This was the part… My heart lurched and my stomach rolled in agony. A trail of tears washed down my cheek.
“Baby, you don’t have to do this.”
I sniffed and nodded. “But I do.” I flicked a tear away and stared through the sunset as though all I saw was darkness. “I haven’t told anyone what happened. Not even Grace.” I cleared my throat. “I have a lot to tell you.”
“Okay.”
After a few deep breaths, my eyes dried, my stomach settled, and my voice came in its solid form. “When I got back, I went to pick him up, and he wasn’t with her anymore. She told me Sean had him. I ran up the hill into the house. It was quiet, too quiet. I called them both, and when no one answered, I started screaming for Kieran. Sean’s car was there. His wallet was on the table. I knew he didn’t go far.” My mind retraced my footsteps as I raced through the house that day. “I found Sean passed out in the bedroom. When I shook him, he started screaming at me to shut up and leave him alone, but I needed to know Kieran was okay, so I just kept badgering him. He had locked him in the closet in the dark after he beat him with the belt.”
Simon stared at me, his face blank.
“The scar on his back came from the belt, the one on his face came from the buckle, I think. When I found him, he was all bloody and scared. Sean came storming in there. He told me to put him back in the closet because Kieran was being punished.” In my mind, my fury blinded me to Sean’s. “I fought back once and he didn’t take that very well, but this time, I went after him. My boy, my baby, was standing behind me bleeding, scared to death. I had to do something. He made me promise not to tell the cops what happened when I took Kieran to the hospital.”
“But you told.”
“Yeah. First thing I did. This really nice cop came to talk to me, and he helped me get out of there. He stayed with me while they sewed up Kieran, and he helped me plan how to get out. He even let me use his phone to call for help.” I’d only known one California number by heart. My fingers had shaken as I dialed, hoping the vibe I’d always gotten hadn’t been wrong. “While it was clearly the worst night of my life, it was the best, too, because I got away, made Kieran safe again.”
“I’m glad that son of bitch is dead.”
I couldn’t lie. Although, I hadn’t wished it out loud, I’d felt it almost since our wedding day. “Me too.”
“I’ll never hurt you.”
“I’ve always known that, Simon.”
“I love you.”
And for that night, it was enough.
Chapter 30
Tuesday morning, court started with a full-out battle in chambers between Grace and Cal. The judge and I each stared at them as they volleyed back and forth, their arguments enraged. Cal wanted Lizette’s testimony to proceed uncensored or clarified by a direction from the judge. Grace argued the testimony would do nothing but make me look bad. While certainly Cal’s intent, Grace argued my rights took precedence.
“She’s going to testify to hearsay evidence.” Grace stood, bent at the waist, her face inches from Cal’s. “She has no proof of anything he said or if it’s true.”
“Your Honor, the jury deserves to hear all the evidence. They deserve to hear Sean Hunter believed the child belonged to someone else, and he’d just found out. He was only in town to verify the truth of it.” Cal spoke the words without ever tearing his gaze from my attorney’s. “He’s being painted as a vicious stalker when he had every right to use whatever means necessary to learn the truth.”
“He painted the word ‘whore’ across the front of her house. He stalked her, terrorized her and, if you ask me, the kid is lucky he doesn’t belong to that psychopath.”
“Oh, speaking ill of the dead, Miss Wade, the person your client killed. That’s gonna earn you a few extra minutes in hell.”
Grace rolled her eyes and probably would have thumped him in the head had the judge not intervened.
“Let’s try to keep our comments confined to the legal issues before us.” The judge spoke quietly from behind a massive desk with a picture of former president Clinton behind it. “Miss Wade.”
Grace remained standing nose to nose with Cal. When the judge repeated her words, Grace straightened her skirt, fluffed her hair, and took her seat.
“Mr. Cooper, she cannot testify to the truth of his words. She may only testify the conversation happened. You may not imply, infer, suggest, or in any way lead the jury to believe the words he spoke to Miss Lightener are the truth.”
Fire flew from Grace’s eyes. “Just because he told her whatever he told her does not make it fact.”
With a wave of her hands, we were dismissed to return to the courtroom. After the initial commotion of the jury being led in and the gallery dwellers bustling for seats, Cal called Lizette Lightener to the stand.
“Don’t look down, and don’t look away from her” had been Grace’s pearls of wisdom. “Let her see your face or she won’t show mercy.”
I kept my eyes pointed at her, wiped the hostility away with the thought of my boy being left alone with my parents. Lizette, in her ivory linen pant suit straight off the rack at Sears, strolled up to the witness box, raised her right hand, and swore to tell the truth while I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my face impassive. She took her seat and my gaze never managed to break free of hers.
From the grin on his face, Cal had started springing mental cartwheels in anticipation. I remained staring at Lightener. Her glare spoke volumes and I smiled, testing the waters. She squinted hard.
“Good morning, Ms. Lightener.”
Grace clenched her pencil as Cal spoke.
“Good morning.”
“On June fourth of last year, where did you work?”
“In the bakery I owned with Jocelyn Shaw.”
