Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
Lizzie had never actually bailed anyone out, but thankfully, she knew the woman at the front window and she walked her through the whole process. She’d stopped at the ATM on her way there thinking she would have to pay in cash; who knew you could pay with a debit card? You learn something new everyday, she thinks, taking a seat while she waits for Jack to be released. Of all the things she never thought she’d be doing on this night, or any other one for that matter, it was this. Except for maybe a social justice protest perhaps, she never had envisioned a time when she’d be bailing her future husband out of jail.
In a matter of only a few minutes Jack is out, holding an envelope with his keys, wallet and phone.
“Hey,” he says, looking as glum as Lizzie feels. “Thank you for coming. Let’s get out of here.”
They silently walk to Lizzie’s car out front and get in. “Your car is still at Terra Marique?” She asks, putting the car in reverse.
“It is.”
The silence weighs heavily in the car. Neither of them is sure of what to say.
“Look,” Lizzie says, finally breaking the silence. “I think I should just take you to your car, and we can talk tomorrow. I don’t think either of us are in the best place to have a conversation of any importance, okay?” She stops at the traffic light and puts on her left signal to head to Terra Marique.
Jack nods, he looks exhausted, Lizzie thinks, looking at him. Exhausted and defeated. She tries to ignore the knot in her stomach, and not allow herself to look backward to four years ago to the night the bottom completely fell out of his startup. Within two days he was headed to California saying he was going to see what this job offer was about, and that he’d be back within the week. He was not.
Lizzie pulls into the entrance. There are still two police officers there. Different ones, change of shift, Lizzie surmises.
Jack leans over and gives her a kiss. “I am so sorry, Lizzie. For everything.”
He gets out and walks to his car, Lizzie doesn’t watch him, she just backs up and leaves.
Gabby and Peter were still up when Lizzie arrived home, there was no way either one of them could have gone to sleep without having checked in with her.
“Hey,” she says, not really up for talking to anyone, when she comes in the front door.
Peter and Gabby quickly get up from the couch and both hug her before she can even get her coat off.
“You get him out okay?” Peter asks.
“Yeah, it was easy, I didn’t have to wait long, he was right out.” She walks into the living room and sits on the couch, still in her coat. “I’m so angry at this whole stupid situation. Jack is a good guy, I have never known him to hit anyone. Those two came over for no other reason than to torment him and be jerks.” She starts to cry. “I am so angry I can’t even…”
Gabby comes and sits down next to her. “We’re all angry, honey, this is incredibly wrong and unfair and I keep wracking my brain about what to do.”
Peter joins them on the couch, and then they hear someone coming in the door, startling all of them. It’s Matt, Lizzie’s brother.
“Why didn’t you guys call me? I just found out on the radio what had happened,” he crouches down by all of them. “What can I do, Lizzie? Besides going and beating the crap out of Billy and Bud, which I know isn’t going to help anything, but it might make me feel better for a minute.”
Lizzie takes his hand, “You are so sweet to come over, I feel terrible that you found out that way. I was so wrapped up in everything I forgot to call you, I’m so sorry.”
“Yes, us too,” Gabby says. “We figured we’d talk in the morning, and that maybe one member of the Martin family might get a good night’s sleep. Our intentions were good, we thought you’d sleep right through the drama tonight.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’m not mad or anything, I just wish I could be of more help. This is so crazy, I can’t believe that this is happening when the project is moving along so well. How’s Jack?” he asks, looking at Lizzie.
She shakes her head. “Not good, as you can imagine. He said he wishes he’d never come back here.” She looks down and tries to not start crying again.
“Lizzie, you know that’s not about you, it’s about this clustercuss of a situation. He loves you, you are getting married in a few weeks! This lawsuit doesn’t have to change any of that,” Matt says emphatically. “It doesn’t.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” she says, sounding resigned. “It didn’t have to change our plans last time either, but it did. So I don’t know what to think. And the ironic thing is I bought my wedding dress, and was all set for this to happen.” She shrugs. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have pushed my luck. I should have known that something like this could happen and hedged my bets.”
“Hedge your bets?” Matt says, looking incredulous. “That’s not how you go into a marriage. You go into just like you and Jack have been–with your whole being, and having faith in each other and that it’s all going to work out.”
“Look at me, Matt,” she says, getting angry. “Is this what it is all going to work out looks like? Me here in tears with all of you? Jack home, having been arrested, lawsuit pending? This is not everything working out!” She stands up. “I can’t, I just…” Matt pulls her in tightly, hugging her hard.
“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to minimize how you’re feeling. I just know you two are meant to be together. You are getting married. I know it,” he says.
All this time Gabby and Peter have been silent, letting their kids work this out.
“I hope you’re right, little brother, I sure hope you’re right,” Lizzie says. She sits back on the couch. “I’m sorry, Matt, I don’t mean to lash out at you. It’s just this is all feeling so familiar, I’ve been down this road before and I know how it ends.”
“How it ended before, honey, is not necessarily how it ends now,” her mother reminds her. “You and Jack have worked so hard to rebuild your relationship, along with rebuilding the paper and creating Terra Marique for the whole community. This is one very bad day, it is not the end of everything. It is not.”
“Listen to your mother,” Peter says. “She’s a very wise woman,” Peter sits down next to Lizzie and pulls her into a big bear hug. “Granted, this has been a very bad day, but are you going to let those boneheads derail everything you have worked for? I know you better than that, you don’t let anyone throw you off course when you’re on a mission.”
“You two should hire yourselves out as motivational speakers,” Lizzie jokes through her tears. “If only it were all so simple. Having a can-do spirit and a plucky attitude can’t change everything, Dad. Sometimes you have to face reality and realize some things just aren’t meant to be. I’m really starting to think the universe is trying to tell us something.” She gets up. “If you all don’t mind I am going to head to bed and try to get some sleep. It’s been a really long day.” As she walks out of the living room she turns to her dad. “Have you posted anything about this online for the paper Dad? We really should have something up, we can’t let the fact that this lawsuit is directly impacting our family stop us from reporting on it. I’m not sure I’m up for writing anything, and probably shouldn’t, but maybe you could post something brief about it, and say the story is developing and we can deal with it tomorrow.”
“Will do,” Peter says, “I can’t believe I let that slide,” he picks up his phone and gets to work.
“Dad, it’s been a crazy night, you’re allowed. I just don’t want anyone to think we’re not covering it because we’re impacted by what’s going on. It’s not a good look,” Lizzie says. “Thanks for doing that, ‘night everyone.”
“I’m worried,” Lizzie hears her mom say as she starts up the stairs, she stops for a moment.
“Me too,” says Matt. “If Jack breaks her heart again I, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Peter says, “I’m betting cooler heads on all sides will prevail tomorrow. At least that’s what I’m hoping.”
Lizzie continues upstairs to her bedroom where she promptly throws herself on to her bed, grabs her ancient teddy bear, and has a good cry. You’re never too old to cry into a teddy bear, and sometimes it’s the only thing you can muster the strength to do.