Indemnity: Book Two: Covenant of Trust Series

by Paula Wiseman

  “I understand you have your own firm,” Colin said.

  “Benton, Davis and Molinsky,” Chuck answered. “We work mostly with municipalities and small companies that can’t afford their own corporate law department.”

  “We do a little of everything at Penner Hewitt. Even some criminal.”

  “Are you from St. Louis?”

  “Through and through. Went to SLU, then Washington for law school.”

  “Chuck, isn’t your son at Washington?” Tracy asked.

  “No.” Chuck enjoyed seeing the slight furrow of her brow. “See you next Wednesday, Jack.”

  “Bye, Dad!” Jack quickly hugged his father and then ran upstairs.

  “I’ll let myself out,” Chuck said to Tracy. He nodded at Colin and left. There was not a briefcase or a paper in sight. “Collaborating on a case,” Chuck muttered. “A case of poor judgment and lack of restraint maybe.”

  Feeling the weight of conviction, not just about his affair, but also about his choice of words to his wife, he made a couple of quick phone calls before turning onto his street. Inside his house, he heard Bobbi still upstairs with Shannon, so he started her coffee for her, and then he slipped into the study and began searching the internet for last minute travel deals. Bobbi needed, deserved a break, if only for a day or two. Intent on his search, he flinched when Bobbi spoke to him.

  “Thanks for starting the coffee.”

  “You’re welcome.” He motioned her over to the computer. “Can you take a look at these? I need an opinion.”

  She leaned over his shoulder. “Planning a trip?”

  “Yeah, but I can’t decide where.”

  “This weekend? That’s pretty sudden.” Bobbi sipped her coffee.

  “Something came up.”

  “Oh?”

  “I need to make things right with my wife. She keeps trying to tell me what’s going on with her, and I keep blowing her off. I’m making things even more difficult for her.”

  “I see. So what’s your plan?”

  “Get her out of town for a couple of days. Forget everything.”

  Bobbi nodded slowly. “But doesn’t she have a child to take care of?”

  “I took care of that. My oldest son is going to stay with his little sister.”

  “What about her Sunday school class? She can’t just not show up.”

  “I took care of that one, too. Got a sub lined up.”

  “You did all this on the way home?”

  “Cell phones are a great invention.” He turned around and faced her. “So can I take you away for the weekend?”

  “I think I’d like that.” Bobbi took a long drink. “You were a real jerk, you know.”

  “I know. I didn’t take you seriously—”

  “Again,” Bobbi added.

  “But I suspect it’s not about Jack and Joel.”

  “Then what’s it about, smart guy?”

  “I think if the boys, all three of them, are equal, then their mothers must be, too.” Bobbi looked away. “Sweetheart, I don’t love Tracy. I don’t want to spend my life with her. I don’t even like to see her. She is not on equal footing with you in any way whatsoever.”

  “She’s very attractive.”

  “Yes, but I’m not attracted to her. There’s a big difference.”

  “But what if her ultimate plan is to get you? What if she came back with her son, your son, to drive a wedge between us?”

  “First of all, nothing can come between us. Second, she has somebody. After-shave Boy, ‘my colleague, Colin Janssen,’ was there this evening.”

  “My colleague?”

  “Yeah. I was just ‘Jack’s dad.’ I don’t have a name.”

  “So is he the new chosen one? Or does she just need somebody until her plans come together?”

  “You’re just a little paranoid,” Chuck said, holding his thumb and forefinger close in front of his eyes.

  “I think it’s justified,” she said leaning down close to him. “So where are we going?”

  “You choose.” He slid his chair back, and pointed to the computer screen.

  Bobbi looked at him, then at the computer. She smiled broadly and said, “You can’t read any of them, can you?”

  Chuck pressed his lips tightly together, and shook his head slowly. “Not a one.”

  Bobbi laughed gently, then took the mouse, and scrolled down the display. “How about Roanoke?”

  “Really?”

  “We’ve never been to Virginia, and I love the mountains.”

  “Fine with me. Now, do you want this to be a complete getaway in which we never mention certain things, or do you want this to be a retreat to hash it all out?”

