Until Then

by McLaughlin, Heidi

  As soon as the nurse left, Grady reached for Graham and beckoned him to come close. He tried to ask “What happened?” but could barely say either word. Graham sensed his request and sat back down in the chair. He contemplated waiting for their parents, but he had something to say to his brother.

  “You messed up, Grady. The gig is over. The drinking, the drugs—it’s all done. You’re going to rehab if Rennie can keep you out of jail.”

  “Jail?” Grady’s voice was scratchy and barely above a whisper.

  Graham leaned forward. “You’re going to be arrested. Honestly, it’s the only thing that can save your life right now.”

  THIRTEEN

  The drive from Seattle to Port Angeles would take three hours. With traffic, Rennie looked at a four- or possibly five-hour drive. In the early hours of the morning, long before the sun rose, she got in her car and headed west. Her client Grady Chamberlain would be arrested in his hospital room and arraigned the next day. He faced multiples charges, all of which Rennie hoped she’d be able to plea down to misdemeanors as long as her client went to rehab. Their encounter today would be the first time she’d interacted with Grady since his outburst over the summer, and she wasn’t sure how their meeting would go. Graham had done his best to prepare her for his brother’s defiant attitude and the woe-is-me mentality Grady had. She had also spent considerable hours with Jefferson, going over the game plan. If this case went to trial, he would sit second chair with Rennie, in case she needed him. One thing was for sure—Grady’s case reminded her why she had never gone down the criminal route; she was torn between what she felt was an obligation to the Chamberlains and taking someone who could harm another off the streets. Her ethics told her Grady deserved jail for breaking the law, even though it was unlikely he’d ever see the inside of a cell. Meanwhile, her heart told her Grady needed help and a second chance, and she could help him obtain one.

  Rennie pulled into the parking lot of the two-story hospital and parked next to Graham’s car. She looked over, surprised to find him in his car. Rennie exited her vehicle and went over to Graham’s. He was asleep and looked peaceful. Her fingers itched to touch his face, to follow the fine lines in his forehead, and to feel his scruff against her skin. She held back, though. Rennie was committed to another man, and the relationship she and Graham had years ago had washed out to sea.

  She tapped lightly on the window. Graham startled. He looked around until he saw her, and a slow smile crept over him. He pressed the button on the door handle and dropped the window that was separating them.

  “Good morning,” she said. “How long have you been in the parking lot?”

  Graham ran his hand over his face and groaned. “All night. I slept out here while my parents stayed with Grady. What time is it?”

  “A little after nine,” Rennie replied. “Want to go to the diner down the street and get breakfast? We have a little over an hour before everything is scheduled to go down.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “You make today sound like a mob hit.” He motioned for her to get into his car. She walked around the front and was surprised to find the door already ajar for her. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Graham asked as he started his car and pulled out of the parking spot.

  “For opening the door. For trusting me with your brother. For being my friend.”

  Graham remained silent for the one-minute drive. He found a parking spot close to the door, and after he turned off his car, he was out in a flash. By the time he reached the passenger side, Rennie was out and standing there. His face fell; she saw the dejection instantly. Rennie would pay more attention when with Graham. When she was with Theo, the little things like opening and holding doors or letting her walk in front of him never really happened. There were times when Rennie wondered if it was because of the way their relationship started—in between the sheets—and that he never had to woo her or vice versa. Graham had always been a gentleman from the day she met him as a teenager, and it would seem he never lost that part of him.

  Rennie stepped into the diner first and greeted the hostess, telling her she had two in her party. Graham followed Rennie toward their booth and set his hand on her lower back. A familiar sense of longing washed over her, but she ignored it. Her feelings for Graham needed to remain buried. Their time had come, and they had missed their chance.

  They ordered coffee to start and both glanced at the menu. Rennie’s mouth watered when she read their special for the day: pancakes with berry compote. She made up her mind when she pictured a pile of whipped cream on top of the berries.

  “Do you know what you’re getting?” she asked Graham as she set the menu down on the edge of the table. She picked up her mug and brought her coffee to her lips, sipping gingerly.

  “Steak and eggs. It’ll keep me full until dinner.”

  “You don’t plan to eat lunch?”

  He set his menu on top of hers and wrapped his hands around his cup of coffee. “I think my stomach might be in knots around lunchtime.”

  She understood. Many of her clients forgot to eat before court because of nerves. There were times when a loud stomach growl would interrupt a cross-examination or a summation. The first couple of times she’d heard the sound, the noise caught her off guard. Now, Rennie didn’t falter. Her professionalism saved a lot of face, especially when it was her client.

  The server came by, and they placed their orders. Graham looked pensive, completely lost in thought. “What’s on your mind?” Rennie asked him.

  “The past,” he said as he made eye contact with her.

  Rennie nodded. It had been on her mind a lot too. “I think because we’ve spent so much time together in these past few weeks.”

  “I’m glad you found someone like Theo.” Graham’s words sent a jolt through her; she was taken aback by his admission. “He’s a good guy. I may not like him, but Bowie does, and Brooklyn speaks very highly of him.”

