“Yeah, that press conference was definitely the highlight of my career thus far,” Stuart laughed. “Why don’t we all have a seat?” He gestured to the chairs around his desk.
Kelly sat next to Chad and turned in her chair to face him. “I just wanted to meet you and thank you. I can never thank you enough for being so brave and sticking your neck out to help me, even though I know it must have been a really scary situation for you.” Kelly noticed Chad looked up at her as he heard her words. “And then you were locked up in that God-awful place and slandered in the news.”
“It’s okay, really. It wasn’t your fault.” Chad folded his arms across his chest, as if he was supporting himself.
“Well, Chad. You may have saved my life. I can’t just let that go. I can’t live with the fact that you suffered for it so badly, too. If you don’t let me do something to thank you, I think I am going to go crazy.”
“Really, it is okay.” Chad said. “I’m just glad it is over. I just want to move on.”
“Please.” Kelly pleaded, looking at Chad and then at Stuart Harlan. “I don’t want to pry, or be crass, but I want to help you financially or legally, or any way I can. What do you need?”
Chad was silent for a moment, with his eyes closed. Then he opened his eyes and spoke quietly. “Ma’am, I just want to put all of this behind me. I just need to finish packing up some things and get my parents’ house in order, I guess, and then I am getting out of here for good.”
Stuart cleared his throat. “Well, I don’t think Chad will mind if I mention that he only recently found out that his mother has moved to Eugene, Oregon. And he is flying there in a few days, after he takes care of a few things, so he can finally be with her.” He stopped for a moment to look at Chad, who shrugged his shoulders. “He probably could use a little cash to get started. I am sure that he is too proud to ask.” He glanced at Chad again, who was looking at the floor. “And his father recently passed away, leaving Chad or his mother with estate and real estate affairs to be sorted out, like the sale of his parents’ home—assuming his mother agrees with that course of action.”
“Well, that’s something I can do!” Kelly said, with surprising enthusiasm. Chad looked up at her, startled. “But first, I want you to take this, please.” Kelly said, as she hastily produced a blue check made out to Chad McCloskey for the amount of $5,000.
“Ma’am, I couldn’t,” Chad said, embarrassed.
“Please, you must. It is the last favor of you I will ask. There is no impropriety, the criminal prosecution is a done deal and I don’t need anything from you. It is a gift. Please take it.”
Chad took the check gently and looked at it. Then he folded it and put it back on the table in front of Kelly. “I hope you understand, ma’am, I just cannot take that. Please respect my decision.” He spoke softly, “I really do appreciate your kindness, but I don’t think you should feel responsible for what I have been through. You were a victim, too.”
An awkward silence ensued. Kelly cleared her throat. “I hear Oregon is beautiful country. It has some vibrant little cities, too, like Portland and Eugene.”
“I really will just be happy to be with my mother--and far away from here.”
“Well, how are you going to deal with the issues around your father’s estate, and the sale of your parents’ home?”
Chad looked at Stuart again and said, “I don’t know.” Then, with surprising anger, he said, “We are selling that house to the first person willing to buy it. I don’t ever want to set foot inside that sorry, miserable place again, and I never want my mother to have to see it or even hear of it.”
Stuart looked at Kelly. “He’ll need an estate attorney, and someone to handle the marketing and sale of the home. It’s a tear-down home, but the property itself, right on the Brandywine and near Rockford Park, is worth a lot of money.”
“It’s settled then. I’ll get lawyers from my firm involved in handling your father’s estate, and the sale of the real estate. Please let me do that, at least.” Kelly pleaded with Chad.
Chad leaned across the table. “Thank you, Kelly. I wouldn’t have the first clue about what to do there, and so I can’t say ‘no’ to that kind offer.” He added, “I guess as much as I just want to get rid of that place and all those bad memories, I do need to get the best deal I can for my mother and for me.”
“And, just to be clear, we’re handling that pro bono.” Kelly smiled as she handed Chad and Stuart business cards. “I wrote my home and cell number on there, too. I’m on sabbatical from the office, so this way you can reach me no matter where I am.”
Chad looked up at Kelly. “Thank you again for your help with the house and everything that I am leaving behind.”
