Ex’s and Oh’s (16 page)

“Yes.”

There was silence on both ends.

And then Caroline said, “What about you? Did you talk to Andy?” For all Caroline knew, Tori hadn’t been told about the accident yet.

Tori broke down, and the sound cracked the outer edges of Caroline’s professional demeanor. “Where are you?”

“I’m at the hospital,” Tori whispered. “I need you to come.”

“I’m on my way.”

“I knew I could count on you.”

Tori couldn’t have realized that Caroline was literally already on her way. Caroline was put in mind of the first time she’d assisted Sheila Ross in an extremely difficult case. Just before springing a surprise on the unsuspecting opposition, meticulous, proper and hard-as-nails Sheila had muttered under her breath, “Stand back, ladies and gentlemen. The shit is about to hit the fan.”

Tonight, Caroline couldn’t stand back. In this instance, she was going to walk directly into the foray. In a matter of minutes, Tori would realize the connection between Caroline and Shane. She and Shane both needed her. Caroline couldn’t let either of them down.

The parking lot was well lit and contained a large number of cars. Shane and Tori weren’t among the people milling about the E.R. waiting room. Going directly to the desk, Caroline discreetly informed the nurse that she was
an attorney and was here to speak with the Grady family. The kindly nurse led her past the area where Caroline had been examined several weeks ago.

“Your attorney’s here,” the other woman said, rapping softly on a closed door.

“Come in,” Shane said from inside.

Professional mask in place, Caroline opened the door and went in. The room was small, the artificial lighting stark. There were the usual chrome-and-stainless-steel fixtures and sterile smell. Caroline was more interested in the three people looking at her.

“Thank God you’re here,” Shane said.

“That was fast,” Tori said at the same time.

Since Tori didn’t pick up on the coincidence, Caroline spared a glance at Andy. He was wearing a hospital gown. The head of the bed was raised, and a sheet covered him to his waist. There was a bandage on his forehead just above his eyebrow.

“Does that hurt?” she asked.

He met her gaze briefly, very briefly, then averted his face. “I already told the deputy what happened. I don’t feel like repeating myself.”

“You talked to the deputy without representation?” Caroline said. “Did he ask if you wanted it?”

“I don’t think so. What difference does it make?”

“For God’s sakes, Andy,” Shane admonished. “It makes a lot of difference. I asked Caroline to come here to help.”

“
You
asked her?” Tori said. “What do you mean you asked her? I just called her not more than—” She broke off in mid-sentence, as if something just clicked. In a blink, her entire countenance changed. “You two know each other?”

Shane said, “Yes.”

Caroline said nothing, an answer that wasn’t well received by either of them.

“No wonder you made such good time, Caroline. You were already on your way.” Tori Young could be snide with the best of them.

Sparing another glance at Andy, Caroline said, “Let’s deal with this problem now and sort out the other situation later, shall we?”

Tori glanced at Andy, too. “This is the woman you thought was chunky.” And to Caroline, “He’s the guy with the beard. Well, isn’t this cozy?” She started for the door.

“Mom, are you leaving?”

Her son’s question stopped Tori in her tracks. Facing him, she said, “I’m going to find that deputy who talked to you without my authorization. Hopefully he hasn’t left the hospital, because he’s going to need medical attention when I’m finished with him.” She looked back at Caroline,
and then at Shane, and again at Andy. “I’m not leaving the hospital without you,” she said. “You can bank on that.”

While the click of Tori’s heels grew fainter, Caroline closed the door, turning once again to the situation at hand. Shane looked like death. She would have liked to say something to ease his burden, but she focused her attention on Andy, and got down to business.

“Let’s start at the beginning. In your own words, what happened?”

Caroline couldn’t have been the only one fighting the need to massage her temples.

An hour ago, Tori had returned with the offending deputy in tow. Sheepishly, he’d admitted that he’d forgotten to obtain the proper authorization to question Andy, who was a minor. Caroline would make certain anything Andy had told him was rendered insubmissible in court, if the situation went that far.

Whether he wanted to or not, Andy had to begin again without the deputy present. His own words were sparse, but according to him, he’d willingly and knowingly gotten behind the wheel of an older boy’s car. Evidently, the others had been drinking, but Andy hadn’t. He hadn’t offered this information. It was in the police report Caroline demanded to see.

They’d given Andy a Breathalyzer at the scene. There wasn’t so much as a trace of alcohol in him. Thank God for that, at least.