  “He’s different from our crew.” She glossed over the fact that Graham said he didn’t like Theo. She was curious but didn’t want to know the reasons why. “He didn’t grow up on the beach with bonfires and close-knit friends. He’s a skier. That’s his thing. I’ve been trying to mix both of our lifestyles, but it’s hard.”

  “How so?” Graham took a sip of his coffee and the whole time never took his eyes off Rennie.

  “He’s not a fan of sand in places it shouldn’t be, whereas I don’t care. I’m not a fan of skiing. I’m not a fan of the snow, but I’ll go because it means something to him. I’m hoping that after our New Year’s trip, he’ll be more amenable to the beach.”

  “Shouldn’t he go to the beach because it means something to you?” Graham countered. He was right, but Rennie would never admit it aloud.

  The server returned in the nick of time, saving Rennie from having to answer Graham’s question. She smiled at the waitress and licked her lips in anticipation as she set her pancakes down.

  “Are there any pancakes with the whipped cream?” Graham chuckled at his joke.

  “Be quiet, you,” Rennie said to him as she set her napkin in her lap. She used her fork to take a heaping scoop of the fluffy white concoction off the top and hummed in response when sweetness hit her taste buds. “This is the best.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do. So, we talked about my love life. Tell me about yours. Are you seeing anyone? Maybe your cute bartender?”

  Graham cut into his steak. He stabbed a piece of meat, added ketchup and some hash browns to his fork before stuffing it into his mouth. Rennie suspected he planned to avoid her questions, and she had no intention of letting him do such a thing. So, she waited. Her foot tapped against the tiled floor, and she watched his every move.

  “Stalker much?”

  “Answer me.”

  Graham sighed. “I’m not seeing anyone. I haven’t dated in a while. Krista is happily married.”

  “Why aren’t you dating?”

  Graham pus
hed his food around on his plate and kept his eyes downcast. “I’m the brother of the town drunk. Not exactly bring-home-to-Mom material.”

  Rennie’s heart sank. Graham was 1,000 percent the man you brought home to your parents. She knew this early on and never hesitated to introduce him to her parents. “I’m sorry.” She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. Rennie waited a long moment before asking, “Whatever happened to what’s her face from college? I thought for sure you’d get married.”

  “Monica?”

  Rennie nodded.

  “Grady happened,” Graham stated matter-of-factly. “After the funeral, shit went south fast. My parents needed help. We all thought Grady was going through this phase. He needed me, so I stayed. There was nothing here for Monica. The idea of giving up her career to live in a small-town tourist trap wasn’t something she wanted, and I couldn’t blame her. I didn’t want it, either, but here I am. You ask me why I’m not dating. If Grady isn’t the obvious reason, it’s also because I have nothing to offer someone.”

  “That’s not true, Graham.”

  “Isn’t it, though?” He looked at her pointedly. She couldn’t decipher if the jab was directed at her or in general. For all she knew, it was both, because when she came through the door of the Whale Spout over the summer, she flirted with him heavily and led him on.

  “We should eat,” she said, diverting the topic of conversation back to food. “We have to go soon.”

  Graham agreed and dug into his breakfast, finishing it in no time. Rennie dawdled, taking only a few bites before her stomach revolted. She should’ve never asked Graham about his dating life, even though he opened the door when he brought up Theo. She knew better. Brooklyn had tried to set Graham up with a couple of her clients around the state, but nothing ever came to fruition.

  He was busy.

  Something had come up.

  The timing wasn’t right.

  Graham had excuse after excuse when it came to getting out there in the dating world. Rennie thought about asking Bowie about Graham’s love life, to find out if he’d dated before she’d returned to Cape Harbor, but she knew better than to meddle. Besides, deep down, if she found out he’d stopped dating after she’d made her surprise visit, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

  They drove back to the hospital and made it to Grady’s room, shrouded in awkwardness. She hated the negative tension between them and wanted to back him into a corner and demand he tell her how he felt. Doing so would require her to come clean about her feelings, and there was no way she was ready to admit that the past couple of weeks had sparked something deep within her. She missed the ease the relationship with Graham had and wished her connection with Theo could be the same.

  Rennie walked into Grady’s room with a smile. She greeted George and Johanna with hugs and gave Grady a small wave, while everyone in the room made idle chitchat. She explained to everyone what was going to happen today and how tomorrow would go in court, and then she asked for a moment alone with Grady. Once everyone left, Rennie shut the door and stood at the end of his bed. He sat up in his bed, still dressed in a hospital gown, with wires coming out of the top. His left hand had an IV attached, and there was a small tube coming out of his nose.

  “Hey, Grady. Long time no see.”

  “From what I’ve been told, the last time you saw me, I was drunk.” His voice was hoarse, and it sounded like it hurt him to speak.

  Rennie nodded. “In the past, right?”

  Grady shrugged, which wasn’t a good sign for Rennie. She needed him on board with the plan, which was to avoid jail time. Of course, the deal would hinge on Grady going to rehab and staying in a facility until he was healthy enough to function in society again.

  “First thing I want to know is how you’re doing. Do you need anything?”

