Chapter 47
The minute we’re in the back of the black SUV with Royce and his look-a-like brother Luke, in the front seat, Reese grabs my leg and pulls me close. He says nothing, but his actions are words. He’s nervous, but nerves are good. Nerves force you to be one hundred percent present and I’ve watched enough of his trials now that I know he settles into his zone. When he steps behind his table in the courtroom, he owns the room. And he needs to be in that courtroom fully, not worried about his pregnant wife. I made the right decision to stay silent, but I hate that Royce knows and Reese doesn’t. How do I justify that part of my silence?
The drive to the courthouse would be short, as we live only two blocks away, but we’re picking up Dana, Reese’s client. “Have you talked to her today?”
“Not yet,” Reese says, “but I’m about to call her now and let her know we’re on the way.”
“Tell her one of our men is about to be at her door,” Luke orders.
He pulls out his phone and makes the call. I listen to the short exchange and Reese disconnects. “Done,” he tells Luke before he glances at me. “She’s cold and removed. I’d rather her cry.”
“Because cold and removed comes off as rich, arrogant, and indifferent.”
“Exactly,” he says.
“It’s an expectation,” I reply.
He glances over at me. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning address that head-on. She lived under an iron fist of expectations that meant no emotions. That call was an explosion of everything bottled inside.”
He studies me a few beats and kisses me. “You really need to be practicing law, Cat.”
I warm with the compliment he gives freely. That’s the thing about Reese. He’s the only person in my life that has lifted me up, not torn me down, my brothers included. That’s how he will be with our child.
“I do.” I say, lacing my fingers with his. “With you and then I write about it which is the definition of an inside source.”
“I love your column, Cat,” Luke says. “My wife is an attorney and she gobbles it up. She got me hooked.”
“Thank you,” I say. “It’s very flattering to have people enjoy my random thoughts about cases.” My phone buzzes with a text.
I grab it and glance at the number to find a message from Lauren: Any change?
Sick this morning, I type.
Oh good, she replies.
I laugh and Reese glances over at me. “Lauren. Girl talk.” My phone buzzes again with another message from Lauren: How are you going to the doctor with the trial going on?
I reply back with: I got a seven am appointment. I’ll call you later.
We pull past Dana’s high-rise apartment and the press is everywhere. “We’re picking her up two blocks down,” Luke says, glancing over at us.
A few minutes later, Dana, who I’ve met once before, is in the backseat next to me, her navy blue dress prim and proper, her blonde hair tied at her nape. “Hi,” she says to me and then in general to everyone. And that’s it. She says nothing else. Reese was right. She’s cold and removed.
“How are you?” I ask.
“Sick,” she replies, suddenly showing her human side. “I threw up three times this morning.”
“Have you eaten?”
“I can’t eat,” she says. “How can I eat? I’m being accused of killing my father.”
I reach in my purse and offer her crackers. “They might help.”
“Do you carry crackers for all of his clients?”
I can feel Reese’s attention and I quickly add, “I have food poisoning. I thought they might help me, so maybe that was lucky and they can help you. Try one. You need to be strong in court.”
She grabs a cracker and munches and Royce offers her a bottle of water that she takes. I settle back into my seat and Reese squeezes my leg, willing me to look at him. I inhale and glance over at him, meeting his penetrating blue stare and while he says nothing, there’s a question in his eyes. Maybe he’s even wondering if I could be pregnant. Or I’m paranoid. I’m paranoid. How can I not be?
We pull up to a side door of the courthouse where the police have blocked off an entrance. Dana inhales. “This is it.”
Luke leans around the seat. “I’m coming to get you, Dana.”
Reese leans forward and looks at Dana across my lap. “This is it. This is where we end this. There’s no evidence to convict you. You shouldn’t have been charged. We will win.”
I squeeze her arm. “Deep breath. He’s the best of the best. You will win.”
“I didn’t do it,” she whispers. “I swear to you. I didn’t do it.” She tears up and the door opens.
She swipes at her eyes and exits the vehicle. I start to follow and Reese catches my arm, turning me around to face him. “How sick are you?”
“I’m presently thinking about how good you look naked and about the benefits of waking up to you between my legs,” I say. “I’m pretty sure that means not very sick.” I kiss him. “Time to win. I’ll see you at the food truck for your lucky hot dog.”
His eyes warm and he kisses me before thankfully releasing me.
I scoot out of the backseat and we’re rushed inside the courthouse where Richard and Elsa are waiting. Reese, his client, and his team are ushered forward with Royce and Luke on their heels. I am now alone, only I’m really not alone. My hand presses to my belly. I’m not alone. And I love it. A security guard motions me forward, and I’m given a badge that I’d normally have to get in another area of the courthouse. Ready for the courtroom, I hurry forward when suddenly my new little passenger decides to stir up the sickness again. I can’t do this now. Reese needs to see me in that courtroom. I glance at the time on my phone and I have about ten minutes to spare. I cut right to a bathroom that is usually missed by all but me, and enter.
The sickness seems to have passed and I look in the mirror. Do I look different? Apparently, my baby doesn’t like this question. My stomach rolls and I hurry into a stall, shut the door, and heave up nothing. My stomach is empty and maybe that’s the problem. Whatever the case, it’s over and I walk out of the stall to find Lori, standing in front of me. Lori, who knows about the secret bathroom because of me.
“What’s wrong?” she asks and as silly as it sounds, the floral pattern of the blouse under her jacket seems to make me sick again.
“Bad olives, I think,” I manage to explain, “but I need to be in that courtroom now. Reese will look for me. He’ll worry if he doesn’t find me there.”
“Do you have anything with you to take?”
“Nothing,” I say darting for the door.
She follows and catches me in the hallway. “I’ll grab you something.”
“No,” I say quickly, not sure what is safe. “No. Reese will be distracted if you come in late. Let’s just go sit. I have crackers.”
She looks like she wants to argue but she doesn’t. We enter the courtroom and we’re escorted to a row right behind the defense table. I sit down and stuff a cracker down that I’m not supposed to eat in here and do so as quickly as possible. “Is it helping?”
“I think so,” I say, “except I’m about to choke with no water.”
She opens her purse and points to a bottle of water. I discreetly grab it, take a drink and stuff it back in her purse, deciding that for now, I’m stable. The doors to our left open and the courtroom goes nuts as Dana, Richard, and Elsa walk in and take their seats. Dana is back to stone. She’s cold. She’s hard on the surface when I know she’s falling apart inside. Next comes Reese and he’s barely stepped to the table before he finds me. I love how he does this at the start of every trial. I love that we’re this connected. I had to be here today. I will always be here when he starts a trial.
The prosecution enters the courtroom and a few minutes later, we’re standing for the judge. We sit and that’s when Lori leans close and whispers, “Are you pregnant?”