“Bring them here. They can have your old room, and we’ll play it by ear. They can stay through the end of the month at least.” Mom paused. “How long until you arrive?”
“Thirty minutes if traffic cooperates.”
“Enough time to put fresh sheets on the bed and clean the bathroom. Do they have a car, or will they need help getting around?”
“Madeline has a car.”
“Good. See you in thirty minutes.”
Jaime turned back to the house and saw Madeline waiting on the top stair, arms crossed over her stomach.
“Do you have a place?”
“Yes. You can stay with my parents.” And Jaime prayed that her mom could do for them everything she hadn’t known to do for Jaime.
Chandler followed the GPS to her parents’ home, while Madeline followed with Tiffany and Aslan. They drove in silence, and Jaime felt the urge to pray that somehow this moment, this bringing of Tiffany to her mother, would begin the healing for everyone. But she didn’t know what to do with that urge. Chandler and Caroline must be rubbing off on her . . .
She wanted the hope she saw in Caroline. The peace Emilie held. The determination of Hayden and the protectiveness of Chandler. Her friends all seemed to know who they were in a way she didn’t. And she knew their acceptance came from a source she’d ignored for good reason.
How was she supposed to match her reality to the God they talked about?
She glanced in the side mirror to make sure Madeline was still there as Chandler executed a series of turns that took them from the main road and into the older neighborhood that sat on the line between town and suburb. In the northern Virginia area, it was easy to slip in and out of those, but her parents had found a pocket that created the perfect oasis. The fact they found it before housing prices skyrocketed only made it sweeter. The full basement had been a haven for Jaime when she needed a place to land during summers in college. That same space might cocoon Tiffany and Madeline now.
Chandler pulled his truck to the curb in front of the Cape Cod–style home. “I’ll get Aslan and take him for a walk somewhere as a reward for his patience. We’ll be back in an hour or so to pick you up.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”
“Yeah. We don’t need to add to the chaos.”
Jaime bit her lower lip. He was right. Best to get Tiffany settled and comfortable. That was her job. Besides, her parents’ dog would be a Scooby snack for Aslan. “All right.”
“Call me the moment you need me. We won’t be far.”
Jaime nodded, determined not to let him see that she wanted him to stay, to be her rock while she was Tiffany’s.
The bright teal front door opened before Jaime could even unbuckle her seat belt. Please don’t let her overwhelm Tiffany. The young girl needed a safe place, not a woman who was so intent on righting the wrongs of the past that she went overboard.
Madeline seemed frozen in her seat. At some point the woman would crash from the sustained pressure. Jaime hoped her mother could provide a safe place to weep.
Jaime walked back to Madeline’s car and leaned down to the window.
“I don’t think I could find my way back here without GPS, but that’s good. Means Corey”—she mouthed the name—“can’t find us either. Is there a neighborhood park?”
“I think so. I’m sure Mom will show you around. Although you’ll need to stay cautious until we know where he is.”
Her mother had stepped onto the front porch, a nervous smile on her face. She brushed a highlighted strand of hair behind her ear and came down the sidewalk. “You must be Madeline.” Her smile wavered a moment at the corners before firming. “I’m so glad Jaime asked if you could stay. We have plenty of space.”
Madeline edged around her old sedan. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure what to do.”
“Well, we’re glad to give you a place to regroup.” Mom turned toward the back seat where Tiffany lingered. “Is this your angel?”
Madeline gave Jaime a panicked look as Mom opened the door and cooed at the girl. Amazingly, Aslan let her mother slide Tiffany out.
Jaime shrugged and had to keep from laughing. This was why she had brought them here. Her mom would force them out of their shells and love them fiercely. It was something she did very well, and something Jaime was only now beginning to appreciate. For so long she’d allowed the past to control their future. No more. Today she changed that pattern.
