Cut to the Chase (28 page)

D
espite the lockdown, Chase, Paul and Andrew arrived within minutes of the gunshot. Erin didn't know exactly how the three men learned that she and Mia were linked to the hospital lockdown, but she had a feeling Alex facilitated their sudden appearance within the room. Erin was prepared for a multitude of emotions from Chase, with anger being at the top of that list. But all she felt was his love when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she could no longer breathe. When she finally came up for air, Erin caught a glimpse of her brother embracing Mia, with equal measures of love and worry in his eyes. The scene would have been perfect if it wasn't for the corpse at their feet.

The next hour was filled with chaos and loads of questions from both the doctors who worked on the floor and the police. Luckily it had taken a few minutes before the first of many officers arrived, giving Erin and Mia time to get their stories straight. Paul's own skills came in handy as he prepped them with what they did and didn't have to tell the police. But it all became a moot point when Erin replayed the video on her phone, first only to herself and then to Mia, Chase and Andrew. Although Morris was only visible in portions of the video, his voice was crisp and gloriously incriminating as he admitted to the murders of Gabrielle, Dr. Mitchell Morris, and Mia's neighbor. The video footage concluded after that final admission, cutting out the actual shooting and stabbing via needle. The dialogue between Morris and Mia immediately following the shooting could have caused a problem from a sympathetic juror, but somehow, by some stroke of luck, the video had stopped rolling by that point.

Regardless of the mountain of evidence pinpointing Scott Morris as the monster he was, Paul hired the best law firm in the city to defend them. Over the next several weeks, Erin, Mia, Chase and Andrew were subject to multiple interrogations. Although Erin's own testimony and Scott Morris's confession justified Mia's and Erin's actions as self-defense, it was Dr. Mitchell Morris's letter that sealed Scott Morris's guilt. The letter arrived via priority mail the morning after Erin had ended Morris's life.

Sitting on Chase's balcony, with her beautiful man at her side, Erin read the letter…

Erin couldn't help but feel betrayed by her mentor. But as she reached down to caress her belly, she now understood the lengths to which parents will go for their children. Even for a child like Scott Morris. Dr. Mitchell Morris had not acted as a doctor or a concerned citizen the night he had found his son in the cemetery or during the months following. No, Dr. Mitchell Morris had just been a desperate father, trying to protect his only son. It was only when all hope was depleted, when Dr. Mitchell Morris had come to the cruel and unfair realization that nothing and nobody would change what Scott Morris had always been, that he confessed and sought forgiveness. Erin wasn't one to hold a grudge. And though Dr. Mitchell Morris's involvement would sting for a bit, she knew she would forgive him in her own time.

I
t was early September and the weather couldn't have been any more beautiful for what Chase had planned, which was much more than what Erin thought the day entailed. Yes, he would be taking her to a Phillies game, but there was one important stop along the way. Chase looked over and took in the lovely sight of his soon-to-be wife staring out the passenger window. She appeared content and youthful in her Phillies cap and Chase Utley t-shirt. At seventeen weeks pregnant, her belly was a perfect little beach ball beneath the stretched cotton. And Chase couldn't be happier.

Erin must have been in a daydream of her own, because she didn't question him when he turned in the opposite direction from the Walt Whitman Bridge, the typical route from New Jersey to Citizens Bank Park in Philly. Chase didn't know for certain how she would react, if they were on the same page with what he was about to propose, but his gut told him to go for it.

He was just about to start the conversation when Erin said dreamily, “I have always loved this town, these tree-lined streets. I grew up a few towns over, which was wonderful, but this town, its charm…it's like something out of a postcard.”

Chase took that window of opportunity and turned left at the next intersection; 428 Mulberry Lane was just ahead. “Erin, do you like living in New York?”

Erin suddenly appeared nervous, scared even, and quickly averted her eyes. Chase pulled the car over right there, which just happened to be directly in front of their destination. He lifted her chin with two fingers and forced her to look at him. “You can tell me, Erin,” he said, smiling at the mother of his children.

She shook her head and said, “No, not really.” Her eyes began to well with tears, a reaction he absolutely didn't want to invoke. “But your company, your home base, is New York. And I want to be wherever you are.”

Her words overwhelmed him, but they were exactly what he needed to hear. “Erin, my home base is wherever I decide, wherever you want it to be. Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco…”

“Philadelphia?” she asked, cutting him off.

This was the moment of uncertainty he had been worried about. Was she ready? Was she willing to live so close to a city that she loved but one that also harbored so many horrific memories?

“Would living in a suburb like this one, just minutes away from Philadelphia, a city home to many reputable medical schools that would love to have you when you're ready, make you happy?” Chase asked.

She swallowed and then nodded. He wiped her first tear away. Chase had a feeling that there were many more to come. “Could you picture yourself and our children living in that house?” Chase let his eyes drift over her shoulder. “Watching our children take their first steps on that lawn?” he asked.

