by Marie Force
Seven million. Holy shit.
“I still think we could get more,” Dan said. “This is just their preliminary offer, and they’ll expect us to come back with a higher number.”
“No,” Charlie said.
“Um, no? What do you mean?”
“No higher numbers. That’s more than enough. How much of that do you get?”
“None of it. I don’t want it, and I don’t need it.”
“I don’t get you. Why aren’t you like all the other hucksters out there who’d have their hands so deep into a settlement like this, I’d be lucky to be able to buy a hamburger when they were done?”
Dan tipped his head back and laughed. “Don’t think too much of my profession, do you?”
“Can you blame me?”
“Not one bit. You and most of the people I work with these days have seen the worst of us. I like to show you the best. I made a fortune as a corporate lawyer before I started the innocence project. I’m not in it for the money, but if you want to donate to the project so we can help others who’ve been unjustly convicted, I won’t say no to that.”
“Done.”
“I wish all my clients were as easy to please as you are, Charlie.”
“It doesn’t take much to make me happy these days.”
“I bet it doesn’t. I’m happy for you. A thousand times more wouldn’t fully compensate you for what was lost.”
“Maybe not, but seven million will keep me pretty well for the rest of my life and give me something to leave my daughter someday, too.”
“Good enough. I’ll let you know when I receive the official offer.”
“You’re going to Virginia with Sarah and Owen, right?”
“I am. Are you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see you Tuesday morning, then.”
“I’ll be there. You’ll be looking out for her, won’t you?” Judging by the fierce expression on Dan’s face, Charlie didn’t need to elaborate any further.
“You bet your ass I will. That’s why I’m going. I’ve been overseeing the divorce, and that husband of hers is a real piece of work. I’m not taking any chances that he’s going to pull anything on her. I’ll be right there the whole time.”
“Makes me feel better to know you’re on her side.”
“Always.” Dan offered his hand again.
Charlie grasped it with both hands. “I’ll never be able to properly thank you for all you’ve done for me—and for Stephanie. We’ll always be grateful.”
“Believe me when I tell you, Charlie, it was indeed my pleasure. See you at the party later?”
“We’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss it.”
Charlie waved to Dan when he drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
Seven million dollars.
While part of him wanted to say fuck them and their money, the other part of him—the part that had once been an intellectual, a teacher and a fairly decent human being before life ripped the rug out from under him—would never say that. He could do a lot of good with that kind of money, for himself and the people he loved.
He could buy Sarah any house she wanted, he thought with a smile, imagining her reaction to hearing that she could have her pick of anything she’d ever wanted. That thought brought a smile to his face and had him once again thinking about the night they’d spent together.
She’d surprised the hell out of him when she asked him for more, and though he burned with the desire to do everything with her, he hadn’t given in completely to those desires, as he was still afraid of scaring her or moving too fast after all she’d been through.
They’d still managed to have one hell of a good time together, and sleeping with her in his arms had been one of the best experiences of his life—even if they hadn’t actually had sex. They’d come awfully close to that, and he had every reason to believe it would happen soon. At least he hoped so.
As much as he’d once loved Renee, this was different. With her, the slope had always been slippery. Even before he discovered her addiction issues, she’d been unpredictable, prone to irrational bouts of anger that kept him—and Stephanie—constantly off balance, waiting for the next explosion.
Sarah had her own experiences with waiting for the anger and living on the edge. Other than an occasional flinch when she was touched, you’d never know it to be around her. She was serene and peaceful and delighted with the simple things in life. Like him, she was grateful to be free of a past that had kept her every bit as imprisoned as he had once been.
Now that he’d been able to tell her—and show her—how much he loved her, he was hoping they’d get to spend the rest of their lives together. Once she got past the trial and her divorce was final, it would be time to make some plans. Charlie couldn’t wait for that day. It was nice to have something to look forward to again.
After sending his wife a text asking her to meet him at home, Big Mac went to the house to wait for her. His mind raced with questions and implications and worries. He was deeply concerned about how Linda would react to hearing he’d fathered a child with another woman. Granted, it had happened before he met her, but still… He knew his wife and was worried the news would upset her.
Though it was only ten thirty, he thought about having a drink to calm his nerves but decided against it. He wanted to be at his best for this conversation. His thoughts kept wandering back to the beautiful young woman who’d appeared out of nowhere bearing life-changing news for him and everyone he loved. Had he been foolish not to agree to her wishes to let her go without anyone the wiser that she even existed?
“No,” he said out loud. He’d never have a minute’s peace if a child of his were walking around alone in the world when she could’ve been part of his large and loving family. Blowing out a deep breath, he ran his fingers through thick, wiry gray hair as he thought about the time he’d spent with her mother.
Theirs had been a brief fling, spanning most of the winter before he met Linda, the day before he closed on the marina. Neither he nor Diana had taken their relationship all that seriously, and when it came time to move on, they’d done so with no ill will or hard feelings.
