“Tyler––“ She choked out.
“Go home to your mansion, Ashley,” he growled as Chief Biddleford’s grip tightened and the two policemen bustled him into the back of a squad car. It was only there, when no eyes were on him, that he let himself cry.
Chapter 13
Ashley
“Ashley, sit down.”
Her father had never used that tone with her before.
Ashley sat. Her father closed his office door and went back behind his desk. She’d gone straight home, shaken by what she’d seen at the Starlight Grille. Reeling from Tyler being hauled out and put in the back of a police car like a criminal. When she’d called 9-1-1, she hadn’t even realized it was Tyler in that fight. She just saw two men in a brawl. He was so different from the boy she’d come to know.
Her heart pounded as she watched her dad move papers on his desk, delaying. He knew what had happened today. By now, everyone in town did.
“Your friend Tyler is in some trouble.”
She swallowed hard. “Yeah, I gathered that.”
“Look, the short version is, Tyler found his father assaulting his mother and defended her. Unfortunately, he went a little overboard, and they weren’t sure if his actions were entirely in defense of his mother and himself.” He let out a sigh. “Danny Fitzsimmons is in the hospital––he’ll live. Tyler is being held while they decide whether charges will be filed.”
“I want to see him.”
Dad held up one finger. “He specifically asked that you not come.”
The words stung, but weren’t surprising.
“I don’t blame him for not wanting you to see him behind bars,” her dad went on. “The boy’s been through a lot, and I don’t mean only today. I did say that was the short version. The problem of Danny Fitzsimmons has a long and unpleasant history.”
“I know he’s abusive,” Ashley said quietly. “Tyler came to school with a black eye a while back. He wouldn’t talk about it, but Ella told me he and his mom have had problems with his dad for a long time.”
“Yes, and there’s a police record to back it up.” Dad hesitated, face set in harsh lines. “I fear I may be partly to blame for tonight’s incident.”
She was startled into stillness. “How?”
“About the time Tyler acquired that black eye, his mother came here to ask a favor. Danny Fitzsimmons boasted of receiving an inheritance that was meant for his son. Christine wanted to know if it was true, and if there was a way to make him give over the money. Turns out it was true, and we did make him release the money—what was left of it. That’s what set off Danny tonight.” He shook his head with a sigh. “I’ve known Danny Fitzsimmons since we were kids in school. He was a star athlete, handsome––at the time. But he always had a nasty edge to him, too. And always drank way too much. Of all the guys Christine could have picked….” He shook his head. “Anyway. She’s asking me to help Tyler.”
Ashley’s heart flopped in her chest. “Are you going to?”
“I’m a corporate lawyer, Pumpkin, and I work mainly for the family brewery. I don’t specialize in criminal law, but I have a few friends who do and they agreed to work with me to make sure Tyler gets the best possible outcome.”
“He shouldn’t go to jail for defending his mother.”
“I agree,” her father said. “We’ll have to see how things unfold. I’m sorry you saw what you did tonight.”
“I’m just sorry that this has happened to Tyler and his mom.” She thought of the fear she felt around her mom’s ex-boyfriend. While that harassment had been of a different nature than what Tyler and his mother dealt with, Ashley couldn’t imagine how awful it must be to look over your shoulder all the time, make sure your doors were constantly locked because this dangerous man could show up at any time. “All this pain because of money,” she murmured.
“The money was just this catalyst,” her dad said. “All this pain is because Danny Fitzsimmons is a sick bastard. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that he can’t hurt anyone again.”
“What should I do?”
Dad smiled sadly. “The only thing you can––be patient. And a good friend.”
Chapter 14
Tyler
Tyler did his best to sit straight in the chair, but by the time the conference room door opened, he was slouched all the way down with his head resting on the seat back. What was the point in putting on a good front, anyway? Now that he was in jail, he wasn’t leaving. The facts were thus: Tyler beat his father to near unconsciousness and he had no idea how far he would have gone if the police hadn’t arrived when they did. Worse, he couldn’t summon any remorse about it.
The room was stuffy and small. The woman who entered first was the picture of slick––fancy pantsuit, leather bag and sleek black hair. She didn’t look friendly, but like the kind of person you’d put in charge of something important then never worry about it again. The guy looked equally important, but when Tyler took a better look at the man’s face, he nearly slid the rest of the way off his chair.
“Mr. Sloane?” he asked, dumbfounded to see Ashley’s father.
“Hello, Tyler. Ready to go home?”
“Home?” This couldn’t be right. “Yes, but how…?”
