Chapter Twenty-Eight MADISON
Chapter Twenty-Eight
MADISON
“You’ve got this,” the prosecutor said firmly.
As we stared at each other over the video conference call, her gaze softened. “I know this isn’t easy for you.”
My throat was tight. “It’s not, but thank you for understanding.”
The prosecutor was quiet for another moment before cocking her head to the side and commenting, “I hope you have some support. It’s hard to be a witness against a parent.”
I nodded, swallowing through the tightness in my throat. It felt like a ball of disappointment, regret, and anger with pain tangling inside all of it. I’d never had an amazing relationship with my parents. Our family just wasn’t like that.
I had been shocked when my parents expected me to commit crimes on their behalf or, rather, cover them up, which would’ve made me an accessory. I hadn’t realized how much of my relationship with them relied on me toeing the line and doing what worked for them.
After a sip of my water, I replied, “It is hard, but I’m finding my way.”
“How do you like Alaska?”
I managed a small smile. “Actually, I like it. My grandfather’s home is beautiful. It’s such a change of pace that it’s been good for me.”
“I bet it’s beautiful there. Alaska makes Texas seem small.”
I chuckled. “I suppose.”
“I heard about your new job,” she commented.
I narrowed my eyes. “How would you know that?”
She grinned. “We have to keep tabs on witnesses. No big deal. You’re very good at your job, so I’m glad you’ve found work.”
I was fiddling with a paperclip with one hand, and I paused. “Am I, though? Because I should’ve noticed what was going on.”
“You worked with the numbers you had. Being good at your job doesn’t mean knowing someone else was providing you with false information.
” She glanced at her watch. “I have another meeting in a few minutes. Your deposition went very well, and you handled the difficult questions from your father’s attorney as well as could be expected. ”
“Do you think I’ll need to testify?”
She tapped her fingertips on her desk. “I don’t know.
Your father has a good attorney, and a good attorney gives clients good advice.
We have a really strong case. If his attorney’s doing his job, he’ll make your father understand that.
It’s a smart move to try to make a deal with us, but I sense that your father can be stubborn. ”
I laughed aloud at that. “Absolutely, but he’s also not stupid. I don’t think he’ll enjoy being in jail for too long if he’s facing any time.”
She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “No, I can’t imagine he would. I’ll keep you posted when we have any updates. As you know, waiting for court can be like watching paint dry, so be patient.”
“I will. Please keep me posted.”
We ended the call, and I stared out the windows. Wilbur was asleep at my feet. I stood, heading to the kitchen to get some coffee. I was tired. I hadn’t realized how much tension it would create to sit through that three-hour deposition.
After I started the coffee, I swung my arms in the air to try to loosen up my shoulders.
My mind shifted to Graham. He had a dedicated channel, like a television station, in my brain.
It tuned to him whenever I wasn’t completely distracted.
I felt unsettled about how things had played out.
It wasn’t as if we had defined what was going on with us.
I leaned my head back and let out a sigh, my throat tightening yet again. I had really started to fall for him. I hadn’t expected it. I hadn’t expected him at all.
Obviously, he didn’t want anything serious. I could even understand why he’d taken my comment to Allie out of context, but I was still annoyed at his assumption.
I heard the sound of Wilbur’s claws on the floor and turned to see him entering the kitchen. My dog remained my best friend, and my heart pinched at the longing I hadn’t let myself truly feel for Graham. I’d wanted more and was so skittish about it.
I hoped this bout of tension would pass, and we could settle into being friendly neighbors.
I hated how vulnerable I felt. I hated how much I missed Graham.
And how could I even miss him? It wasn’t like we’d had that much time together.
I missed him even more than I’d ever missed my ex-fiancé, who’d been part of my life for years.
My treacherous heart skipped a beat, and my belly spun.
All I had to do was think about my nights with Graham and his hands on my body.
Those times with him were raw and pure—like nothing I’d ever experienced.
The memories were branded into my brain and on my body, my cells recalling the visceral feel.
I poured my coffee and returned to my desk.
My new job was working out well, and I’d also started doing some small accounting jobs on the side, including for the gallery business Janet had told me about.
It felt so good to dive into numbers because they always made sense.
I was starting to feel competent again, and I craved that feeling.
When I was working, I could forget Graham and forget the simmering tension between my parents and me that I didn’t know how to repair.
Late at night when I wasn’t working and loneliness pierced me, I missed the glimmer of wondering if maybe Graham wanted more than sex with me. Hope was such a tease. Yet it wasn’t rational, and it wasn’t sensible. I shouldn’t have hoped for more with Graham.
All mental lectures aside, I reached for my phone, my fingertips itching to text him. The only thing that stopped me was the time on the clock—midnight.
A week passed, and I was handling life. I worked. I stayed busy. I only went to get coffee three times that week. I was even invited to a girls’ night at Wildlands. Maisie had run into me in the parking lot at Firehouse Café and invited me along.