He recalled Diana as a dark-haired, vivacious beauty with a zest for life and a yearning for adventure. She’d talked about the traveling she wanted to do and the places she hoped to see. None of her plans had fit with his goal of building his ramshackle marina on Gansett Island into a flourishing business. In fact, she’d teased him that he would lose his mind on the isolated island. But he’d been determined to pursue his dreams, as had she, so they’d gone their separate ways when it became obvious that their divergent dreams would never jell.
He’d liked her a lot, but he hadn’t loved her. Probably because he’d always suspected theirs was a temporary relationship at best. When he met Linda, he’d immediately seen the potential for much more than he’d ever had with Diana or anyone else for that matter. Following his instincts where Linda was concerned had resulted in the kind of love most people could only dream about. And here they were, going strong thirty-nine years later, and he’d never had a single regret where she was concerned.
Despite their fleeting relationship, it saddened him to hear that Diana had died. In her letter, she’d told Mallory that she’d been tied to her home and her family, which was why she’d been unable to pursue a relationship with him. There’d been no mention of travel or adventure. He wondered if she’d gotten to do any of those things she’d wanted so badly, or if taking care of their child had derailed all her hopes and plans. The thought of that possibility pained him greatly.
The screen door slapping against the doorframe, a sound as familiar to him as anything in his life, indicated Linda’s arrival.
“Honestly, Mac. I was right in the middle of coffee with Doro when I got your text. I’m enjoying our summer of love as much as you are, but I do have commitments, you know.” She stopped short in front of him and looked up, expectantly. “Well? I’m here.” She ran her fing
er down the center of his chest and then hooked it into the waistband of his shorts. “You said it was urgent.”
She was so damned beautiful, and when she looked at him that way, he would give her anything. He had to force himself to say the words. “I need to talk to you.”
Before his eyes, she took a closer look and registered something amiss. “What’s wrong?”
“Something happened today.”
“The kids?”
“Are all fine. It was something else, something completely unexpected and out of the blue.”
“Okay…”
“The winter before I met you, I dated a woman named Diana Vaughn for a couple of months.”
He watched her guard go up against whatever she was about to hear. “That name doesn’t ring a bell with me.”
“I probably never mentioned her. It was short-lived. We had different paths in life, and it wasn’t meant to be. By the time I met you, it’d been over for a while.”
“So why bring it up now?”
“Because her daughter came to find me today.”
Linda’s blue eyes widened with surprise. “What did her daughter want with you?”
He forced himself to meet her gaze when he said, “It seems I’m her father.”
Her mouth moved with words that didn’t materialize. She shook her head. “That can’t be right. How is that even possible? I mean, I know it’s possible, but you’ve never been irresponsible about those things. And why did she keep her from you for all this time?” His heart broke when he realized she was on the brink of tears. “I don’t understand.”
“I was never irresponsible. I swear to you about that. But nothing is a hundred percent foolproof.” Big Mac withdrew Diana’s letter from his pocket and handed it to her. “This might help to explain why Diana kept her from me.”
Warily, Linda took the letter from him and began to read it, her eyes flying over the page. Shaking her head, she covered her mouth with her hand, her shock palpable.
“Lin, listen to me. I had no idea. I swear to you. I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t. If you had, you would’ve done something.”
“Yes,” he said, relieved but still worried nonetheless. “I definitely would have.”
“What is she like? Mallory?”
“She’s gorgeous. She has dark hair and eyes. She’s an emergency room nurse in Providence.”
“So she looks like her mother?”
“Yes, I guess she does, but I could see Janey in her, and my mother. The picture I have of my mother as a young woman—Mallory is her all over again.”
Linda swallowed hard and looked up at him with tearful eyes. “Did you love her? Diana?”
“No, I liked her. A lot. But I didn’t love her. The only woman I’ve ever loved is the one I married, and you know that.” He reached for her and was thankful when she came willingly into his arms, wrapping hers around him. “I haven’t told anyone else. Mac was there, and Frankie… I could tell they wanted to know what was going on, but I came right to you.”
“Thank you for that.”
“What’re we going to do about this, Lin?”
“I’d like to meet her. Is that possible?”
“I hoped you’d say that, so I talked her into staying at the hotel for the night.”
“Invite her for dinner.”
“I was hoping you’d say that, too.” He held on tight to her. “What do we tell the kids?”
“Nothing for now. Let’s talk to her and figure things out between the three of us before we involve them.”
“Mac will be wondering what’s going on. He saw me talking to her.”
“He can wait. It won’t kill him.”
“It might. You know how he is.”
The small gurgle of laughter that came from her told him it was going to be okay. They were going to be okay. “What’s he going to say when he discovers he’s not the oldest anymore?”
He drew back to look down at her. “Oh Jesus. And when Janey hears she’s not my only daughter…”
Her smile faded as the implications for their children set in. “Janey has nothing to worry about where you’re concerned.”