  “Getaway. We can hash here.”

  “Then I’ll, uh, get my glasses, and finish making the arrangements.”

  Her hand lingered on his shoulder. “Chuck, thank you.”

  “You need it, and I need to do it for you.”

  Sunday, September 16

  “I am absolutely stuffed,” Bobbi said, pushing her plate aside. The Sunday buffet brunch at their hotel was an unadvertised bonus. “I won’t have to eat again until Tuesday.”

  “Did you get one of those pastry things?” Chuck asked.

  “No, I opted for the caramel apple crepe.”

  “Was the coffee up to your standards?”

  “I don’t have standards for coffee,” Bobbi said, and Chuck raised his eyebrows. “I have discriminating taste, I admit, but I’ll drink anybody’s coffee.”

  “Whatever you say,” Chuck said with a smile. “Listen, I know we said we wouldn’t discuss our situation ...”

  “I’m impressed,” Bobbi teased. “You made it all the way to Sunday morning.”

  Chuck pushed his dishes out of the way, and leaned forward, taking his wife’s hand. “Bobbi, I’ve fallen in love with you all over again this weekend. I love being with you. You have the most beautiful smile, and the most gorgeous eyes.” Bobbi blushed.

  “I love your laugh,” Chuck continued, “and I love listening to you talk.” He leaned a little closer. “Honey, I’ve expected you to trust me, but when I question your instincts, it makes it that much more difficult for you to do that. I promised you that I would never, ever, give you a cause to doubt me again. I’m sorry I let it go that far.”

  “My insecurities are not worth hurting that little boy, Chuck.” Bobbi wiped a tear away.

  “That sounds like a mother talking.”

  She smiled that smile at him, the one that would make him walk across broken glass if she asked, and she nodded. “Yeah, I guess it does.”

  CHAPTER 15

  EXIGENCIES

  Thursday, September 20

  Bobbi stepped away from Ann Molinsky’s door and peeked through the front window, debating whether she should go on in. Ann’s car was in the garage, but she hadn’t answered the doorbell.

  They were both anxious to catch up, and with Shannon at Rita’s, they had at least two good hours of visiting time.

  Bobbi rang the bell once again and strained to hear any sounds of movement from inside the house. “Ann?” Bobbi knocked on the front door as she pushed it open. “Ann, it’s Bobbi!”

  “Back here.” Bobbi heard a weak voice from the bathroom, and rushed back to find Ann gripping the doorframe. “You may not want to get too close in case this is contagious.”

  Bobbi slipped an arm around Ann to steady her. “You’re drenched with sweat.” She guided Ann to the bedroom, and eased her onto the bed.

  “Just sick, sick to my stomach. Can’t catch my breath.” Bobbi helped her lean back, then lifted her feet up on the bed.

  “How long has this been going on?” Bobbi asked, taking Ann’s wrist.

  “Couple of hours,” Ann whispered.

  “Your pulse is all over the place. I’m calling an ambulance.” When Ann didn’t protest, Bobbi became even more frightened. She quickly dialed 911 from the phone on the nightstand, and relayed the information to the dispatcher. �
�They’re on their way. Everything’s going to be okay.” Bobbi hoped she sounded more optimistic that she felt. She continued talking, and occasionally Ann would smile slightly in reply, but mostly she lay, not moving, laboring to breathe.

  When the paramedics arrived, Bobbi showed them to the bedroom, and tried to absorb what they were saying, so she could relay it to Chuck. One EMT checked Ann’s vital signs, and called out numbers while the second one phoned them in to the hospital. As they worked, Bobbi caught the word “infarction.” A heart attack. Chuck. She had to call Chuck.

  “Ma’am,” one of the paramedics said, as he held the IV bag up while his partner steered the gurney. “You probably don’t remember me, but my wife works for your husband. I know you from Christine’s stories, mostly, but we’ve met at the Christmas parties.”

  “Of course,” Bobbi said, trying to think of his name.

  “I’m Brian,” he said. “We’re going to take her to Christian. It’s closer, and they’re more than capable. We’ve got a good chance of stopping this one before too much damage is done.”

