Seasons of the Fool (21 page)

“Okay. Kids first, and then each other.”

“Deal.” She arrested his hand and kissed his knuckles. Then she sighed. “I need to get up and get ready. I’m supposed to meet Andy and Gabby for breakfast at eight.”

He glanced at the bedside clock and stifled a groan. “It’s not fair. I want to spend the whole day here with you.”

Her heart turned over in her chest. “I wish we could,” she whispered. But she rolled out of bed. Then she stood in the middle of the room. “Um.”

He propped himself up on one elbow, clearly enjoying the view. “Um?”

“My suitcase is still downstairs,” she said. “I’d meant to sleep on the couch. Not that this wasn’t a better idea.”

“I’ll bring it up.” He bounced out of bed and threw on a robe from the back of the door. Then he wrapped both of them in it, pulling her close. “Mmm,” he said, and kissed her.

“Mmm,” she agreed, enjoying the skin-to-skin contact. “But.”

“Yeah. Suitcase.” Reluctantly, he let her go, and headed downstairs.

As they both dressed, he said, “Before you go, would you give me your lawyer’s number?”

“Andy’s?” she asked, puzzled.

“No, Elaine’s.”

She froze, her comb poised above her head, and turned to stare at him.

“I meant what I said,” he told her, fastening his belt. “I’m done. I’m not doing this any more.”

Everything’s going to be fine now.
Randi’s words in her dream came back to her, and she put down her comb. “I didn’t think you’d
ever
....”

“I didn’t, either, to be honest. But she crossed a line when she put my son in danger.” His mouth was set in a grim line.

Hope blossomed in her chest, and for once, she let it be. “I think you’re doing the right thing,” she said. “And not just because I have a vested interest in the outcome.”

~

“I need some advice,” Julia said as she joined Andy and Gabby at their table in the crowded coffee house.

“That’s what you’re paying us for,” said Andy, stirring sugar into his coffee. “Shoot.”

She placed her hands on the edge of the tiny table. “During our marriage,” she said, “Lance shared some things with me about his upbringing. The details would make Twitter go crazy, but they shed some light on why he did what he did. I’m wondering how much of it to bring up.”

The lawyers exchanged a glance. “I wish you’d mentioned this a couple of months ago,” Andy said.

“I’m sorry. I probably should have. But I wasn’t ready to talk about it then.”

Andy pondered the question. “How salacious is it?”

“His mother abused him as a child,” she said quietly, mindful of the public venue. “It was pretty horrific.”

“And that made him want to rob the rich?” Gabby asked. “I don’t get it.”

“It’s complicated,” Julia said, and outlined what she knew.

“Well,” Andy said, settling back, “of course, I can’t direct the questioning. But if you were asked why you thought he did what he did, or any questions that speak to his character, I think you could gloss over the basis of his hatred for his mother by simply saying they had a difficult relationship.”

“Okay,” she said. “Thanks. There’s one other thing.” And she told them about Lance’s threat.

Outraged, Andy hissed, “Why didn’t you call me? Tampering with a witness is serious business. We could have arranged some protection for you.”

“Well,” she said, “I kind of blackmailed him back. I told him I was writing a book about his background, but I wouldn’t publish it if he’d leave me alone. My question is whether I’m leaving myself open to an attack if I testify to the other things we’ve discussed.”

Andy hunched forward. “I’m going to go and have a chat with the prosecutor. If it goes the way I think it will, you will have nothing to worry about. Although,” he said, leaning back, “I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about anyway. Make no mistake, Julia. Your ex-husband is going to pay for what he’s done. My gut tells me that he won’t be in any position to make good on his threat to you for a long, long time. And my gut is almost never wrong.” He slid out of his chair. “I’ll see you both in court.” He strode quickly to the door.

Julia raised her eyebrows at Gabby, who leaned forward and patted her wrist. “It’s going to be fine.”

The words from her dream echoed in her head.
Everything’s going to be fine now.

A few minutes later, the two of them took a seat in the back of the courtroom. The judge called the session to order, and immediately, the prosecutor asked leave to approach the bench. As the judge held a short discussion with both the prosecutor and Lance’s lawyer, Andy came in. Gabby slid over to make room for him.

He leaned toward Julia and crooked a finger at her. She leaned across Gabby’s lap as he said quietly, “I think you’re off the hook.”

Just then, the judge banged his gavel. “Court is in recess for twenty minutes. Gentlemen, would you please join me in my chambers?”

“All rise,” the bailiff said, and the judge swept out, with the prosecutor and Lance’s lawyer trailing behind him.

The minutes ticked by. At about the twenty-minute mark, Lance’s lawyer called his client into the meeting. Julia glanced at Andy; he wore a pleased but serious expression as he nodded to himself.

After nearly an hour, the bailiff told everyone to rise again. The judge, the lawyers, and Lance all took their respective seats, and the courtroom was again called to order.

“Mr. Michaud,” the judge said, “I understand you are ready to change your plea?”

Lance got to his feet again. “I am, Your Honor.” Julia thought he sounded grimly resigned.

“All right, sir. On the first count of fraud, how do you plead?”

“Guilty.”

“On the second count of fraud, how do you plead?”

“Guilty.”

And so on, down the list. In all, Lance pleaded guilty to twenty of the thirty charges against him. In exchange for his plea, the remaining charges were dropped.

“Thank you, Mr. Michaud,” the judge said. “Sentencing will begin tomorrow morning at nine a.m. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will see you then.” He banged his gavel. “Court is adjourned.”

“All rise!” the bailiff called, but he could hardly be heard over the spectators’ excited chatter. Julia stood and craned her neck to get a last look at her ex-husband. As someone snapped handcuffs on him, he sought her out. When their eyes met, she was transfixed by the hatred in his gaze. Then he was led away.