CHAPTER 32
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
An hour later, Tiffany was running around the fenced backyard in pursuit of the Nichols family’s Maltese, Happy. Jaime tried to relax but kept a vigilant eye on the little girl. Happy yipped, and Tiffany belly-laughed. Where usually the dog drove Jaime crazy with his barky happiness, she could appreciate the joy he elicited in the child.
Tiffany’s squeals filled the space amid the crunch of leaves that needed to be raked. Her buzzing phone pulled Jaime from watching the chase. “Hello?”
“Hey.” Chandler’s slow enunciation tickled her ear. “You got them safely tucked away?”
“Yes.” Jaime turned back to the yard as more squeals made her wince. “I don’t know if you can hear that, but I think Tiffany’s in love with my parents’ dog.”
“I’ll try to shield Aslan from that knowledge.”
“Good idea. He could eat Happy in one gulp if he wanted.”
“One of those lap dogs?”
“Yep.” She leaned her forearms on the deck’s railing. “Are you ready to collect me?”
“Wondered if you were ready for pizza delivery.”
Jaime turned to look inside the kitchen where her mother was a cooking whirlwind while Madeline sat at the table nursing a cold can of Pepsi. “I think my mom’s cooking enough for a small army. Come join us.”
He hesitated, and she tried not to read anything into her impromptu question and his delayed response.
“I can kill more time if you need it.”
“I don’t. My mom’s philosophy has long been the more the merrier, which is why me as an only must have been a disappointment. She’s one of those women who needed a brood.”
“You haven’t disappointed them.”
“No way you can know that without really meeting them.”
“Touché.” There was a sweet silence where she knew she had him.
“It’s a home-cooked meal.” She straightened and walked to the door. “Mom, you have enough for one more?”
“Sure. Probably enough for a basketball team.”
“That’s what I thought. Thanks.” She closed the door. “Hear that?”
“I did. We’ll be there in five minutes.”
“See you soon.” A silly sappiness spread through her at the thought of Chandler meeting her Special Forces dad. Quick interactions at court and the military ball weren’t enough to see what her dad would think of this man. Her father was a hard judge of men, and she needed to know if he had the same read on Chandler’s character that she did.
Officially meeting Jaime’s family rather than sitting near them in court shouldn’t mean anything. Not really. But it felt like the next step. Problem was she wasn’t ready.
And the critical separation of faith remained between them. That was something he couldn’t waver on, but he needed to see for himself that Tiffany was all right. At least that’s what he was telling himself. He might even believe it.
He pulled to the curb in front of Madeline’s sedan.
A minute later he paused as he strode up the sidewalk with Aslan. Was that laughter? It sounded like a young girl’s, and it was musical. Aslan pulled him to a stop to sniff a tree and then led the way around the small home to the side yard. Chandler peeked over the small fence and smiled at the sight of Tiffany running around, braids flapping in the breeze as a small, white dog yipped at her heels. Aslan’s ears perked and he woofed, barely gaining the attention of the small dog before it raced after Tiffany.
“I think you have competition, buddy.
”
Aslan ignored him, attention locked on the activity within the yard. His tail wagged and he pulled against the leash before woofing again. Chandler glanced around and then walked to the gate. “Let’s join the fun.”
As soon as the gate opened, Aslan tugged the leash from his hand.
“Great.” So much for introducing the animals with supervision. The yipper didn’t seem to care as he redirected toward Aslan, who raced for Tiffany. The moment he reached her, Aslan stood and put his paws on her shoulders as the girl laughed and hugged the large golden.
“Aslan?” Jaime’s voice reached him about the time he heard someone clomping down stairs. “Where’s your owner, since I know you didn’t drive?”
He woofed at her and Chandler imagined a happy doggy smile on his face. His dog was as smitten with Jaime as he was.
Chandler closed the gate and walked toward the action. “Sorry about letting ourselves in. Aslan was pretty intent on joining the fun.”
