Summer Kisses (32 page)

Next, Thomas slid a contract across the table toward the mediator. “Sources tell me Mr. Baylor has been taking prescription drugs for at least six months.”

Derrick laughed. “That’s absolutely not true. In fact, I still have the same bottle of pills my doctor prescribed six months ago.” Derrick looked at Jill. “I’d like to know who your so-called ‘sources’ are.”

She looked away.

“According to public record,” Thomas went on, “Mr. Baylor’s brother, Jake, had his driver’s license taken away on two separate occasions.”

Derrick looked at Maggie and then back at Tommy

Boy. “What does that have to do with Ryan?”

“Everything,” Thomas said.

“His brother, Jake, was also taken to small claims two years ago for aggravated assault.”

“That’s ridiculous. Jake was cleared. He can be a hothead at times, everyone knows that, but it was simply a misunderstanding.”

Thomas looked Derrick square in the eyes. “Shall I go on?”

“By all means, please do. I have nothing to hide.”

“Your sister-in-law received two DUI’s and—”

The mediator interrupted with a raised hand.

“And now she’s dead,” Derrick said. “Are you happy?” Derrick looked at Jill. Her face was drained of all color, but she remained silent. “What happened to you?” he asked her. “One minute you’re all apple pie and open arms and then this man comes back into your life, the same man who left you at the church to stare into the eyes of humiliation, and suddenly you forget you have a voice?”

She was obviously uncomfortable. She closed her eyes, but still said nothing.

His heart was racing, the blood in his veins pulsing at the idea of his family being dragged into this attempt to publicly humiliate him. Derrick turned to the mediator. “I don’t see how my brother or my dead sister-in-law’s actions are relevant to my seeing Ryan.”

The mediator picked up her gavel and hit the sound block, but it fell to deaf ears.

Thomas’s lips curled upward. “What kind of man makes passes at his brother’s fiancée without remorse or shame? Is that the sort of man you would want taking your child for the day? A man without morals? A man who donates sperm for money and then lies on his application? A man whose relatives are continuously willing to risk the life of another human being because they can’t seem to comprehend the difference between right and—”

Derrick stood so fast his chair toppled over behind him. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

Thomas stood, too. “Go ahead, show the court what sort of man you are…the kind of father you would be to Ryan.”

“Stop it!” Jill said. She looked at Derrick. “I never gave him the permission to question your character or that of your family members. I asked him not to do this.”

Derrick looked over his shoulder and saw the confusion in his mother’s eyes. He’d had enough, so he turned and headed for the door. He couldn’t do this to them, couldn’t stand the idea of Jill and her pals putting his family through more of the same if he were to bring the case to trial.

“Leaving already?” Thomas asked. “We haven’t even broken the ice yet, Mr. Baylor.”

Maggie followed Derrick to the door. “Don’t let him get to you,” she said low enough that no one else could hear. “He’s trying to intimidate you, the oldest trick in the book. Clearly they’re not interested in bringing this case before a judge. He’s playing hardball.”

“I’m finished. No more.”

“But Derrick—”

“I’m sorry. It’s done. We tried.” The door opened and then clicked shut behind him.

Maggie returned to her place at the table. She closed her notebook and tucked it inside her briefcase.

“We’d like to set a date to take this to trial,” Thomas said.