Although the details were sketchy, Andy lost control and wrapped the car around a tree. Caroline would have to see the car. For now, she settled for viewing pictures. The only part of the car unscathed was the back door on the passenger side. The rest of the vehicle was mutilated, with the worst damage on the driver’s door.

A nurse entered to check Andy’s vitals and bandages. His right ankle was swollen. They wanted to keep him for a few hours, at least, for they suspected he had a slight concussion.

“All right, Andy,” Caroline said.

Everyone looked at her.

“What do you mean all right?” Tori demanded.

“This is all I need from him right now. Perhaps he would like to rest now. I’d like to speak with the others involved.”

Andy’s gaze darted nervously to Caroline before sliding away. Shane saw it, too. Without saying a word, he accompanied Caroline from the room.

At the elevator, he said, “What do you think?”

She allowed herself only one glance at his face. She wouldn’t have wanted to be him: the father of the boy to blame for an accident that had involved four other teenagers, two of whom were in serious condition.

“I’d like to speak to the others before I venture to say what I think happened.”

The corridor on the second floor was full of family members of the other teens. Caroline learned that one of the boys, Jason Schuler, was in surgery to close a head wound and set a compound fracture in his left leg. His girlfriend, who’d also been in the car, had been examined and released. Caroline noted her crutches. Although the other boy was in less serious condition than Jason, Caroline wasn’t allowed to see him, either.

While Shane dealt with the shock, horror and blame in the parents’ eyes, Caroline noticed another teenaged girl sitting by herself at the end of the corridor.

“Hi,” Caroline said as she approached.

The girl’s mascara was smeared, her face and arms scratched. She didn’t appear to be seriously injured.

“It’s two in the morning. You probably noticed I’m going to have a baby. Mind if I sit down?”

The girl inched over. Caroline took a seat. The girl remained huddled in her chair as far away as she could get.

“I’m a friend of Andy’s family.”

“I heard you were his attorney.”

Caroline had to learn that news traveled fast in small towns. “I’m Caroline Moore. I
am
an attorney, but I’m not their attorney, per se.”

“What does
per se
mean anyway?”

“It means by, of, in itself, or as such.”

Pretty, hopelessly young and scantily clad in a flimsy little top held up by spaghetti straps, the girl made a sound by releasing her breath through her pursed lips. It was short for
It was a rhetorical question, stupid.

Well then.

“Which one is your boyfriend?” Caroline asked.

The girl sniffled. “Chris. He’s not hurt as bad as Jason. Danielle’s a real basket case.”

“Are your parents coming for you?”

The girl sniffled again. “They’re out of town. They’re going to kill me. I’m staying with Danielle this week. Her parents are over there.”

Clearly, the girl didn’t want to talk to Caroline.

“If it’s any consolation,” Caroline said as if oblivious, “if Jason’s injuries were more serious, they would have airlifted him to a larger facility.”

“Really?”

Caroline nodded.

“You’re saying people don’t die here?”

So much for putting the girl’s mind at ease. Suddenly, Caroline understood why parents of teenagers worried. They were smart, sometimes reckless, untrusting of adults and they stuck together.

“I saw pictures of the car.”

The girl made no move to reply.

“You must have been sitting in the middle in the back.”

“So?”

“Chris was on your left. That side of the car took the brunt of the impact with the tree.”

“That’s what they tell
me.
”

“I’d rather you tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“Tell me how Andy Grady could have possibly been driving?”

“What do you mean?”

“If he’d been driving,” Caroline said, laying a hand gently on the girl’s arm, “Andy would be the one in surgery right now.”

The girl—Caroline had yet to learn her name—wouldn’t meet Caroline’s gaze. Mumbling something about wanting to sit with her friends, she got up, leaving Caroline without a backward glance.

Caroline watched her. She said something to the other girl involved. A private conference followed. Eventually, they both nodded, falling silent.

By then, Tori and Shane were waiting for Caroline near the elevators. Meeting them there, she said, “I believe I’ve gathered enough information for now. I think I’ll go home.”

“You’re not coming?” Shane asked.

Caroline had to give Tori credit for refraining from rolling her eyes.

“I’m sure you’d both like to stay with Andy.”

“Well?” Tori was finally forced to ask. “What do you think about Andy’s story?”

“He wasn’t driving that car.”

“Somebody told you that?” Again, it was Tori who’d spoken.

Shane’s attention never wavered from Caroline’s face.

“No one
admitted
it,” Caroline said. “But that girl I just talked to knows it. They all do. I’ll be able to prove it from the photographs of the car and the injuries sustained by those involved.”

“Christ, you sound like a lawyer,” Tori grumbled. “You’re saying Andy’s lying.”