Kelly shyly moved to Chad and embraced him gently. He stiffened at her touch. “It will never be enough to thank you, but it helps me clear my head about this whole ordeal, and maybe make some order of it.” She backed away from him. “Please call me if you ever need help with anything. Don’t lose my card.”
Chad responded by pulling his wallet out of his pocket and carefully tucking her card into it.
As Kelly walked to her car she pictured Chad’s face—the face of an innocent teenager. She recalled Sam’s description of Chad’s childhood, tucked away in the woods with an abusive and alcoholic father and a depressed mother, a childhood filled with loneliness and turmoil. As she turned the key in her car’s ignition she whispered, “Please, God, let that boy find some sense of belonging, some love, some happiness.”
CHAPTER 37
KELLY: OCTOBER 7, 2011
THE EVENING AIR was sweet and warm despite the yellow and orange leaves showing in the trees. The girls threw a pink Frisbee while Dan stood over his prized Weber grill, metal tongs in hand. Kelly came out of the house with a bottle of Pinot Noir and three glasses on a tray. She set the tray down, filled two glasses with the crimson wine, and walked over to Dan. “To victory!” Kelly said, handing Dan a glass so he could join her in a toast.
Dan clinked her glass. “To us.” He leaned over and kissed her warmly on the lips. The sound of a car door slamming made them both turn around.
“Celebrating without the man of the hour?” Sam asked as he strode into their back yard. He had exchanged the dark grey suit he had worn in court that day for a navy blue polo shirt and a pair of khakis.
“Maybe a little,” Kelly giggled. “We toasted victory.”
Sam walked over to the table and poured himself a glass of wine. He raised the glass. “I’d like to propose a toast, too. To the image of Jack Barnard in a prison jumpsuit, staring at concrete walls and attending lectures on anger management and sexual aggression.”
“Hear, hear.” Kelly raised her glass again.
“Yum, smells good. What are you cooking?” Sam asked Dan.
“Barbecued chicken and ribs, smothered in my own homemade bourbon sauce.” Dan said, smiling.
“Oh boy! I wish I was having dinner with you guys.” Sam chuckled.
“Please, join us. We both could never do enough to thank you,” Dan said sincerely. He put the tongs down for a moment and looked at Sam and said, “I really mean that.”
“Thank you, Dan,” Sam said as he drove his hands into his pockets. “I wasn’t actually mooching for a dinner invite, although that sounds like something I would do,” he laughed. “But I have a dinner date tonight with a lady.”
Kelly arched her eyebrows at this remark. “Wow, Sam! Please, give us the details.”
“Well, let me think.” Sam put his hand to his chin as he thought, as if he were addressing a jury. “She’s pretty and smart and fun. Oh, and best of all, she’s not a lawyer.”
“Is it serious?” Kelly asked.
“I hope so,” Sam said. “Her name is Mary, and she is a teacher right here in Wilmington. She loves her job and her kids; her students I mean, she doesn’t have children,” Sam added hastily. “She’s pretty great.” Sam’s eyes lit up as he spoke. “We met last year at a mock trial thing for eighth
graders. She was a coach, believe it or not, and I was a judge. I probably broke a few rules of mock trial ethics, but I gave her some pointers during a lunch break. She looked so sweet and earnest, but I think American History is her strength, not trial advocacy.”
Sam paused and took a sip of wine. “So, we dated pretty regularly, but I kept her at arm’s length for a while, always blaming my job. But recently I had an epiphany.” He turned to Dan and back at Kelly. “I want what you two have. My work will never be able to share my life, and my bed, and make a family with me. So over dinner tonight, I am going to ask her to move in with me.” Sam looked directly at Kelly when he spoke the next words. “Yeah, I am finally ready to go to the next level with Mary.”
“Do you know if she wants that?” Kelly prodded.
“Oh, yeah. She turned thirty-two a few months ago and her friends are all having kids now, and—yes—she has made it abundantly clear she wants kids.”
Kelly gave him a little hug. “We’ll have you both over for dinner when you are ready. We can help acclimate her to the whole house-and-kids thing.”
