Until Then (Cape Harbor)

by Heidi McLaughlin

  Graham reached into his own bowl of popcorn and threw a handful at Bowie. Luke was like a sniper and moved lightning fast to inhale the pieces on the floor. He sat at Bowie’s stool and begged for another morsel. “Now look at what you’ve done,” he said, reaching down to pat his dog on the head. “I’m going to head out. Call me later if you get any news on Grady.”

  “Will do.” Graham watched as Bowie left, and another group walked in. A party of four sat at one of the tables, while another party of two sidled up to the bar. “What can I get for you?”

  “Anything local on tap?” the young man asked.

  Graham nodded and pointed to the chalkboard. “Everything on the board is local. Domestic is bottled.”

  “Great, I’ll take the Muddy Moose Stout.”

  “And I’ll have a white-wine spritzer,” the woman said.

  Graham asked to see their IDs and, after a thorough inspection, handed them back and started his routine. Everything for him was automatic, from grabbing the right glasses to pulling the tab and tilting the pint glass at the perfect angle to pouring the right combination of white wine and sparkling water. As much as he hated the bar, the work was easy, and he was a natural. There were times when the rowdies came in, or he had to cut someone off—those days proved to be stressful, but he was a mindful bartender and owner. If he felt you had too much to drink, showed signs of being drunk, or had an overall feeling someone shouldn’t drive home, he called for a cab and notified the local police to come down and hang out. He felt having the police in the bar sent a strong message to the patrons. He didn’t want an accident on his hands, and Graham was more than willing to help people get home safely.

  The bar was like Pandora’s box in the sense that once the door opened and people started coming in, others followed. By midafternoon, the place was about full. Not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth, Graham busted his tail to keep everyone happy.

  ELEVEN

  Rennie found herself standing at her office window, watching the snow fall to the ground. The accumulation was minimal but enough to cause concern and some panic among the locals if the temperature stayed below freezing. The somewhat-warm temperatures from the holiday weekend turned frigid overnight. She crossed her arms and shivered. After spending the past few days with Graham, she’d thought a lot about their past, especially in California. They had been close, more than best friends, but their lives had been turned upside down with a tragic event, and they could never find their way back to each other. Not that she’d tried, and she was certain Graham hadn’t either. One moment had changed everything.

  She turned back to her desk and eyed the stack of reference books she’d pulled from the office’s law library when she’d arrived. Next to the books sat her notes from the weekend, reports she’d found online, and the information from the arresting police officers. Grady’s arrest would happen as soon as he woke from his coma, which Rennie suspected could be any day. From what she read online, medically induced comas lasted about two weeks. Most doctors felt this gave them enough time to assess and administer the necessary actions to make the patient stable. If Grady’s doctor kept him sedated for the duration, his arraignment would be shortly before Christmas. Rennie wanted to handle Grady’s case because she felt she knew what was best for him and the Chamberlains, but she wanted guidance from one of her coworkers.

  Next to the pile of reference books sat the files of her other clients—her paying clients. They needed more, if not all, of her attention, and she entertained the idea of hunkering down in her office for the night. She didn’t need to be out in the elements and had a change of clothes in her office. Staying would also give her uninterrupted access to the library and the firm’s database of cases.

  Theo had returned to Spokane the night before. He was supposed to fly to Seattle, spend the night, and return home in the morning, but somewhere along the line, his company messed up his flight, and he had texted his apologies to Rennie, with promises of making up for their lost time. They would spend Christmas together, he promised her, waking up in her apartment and opening gifts before heading up to Cape Harbor for a few days and finally traveling north to Canada. Four nights in Whistler, complete with snowcapped mountains, endless skiing, spa treatments, and hot toddies by the fireplace. Theo was the skier, more so than Rennie. She would venture out for an hour or two and do a couple of the low-level runs with him, but she looked forward to some good old-fashioned relaxation. She’d already booked a manicure and pedicure, as well as a mud bath. And couple’s massage and quiet dinners by candlelight for them to share. She wanted their getaway to be perfect, magical. When she told Brooklyn of her New Year’s plans, Brooklyn teased, saying Theo was going to propose. Rennie brushed her off but secretly wanted Theo to slip a diamond onto her ring finger.