“No, she doesn’t, but still… It’ll be a shock to her. To all of them.”
“No more than it was for you.”
“This isn’t going to cause trouble between you and me, is it? Tell me it isn’t, because I couldn’t bear that. I’m floored by this entire thing, but even knowing she’s alone in the world, if it meant trouble with you, I’d let her walk away. I hope you know that.”
“I’d never ask that of you. It would kill you to do that to a child of yours, even one you didn’t know you had.”
“I know you’ve heard this before, but I’ve never meant it more than I do right now. The luckiest day of my life was when you walked into the party at Frankie’s.”
“That was a pretty good day for me, too.”
He forced a smile for her sake. “Only pretty good?”
“It’s right up there among the best days of my life, as you well know.” She laid her head against his chest, seeming content to stay there for as long as he’d have her, which was forever. “Will you call her now and invite her?”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
Though he was reluctant to let her go, he did as she asked, withdrawing his phone and Mallory’s card from his pocket. His fingers felt clunky and awkward as he dialed the number. While he waited for her to answer, he put his free arm around his wife.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mallory. It’s Mac McCarthy.”
“Hi.”
“I take it you’re settled at the hotel?”
“Yes, they were very nice, but then I did drop the owner’s name.”
“Never hurts anything.” He cleared his throat, astounded by the unusual bout of nerves. “I spoke with my wife, Linda. We’d like to invite you to join us at the house for dinner, if that’s all right with you.”
“That would be very nice. Can I bring anything?”
Linda shook her head.
“Just yourself. You remember which house it is, right?”
“I do. What time would be good?”
“Six,” Linda whispered.
“Six o’clock?”
“I’ll see you then, and thank you. For the invitation.”
“Sure thing. See you then.” He ended the call and met his wife’s gaze, uncertain of what he’d find there. But as always, she looked at him with love and compassion and understanding. “Thank you for this, Lin,” he said gruffly.
“You’re welcome.”
Chapter 16
“This whole thing is so freaking pretentious,” Kara said to Dan when they arrived at the Summer House, where her mother was supervising the staff with all the authority of a drill sergeant. “I hate it.”
He slipped an arm around her and brought her in tight against him, kissing the top of her head. “Your folks wanted to do something nice for you, hon. It’s really the least they can do.”
“I know, but I still hate it.”
“I don’t hate getting to see you in that dress.” He stepped back a bit to take a perusing look at her, spending extra time admiring the tanned legs that were on full display. “Mmm, mmm, mmm.”
A bolt of heat lit up her face whenever he looked at her that way, which of course he knew. “Knock it off,” she said in a low growl.
“Just trying to get your mind off how pretentious this party is,” he said with a wink that made her laugh. Dan took in the tables laden with crystal, china and silver as well as artful centerpieces made up of hydrangeas, roses and snapdragons. “My own mother would be right at home at this shindig.”
“Speaking of your mother—and your father,” Kara said, “when do I get to meet them?”
“I’ve been thinking about that and getting quite a bit of pressure from the home front. How about a trip to LA after your season ends in October? I co
uld use a little time in the home office, and my folks are dying to meet the woman who finally got me to commit.”
“I got you to commit?”
“That’s exactly how I remember it.”
She reached up to twist the bow tie he’d spent half an hour trying to tie just right. “You’re full of shit, you know that?”
Scowling at her even though he loved her best when she was feisty, he rescued his poor bow tie. “I’m almost positive that word is not allowed inside this building.”
In a flurry of movement and still barking out orders to the wait staff that looked ready to have her killed, Kara’s mother came over to them bringing a cloud of expensive perfume with her. She was tall and lean and tanned with every blonde hair perfectly in place. To look at her, you’d never guess she was the mother of eleven children. Rather, you’d picture a life of leisure on the tennis courts at the country club.
Kara had told him they’d had nannies to help out growing up, and that her mother had, in fact, taken a lot of time for herself away from her children. The pampering was evident as Judith air-kissed her daughter.
“You look lovely, honey,” she said with obvious approval for the dress Kara had bought at Tiffany’s store. Dan would bet a million bucks that if she’d known it came from a place called Naughty & Nice, she wouldn’t have been so appreciative.
She turned her attention to Dan, her scrutiny nearly making him squirm. “Love the bow tie. It works on you.”
“Thank you.” He’d decided to give Judith and Chuck Ballard the benefit of the doubt. They were going to be his in-laws, after all. But he would never, ever forget or forgive them for the way they’d treated Kara after the debacle with Kelly and Matt. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be cordial, however.
Kara had told him they’d been impressed by him after they met over dinner the night before. As soon as her sister, Kelly, had gone home to Bar Harbor to report that Kara was engaged to a celebrity lawyer, her parents had suddenly taken an all-new interest in their daughter’s life on Gansett, much to Kara’s dismay.