“And dog,” Sam added.
“What?” Kelly asked, confused. “You have a dog?”
Sam put his wine glass down and held his hand up toward Kelly. “Wait. I’ll be right back.” A moment later, Sam returned to the yard with a tall tan dog on a leash.
“Oh, my gosh, a dog!” Gracie shrieked as she dropped the Frisbee. Both girls ran over.
“Wait!” Kelly yelled, stopping them in their tracks as they approached the dog.
“It’s okay, Kel. He is completely friendly. He loves kids.” Sam assured them, as he stroked the dog’s head. “Look how his tail is wagging.” The girls stroked the dog as he stood next to Sam, wriggling his body in joy and wagging his tail furiously.
“This is your dog?” Kelly asked.
“Not exactly.” Sam said. “He’s the reason I dropped in tonight. Well, in addition to wanting to have a celebratory drink.” Sam looked at Dan, who was still manning the barbecue.
“Dan?” Sam asked. “Are you going to help me out here?”
Dan shrugged, leaving Sam to explain.
“I already ran this by Dan. Listen, Kel: first of all, Mary has a friend who had to move to London because of her job. She could not take Chance with her and it broke her heart. Mary agreed to take him temporarily while they looked for a good home for Chance.”
“Mom, can we keep him? Please?” Anna asked.
“Please, Mommy?” Gracie wrapped her arms around him. The dog started vigorously licking Grace’s chin with his large pink tongue.
“Sam,” Kelly said. “He is a beautiful dog. But it is a big commitment. Do you know anything about this guy?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s a Rhodesian Ridgeback. He is two years old, so the vet thinks he’s done growing. He weighs about 90 pounds. He is up-to-date on his shots, very healthy, housebroken, of course, and well-socialized around people and other pets.”
Kelly walked over to the dog and looked into his big brown eyes. She knelt down next to him to stroke his ear. He licked her chin with his big pink tongue.
“And, Kel,” Sam said. “Here is why I thought of you.” Kelly noticed Sam looked at Dan again as he spoke. “This dog is a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Do you know what that means? Despite his very sweet demeanor, his breed was created originally to keep lions away from villages and farms in Africa. So he can keep you safe, and he loves to run. His former owner was a runner and she took him out regularly for five-mile runs.”
Kelly looked at Dan who smiled widely and then said, “Sam called me with this idea. I think it’s a great idea all around.” Then he added, “It is a big commitment. But on workdays, you can run him in the morning, and I’ll come home to let him out at mid-day. And it will be a great time to get everyone acclimated, since you’re on a sabbatical from work.”
“What about when we go away?” Kelly asked, trying to figure out all of the details.
Sam spoke up. “Mary and I will take him when you guys travel. That much we can do.”
The girls looked at their mother with pleading eyes as they continued to stroke the smooth tan coat of the dog. “What’s his name again?” Kelly asked Sam as she thought it over.
“Chance,” Sam said. “His owner named him that after rescuing him from a shelter as a puppy, because he was getting a second chance.”
“Well, Chance,” Kelly spoke directly to the dog as he looked at her. “I guess we’re running buddies now.”
“Yeah! We have a doggie!” Gracie shrieked.
“I have his food, leashes and bowls in my car, and some records from the vet. I’ll leave all that stuff by your mudroom door.” He looked at his watch. “Well, I have to go, it’s a big night.” Sam said, brushing a few tan hairs off his shirt.
“Good luck, Sam. And thanks for Chance.” Kelly gave him a peck on the cheek.
“I should thank you guys. I’ll be in Mary’s good graces now. I got Chance a great home and she and I will have visitation rights.” He laughed as he turned to leave.
*****
Later that night, after dinner, cleanup, and walking Chance, Kelly still felt energized by the day’s events. Jack Barnard was locked up in prison and she was free, safe and, best of all, unlike Jack Barnard, she was surrounded by love. After getting the girls to bed, Dan and Kelly whispered and giggled in the hallway as they tiptoed away from their daughters’ bedrooms. Chance was curled up on an old futon cushion that Kelly had found in the basement. He raised his head sleepily and wagged his tail in recognition of their presence.