Her eyes grew wide and she followed his gaze. With her mouth agape she turned around to find him dangling a solitary key in front of her. “You can say no, Erin. If it's too much…”

She flung her arms around his neck and between sobs he heard her utter a saying that he was quite fond of. “It's always too much,” she said, burrowing her face into his neck.

“I love you, Erin.” He gently pulled her out of the safety of his neck. He knew she was crying and would most likely be a little embarrassed for being so emotional. But he needed to see her beautiful face. “And I love the family we made,” he said, caressing her belly.

This time she didn't hide in the crook of his neck. Instead, she kissed him and then looked at him with the same passion and heat he had encountered the first time she had walked into his office. Breathless, she asked, “Is the house furnished?”

It would have been an odd question if it had come from anyone else. But he knew his girl and was well aware of what she was really asking. “The bedroom, as the rest of the house, is completely furnished,” he said, unable to hold back a smile.

For her small frame, Erin was incredibly strong, and she practically dragged him out of the car and into their new home. “We have but an hour until the first pitch. Care to make good use of it, Mr. Montclair?”

He lifted her into his arms. “One hour will never be enough,” he said, sealing his mouth over hers. Chase ascended the stairs and right before they entered the bedroom, he looked down at the woman he already considered his wife and said, “It'll never be enough.”

The Phillies game was the perfect backdrop for the surprise engagement party Chase had planned on the sly. Erin didn't know when Chase found the time to round up the intimate group of people she loved dearly and convince them to travel to Philly and take in a ballgame, but she was thrilled beyond belief. Josh was the first to come over and hug her. He was careful not to squeeze her too hard, avoiding her ever-swelling belly at all costs. It was like nothing had ever happened in New York, that she had never accused him of such a heinous act.

Erin was grateful that Chase had convinced her just weeks after Morris's death to spend some time with Josh and mend whatever had been broken. Within minutes on that weekend trip, their relationship had been repaired and strangely enough, had grown stronger because of it. They were more than friends…they were family, and as close as any brother and sister could be.

Paul was next in line, and she embraced her brother with everything she had. Erin took a step back and stared at him. That tortured look in Paul's eyes, that somber cloud that had hovered over him for so long, had dissipated, allowing the sun to finally shine through. She hugged him again and whispered, “I'm so happy, Paul. So happy.” He hugged her tight, responding without words. She knew that her own happiness meant everything to him.

As if on cue, Mia came up beside him and looked up at Paul with adoration and love. “Surprised, Erin?” she asked.

Erin looked around and took in the incredible sight. Chase, Andrew and Robert were sipping beers and laughing at something Josh had said. Ricky and Sam appeared to be sharing their own stories or maybe strategies on how to invade bank accounts without being detected. Erin couldn't believe how far they had all come. How something so horrendous could have brought them all together. “I can't believe we're here,” she said, gesturing to the handful of people she could truly call her family.

“It's great to have everyone together. Erin, I hope you don't mind, but my friend Carina may be stopping by. When she called me this morning, I got the sense that she needed a friend or just a couple hours to kick back and relax.”

“Are you kidding? I would love to meet one of your friends,” Erin said, meaning every word.

“Thanks, Erin. So…back to the subject of surprises,” Mia said, looking at Paul with a mischievous grin. “Can I tell her?” Mia asked.

Erin had no idea where Mia was going with this and looked from Mia to Paul for some sort of explanation. Before Paul could answer, Mia asked, “Did you like Chase's other surprise?”

Erin looked over at Chase and caught him midsip. She scowled at him. Did everyone know that he had given her the house of her dreams earlier that day? Chase shrugged, not letting her look of aggravation affect him. In fact, he looked downright pleased with himself.

“You both knew about the house. Didn't you?” Erin asked.

“I should hope so…neighbor,” Paul said, sharing Mia's devilish grin.

Neighbor? What? Since Paul wasn't dishing, she looked to Mia to spill it. “Are you telling me that you…that you both are…”

“Moving a few streets over from your new home? That your brother landed a job here in Philly behind your back and that I was able to nail down a teaching job here as well?” Mia interrupted.

“But…what? Why? You love teaching in New York. And Paul, well, Pierce and Stone was your dream job,” Erin said, clearly confused.

Mia hugged her. “I'll miss my students in New York, but I know I'll fall in love all over again with my students in New Jersey. And Paul will have no problem making his mark in Philly. And…because we want to watch your precious babies grow up and laugh as Henry chases them around the backyard. And…because we want to have family barbeques and beers on the patio.”

Erin felt two hands surround her expansive belly and her body instantly responded to his touch, allowing the wonderful man behind her to claim her as his. “So, I take it you've met our annoying new neighbors,” Chase said.

“This is all so…perfect,” Erin said, allowing the tears to flow freely.

“Pregnancy tears?” Chase asked.

Erin turned around and shook her head. “These are happy tears,” she said, going up on tiptoes and kissing him deeply.