“That won’t be necessary,” Maggie told him. “Mr. Baylor is prepared to sign whatever Ms. Garrison and her attorneys have brought for us today. You won.”

~~~

Jill felt sick to her stomach. This wasn’t how things were supposed to unfold.

“If it will do any good,” Derrick’s father said as he approached the table, “I would like to leave these with the court.” He held up a thick packet. “These are letters and emails we collected from hundreds of people who can attest to our son’s good character.”

Jill wanted to explain to Derrick’s father that this was not her doing, but she couldn’t find the words to undo the hurt Thomas had already caused.

The mediator took the papers from Derrick’s father and placed them on top of her file.

Thomas picked up the contract he’d meticulously prepared, but before handing the contract off to Maggie, Jill snatched it from him and ripped it in half.

“What are you doing?” Thomas asked. “Don’t be childish.”

“I want the court to know,” Jill said to the mediator, ignoring Thomas, “that Derrick Baylor is a good man and a wonderful father. Every member of his family welcomed me into their lives without judgment or question.” She turned toward Derrick’s family. “I never intended for this to happen.” She swept a hand toward Thomas. “I had no idea Mr. Fletcher and his lawyers would stoop so low. I’m so sorry.”

“Jill!” her father said. “You do not need to apologize for wanting what’s best for your son…our grandson.”

“You’re wrong,” Jill told her father. “I was wrong. Being a part of the Baylor family is what’s best for Ryan. My son would be lucky to have such a compassionate and caring family to call his own. These people already love Ryan as much as they love one another. I don’t know what I was thinking in coming here today.” Tears slid down both sides of her face. “I want Ryan to have the support and love of both our families.” She looked at her mom, who looked torn between siding with her daughter or her own husband. Her father stood, wanting no part of Jill’s heartfelt speech. “For some reason,” Jill went on, “fate stepped in and brought these loving people into my life and, more importantly, into Ryan’s life. I only hope Derrick’s family can forgive me for making them listen to such a distasteful and unnecessary attack.” She straightened, and then turned back to face Thomas. “I’d like you and your lawyer friends to leave now.”

Less than ten minutes later, outside the Burbank courtroom with traffic on East Olive keeping a steady pace, Maggie approached Jill, stopping her before she entered the parking garage.

“Nice speech,” Maggie said.

Jill answered with a tight, uncomfortable smile.

Maggie reached inside her purse, pulled out a tape recorder and pushed play.

Jill had no idea what Maggie was up to, but then she heard Maggie’s voice emit from the recorder: “I
love you. I want to be with you forever. Runaway with me, Derrick. Today. Now
.”

Jill could hear Derrick laughing on the recorder.

“
Are you laughing
?”
Maggie asked
.

“
I’m sorry. It’s just that your timing is impeccable. I don’t love you, Maggie
.”

“
So you weren’t just saying that because Aaron was standing there last night
?”

“
No. I was telling the truth. I guess I just needed some sense knocked into me to make me realize I didn’t like losing to Aaron
.”

“
Hey…what are you doing
?”

There was some strange sounds in the background and then Maggie’s voice again: “
So you’re telling me you got in my face every chance you could, you ruined my relationship with Aaron, you did it all just for the hell of it…all because you’re a big tough guy who’s used to getting his way? Because you like to win
?”

“
I know it looks bad, Maggie. I wish I could take it all back. I wish I had seen what everyone else saw a long time ago. I love you like a sister, but the truth is, I love Jill. I didn’t know what love was until I met her
.”

Maggie clicked the Off button. “For the record,” she told Jill, “I didn’t want to run off and marry Derrick, but I knew Derrick was falling for you way before he knew it himself. I also knew that the only way to make him see the truth was to offer him what he thought he wanted. It was a low blow, but I taped the conversation.” She held up the recorder. “I did it because I wanted proof for Aaron. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life trying to convince Aaron that Derrick didn’t love me the same way Aaron loves me. I love Aaron. I always have.” She dropped the recorder into her purse. “You must think I’m nuts for stooping so low.” Maggie sighed. “I just needed everyone to know that truth once and for all.”

“I don’t think you’re nuts,” Jill said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done.” She shook her head. “I will say that I’m at a loss for words.”

“That’s understandable,” Maggie said, “but there’s one more thing.”

Jill waited.

“Derrick wasn’t ready to tell everyone in the courtroom, but he talked to his coach yesterday. He won’t be playing football any longer. I guess his knee is worse than we all realized. He’s retiring from the NFL.”

“What’s he going to do?”

“I’m not sure. I just thought you might want to know.”

Jill wasn’t sure exactly what Maggie expected from her, but she had a feeling she was trying to play matchmaker. “Thanks for telling me…and for allowing me to listen to the tape.”

“No problem.” Maggie reached into her purse again and this time she handed Jill a business card. “If you ever need a good lawyer, or just a friend, give me a call.”

Derrick had landed at LAX forty-five minutes ago, and he was glad to be home. It was Friday. He set the flowers he’d bought in the terminal on the passenger seat, put the key in the ignition, and headed for Burbank. Four days had passed since he’d left Jill and her lawyers in the courtroom. All four of those days were spent in New York City interviewing for a job.

After the mediation fiasco, he’d driven straight to his Malibu home. He’d allowed himself twenty-four hours to release his frustrations by swimming and shooting hoops. He’d been angry at the tactics Jill’s lawyers had used and frustrated by Jill’s refusal to see that it was best if he was in his son’s life. He was also aggravated with himself for causing his family so much pain, first by coming between Aaron and Maggie and then by having their private lives thrown to the wolves. His parents had been through enough. And yet he’d continuously caused them trouble, and what did they do to punish him? Within hours of returning to his Malibu home from mediation, they smothered him with cards and phone calls and more love than any one man deserved.

It hadn’t helped matters that his football career was over. But it didn’t take him long to focus on the good, remember how lucky he was, and to once again feel grateful for all he had. By the time Gary Chamberlain called, asking him to fly back East to interview for a television commentator job, he was done with his pity-party and ready to tackle life head on.

Although the sharp pain pulsing through his knee was nothing compared to the pain he felt in his chest, a bottomless ache he knew wouldn’t go away until he saw Jill again, he needed to take care of business first. He’d wanted to have something more than his heart to offer Jill when he returned home. He wanted to offer her a future.

And now that he was home again, he was ready.