  He appraised her for a moment, almost as if no one had asked him how he was doing with everything that was going on. “I’m okay,” he told her. “A bit scared.”

  “I hope I can ease your fears. When the police come in, they’re going to Mirandize you. Listen to the officers, and tell them you understand. They shouldn’t ask you any questions, because the charges pertain only to you. You didn’t cause any harm to anyone else or personal property. Can you tell me where you got the car you were found in? Your mother seems to think you don’t have one.”

  “My friend Roxy sold it to me.”

  “Where did you get the money, Grady?”

  He shrugged. “Bartered for a few things that I don’t really want to talk about.”

  “You know anything you say to me stays between us. I work for you, not your brother or your parents. Will the district attorney know something about this car that I should know?”

  “No, it was just personal stuff between Roxy and me. She sort of had to get it out of her name because of child support or something.”

  Rennie nodded and typed a note into her phone. “Okay, when the police come in, I’ve asked that they not cuff you to the bed. It’s normal practice in some places, but I feel it is unnecessary in this situation. Tomorrow, we’ll go to court, and you’ll plead not guilty—”

  “I was just in a coma, and now I have to go to court?” Grady interrupted.

  “Yes, it’s standard procedure. You can go, or we can ask for a video arraignment, but your doctor would need to sign off on the request. Would you like me to ask Dr. Field?”

  Grady shook his head slowly. Rennie continued, “After you plead not guilty, I’m going to ask that we go to trial.”

  “I have to go on trial?” Grady blurted out.

  “Not usually for what you’re being charged with, because we’ll work out a plea deal, but setting a date is a formality. Did your parents talk about treatment?”

  Grady nodded.

  “And you’re going to agree to enter rehab?”

  He glanced at Rennie, and for a moment, she thought he was going to tell her no. He nodded slowly but seemed to lack the enthusiasm she sought. “Grady, it’s rehab or jail.”

  “Or death,” he countered.

  “Yes, there is that.”

  Their conversation ceased when the door opened, and Officers Hook and Frey sauntered in. They tipped their hats toward Rennie and stood on either side of Grady’s bed. They stated Grady’s Miranda rights, asked if he had any questions. When he told them no, they said they would be by tomorrow to take him to court. Once they left, Rennie invited the Chamberlains back into the room.

  “It’s over?” Johanna asked.

  “Only until tomorrow,” Rennie said. “The officers will be back in the morning to take Grady to court for his arraignment. We’ll meet there. It’ll be quick, and then he’ll be transported to rehab. The center will allow you a few minutes to say goodbye.”

  “So, I can’t see my son whenever I want?” George asked.

  “Not whenever, no. There is special visitation each week for family members and family counseling. I suggest, for Grady’s sake, everyone takes part. I think we’re in a unique situation where people still hurt from what happened all those years ago.”

  “We don’t need family counseling,” George blurted out. “I’m not going to let some shrink tell me how to raise my boys.”

  Rennie glanced at Johanna, who looked embarrassed, then over at Graham, who hung his head. The family dynamic with the Chamberlains was odd. Johanna wanted her son to get all the help he could, Graham wanted his brother and his life back, and George refused to believe there was anything wrong with his kid. And Rennie was in the thick of it, trying to do right by all parties involved.

  Rennie excused herself and left the family to talk. She was tired and in need of a nap and suddenly eager to get to the hotel Ester booked for her. In the parking lot, she turned at the sound of her name. Graham jogged toward her and didn’t stop until he had her cocooned in his arms.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  “I’m just doing my job.” She knew she was going above and beyond, but the idea of
not helping Graham or putting Grady’s fate into someone else’s hands never crossed her mind.

  Graham held her tightly. She could hear and feel his heart pounding and smell the sandalwood in his cologne. He also smelled like the beach, which, to her, meant warmth and sun. Rennie inhaled deeply, needing to remember the moment.

  “I should really go,” she said, motioning toward her car. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  He stepped away from her and nodded. Tempted as she was to ask about his accommodations for the evening, she held back. Rennie needed to put some distance between herself and Graham. It would be best for both of them.

  The next morning, Rennie rose with purpose. She called for room service and sat at the small round table in her hotel room, going over her notes. It wasn’t necessary, as an arraignment took minutes. However, she would be prepared for anything that came her way. The only other time she had gone to an arraignment was back when she clerked. She had entered a plea, agreed with the restitution set, walked out, and switched to family court.

  Her phone rang, and she smiled at the sight of Theo’s picture lighting up her display. “Well, hello,” she sang into the receiver.

  “You’re chipper this morning. I love hearing the confidence in your voice.” Nights prior, they had sat on the phone, and she told him how her research into criminal law had sparked something in her, how it had brought to life the idea of opening her own firm and becoming a general practitioner. She wanted to help everyone or at least be selective in the cases she took. Family law was still her passion, but she liked the idea of helping in other areas.

  “I am confident, Theo. I know it’s silly because it’s a preliminary hearing, but there’s this thrill. I don’t know—I’m excited to stand in front of the judge and enter a plea for my client.”

  “I get it, my love. There is nothing more satisfying than telling a client their books are exactly where they need to be, that no one is stealing from them.”