  Rennie had held her hand out and waited for the smile to come. It hadn’t. Lately, she felt a disconnect with Theo and wondered if they wanted the same things out of life. An engagement seemed to be in their future, their next step, but Rennie wasn’t sure if she wanted it now. In the past few months, her emotions had been all over the place. Pure excitement from seeing Graham again after all those years. Joy and happiness from spending weekends in Cape Harbor, although Theo wouldn’t accompany her, to contentment when she snuggled on the couch with Theo, alone in her apartment. Contentment wasn’t previously in her vocabulary, and the thought made her feel old.

  Her intercom buzzed, and she walked over to her phone, pressing the button. “Yes, Ester?”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Ms. Wallace, but your mother is holding for you.”

  My mother?

  “Thanks, I’ll take her call,” she said, mentally calculating the time difference and wondering if something was wrong. They texted on Thanksgiving, and her mother hadn’t indicated anything was amiss.

  “Hello, Mom. Is everything okay?”

  “Renee, we’re going to have a white Christmas.”

  She looked over her shoulder and made a face even though her mom couldn’t see it. “I doubt it. The snow is barely sticking.”

  “Not you—your father and I.”

  Rennie rolled her eyes and sat down at her desk, wiggled the mouse to bring her computer to life, and followed the path to start a solitaire game. It was mindless and helped her pass the time through her mother’s idle chitchat.

  “How so?” she asked. She learned a long time ago not to count on having her parents around, especially for the holidays.

  “Your father wants to go to Alaska. We’ll be there until after New Year’s.”

  Alaska is close to home, Rennie thought. “I can’t wait to see you.”

  “What do you mean?” her mother asked.

  Of course. Rennie closed her eyes for a moment before turning her attention back to her card game. She moved cards back and forth, purposely making her mother wait. When her board cleared, she pumped her fisted hand and clicked to start a new game.

  “Nothing. I just thought you’d come home to visit if you were in Alaska.”

  Her mother sighed. “I’ll look at the calendar and see if we have time. We’re heading out on a monthlong cruise to the Mexican Riviera afterward.”

  “No worries, Mom. I love how you and Dad are enjoying your retirement.”

  “You should join us on our cruise.” The suggestion, while nice, was impossible.

  “Maybe next time,” she replied. “Listen, Mom. I gotta run.”

  “Oh, Renee, you work too hard. You need to take a break.”

  She hated the name Renee. Her parents, Theo, and her coworkers all referred to her by her given name, but she preferred Rennie. Yet, it only ever stuck with the Cape Harbor crew and college friends.

  “Theo and I are going away for New Year’s. Up to the mountains.”

  “But you hate skiing. I don’t understand why you’d take a vacation if you don’t love the destination. Relationships are about compromise.”

  “I don’t mind it. It’s just not my favorite act
ivity. Besides, Theo loves to ski. I’m happy being in the spa all day.”

  “All right, dear. I have to go. I’m tired, and your father and I have a big day planned. We’ll talk soon. Love you.” Before Rennie could respond, her mother hung up.

  Rennie sat back in her chair and swiveled to look out the window. She replayed her mother’s words in her mind. She couldn’t recall a time when her parents fought or even had a disagreement. To her, they were always even keeled and happy. Rennie wanted a relationship like her parents’.

  Her intercom buzzed again, and she pressed the button so Ester could talk. “Just your friendly reminder about the staff meeting. Your lunch is in the conference room.”

  “Thank you, Ester.”

  Rennie gathered her binder, along with her notes on Grady’s case, and made her way down the hall to the conference room, which filled up quickly. She found an open seat, but before she sat down, she searched the various food items on the table, looking for her name. She grabbed her salad, went over to the drink cart, picked out a Sprite, and went back to her chair.