Mr. Sloane sat down across from him. “Plenty of folks were happy to stand up for you, Tyler––your bosses at the Starlight, teachers, and let’s not forget that your mother had a brand new restraining order placed against your father only a month earlier, which he violated yesterday. Tyler, you acted in self-defense the night of the incident. No charges will be filed against you. I will tell you, the state is mandating sessions with a counselor, and you’ll likely need to testify against your father in court. Your mother is pressing charges and my team,” he gestured to the woman standing next to him, “is pushing for the longest sentence possible. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
Tyler nodded. He understood the words, but not how they happened to be coming out of this man’s mouth. A “team” of lawyers working for his mother? No way. Stuff like this didn’t happen to families like his. Tyler looked at Mr. Sloane. “We can’t afford to pay your fee.”
Mr. Sloane smiled. He and Ashley’s eyes looked the same when they smiled. “Good thing I won’t be sending you a bill, then.”
“Why?” he asked. “Why stick up for me like this?”
“Everyone needs to catch a break once in a while, Tyler,” said Mr. Sloane getting up and motioning for Tyler to follow him. “You and your mom are overdue.”
Tyler signed papers. He got a handshake from Chief Biddleford, who really did seem to feel bad about hauling him down there. He rode home with Mr. Sloane in the lawyer’s Land Rover. On the way, Mr. Sloane explained that Tyler’s mother had fought to get Aunt Marnie’s inheritance turned over to Tyler and how that, apparently, was the tipping point for Danny Fitzsimmons.
Tyler listened quietly. He didn’t ask the big fat question eating at his brain because he wasn’t sure he could digest the answer––why had his mother gone to Zach Sloane for help? And why had this obliged her…for free? If his mom had entered some sordid “arrangement” with Ashley’s dad because of a stupid inheritance, he’d never be able to face Ashley again. And it didn’t say much for his mom or Mr. Sloane, either. So, he wasn’t ready to say “thank you” to Mr. Sloane yet.
The car pulled up to the curb in front of Tyler’s home. His mother, who must have been watching, flew outside and headed straight for him. Her eyes were anxious. A faint bruise darkened her cheek, but she appeared fine and healthy otherwise. Her arms were around him the instant his feet were on the grass.
“I was so worried, Ty.” Her grip tightened.
Tyler couldn’t find words. He’d almost gone to jail to protect this woman who had protected him, or tried her best to, for so many years.
His mom pulled back and eyed him critically. “Are you okay? Did they treat you well in that place?” Her fingertips prodded a bruise of his own, on his ja
w.
“Ow.” He jerked his head away. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“Honey, you shouldn’t have gone after Danny like that. He could have killed you. Why didn’t you just call 9-1-1?”
Tyler shrugged. “I couldn’t think. All I saw was….” He couldn’t even talk about it. Yeah. That mandatory therapy might be okay. “I just acted. I’m not sorry.”
“I get it,” she said. “I’m just relieved you’re safe.”
He was grateful to be home, despite the bruise-poking and the public affection. “It’s going to be fine. Dad’s going to jail, not me. Mr. Sloane filled me in on everything on the way home.”
“Everything?” His mother’s eyes narrowed, as if preparing for an argument. “Then I guess you know that Aunt Marnie’s money will be sending you off next year. Danny only touched a small portion of it. He didn’t know how to access the stocks and other stuff.” She didn’t quite know what the “other stuff” was, any more than his father did.
“Mom––“
“I don’t want to hear one word about it Tyler,” his mother replied. “I know you want to go. You have choices, now, whether you want to go to college, or play music with Benny, or both.”
He swiped a hand through the air, fighting tears again. “It wasn’t about the money. I wasn’t staying because of it. I wanted to make sure you were safe.”
Her face softened. “I know that, Ty, but I don’t need protecting anymore. Danny won’t hurt either of us again.”
He didn’t know how this feat would be accomplished––his father wouldn’t be locked in jail forever––but the conviction in his mother’s voice was so strong, so absolute, his soul took it in and accepted it as a hopeful truth. There was still a boy in him who believed his mother with unequivocal certainty. “I love you, Mom.”
She tugged him into another hug. “I love you more, kiddo.”
Behind him, Tyler heard a cell phone go off, a quiet curse and the ring was swiftly silenced. He’d forgotten Mr. Sloane was still here. He watched his mother’s gaze shifted from Tyler to the man behind him. Her cheeks pinkened and her eyes took on a shine that Tyler had never seen on her before. It was as if ten years dropped off her face just by looking at this man. Tyler turned instantly nervous. He turned and had to swallow his surprise when he saw the same expression lighting up Mr. Sloane’s face, too. What the hell?