“From what you’ve told me, Tori—and Shane—” it was as close as Caroline came to their other situation “—Andy may have a death wish, but I don’t believe he would have jeopardized anyone else’s life.”

“Then why is he taking the blame?” Shane asked.

“Because he wants to be punished.” Tori stared at Caroline as if daring her to say that he came by that naturally.

“Normally,” Caroline said instead, “formal charges are filed in these situations. Since Andy confessed, he’ll likely
be charged. They’ll be dropped eventually. If you’d like, I’ll represent him. Pro bono.”

Tori’s only reply was a curt nod. The elevator opened with a small ding. She got in. Without a word, she rode it back down to the E.R.

Caroline and Shane were still in plain view of the other families. It was very late and tensions were high. Shane looked it. His gaze rested on hers. Although he didn’t smile, probably couldn’t, his expression softened and he seemed to breathe a little easier.

“I don’t know where to begin to thank you. It was awkward for you earlier.”

“I think it was hardest on Tori.”

“It might take her a little while to get used to the fact that we’re seeing each other, but I still don’t see why our relationship should bother her. It has nothing to do with her.”

Caroline didn’t want to talk about Tori behind her back. Nor would she betray a confidence. Therefore, she said nothing. But Caroline knew her relationship with Shane bothered Tori. She wasn’t quite certain of all the reasons, but Andy was at the heart of them. Or perhaps it was Tori herself who was at the heart of everything she was facing. Caroline thought about some of the things Tori had told her in confidence earlier. Tori blamed herself for that day two years ago. There had to be something Caroline
was missing. In every situation, there was always more. Look at Caroline’s life. Look at Anna’s, and Karl’s.

Shane squeezed her hand. They both rode the next elevator to the main floor. There, he retraced his footsteps to Andy’s hospital room and Caroline headed for the exit.

Caroline
opened her eyes and tried to get her bearings. The sun was coming up. That must have meant it was morning.

She tried to get out of bed, but instead of finding the edge of the mattress, she encountered the back of the sofa. Why was she on the sofa?

Her brain wasn’t working very efficiently. In order to get up, she was going to have to roll over. That wasn’t as easy as it used to be, either.

She wondered what had awakened her. One by one, last night’s events came back to her: the phone calls, the drive to the hospital, and then the details of the accident. Hoping to hear from Tori or Shane, she’d waited on the sofa for one or both of them to call. Neither had.

A car door slammed. It was five forty-five in the morning. Whoever it was, wasn’t making a social call.

Shane arrived at her front door at the same time she
did. She’d slept in her clothes. It didn’t look as if he’d slept at all. Without saying a word, he came in, closing the door behind him. There was a span of time during which neither of them moved. And then they walked straight into each other’s arms.

She didn’t know how long they stood that way, not speaking, simply holding on. Finally, she said, “I take it they released Andy?”

“He was asleep in his own bed when I left Vickie’s. Hell.”

Caroline could only imagine how that had gone. Yawning, she padded to the kitchen to put the coffee on. He took over, shooing her to the bar stool where he’d sat a few months ago when he’d first told her about his son. She wasn’t accustomed to being taken care of. She’d heard of the existence of men in her generation who saw to a woman’s needs, but until Shane, she’d never experienced one personally. Shane might not have wanted to admit it, but he took care of people. Or he tried.

It would be easy to want more.

Her feelings for him went deep. He was good-looking but not gorgeous. And he was missing his socks again. It wasn’t his appearance that made him unique. Nor was it the fact that his hair and beard needed a trim and he rarely wore socks. There was inherent goodness in him. He wasn’t perfect, far from it in fact, but he was one of the
good guys, probably one of those saints Tori had once said she didn’t want.

He should have been dead on his feet, and yet he moved with an economy of motion, easily and efficiently as if loose-jointed. On land or on the water, rested or in dire need of sleep, the man was dangerous. She’d known it the first time they’d met.

They’d grown quiet again. Quietude never bothered him. She found she liked that about him, too.

When the coffeemaker stopped hissing, he poured the steaming brew into two mugs. Next, he poured her a glass of orange juice. Making no attempt to hide the fact that he was watching her, he waited until she’d taken her first sip before he said, “Small world, huh?”

It wasn’t funny. “Don’t make light of it, Shane. Just don’t.”