“The night watchman,” Dan grinned as he pointed at the sleepy dog.
Kelly smiled at this remark, knowing that she had deliberately placed Chance’s bed in the middle of all of their bedrooms. Kelly whispered back, “His ancestors chased lions away. That’s very comforting.”
“Everyone is home safe and sleeping soundly,” Dan said, gesturing with both arms toward the bedrooms and the dog on the floor.
“Yes, and Jack Barnard is tossing and turning in a cement block cell with a felon for a roommate,” Kelly whispered.
She bent down over the long, tan dog and patted him on his belly. “Good night, Chance. Tomorrow, you and I are going for a run in the woods.” Chance’s tail wagged sleepily.
“Kel, don’t kill him on the first day. Take it slow.” Dan joked as he put his arms around Kelly. “I’m glad you’ll be back to running, though. It agrees with you.”
Kelly kissed Dan. “You know what else I feel ready to get back to?”
Dan smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Really.” Kelly reached for Dan’s hand and led him toward their bedroom door. After closing the door to their bedroom, she peeled off her shirt and bra in a fury. Dan pulled off of his clothing and fell onto the bed. Kelly climbed on top of him, reveling in the feeling of their skin touching. Their hands and mouths traveled all over each other’s body, touching and tasting hungrily. Kelly felt a need and an urgency that made her crazed.
“Kel,” Dan said, out of breath. He put his hands up in front of her face and made a T symbol with them. “Time out. Please, just lie still for one moment so I can look at you.”
Kelly rolled over off of Dan with a sigh, and then quietly lay on her back, her legs stretched out in front and her hands clasped behind her head. Dan knelt next to her, gazing at her familiar body with longing. He took his right hand and gently ran his fingers over her small round breasts, sending a jolt of electricity through Kelly’s body. Then he bent over her and ran his tongue down her belly, over the top of each of her thighs. He stopped there abruptly.
“What, Dan? Don’t stop,” Kelly panted.
“Uhm, nothing,» Dan muttered as he stared at the faded remnants of bruising on Kelly’s inner thighs. “Kel, are you sure about this?”
“Yes. Oh my God, yes.” Kelly said, convincingly.
Dan went back to running his tongue gently over Kelly’s thighs.
�
��That’s amazing, Dan,” Kelly whispered.
Heartened by Kelly’s words, Dan continued down into the folds that had always given her such pleasure. Kelly ran her hands through Dan’s hair. “Dan,” she said breathlessly, “I need you inside of me. It’s been too long.”
Dan looked up at his wife from his crouch, and smiled. He lifted himself over her and entered her slowly, causing them both to shudder as he finally found his way home. They made love slowly, with Dan rocking and Kelly emitting soft sounds with her legs wrapped around his waist. They finished together, with hushed cries, and then Dan lay pressed against Kelly. “My God!” Dan said in her ear. “It is good to be back in our groove.”
Kelly kissed Dan soulfully. “I know. I feel kind of right again, almost peaceful… like I am finally, really home.”
CHAPTER 38
KELLY AND MARIA: OCTOBER 8, 2011
KELLY PARKED HER car and quickly grabbed her briefcase off the passenger seat. As she slammed her car door shut, she noticed the late model black Mercedes sedan with Pennsylvania license plates parked nearby. It looked even more conspicuous in the parking lot than her Volvo.
As she entered Sara Nuñez’s office, she saw Mark Slattery, a partner from her firm’s Philadelphia office. Kelly had called him for help every time that she had a matter that required expertise on immigration law. She felt a little uncomfortable around him, because he was the product of exclusive prep schools and Ivy League fraternities, and he associated with people who frequented polo games and yacht races. But Kelly knew that he was very smart, had good connections, and always seemed to get the desired results for his clients.
“Hi, Mark,” Kelly said extending her hand to shake his. “I hope I haven’t kept you long.”
“Not at all.” He took off his charcoal gray Armani suit jacket and held it with one hand, while he expertly loosened his Hermès tie with his other hand. “I just got here too. And I have not seen a soul yet.”
“So, what’s the good news?” Kelly asked. “Your message said you had good news.”
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