  Unlike their quarterlies, where the discussions centered around money and bottom lines, this meeting was about their cases and who needed help with research, depositions, or investigations. If Lex Davey was anything, he was nosy. He wanted to know everything, give input on cases—as if he knew what he was talking about—and instruct the lawyers on how to settle or hit it out of the park for the big bucks. Unfortunately, the staff had no choice but to appease him, but at least he provided lunch once a week.

  Rennie dug into her salad, trying to eat as much as she could before she had to talk. She tried to listen to her coworkers, to see if she could offer anyone help and to see who could help her with Grady’s case.

  “Renee, you’re up. What do you have, and do you need any help?” Lex asked her.

  She set her fork down and moved her salad away so she could flip through her notes and recount the controversial divorce case she had. “The Sotos have a mediation meeting after the first of the year. Mr. Soto has stalled on talks, which we are using to Mrs. Soto’s advantage. She wants to wrap this up because she has a contract she’s waiting to sign for another book series. I’ve also taken a pro bono case for a family I grew up with. Ester filed the contract today. An arrest and arraignment are imminent.”

  “What’s the case? And since when do you practice criminal law?” Lex interrupted.

  Rennie tried not to let his behavior get to her, but the man was rude. She cleared her throat and told the conference room about her weekend and what the charges would be against her new client. Rennie made eye contact with a few of her team members who specialized in criminal cases and hoped they’d volunteer some of their time. If not, she would beg.

  “I don’t practice criminal law, but under the circumstances and knowing what the family wants for their son, I believe I can get my friend the help he needs.”

  “I’m confused,” Lex huffed.

  “What’s confusing? Surely I’m not the only lawyer in the firm to help out a friend or take a case as pro bono.” She stared down her boss. He side-eyed her, which Rennie didn’t like.

  “Pass it off. Don’t waste company time on something like this.” Lex moved to the next partner, effectively shutting her down. He pissed her off, and she hated the way he spoke to her. Rennie had no intention of passing the case off to anyone. She would represent Grady because it was what she’d promised his family.

  While she stewed over the way Lex treated her, she continued to pick at her salad. She took notes on a few of the cases her colleagues spoke about and intended to send them case files she had recently worked on, and she worked hard not to roll her eyes when Lex talked about how to practice law, spoke about ethics and the legal system. He knew nothing. As soon as Lex adjourned the meeting, Rennie gathered her things, steadied her salad on her binder, and walked back to her office.

  “Renee, wait up.” She turned to find Jefferson Perkins coming toward her. He fell in step beside her.

  “Hey, Jeff. What’s up?”

  “Your pro bono, what’s up with it?” They entered her office, where she set her binder down but held her salad bowl in her hands. Jeff motioned for her to continue eating, and she did.

  After she swallowed, she told him again the story of Grady but added the accident and the fifteen years of alcohol abuse.

  “Do you have a strategy?” he asked her.

  “I’m waiting for him to wake up. Once arrested, I’ll appear on his behalf and go from there.”

  Jeff nodded. “At his arraignment, ask to skip the preliminary hearing. Tell the judge your client is entering rehab. That’ll give you at least ninety days to get the case in order and plead him out to misdemeanors.”

  “Really?” Rennie asked, stunned. “Will that work?”

  “He’s a first-time offender and is unlikely to face jail time if he’s in a treatment facility.”

  “Thanks, Jefferson.”

  “No problem. If you want me to sit second chair, let me know.”

  Rennie thanked him again as he left her office. She felt reassured and confident, knowing she had cocounsel to assist her if need be. Ester stood in her doorway with a folder in her arm. Rennie had a new client waiting for her in the conference room.

  “What do we know about Ms. Futter?” Rennie asked as she reached for the folder. Ester filled her boss in and followed her to the smaller, cozier meeting room. She shut the door behind them, pulled the blinds closed, and sat across from Rennie with her pen and notepad, ready to take notes.

  “Hello, I’m Renee Wallace. You must be Ms. Futter?” She shook hands with the trembling woman.

  “Yes, but can you call me Leah?”