The ridiculous cartoon voice and her oversized man body were at complete odds with one another, and I hid an inappropriate giggle behind my hand.
I prayed Cal stayed with the boring, mundane questions rather than jumping to the gasp-inspiring scandal version she probably couldn’t wait to deliver.
“At the time, I owned half of the business and I worked the counter, made donuts, and handled business transactions.”
“On June fourth, did you speak with Sean Turner?”
She nodded. Her coal black hair, cut short around her face, caught the light of the overhead fluorescents, making it seem almost Elvis Blue. “He came in looking for Jocelyn. She was gone so I asked if I could help him. He asked if I knew Danielle.”
“And did you?”
“I’d only met her once before, but I’d heard a lot about her.” Her frown dug deep into the lines around her lips.
“Did Mr. Turner share with you the reason he wanted to speak with Jocelyn?”
“About her brother, Simon, and his new relationship with her.”
Wow.
She pointed a finger in my direction.
“And what about their relationship?” His smirk, as he turned to face me, said Cal loved this a little too much.
I hated him for it.
“He said she had some big secret. He said he would see her in hell before he let her have his son.” Yeah. She flipped me a mental bird with that one.
Cal nodded. “Did Mr. Turner give you anything to give to Mrs. Shaw?”
Lizette nodded and licked her lips. I clenched my fist but remained seated as I waited for the answer. She paused and looked around Cal at me. “Yes, he did.”
“Did you give it to her?”
Lizette feigned shame. “No. I’m friends with Simon and I wanted to see him happy. I didn’t want to ruin their relationship.” Her voice climbed an octave higher than it had been a moment earlier.
Pfft.
Cal strode to his desk--a man on a mission--and extracted a piece of paper from an envelope.
Shit. Damn. Shit. I looked away as he handed the paper to Lizette.
“Is this what he gave you?”
>
More teeth than I’d ever seen before enveloped her face as she smiled. “Yes.”
Cal reclaimed the paper, then handed it to Grace. She stood and without ceremony approached the bench.
Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit.
Grace returned to the table, paper in hand. “Your honor, we ask for an immediate recess so my office can verify the validity of this report.”
The judge cast a weary glance at Cal. He shrugged as though he hadn’t a care in the world. I sighed and she granted a recess until Thursday at one PM.
Grace grimaced at me. “I guess it’s time I earn your money.”
“Please, I can’t have it come out this way, Grace. Not now.”
She dropped me at home and promised to call me later. Fear stuttered my steps as I walked out to where Simon and Kieran lounged on the chaise, both dripping water all over the concrete.
“Are you gonna marry my mom?” Kieran looked over at Simon and I stepped behind a column holding up the awning over the patio. Anticipation pooled in my stomach. I wanted to hear his answer before I made my presence known.
“Would it be okay? If I asked your mom to be my wife?”
“I guess.” Kieran pulled his towel tighter. “My dad hit my mom.” Simon stayed quiet and Kieran added, “He hit me once.” His finger touched the spot where a two-inch white scar remained. He turned away from Simon and stared out at the floating ring on the surface of the pool.
“I would never hit your mom, or you.”
I had known him all my life. Simon solved life’s problems with words and love, not fists and anger. Gentility rolled off him in waves. Believing him was easy.
Kieran turned to Simon. “Promise?”
Simon nodded. “I promise.”
I stepped from behind the column and up to the chair they shared. “Hi.”
Kieran looked up. He used Simon’s leg as a springboard to launch himself into my arms. I stumbled backward, but caught my balance as I landed against another pillar. “I missed you today, buddy!” I pressed a kiss against his scar, then his cheek.
“I missed you too. I went swimming with Simon, and he said later we’re going to muck a stall.” He said it fast, as though all one word.
I laughed. “Do you know what mucking a stall means?”
“Nope.”
Simon beamed a grin over the top of Kieran’s head, and I, once again, thanked God for all I had and all I no longer had to worry about. I had one detail gnawing at me, the one I’d hid so long--too long.
“Simon, I need to talk to you.” My voice trembled and I clutched my son tighter. The time had come for the big reveal.
Concern furrowed his brows as he regarded me with what I could only call wary eyes. “Do you have another husband stuck away somewhere?”
I smiled. “No.” I watched him pull on his T-shirt, and for once, I hated all things cotton. As soon as I said the words, everything between me and Simon, everything in my entire world would change, and before it happened, I selfishly wanted one more perfect afternoon with him. “But we can talk later. I’m going to go put on a suit and get some sun before it all disappears.”
“I’ll wait here and take my let’s-have-a-talk shirt off.” He grinned, and yanked his T-shirt over his head.
We spent the afternoon with Kieran, splashing and playing in the last of the summer sunshine.
“Mom, don’t you think I should have a nap?” He had a fisted hand on each hip, a wide stance, and a tight line for a mouth.
“I suppose so.” I chuckled. “Let’s go.”
He ran upstairs, changed his clothes, and hopped into his bed before I made it to the landing. I kissed his cheek and pulled the blanket up to his chin. “If you need me, just call out.”
