Chapter 56
“After Brittany submits her complaint, I think an interview should be called shortly after,” Jay said.
“I’ve already reached out to a friend on the board.
He said he could expedite it if the rest of the board agrees that the evidence is solid, which he thinks they will, especially since there are two of you with the same complaint.
So I think it’s best if you both stick around until they call. ”
“And after the interviews?” Brittany asked, her brow furrowed.
The whole time we’d been talking, she’d looked wary.
And I had to admit, the entire situation was intimidating.
What if they didn’t take us seriously and dismissed the complaints?
What if they claimed there wasn’t enough evidence?
It all felt impossible. Jay clearly had more connections and more knowledge about how something like this worked.
And despite not wanting him here, I was relieved he was.
“If they determine he’s guilty of abuse in the workplace,” Jay said, “then it would be escalated to a trial.”
“Okay,” Brittany said slowly. “So I’ll submit my complaint tonight, and then we wait to hear back about when we’ll be interviewed?”
Jay nodded. “Yes, that’s correct.” He flipped through the papers in front of him. “I’m also going to reach out to an attorney friend of mine to see if he has any advice on how to approach the interviews.”
“Thank you, Jay,” Brittany said, letting out a breath. “This is all so much for my brain to handle. I’m really glad you’re here to help us.”
I nodded, my jaw clenching.
He had so many connections. It was frustrating that I couldn’t do this on my own, and that we needed him.
It stirred up too many old feelings, reminders of my lack of independence with my father.
I tried to tell myself Jay wasn’t trying to control the situation, that he was only helping, but it still sucked.
I couldn’t afford my own attorney. I couldn’t tug on strings or make things happen myself. I couldn’t put Pike away on my own.
I had nothing. No money, no leverage, no power.
So I would have to swallow my pride. Brittany deserved justice just as much as I did, and I wasn’t about to sabotage everything because of my baggage.
“Let’s meet again in a few days,” Jay said, checking his watch. “Once my attorney friend gets back to me, we can go over a few more things. It’s getting late, so I think we should call it a night.”
“Sounds good to me,” Brittany said, yawning as she covered her mouth. “The drive was long.”
“Where are you from?” I asked quietly. I’d been mostly silent, listening while Brittany asked the questions.
“Dallas,” she said with a soft smile. “It’s worth the drive if it means Pike has to answer for what he’s done.”
I nodded. “I just hope we can actually do this.”
“I think we can,” Brittany said. “We just have to stick together.”
She really did seem like a nice woman. After talking with her over the phone, I’d gotten the impression that she actually had a passion for her job as a hygienist. When Jay had called her, she’d said it felt like her prayers had been answered.
It was the darkest moment of her career, and it had left her feeling unsettled for years.
“Well, I’m glad I could connect the two of you,” Jay said as he stood. “I don’t think I’d be able to rest knowing he’s still out there practicing.”
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this. So thank you for reaching out, Jay,” Brittany said kindly.
“Of course. I’m happy to help.”
We all started gathering our things, and before long, we were all heading toward the front of the office.
I tried my best to be quick, so I wouldn’t be left alone with Jay.
Once in the parking lot, Brittany split off toward her car, which was parked farther down from mine and Jay’s.
I ignored him as best I could, folding my arms across my chest to keep warm. I’d left my coat inside dang it, but I wasn’t going back now. No way was I giving him a chance to intercept me.
White puffs of air escaped my lips as I exhaled in the chilly winter air. I reached for my car door, my fingers wrapping around the frozen handle, and then I heard him call my name.
“Hope, wait up!”
He was jogging toward me now, and I couldn’t get my keys out fast enough. Why did I lock it?
But it was too late. Jay was only a few feet away now, and I had no choice but to turn toward him.
“It’s freezing, Jay,” I said, shivering. “Can we not do this right now?”
“I just need you to know,” he said, breathless, “that I didn’t have Brittany call you to get you back to Big Bear.”
The thought had crossed my mind, but I wasn’t going to dive into that with him. It would only start a fight I wasn’t ready for.
“Even if you did,” I said firmly, “nothing would change. So it would’ve been futile anyway.”
“Hope, please—”
I spun toward him. “I’m doing this for Brittany, okay?
” I clenched my jaw, trying to steady the shivers that were threatening to wrack through my body.
It was literally freezing out here. “She deserves someone to stand by her. That’s why I’m here.
I just want Pike to pay for what he did, and then I want to go back to my life. ”
“Okay,” he said quickly. “I’m sorry, Hope. I—”
I shook my head as I finally found the unlock button on my key fob and pulled the driver’s side door open.
“I can’t do this with you right now.”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his face. “Fine. I won’t talk about what happened. But I haven’t stopped thinking about you these last three months.”
I haven’t stopped thinking about you either, I thought.
But I didn’t say it.
Because it didn’t matter. What he’d done was a huge betrayal. I wasn’t as angry as I’d been the day it had happened, but I was still angry.
“Goodnight, Dr. Jay,” I said, sliding into my car.
I started the engine and pulled out, glancing in the rearview mirror to see him standing there in the cold, watching until my car disappeared into the snowy night.