  Rennie nodded. “I know you’ve already spoken to my assistant, Ester, but I’d like for you to tell me what’s going on.”

  “My husband and I recently separated. I was under the impression we were going to go to counseling to try and work things out, but I lost my job, and the same day, he served me with papers.” Leah Futter slid the trifold stack toward Rennie. She opened it and scanned the document.

  “It says here he wants full custody of your children. How old are they?”

  “Five and three.”

  “Just babies,” she muttered. “Why did you and Mr. Futter separate?”

  “He had an affair, and now he wants our children to live with his girlfriend.”

  Rennie nodded. She loathed people like Mr. Futter and would love nothing more than to take him down a peg or two. “We can take your case, but I won’t be your acting counsel. I’m going to assign you to one of my staff members. They’ll keep me apprised through the process, and Ester will always be available to answer any questions you have.” She set her hand on top of Ms. Futter’s and squeezed it. She then looked at Ester and asked, “Can you see if Charlie or Barbara is available for a consult?” Ester nodded and exited the room.

  “I’m deeply sorry you’re going through this, but we’ll make things right for you. Unfortunately, the fact that your husband cheated will have no bearing on your divorce, but the fact that you’re unemployed does. Do you have another job lined up?”

  “I’ve been looking, but it’s hard. I’m sad a lot.”

  “I can understand.”

  Charlie Raymond, a bright young lawyer on team Wallace, entered the room. Rennie made introductions and then stepped out. On her way back to her office, she ran into Donna, who followed Rennie into her office and shut the door behind her.

  “Hey, it looks like the Soto case is going to close soon—that’ll be a relief.” Donna’s words caught Rennie off guard. She had just told everyone during the staff meeting that they were heading to mediation after Christmas. Nothing about mediation screamed resolution. However, Rennie played along.

  “The husband is grasping at straws. She was the breadwinner for only a small part of their marriage. He’s lazy and doesn’t want to work.” Rennie sat at her desk and motioned for Donna to sit across from her.
“And I just finished meeting with a new client whose husband cheated, moved in with the mistress, and now wants full custody of the children. The wife, who is now our client, is blindsided. She thought they were going to try counseling.”

  “Who did you assign the case to?”

  “Charlie. She’s hungry, and I think she can handle it and really send the husband through the wringer.”

  “Listen, Lex isn’t happy about your pro bono case. Wants me to dig a little to see what’s going on.”

  Rennie wanted to roll her eyes. “Since when are my cases monitored?”

  “They’re not. It’s just the pro bono side. You know how Lex is.”

  “Fine,” Rennie huffed. “I’ll make sure to do the work on my own time and use vacation days when I have to go to court.” The fact that Grady’s case had become a sore spot pissed her off. The firm took pro bono work all the time and had their first-years volunteering for legal aid. This case wasn’t out of the ordinary.

  “I don’t get why it’s so important to you, Renee. Surely your caseload keeps you busy.”

  Rennie shook her head. “Like I said, family friends. I’ve known them most of my life, and they need my help. I won’t turn my back on them.”

  She watched Donna. For what, she wasn’t sure. Rennie found it odd that her decision to take a case was up for questioning. In the years she had been at the firm, and in her time as a junior partner, she had never seen another lawyer experience this sort of embattlement. Donna seemed to have gotten the hint that Rennie had nothing left to say regarding the case and excused herself, but not before giving her a veiled look as she exited the room.

  TWELVE

  George Chamberlain sat on a barstool at the Whale Spout, nursing a pint of beer. He’d walked in shortly after eleven in the morning, sat down, and ordered. Graham watched his father like a hawk and wondered what was going on in the older man’s head. His father had yet to go to Port Angeles to visit Grady since Thursday, despite urgings from his mother and himself. As much as Graham hated the drive, he made it three to four times a week, mostly to be with his mom, and each time he went, he asked his dad to come along. The answer had yet to change from no to yes, and Graham wasn’t going to ask anymore. Grady’s doctor intended to wean him off sedation today and felt it would be nice to have his family there.