But his eyes were already closed in sleep.
I took a deep breath and walked outside to sit by Simon.
Finally, he pressed his lips to mine. “Why were you home so early?”
“Recess so Grace could take care of something--an evidence thing.” I’d never been vague with him about my case before--never had a real reason--but, if he noticed, he didn’t react. His smile remained in place, and his gaze raked over my body.
Taking in every detail of his face, I slowly memorized as much as I could. I didn’t know how the next few moments were going to go, but if it went badly, I wanted to be able to recall everything about him later. The summer sun lightened his blond hair even more, reacting with the highlights Gatlin begged to put in. His eyes glowed the color of warmed brandy. He needed to shave, but the look on him inspired a desire to run my hands over his cheeks. His body glistened, smooth and rippled, as though it had been chiseled from stone, and I slid a hand over his abs.
The only flaw, if it could be called such a thing, was the small sunburst at his hairline that showed his courage, his willingness to die to protect others. Unless he pulled his hair straight back, the scar hid behind long strands. He’d always been beautiful and perfect, and I had about six seconds left before I lost him. My body trembled at the thought.
He sat quietly as I continued my inventory of all the things that made him the Simon I loved. After a few minutes, he tipped my chin up with his finger. “Whatever it is, Dani, you can tell me.”
I swallowed hard. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have words ready. I put my head on his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
“This is us. You can tell me anything.”
“I don’t want to lose you.”
His thumb caressed my cheek. “Dani, don’t you know?” He pulled me close and touched his lips to mine in a kiss so gentle I sighed when he pulled back. “I don’t remember my life after I turned seventeen, but you are familiar to me. As soon as I saw you in the bakery that day, I felt a connection to you. It’s why Lizette and I didn’t work out. I needed you before we ever touched again.” His forehead rested against mine. “Nothing you can say will drive me away. I’m here because I can’t be without you. And as weak as it makes me, I don’t want to be without you.”
As I opened my mouth to say the words, my phone rang. I looked at the screen. Grace. “I have to take this, okay?” He dropped his hands as I answered. “Well?” We’d dispensed with hello as a greeting long ago.
“There’s nothing I can do to stop it. You are going to have to testify, and it better be good.”
I closed my eyes.
“Dani? Are you there?”
“Yeah.” Taking a deep breath, I blew it out into the speaker of the phone, trying to disguise my turmoil from the waiting Simon.
“You’d better tell him and soon. Today might not be soon enough.”
“Okay.” My voice shrunk into a squeak. “Grace, am I going to jail?”
She took a long pause, then came back in a whisper. “I don’t know, Dani. I hope not.” She ended the call without a good-bye, and I stared at the phone in my hand.
“Simon, Sean isn’t Kieran’s dad, and I have to tell the person who is.” I blurted the words in a quick breath before my courage escaped.
“I know.”
My eyes, previously downcast, searched his face.
“And it’s going to come out in court on Thursday.”
“It’s okay.” He didn’t understand. In fairness, he didn’t have all the information yet.
I ran my hands through my hair and took two steps away, needing the distance. “Before I left Storybook Lake to”--to what? Be with Keaton? Sleep with Sean?--“to go to Arizona the first time, I had a little fling. The timing’s why Keaton thought…why I let Keaton think… Kieran belonged to him. I was pregnant when I got there.”
“And Sean?”
I sounded like a big slut, but I continued with my tawdry tale. “I met him a couple days after I got there. He also assumed because of the timing and how old Kieran was when we ran into each other the second time.” Why couldn’t I just say the words? I took a deep breath as his hands came up to rest on my shoulders
and his body warmed mine. “Anyway, before I left, I slept with someone.”
“So you said.”
“Two someones actually.” A little love drained from his eyes and the gap between our bodies widened.
“Two?” He dropped his hands. “Who?”
“It was a few days apart.” I didn’t want to give him names. I couldn’t bear to consider what he would think about me and closed my eyes. “There was no reason to tell. I did everything I could, I mean, I still do, to make it not matter to Kieran.”
“And you think that’s fair?” He backed off five or six more steps. “You think he doesn’t have a right to know? What are you going to tell him when he asks?”
“I don’t know.” His eyes darkened and his hands clenched at his side. I moved closer, needing to touch him, if only this one last time. “There were so many reasons I thought I couldn’t tell.” And every single one sounded stupid. “I made a mistake.”
“Then why?” He shook his head and crossed his arms. “Why the hell would you not tell a man he has a son as soon as you know you’re pregnant?”
I reached for him and he moved farther away. “Does he not deserve to know? You’re not being fair to Kieran or…his father.” He ran his hands though his hair, capturing it at the crown of his skull before he let it fall around his face. “Don’t you think he needs a dad? Someone to teach him right from wrong? Someone to scare the monsters out from under his bed?”
A fight with Simon wouldn’t help the situation, but my blood turned cold. “I scare the monsters away.” It didn’t matter. I had to tell him. “I have to get this out, Simon.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and turned away. “Oh, man.”
“There’s a reason I never told anyone about Kieran.”
Breaking Hearts Page 18