Jaime grinned at him, her hands stuffed in the back pockets of skinny jeans that fit just right. He hadn’t noticed before that the coat she wore was the color of her eyes, making them startlingly bright. He swallowed hard. She stole his breath in a way no one had since Rianna. As he stood in front of Jaime, reality hit him. He was a goner where she was concerned.
Did she feel the same way about him? And what would he do if she did?
“You okay?” Her grin slipped.
“Yeah. The question is how’s our girl?”
Jaime turned toward Tiffany. “I’ve never seen her like this. She’s practically carefree.”
“Yeah. Even with Aslan she hasn’t been this free.”
“Aslan is a safe place for her, but there’s something about my dad’s pipsqueak, Happy. He pulls people out in a way little else can.” The dog in question jumped as if to grow Aslan-sized.
“He’s got heart.”
Jaime nodded. “That he does.”
Chandler took in the carefully groomed yard. “Is this your dad’s hobby? It looks better than most golf courses.”
“Actually, it’s my mom’s. You should see it in the spring when her bulbs burst from the ground. Then in the summer it’s her roses and peonies. There are also a few crepe myrtles by the alley.” Jaime smiled as her shoulder brushed his. “The yard is her canvas.”
“Well, she’s a master artist.”
“You should tell her.”
Chandler nodded, but all he wanted to do at this moment was pull this woman, the one in front of him, into his arms—the exact thing he couldn’t do.
“Jaime, reintroduce me to your friend.” Her mother came off the deck. The family resemblance was striking. So this was Jaime’s future. It was a nice vision of what could be.
“Chandler Bolton.” He extended his hand and she took it for a firm handshake.
Her mother gave him the once-over, and he stood straight, wanting to meet with her approval.
“I’m Joann Nichols. Bill will join us for dinner.” She smiled, but it was tight. “I’ve lived long enough to presume everyone’s as bad at remembering names as I am.” She studied Chandler, and he tried not to shift his feet. “You’re the one keeping Jaime out of trouble.”
“Mother.” Jaime rolled her eyes like a teenager.
“Nothing to it, ma’am.”
Joann gave a nod. “I like you. Now come on in. All of you. It’s time to get our guests settled and then have some dinner.” She glanced at Chandler. “I imagine there are some bags you can help with.”
Madeline frowned as her fingers brushed against the bruises around her neck. “Tiffany and I brought everything in with us.”
“That’s all you brought?” Joann turned to Jaime. “I thought you said they’d be staying for at least a week.”
Jaime shrugged. “I can always take Madeline back for more if needed.”
Her mother clucked over Madeline and then cooed as Tiffany came in, her cheeks chapped from the cold and a smile gracing her face. “I think the time outside was good for you.” She hollered down the hallway for her husband. “Time to eat, Bill.”
“Coming.” A deep, resolute voice came from somewhere down a short hallway. A minute later a man in his early fifties walked into the kitchen, bearing erect and firm. This was a man who knew who he was and wouldn’t be blown about by the winds of challenges. He extended his hand while studying Chandler. “Bill Nichols. We met at the hearing and briefly at the ball.”
Chandler stood even taller and allowed the man to study him, glad for every moment in the gym. He didn’t want to be measured lacking by this man’s man.
Through dinner Bill Nichols kept a careful eye on him but allowed the conversation to flow without interrogating him about his intentions.
As he watched the family’s careful, almost stilted, conversation with their daughter, Chandler knew that restoring the relationship would still take some work, but he sensed they were trying. The abuse Jaime had experienced impacted her whole family. Maybe he could help find a way to ease the strain.
CHAPTER 33
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
On Monday morning at eight o’clock, Caroline knocked on Jaime’s bedroom door. “I’ve decided today’s a good day for a mental health break.”
“A what?”
“I’m playing hooky.” Caroline straightened the asymmetrical hem of the tunic she wore over workout leggings. “You need a break from everything, and the only way that will happen is if I’m your babysitter.”
“What?” Jaime pushed against the edge of the bed as her mind struggled to wake up.