That evening, I looked down at Wilbur after he finished eating his evening meal. “Okay, I’ll be back in a few hours. I won’t be too late.”
Wilbur blinked up at me with his bottom wiggling.
He wasn’t used to me leaving, not since we’d moved here.
I figured he would sleep. I was wearing a fitted pair of jeans with low-heeled boots and a silky blouse.
I slipped into a lightweight down jacket.
A short while later, I crossed the parking lot into the entrance at Wildlands, recalling my dinner here with Allie and Graham.
I’d seen her and Graham at Firehouse Café a few days ago, and we’d been polite.
Allie had asked me when we could have a nail-painting party again.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Graham had given up on helping her dye her hair, which kind of made me sad.
I shook my head, trying to kick those thoughts loose.
Graham was practically living inside my brain, and I really needed to boot him out.
When I walked into the bar and glanced around, I saw Maisie waving from a table in the corner. She was seated with several other women, and I felt a little nervous.
“Hey!” Maisie called as I approached the table. “We saved a chair for you.” She pointed at the one empty chair.
I rounded the table to sit down, shimmying out of my coat and hanging it over the back of the chair.
Maisie began pointing from one woman to the next.
“This is Lucy. She’s married to Levi. I don’t know if you’ve met him yet.
This is Amelia, and she’s married to Cade.
Lucy and Amelia have a construction business together.
This is Susannah, she’s married to Ward.
Jasmine, is Levi’s sister and is married to Donovan.
And this is Paisley. She’s a new firefighter at the station.
” Her gaze arced around the table. “Everybody, this is Madison. She’s Harold’s granddaughter.
Remember Harold? He used to come up here for half of the year. ”
Amelia glanced at me. “Oh, he’s got a great house. We actually helped him update it when he bought it.” Lucy was nodding along.
“You helped update his house?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my tone.
Amelia cast me a quick smile. “We sure did.” Amelia was tall and leggy, while Lucy was petite with a fairy-like quality to her.
I glanced between them. “Well, that’s badass.”
Lucy chuckled. “Our business is Kick-Ass Construction.”
“Okay, it’s kick-ass then.”
“Paisley’s even newer to town than you,” Maisie offered.
“What do you think of Willow Brook so far?” I asked.
She smiled. “I like it. I’m settling in.”
There was a lull in the conversation when the waitress arrived. After we ordered, Maisie turned to Paisley. “Is Russell still being an asshole?”
Paisley shook her head quickly. “Graham had a conversation with both of us. It hasn’t been as tense since then. I want to say it’s because I’m a woman, but he’s not like that toward you.” She gestured toward Susannah. “You’re a firefighter too.”
Susannah’s strawberry blond curls bounced with her nod. She pursed her lips as she eyed Paisley. “I think Russell likes you.”
Paisley rolled her eyes. “Bullshit.”
“I happen to agree,” Maisie chimed in.
“Is this how it’s gonna be?” Paisley asked as she glanced around the table.
“How what’s going to be?” Lucy returned politely.
“Everybody having an opinion,” Paisley said bluntly.
“I think so. It’s a small town,” I offered dryly.
“We might be nosy, but we actually care. If Russell keeps being a dick, just say the word. I’ll make sure he straightens out,” Susannah offered with a wink.
Paisley grinned, and the conversation moved on. It was nice, really nice, to have dinner and just hang out. These women could not have cared less about my family’s situation, and I loved that.
About halfway through dinner, I felt a prickle of awareness chase down my spine. I knew, I just knew, Graham had entered the restaurant.
Maisie, showing off her mind-reading capabilities, asked just then, “Is Graham being a good neighbor?”
“Sure,” I said with a light shrug, hoping the heat flashing into my cheeks didn’t show.
Jasmine cocked her head to the side, a smile teasing at the corners of her mouth. “Janet thinks Graham has a thing for you.”
I rolled my eyes and took a swallow of my water. “He’s definitely not interested. I don’t think I’m the kind of girl he has in mind.” Then my worries tumbled out. “Plus, he got upset with me.”
I quickly summarized the situation, and Amelia shook her head. “That’s not like Graham to overreact.”
“I think he’s overreacting for a reason,” Susannah offered.
I looked at Paisley. “You’re right. This is how it is.”
She shrugged, and the conversation carried on.
The group gradually began to filter out.
Beck came to get Maisie and pulled her close for a kiss.
The moment was brief, but the look he gave her was so intense, I had to look away.
Of course, my eyes landed on Graham. The dull ache of missing him was abruptly sharp.
His eyes held mine for a second, and I gave him a tight smile. I could do this. I could get used to this. It was nothing, just a little fling. I’d never regretted my lack of fling experience so much in my life.
I hurried away after that. I felt antsy and silly because, somehow, I doubted he missed me the way I missed him