Trembling, she wondered how she could have ever loved him.

~

Over lunch, Andy told her how it had all gone down. “I had a chat with Maury after we adjourned,” he said. Maury was Lance’s lawyer. “The prosecution has been pressing Lance for a plea bargain all along, and Maury had advised Lance to take it. He had suspected something like this might come up, although the intimidation tactics were news to him. But that’s what finally tipped the scales for your ex-husband – the reality that his past might all come out in court. And in exchange, the prosecutor agreed not to charge him with witness tampering.”

Julia had barely touched her salad. “So what does all that mean for me?”

Andy shrugged. “The trial’s over. You don’t have to testify.”

“You mean it’s really over?” she said. “Just like that?”

“Just like that. Well, except for the sentencing phase. And our bill.” He grinned.

She pondered the news for a moment. “I thought I’d be more relieved.”

The lawyers laughed. “Give it time,” said Gabby. “It’ll sink in eventually.”

~

After saying goodbye to her attorneys, she caught a taxi to the hospital where Ritchie had been admitted.

She found Dave alone and dozing in the boy’s room. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he jerked awake. “Oh, gosh, I’m sorry,” she said, stepping back. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

He came to his feet. “Don’t be,” he said, and hugged her. “You just surprised me, that’s all. How’d it go?”

“Lance took a plea bargain at the last minute. I didn’t have to testify at all.”

“No kidding,” he said, leaning back to look at her.

“No kidding,” she said, finally beginning to believe it. “So that’s one down. How’s Ritchie?”

“They’re doing some final tests,” he said. “He should be back any time. Did you get lunch?”

“Yeah, I had something with Andy and Gabby,” she said. “I expect it’ll end up on my final bill.”

He shook his head. “Lawyers have quite a racket, don’t they? Eating on their clients’ dime.” He sat down again, and pulled her into his lap. “I talked to Elaine earlier.”

“Oh?” She slid an arm around his shoulders.

“Yeah. It’ll be a year before it’s final, because of the kids. But she’s drawing up the paperwork.” He took her hand. “I still have to talk to Nina about it.”

Everything’s going to be fine.
“Hey, don’t worry,” she said with a smile. “We’re on a roll. Maybe it’ll go better than you think.”

~

A few days later, they all headed back to Michiana.

Dave gave the kids the option of coming with him to see their mother, but neither of them had changed their minds. He understood completely. He wasn’t looking forward to it, either.

Nina was sitting in the lounge when he arrived. She wore her own dressing gown, which didn’t surprise him; he knew Angie had been by the house in the interim to pick up some of her things.

She stood as he approached. “Hello, Dave.”

“How are you, Nina?” he said. Neither of them had moved to touch the other.

“Better.” She nodded to herself. “Better than I’ve been in years.” She drew in a deep breath and said, “Please sit down. We need to have a talk.”

He sat on a chair, resisting the urge to squirm on the hard Naugahyde-covered cushion. “I agree. Who’s going first?”

“I will.” She faced him, her gaze clearer than it had been in a long, long time. “Dave, I want a divorce.”

All the arguments he had prepared fled. “So do I,” was all he said.

She nodded. “Then it’s settled. Do you want to initiate it, or should I?”

“I’ve already talked to a lawyer,” he said. “She’s working up the papers.”

She nodded again. “All right.”

They looked at each other for a few moments. Finally, he said, “Can I ask you why?”

She blinked back tears and cleared her throat. “That day at Mount Baldy,” she said, “I saw things the way they really are. I’m no mother to our children. Ritchie hates me.”

“He’s just a kid,” Dave began, but she waved at him to stop.

“No, Dave. He has good reason. I’ve been nothing but a disruptive force in his life. In all of your lives. And then I saw you with her.”

“Nina,” he began.

“No, let me finish.” She cleared her throat again. “I know it looked like I was in shock that day, while the rescuers were pulling Ritchie out of that hole.” She shuddered at the memory. “But I wasn’t. I was having a panic attack. Everything was falling apart around me – the kids hated me, I might have killed Ritchie, and she….” She paused, searching for the words. “She was there for you. For all of you. In a way I’ve never been able to be.” She shook her head sadly. “You and she have always belonged together. I’ve known it for a long time, but I was so damned adamant about holding on to you. I thought you and the kids were the only things that could save me.” She looked away for a moment. When her gaze returned to his, it was clear again. “What I’ve realized this week is that in order to heal myself, I need to let you go.”

He nodded. “I’ve come to the same conclusion. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she said. “How does that saying go? Today is the first day of the rest of your life?” She gave him a tremulous smile. “This will be a new beginning for all of us.”

There didn’t seem to be anything more to say. “Take care of yourself,” he said, and rose.

“I will,” she said. “Give my love to the kids.”

He turned away and didn’t look back.

~

Elsie exhaled loudly. “There,” she said, jabbing at her weaving with a plump finger. “That big knot is finally sorted.” She turned to Thea, who was washing her hands at the kitchen sink, and gave her a sunny smile.

“Really? Let me see.” Excitedly, Thea slipped her arm around Elsie’s shoulders and peered at the material on the loom. “Yes. Yes, I see.” She smiled broadly. “I think we might finally be home free, Else,” she said, and leaned down to kiss her. As she stood again, something caught her eye. “Wait. What’s that?”

Elsie looked where Thea was pointing. “Oh, that’s nothing,” she said. “Just a tiny bump in the road.”

~

“Hey, baby,” said a male voice behind Julia.

She paused in the act of pulling up a dandelion from the grass.
It couldn’t be.

But it was. She straightened and tossed the weed into her plastic garbage bag before replying. “Hello, Jesse. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” he said with a wide grin, spreading his arms as if he expected a hug. When she stayed planted, he shook them once, as if she needed to take the hint.