“Hi, Christine,” Mr. Sloane said. For a successful adult like that, he sounded like he was trying to work up the courage to ask her to a dance. Tyler’s mother fiddled with her hair. Suddenly, what was going on was clear––his mom and Ashley’s dad didn’t have an “arrangement,” they had a “thing,” which was, in ways, more dangerous. But Sloane had proven to be an okay guy so far. Maybe he’d continue to be.
“Thank you, Mr. Sloane,” Tyler said, finally. “For everything you did for us.”
Ashley’s dad smiled. “You’re very welcome. You can call me Zach.”
He would not be calling Mr. Sloane anything other than Mr. Sloane. Not unless this “thing” between Mr. Sloane and his mom turned out to be the real deal. But there was no reason to appear ungrateful at the present. “Great. Thanks.”
“Why don’t you go inside,Tyler?” His mother gave him a meaningful look. “I’m going to have a word with Zach.”
Tyler managed not to make a face, somehow, and left the two of them outside. This development was a bit more than he could process just now.
He went inside and stopped dead when he saw her standing in the living room. “Patches.”
Her hands were tucked in the huge pockets of some smock dress that was so unique, it could only have been made by her. “Hi, Tyler.”
She was here. In his wonderful, little house. She and his mother had been here together, waiting for him. Talking, presumably. The thought sent a weird, warm feeling curling through his chest. For the second time, he struggled for words. There were so many things he wanted to say, but nothing came out.
“I hope it’s okay I came here.” She fidgeted, bit her bottom lip. “Your mom is nice.”
“She is. You…talked?”
“Yeah, we talked. We had time to kill waiting for you.” She cocked her head. “My dad has a thing for your mom. Has for a really long time.”
He glanced out the front window. This time, he did make a face. “It appears the feeling is mutual.”
Ashley chuckled. “Well, that’s a little weird, isn’t it?” She stepped toward him. “If our parents are dating, and we are dating, and we all have dinner together sometimes, it’s like a double da––”
He reached out, rested his fingers over her lips. “Stop, I beg you.” She was absolutely adorable. He couldn’t help himself from touching her. Now that he had––even just this slight contact––he was lost. Lost in everything that was Ashley. His fingers found her waist and drew her close. “Who said we were dating?”
“Everyone at school, apparently.” She rested her hands on his chest. His heart beat faster. “You still owe me a first date one of these days.”
“You really want to?” he asked, doubtfully. “I just got out of jail.”
Ashley laughed. He could feel the tension leaving her and his own dissipated. She melted into his arms, just like she had when they’d danced. “Yeah, you’re a hardened criminal, defended someone you love from a senseless attack.” She looked away, a complicated mix of sadness mixed with peace. “We should all be so lucky to have family who love us so much, they’d stand up for us without question.”
There was a story there––perhaps the one that brought her to Serenity Harbor––that he wanted to hear one day. When she was ready. Perhaps Ashley Sloane-Whittaker’s life wasn’t so perfectly charmed after all. Maybe they both had some healing to do. Maybe they could do some of that together. The future was suddenly a place of possibilities, rather than one dead end street.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. The hands on the front of his shirt curled into his shirt and tugged him closer to her. He couldn’t think of a decent reason to resist her, aside from maybe his mom and her dad would walk in. Even that wasn’t enough of a deterrent. Ashley was the most amazing girl he’d ever met and if she was willing to take a shot with him, he wouldn’t refuse. He’d risk everything to defend her, too. He leaned down, hesitantly brushed his lips over hers.
Her arms roped around his neck. She rocked up to tiptoes and slanted her mouth against his. Tyler closed his eyes as lights exploded behind his eyelids. It was still kind of mind blowing that she wanted him to kiss her. His thoughts scattered. Everything disappeared but for the points where they touched. He pulled her close and deepened the kiss. There was only this moment. Only this girl. Only this kiss.
The End
About Meg Kassel
Meg Kassel is an author of paranormal and speculative fiction for young adults. A New Jersey native, Meg graduated from Parson's School of Design and can count waitressing, working on a flower farm (awesome job), graphic design, and book selling among her numerous jobs. She now lives in Maine with her husband and daughter and is busy at work on her next novel. She is the 2016 RWA Golden Heart© winner in YA. Her debut novel, Black Bird of the Gallows, releases fall of 2017.
Find her online
Website
www.MegKassel.com
Twitter
@m_kassel
Welcome to Serenity Harbor Page 53