  “I’ll be right behind you.” Bobbi grabbed the cell phone from her purse, and locked Ann’s front door.

  It took several rings before Chuck could get his cell phone out of his pants pocket.

  “Listen to me very carefully,” Bobbi said. “Your mother’s having a heart attack. I’m following the ambulance to Christian.”

  “Why not Barnes?”

  “Christian’s closer.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Chuck dashed out of his office, and handed Christine his keys. “I gotta go. My mother’s had a heart attack. Lock up for me.”

  “Sure thing. We’ll be praying, Mr. Molinsky.”

  “Thanks.” Chuck glanced at his watch. Ten minutes till four. He shouldn’t have to fight too much traffic yet. Christian was closer. Was that a good thing, or did it mean she was serious enough that she wouldn’t make it to Barnes? “Dear God, please not yet,” he murmured.

  Bobbi paced the ER waiting room, clutching her cell phone, arguing within herself whether or not to call the boys. She didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily, and Brian sounded very upbeat. However, if things took a bad turn, and they weren’t able to get here in time ...

  “Mom, what’s wrong?” Brad said, answering the phone.

  “I’m at Christian Hospital. Grandma’s had a heart attack.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “I don’t know yet. She was conscious and everything, but until they run the tests they won’t know how much damage was done.”

  “Where’s Shannon? Do I need to come and get her?”

  “She’s with Aunt Rita.”

  “I’ll be there as quick as I can,” Brad said, hanging up.

  Bobbi sighed, whispered one more prayer before dialing Joel’s number. “Hey, Mom!”

  “Sweetheart ... Grandma had a heart attack.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “I’m at Christian Hospital right now. We’re still waiting to find out how bad it is.”

  “I’ll be there in two hours.”

  “Joel, it may not be that serious. The paramedics—”

  “Mom, I’m coming home.” He wasn’t budging.

  “Just promise me you won’t go more than five miles over the speed limit.”

  “Mom ...”

  “Please. I don’t want two of you in the hospital.”

  “All right, I promise. I’ll be there by six-thirty.” Bobbi snapped her phone shut. It never failed. Each time they enjoyed something good, like Brad’s decision to go to seminary, or the wonderful weekend away, something worse lurked around the next corner.

  Ann was the only parent she or Chuck had left, and Bobbi depended on her mother-in-law’s counsel and support. She needed Ann right now. God took Phil Shannon from them when she still needed him. This wasn’t where this was headed, was it? Surely, God wouldn’t ...

  “Bobbi, where is she?” Chuck jogged through the emergency room doors to her.

  “Cath lab. We’ll know more when they’re through.” Chuck hugged her tightly, both of them allowing that wall of strength to crumble for just a moment. When Chuck let go of her, she took his hand, and led him to the elevator. “Brian, Christine’s Brian, sounded very positive, like they could stop this before too much damage was done.”

  “Brian’s a sharp kid.” Chuck wiped his eyes, and stepped in the elevator behind her.

  “I called the boys.” Bobbi found a tissue in her purse, and handed it to him. “They’re on their way.”

  “Joel too?”

  “There was no negotiating.” He slipped his hand around hers again and she took a deep breath to maintain her composure. The doors slid open a moment later, and they rounded the corner to a small waiting area. “Now that you’re here I’ll call Rita and Glen.” She walked a few steps away, and quickly made the calls, keeping her eyes on Chuck. He was depressed for a month when his dad died. Could she walk with him through the pain of losing his mother? Then he was due in court with Tracy tomorrow. What will happen if he cancels?

  She rejoined her husband, wrapping her arm around his. “Glen’s on his way, and Rita’s going to keep Shannon as long as we need her to. I told her we should know more in the next few hours.”

  “What’s she going to tell Shannon?”

  “Just that Grandma got sick, and we brought her to the hospital to check her out.”

  “So what happened?”

  “We were going to go get a cup of coffee after school, and I found her in the bathroom doorway, sick, and weak, barely able to stand. She was just soaked, and her pulse was really erratic, so I called the ambulance.”

