother. Haley’s grandma, who’d never even met Ruby before. Never cared, apparently, until now.
Chase didn’t think of himself as a hateful person. He tried to give people the benefit of the doubt.
But he hated this woman.
“Chase Collins. I’m Ruby’s husband. Haley’s stepdad.”
Tessa cringed when he said Ruby’s name. “I’d like to see my granddaughter now.”
Chase didn’t move from the doorway. Haley had hidden her face against his neck.
“May we come in?” the case worker asked, though of course it wasn’t really a request. They had a court order.
“Sure. Why not?” Chase stepped aside, and the two women filed in.
Tessa walked around the apartment, face pinched. Like she was judging everything she saw and found it lacking. “It’s small, isn’t it?”
Sometimes, Chase agreed. But that comment made his hackles raise. “Plenty of room for the three of us.”
Jane had instructed him on how to handle this. The case worker was here as a neutral third party. He wasn’t supposed to talk about the murder or Ruby’s case. But it was hard not to when Tessa was looking at Ruby’s home with disdain.
“And how did you meet Ms. Whitestone?” Tessa asked.
“I’m a friend of her brother’s.”
“You’re a police officer?”
“Yes.”
“But you only married her recently. After her arrest.”
Chase narrowed his eyes.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? My family and I have hired our own lawyers and private investigators. West Oaks PD might be lax enough to allow you to keep your job while being married to a murderer. But I’ll make sure justice is done.”
“Ruby is a good mom. There’s no way she did what they say.”
The case worker stood up from the kitchen table, where she’d been sitting quietly. “Mr. Collins, please…”
“She brought up Ruby first,” he barked.
Haley grabbed his nose. “Gumpy?”
Shit. He’d been raising his voice. “No, princess. I’m sorry. Why don’t you read a book?” He set Haley on the ground. She just stood there by his legs, staring at Tessa.
The woman sat on the living room couch, her back stiff. Tessa bent forward, eyes on Haley. “I’m your grandmother. Would you like me to read to you?”
Haley walked over to get a book. But she brought it to Chase instead. “Chay-Chay?” He sat down on the floor, and she climbed into his lap.
For a while, he read, and Tessa watched. Sitting with Haley made his anger fade away.
This was a terrible situation. But it wasn’t truly Tessa Waverley’s fault, was it? That was probably what Ruby would say right now. She was a better person than he was.
He wasn’t going to convince Tessa through words that Ruby was innocent. That she was a wonderful mom. But maybe he could show her.
“Haley?” he asked. “Can you bring Tessa the book?”
She looked up at him. Then nodded.
The three adults were silent as Haley crossed the rug. When she reached Tessa, she held out the book.
The older woman’s chin trembled, eyes glassy with tears. “Would you like me to read it? Would you sit with me?”
Haley held out her arms to be picked up.
Chase tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
The rest of the hour passed with agonizing slowness. Tessa read more books and asked Haley about her favorite toys. Then Haley got restless and watched some videos on Chase’s phone.
Finally, the time was up. The CPS case worker stepped out first.
Tessa kneeled to say goodbye to Haley. “I look forward to seeing you again. Maybe for longer next time?” She stood and tilted her head politely at Chase. “Thank you for having me.”
“You’re welcome.” The visit had started out rough, but it hadn’t been that bad. Tessa wasn’t the villain here, and maybe she could consider the possibility that Ruby wasn’t either.
“Do you see how happy Haley is?” Chase asked. “How well she’s cared for?”
Tessa’s expression hardened. “Your point?”
“That’s Ruby. That’s all you need to know about her. If you’d give her a chance—”
“Ruby Whitestone’s living free while my son is dead. How do you justify that to yourself?”
“I’m sorry for your loss, but I know the kind of person Ruby is. It’s why I love her.”
“Then I’m sorry for you, Officer Collins, because that woman has fooled you. Just like she fooled my son.”
In the hallway, the case worker folded her arms. “Ms. Waverley? We need to keep things civil.”
Tessa held up a hand. “You can tell your wife that I’m not going to stop until my granddaughter is safe and where she belongs. With me. And if there’s any justice in this world, Ms. Whitestone will end up exactly where she belongs, too. Rotting in prison.”