Shane had heard this speech before. From the other side of the kitchen island, he leaned down. Resting his elbows on the countertop so that he and Caroline were at eye level, he said, “By now you know I’m not good at
don’t.
”

He wanted to twine his fingers through hers, to hold her hand. That wasn’t all he wanted, but he would have settled for it right now. Instead, he took another slurp of decaf and said, “I don’t know if this is the time or the place, but I said it before and I’ll say it again. Vickie and I have
been divorced for four years. She could tell you the exact number of days, hours and minutes. Our marriage shriveled up and died long before she filed the papers. You’re the first woman I’ve wanted to see since. I realize it’s the mother of all coincidences. But Caroline? Vickie doesn’t take friendship lightly. She’ll get used to you and me.”

“You really don’t know anything about women, do you?”

“I know I don’t want to lose you.” He took her hand then. “And I know we’re both dead on our feet. Come on. There’s no place either of us has to go for a few hours, at least.”

Leaving their steaming coffee on the counter, he led her to her bed. And he lay down with her, he on his back, she on her side, her head on his chest, the weight of her belly resting lightly against him.

“If your offer to represent Andy still stands, Vickie and I would appreciate your expertise.”

“Of course it stands. I’ll speak with the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney later this morning. Would the three of you be able to come by my office this afternoon?”

“What time?”

“Let’s say three o’clock.”

Placing two fingers beneath her chin, he tilted her face up slightly. Her eyes were hooded and as blue as the morning. She expected him to kiss her. He wanted to. But one
kiss would most likely lead to another. So instead he drew the sheet over her shoulders.

Two minutes later, they were both sound asleep.

Caroline expected the meeting to be awkward. From the onset, it was all of that and more.

Upon hearing the bell jangle over the door, she greeted Shane, Tori and Andy in the outer office. Shane looked worried, Tori looked downright hostile. Andy didn’t meet Caroline’s eyes.

“This way,” she said.

She led them into her inner office where three chairs were arranged opposite her desk. She remained standing until they were all inside. Andy came bumping in on crutches. Tori followed, and finally Shane closed the door.

While they got situated in the chairs, Andy in the middle, his father on his right, his mother on his left, Caroline busied herself with paperwork at Karl’s old desk. The moment they were seated, she sat, too. “This won’t take long. I have good news. The charges have been dropped, just as I expected.”

“Thank God,” Tori said, only to clamp her mouth shut because her little outburst gave Caroline the perfect excuse to look at her.

“Amen to that,” Caroline said. She couldn’t help offering
her friend a small smile. She wasn’t surprised it wasn’t reciprocated.

“What happens next?” Tori asked, sticking to business.

Caroline pushed several papers across her desk. “There are forms for you to sign. The top one is a copy of the charges. The next one is a copy of the police report. Last is the paperwork stating that the charges have been dropped. I need all three of your signatures on that one, but just your initials on the first two for my files. If you’d like to read them first, by all means do so.”

While Tori scanned the legalese, Caroline turned to Andy. The wound above his eyebrow had bled through the bandage slightly. His eye was swollen and on its way to a full-fledged shiner. “You’re lucky, Andy. All five of you kids are lucky.”

He looked away.

Normally, she gave a client who’d lied to her a firm lecture. Knowing what she knew about Andy Grady’s situation, she opted to forgo it this time. After all, there was nothing she could tell him about guilt he didn’t already feel.

Tori signed the forms then handed them to Andy, who scribbled his name hurriedly before passing them on to his dad. When Shane had finished, Caroline took them from him. “Justin Schuler is out of danger. He admitted he was driving. The police are attributing the mix-up to shock.”

Shane ran his hand through his shaggy hair and sighed loud enough for all of them to hear.

“Does anyone have any questions?” Caroline asked.

Tori shook her head. Andy looked down. And Shane stared directly into Caroline’s eyes.

After making copies of the first two forms, and tearing off the bottom copy of the documents stating that the charges had been dropped, Caroline handed a set to Tori and another to Shane. Next, Caroline stood, indicating that the meeting was over.

“That’s it?” Andy asked before he could help himself.

Caroline’s smile was genuine. “It hardly seems worth all the trouble it took you to hobble down here, does it?”

“It was worth all the trouble and more,” Shane said, speaking for the first time. “Andy, I believe you have something to say.”

So softly he was nearly inaudible, Andy mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

With an almost imperceptible shake of her head at Shane, Caroline said, “We’ll just chalk it up to experience.”

This time it was Tori whose sigh was heard throughout the room. She stood, too, handing Andy his crutches.

When his son had hoisted himself to his good leg, Shane said, “Andy is going to pay you for your time.”

The other three wore expressions of equal surprise.

Resigning himself to the situation, Andy said, “I’ll take it out of savings.”

“That really isn’t necessary,” Caroline said. “I would rather see you put that money toward your education.”