  “Did you know it was a heart attack?”

  “Not until Brian said ‘infarction’ on the phone.”

  “Is Kara here?”

  “I guess so. Rita has her girls too. Unless she got off at four.”

  “I was just trying to think how we could get some information.”

  “What about your friend Lucas? Isn’t he a heart doctor?”

  “I think he only works out of Barnes.”

  “Mrs. Molinsky?”

  Bobbi turned to see who was calling for her.

  “I’m Dr. Ayala.” A man dressed in blue scrubs held out a hand.

  “This is my husband, Chuck,” Bobbi said, shaking the doctor’s hand. “It’s his mother.”

  “Mr. Molinsky.” The doctor shook Chuck’s hand. “Your mother is in very serious condition. She has three blockages, and I’ve scheduled her for bypass surgery first thing in the morning.”

  “What about between now and then?”

  “She’s stable. We’ll keep a close eye on her. They got her in here very quickly, so she didn’t have a lot of damage from this heart attack, but without some surgical intervention, she won’t survive the next one.”

  “What time tomorrow?” Chuck asked.

  “We’ll take her back about five, and be operating by six.”

  “Can I see her?”

  “For a moment. I’ll take you up there.” He motioned for Chuck and Bobbi to follow him to an elevator. “She’s never been sick before, has she?”

  “Not really,” Chuck answered.

  “Any recent complaints?”

  “We’d never know it. You know how mothers are.”

  “Chuck,” Bobbi said. “What about at the cookout last weekend? She mentioned her chest hurt then.”

  “But she said it was a muscle thing, overexertion.”

  The elevator door opened, and Dr. Ayala stepped off and then waited for Chuck and Bobbi. “That’s not unusual. Early warning signs of a heart attack are often passed off as something else. She’s right down here.” The doctor motioned, and led them to the third door past the nurses’ station. He knocked on the door lightly. “Mrs. Molinsky, your son and his wife are here. Are you up for a quick visit?” Then he turned back to Bobbi and Chuck. “Just a few minutes, and keep things positive. You can go back later this evening.”

&
nbsp; “Thanks,” Chuck whispered. As he rounded the privacy curtain, he squeezed Bobbi’s hand a little tighter at the sight of his mother, pale and weak, hooked to various monitors. He leaned down to her and kissed her forehead. “That was quite a scare.”

  “For you and me both,” Ann said with a half-smile. “Thank God Bobbi was there.”

  “Yeah,” Chuck said, glancing back at his wife.

  Bobbi stepped up to the other side of the bed, and took Ann’s hand. “Sounds like they have everything under control now.”

  “Someone’s control,” Ann answered. She took a deep breath. “That was just a rotten experience.”

  “And you are the queen of understatement,” Chuck said. “Have they told you about the bypass surgery?”

  “Yes, then he said, ‘now get some rest.’ It just kills me, figuratively speaking, of course. How am I supposed to sleep with that hanging over my head?”

  Chuck smiled, and looked over at Bobbi. “She’s fine.”

  “We should go,” Bobbi said.

  Chuck kissed his mother again. “I love you. And we need you around.” Bobbi gave Ann a kiss on the cheek, and she and Chuck slipped out quietly. “I feel a little better now, talking to her.”

  “I think I’ll call Joel again,” Bobbi said. “He was pretty upset.” In the next couple of hours, Brad came in, and then headed to Rita’s to be with Shannon. Glen and Laurie Dillard visited, with Glen promising to be back in the morning during the surgery. Bobbi called her principal to arrange for a substitute for Friday. She and Chuck took turns looking in on Ann, who finally seemed to be resting.

  Just after six-thirty, as promised, Joel got off the elevator, accompanied by a young woman. She wore her blonde hair down, although it was just long enough to pull back. She was average height and build, and her clothes, while they followed the current fashion, were much more modest. Joel hugged each of his parents. “How’s Grandma?”

  “Resting,” Chuck said. “You can see her when she wakes up.”

  “This is Abby,” Joel said, presenting the young woman to his father.

  Chuck shook her hand and said, “I’m glad to meet you, Abby. Thanks for coming.”