Caroline smirked at her. “You know exactly what I mean.” She picked up the pad of paper on the nightstand that contained a list of things to do regarding Tiffany. “I see your ethics issue is no longer top priority.”
“For the moment. I only asked Savannah to push on it last Thursday. It seems reasonable to wait until tomorrow to nudge again.”
“Sure. Let’s grab coffee and then watch a total chick flick.”
“I don’t own any.”
“So I’ve noticed, and it’s a crime.” Caroline made a face. “Isn’t that ironic for the defense attorney? Lucky for you I grabbed a couple from my collection when I went home yesterday.”
“Any progress on the floors?”
“Not enough. I have a bad feeling, but what can I do?” Caroline shrugged. “This is one thing that is so firmly out of my control, there’s no point worrying.”
“That works as long as you keep staying here.”
“And paying that ridiculous parking fee. Talk about gouging.” She shook her head. “The Keurig’s ready to brew whatever magic you want, and the DVD player is ready to plug in the movie of your choice. You have five minutes to get dressed.”
“Make it ten.” Jaime hurried through a shower, then came to the small living room and sank onto the futon with a towel wrapped around her head. “What are my choices?”
“Get your coffee first.”
Jaime pushed from the futon and obeyed, then settled in.
A couple hours later the credits to Spider-Man: Homecoming played across the screen, and Jaime shifted as though to get up.
“You have to wait for the bonus scene.”
“There won’t be one.”
“This is a Marvel movie.” Caroline plopped her feet on the coffee table. “There will be at least one.”
“I’m still not sure how you call this a romance.”
“Well, Iron Man and Pepper are back on.” Caroline opened her mouth to say something else, then shut it.
Jaime sighed as she reached for Simba and pulled him onto her lap. “You might as well say whatever’s on your mind.”
“All right. Just remember you asked.” Caroline took a breath and her fingers twirled a piece of hair. “I’ve noticed something. Living here will do that, you know.”
“It can’t be that bad.” Simba began to purr and nuzzle her fingers.
“Why don’t you have any pictures of your fami
ly? I realize things have been hard, but you’re their only child, so I guess I expected more contact between you.”
“Our relationship is complicated.”
“You know they love you. I could see that when they were here.”
That was the thing. Jaime was never certain. A part of her mind screamed that her mom should have protected her and her father should have done something the moment he returned. Why hadn’t he noticed she had changed? The should-haves could kill her. Yet she wanted to know her dad approved of Chandler, and she’d gone to her mother for help with Tiffany and Madeline. “It’s complicated.”
“Jaime.” Caroline’s clear voice grabbed Jaime’s attention. “They love you. It’s the way of parents.”
“Not all families are wonderful and pristine like yours. Some are just messy and mixed up.”
“I don’t buy that for a second. And don’t presume you understand my family.” There was a sad note to the words, but Jaime didn’t probe.
“Caroline, your childhood was nothing like mine.”
“True. And be grateful.”
“Grateful that I’m messed up.”
“You are not. You are this amazing woman who has risen above a terror that could have branded you for life. Instead, look at you doing crazy good things to help those who can’t do that for themselves.”
“Don’t make me a saint.”
Caroline snorted. “I know you too well for that. I also know there’s a reason you don’t have photos celebrating your parents.” She bit her lower lip as if weighing whether to continue. “Do you blame them?”
“Yes. No. Of course. I was eight years old. I needed someone to protect me.” She plunged forward. “Your God didn’t do that either.”
If Jaime expected the words to silence Caroline, she was surprised.
“You’re right. He didn’t stop the abuse.” Caroline’s jaw firmed and her fists clenched. “I don’t understand why He sometimes allows horrible things. But I’ve wrestled with it until I can trust He’s God. I know He’s good. And I believe the Bible when it says vengeance is His. There are days I’d like a mighty dose of vengeance right now. It’d sure feel good, but that doesn’t mean it’s mine to dole out. And I also don’t want His vengeance extended to me.”
Delayed Justice Page 18