“Good idea,” Shane said. Before the other three could breathe sighs of relief, he said, “He’ll work it off.”

“He’ll what?” Tori asked.

“He can work it off.”

“Doing what?” Caroline and Tori asked at the same time.

“Doing odd jobs for Ms. Moore,” Shane said. “That agreeable to you, Andy?”

The boy shrugged. “I guess.”

Shane was on a roll. “Your mother and I have made arrangements for you to start talking to a counselor.”

“About what?” Andy said, louder now.

“That’s entirely up to you.” The tone of Shane’s voice left no room for argument.

Shane could tell Caroline wanted to say something. Vickie’s eyes shot daggers at him. Tough. Sometimes things had to get worse before they could get better. Maybe last night had been rock bottom. At least he and Vickie were finally on the same page regarding the teen psychiatrist. She’d been right about that. Maybe someday he would tell her so.

Shane had asked Paul Avery for his opinion regarding
Andy’s method of repaying Caroline for her help. Dr. Avery agreed that working off a debt was often instrumental in relieving guilt and self-blame. Shane didn’t know what it would take to relieve his son’s guilt over his best friend’s death. Perhaps nothing would, but at least this was a start.

Finally, things were looking up. It had been a long time since Shane had felt as if happiness was actually remotely possible. Caroline had a lot to do with that.

With utmost professionalism, she was seeing them to the door. Even in business attire, she looked maternal now. Shane happened to know there was more to her than either her professional facade or her maternal persona. Behind closed doors, she was sensual, earthy, ardent and so damned responsive he could get worked up again a day later just thinking about it.

“Thank you, Ms. Moore,” Andy said, exiting the door Tori was holding.

“You’re welcome, Andy.”

“Are you free for dinner tonight?” Shane asked.

He could tell from Caroline’s expression that she didn’t believe this was the time or the place. She might have thought she could end this meeting without broaching anything personal. Shane wasn’t about to let it go at that. He’d asked in front of Vickie intentionally.

He wanted the awkwardness behind them. He was sick and tired of it, of all of it.

“I can’t,” Caroline said quietly. “Tonight’s girls’ night. Isn’t it, Tori?”

“Same time, same place,” Tori said with little inflection as she followed Andy out the door.

It was no coincidence that Caroline was the last to arrive. She knew what she was in for, and she was ready.

Taking her usual seat at Tori’s kitchen table, she said, “Sorry I’m late. I took a long nap.”

“From what I hear, you deserved it,” Elaine said.

Caroline wasn’t sure how much Tori had told the others, if she’d told them anything.

“The accident was on the news,” Nell said, scooping ice cream into parfait glasses.

Was Caroline an open book these days?

“Receiving that dreaded, middle-of-the-night knock on the door is every parent’s worst nightmare,” Nell said, patting Tori’s hand.

“Thank God those kids are going to be okay,” Elaine countered conversationally. “Now that we’ve satisfied that topic, you’re seeing Shane?”

Caroline measured the women in the room. Tori’s face was well modeled and carefully expressionless. Elaine’s
bangs hid her forehead, but not her open dismay. Nell seemed to have forgotten about the ice cream. Then there was Pattie, the resident diplomat and in many ways the woman most like Caroline. Even pleasant, happily married Pattie, who was normally everyone’s ally, was waiting with bated breath.

Accepting the inevitable, Caroline said, “I met Shane my first day in Harbor Woods. I didn’t know he was Tori’s ex-husband until much later. One of you called Tori’s ex Grady. I assumed that was his first name. And Tori’s last name is Young. And he calls his ex-wife Vickie. Looking back, I should have seen the clues.”

“Such as?” Elaine asked.

Caroline spoke to Tori. “You both called your son Andy.”

“That’s not an uncommon name,” Nell said.

“You both told me he was fifteen.”

“A lot of kids are fifteen,” Nell insisted.

“Would you mind?” Tori grumbled. Next, she turned to Caroline. “You never mentioned Shane’s name, either. Like the time you told me you’d kissed some guy who had a beard.”

“You told Tori you kissed a man, and neither of you knew you were referring to her ex?”

Everyone
shot Nell a quelling look.

“Just pointing out the irony.”

“How did you meet Shane?” Tori asked.

“I was looking for Karl Peterson. Shane’s mother told me to talk to Shane, and sent me to the marina.”

“It figures.” Tori made a derogatory sound. “What did Karl have to do with you?”

“He was my grandfather.”

Four women leaned ahead on their elbows. Everyone shut up and listened. Even Nell.