~~~

Jill reviewed the list of articles they had planned for next month’s issue and then moved on to the advertising and marketing they had planned. Sandy had done a superb job of getting advertisers excited about this month’s issue.

Chelsey had already discussed her plans for the layout. Now she stood in the kitchen and looked out the window over Jill’s sink. “So, Derrick moved out of the building?”

“I don’t think he moved,” Sandy said. “I peeked through his window and everything looks the same.”

“You should call him,” Chelsey told Jill.

“I tried, but he never returned my call. What does it matter anyhow? I’m beginning to think there’s not a man in the world who truly knows what he wants out of life.”

Chelsey sat on the chair across from Jill. Her brow puckered. “I thought you said you heard a tape recording of Derrick’s voice telling his lawyer he loved you.”

“That’s right, I did.”

“Maybe you should go after him.”

“Why? He knows where to find me.”

“Well, you did show up at mediation with three lawyers and then proceed to destroy his family, one member at a time. I mean, come on. We all know his family means everything to him. And if
you
really loved
him
, then you would go to him.”

Jill frowned. “I told him right then and there that I had no idea Thomas was going to pull such a stunt.” Jill didn’t like the painful tug she felt inside, so she did her best to ignore it. “Derrick knows I was only trying to protect Ryan. Besides, I’m sure his family has told him I tore up the contract and kicked Thomas and his lawyer friends out of there. What else could I have done?”

Sandy exhaled. “Nothing. You did everything you could.”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Jill said. “I have a date with Nate tonight and I don’t want to feel depressed when he picks me up.”

Chelsey raised a brow. “You have a date with the doctor?”

“It’s no big deal,” Jill assured her. “Nate knows I have a lot to deal with right now. We’re just friends.”

~~~

For what seemed like the hundredth time, Derrick stood in front of Jill’s door.

He was dressed in a suit and tie of all things and he was holding two dozen red roses. Tucked inside his jacket pocket was a diamond ring, a two-carat flawless emerald cut antique that he’d splurged on after he’d turned down the job in New York and taken the broadcasting job in Los Angeles instead.

When he knocked, he noticed that his hands were trembling. He tried to laugh off the nerves. Believing it couldn’t get any worse, Sandy opened the door.

Lexi screamed with joy when she saw him, latching onto his leg with such a loving fierceness, he thought his heart would melt. The kid was growing on him…literally.

He looked over Sandy’s shoulder, trying to see into the apartment. “Is Jill home?”

“No, she’s not.” She leaned forward, close to his ear, so Lexi wouldn’t overhear. “What the hell took you so long?”