Battling Destiny (The Piper Anderson Series Book 6) (3 page)

Michael stepped down from the podium feeling as though he was caging a scream and, at any moment, it would break free. He moved past his seat and went right for the door of the church, knowing if he didn’t get some fresh air in his lungs he’d burst. When he pushed the heavy wooden door with the stained glassed window open he felt like he’d just come up too fast from a scuba dive. His head was spinning and the pain in his chest was shockingly sharp. He moved around the side of the church to a bench in a clearing near statues of playing children.

“A hard day isn’t it, son,” Father Diplin asked as he walked up behind Michael, scaring him half to death. He’d been the family’s priest for as long as Michael could remember, and back before everything Michael believed in was destroyed, he’d had great admiration for the church and Father Diplin.

“Sorry I stepped out, Father, I just needed some air.”

“Who wouldn’t on a day like today? Burying your father is never easy,” he offered as he took a seat on the bench next to Michael and adjusted his white collar slightly.

“Yes, it’s hard to sit in there.” Michael didn’t finish that sentence by admitting the hypocrisy in the church had him fleeing for fresh air. He couldn’t meet the priest’s eyes, so he stared down at the shoes his mother had left out for him this morning. From the corner of his eye he could still see the white beard and big gold-rimmed glasses of the man who didn’t seem to be leaving.

“I’d imagine it’s hard to look at all those people and not want to scream the truth. If they all knew the real man your father was, do you think there would be so many people in there today?” Father Diplin’s warm and level voice shot through Michael like a lightning bolt, drawing his gaze right back to the man’s face so their eyes were locked on each other. “I’m not blind, son, nor am I deaf. I took your father’s confession once a month for the last twenty years. I likely know more about what he’s done than you do. I am a man of God, and I have a responsibility to his flock. Your father was a member of this church and my duty was to guide and support him. But if I had been in your position,” he hesitated as he squeezed down on Michael’s shoulder, “I’d have run for the hills, too. You may not know it but I’ve kept up on your story. You’re living in a little town practicing law now and really helping people. You’re the honorable man here today. I know that. God knows that, too. It’s admirable that you’ve come back to pay your respects and care for your mother, but listen to me closely, son, the first chance you get, go back to your life. There is nothing here for a man like you.”

All Michael could muster was a nod of his head and a blink of his wide and shocked eyes. The priest stood, a little spring in his step and a casual whistle on his lips, and headed back toward the entrance of the church. The validation he’d just given Michael was greater then any condolence or fake sympathy anyone had offered him since he’d arrived. Now all he had to do was take the wise man’s advice and be ready to get the hell out of here as soon as he could.

“Lindsey, it’s so nice of you to come with us,” Piper said, obviously trying to compensate for Jules’s silence. They’d all been quiet on the car ride to the airport and throughout the entire flight, and now as they rode silently in the rental car headed for the hotel; Piper clearly couldn’t take it anymore. Jules, on the other hand, didn’t care if any of them ever said a word for the remainder of this trip. She was too busy trying to remind herself how much she’d miss if she went to jail for murdering her husband.

“It’s no problem at all. I was going out of my mind being on leave. My knee is completely healed, but they won’t clear me for another week or so. I’ve never been to Ohio so I’m looking forward to it.” Lindsey’s long blond hair was down, something Jules had never seen before. She had a bit of makeup on, though she didn’t need it. Rather than workout clothes or her uniform she was in jeans and a thin sage-green sweater. She looked like a real human being, not Bobby’s partner.

“Well this isn’t a vacation or anything,” Jules snapped out, knowing her attitude was misplaced but unable to contain it. “I am trying to confront my husband, who has kept his entire family a secret from me and I’m guessing I’m a secret to them. I don’t know why, but I’m assuming it’s not going to have a happy ending either way. So I’d be ready with your handcuffs or bail money.”

Lindsey let out a loud laugh and then stopped abruptly when she realized neither of the other women were laughing. “Listen, Jules, whatever happens here I’ll help you out. Short of hiding a body, I’ll do what I can for you. I’m a great babysitter if you need that. Or I’m a pretty good freelance detective if you want me hunting information down. Just,” Lindsey turned toward Jules and with a half smile and warm eyes spoke kindly, “don’t be a bitch to me. I get enough flack at work every day for being a woman. I’ve got guys treating me like dirt on a regular basis. I’m looking forward to a week away where people actually remember I’m a human being.”

Jules felt like she’d just gotten punched in the stomach. She’d forgotten how hard it must be for a woman to be on the police force in a place like Edenville. Lindsey was here doing them a favor and she deserved better. “Sorry about that,” Jules murmured. “I appreciate you being here. I’m on edge and feel like lashing out. I’ll save it for Michael though.”

“And if you’re really nice to me I might change my mind about hiding the body.” Lindsey laughed, and now Piper joined in. The most Jules could muster was a half smile as she popped a pacifier into Frankie’s mouth.

“So what’s our plan?” Lindsey asked as the GPS chimed they were arriving at the hotel.

“There is an event tonight, some kind of gala celebrating Michael’s father’s life. I’m going to go. I want to see him face to face. He won’t be able to lie if I’m looking him right in the eyes.”

“I’ll go with you,” Lindsey said, not posing it as a question at all. “Piper can stay with Frankie tonight since the baby is more comfortable with her.”

“I think I should go,” Piper cut in. “I know Michael and maybe seeing both of us will be impactful for him.”

“What’s your plan when Jules loses her mind and starts dumping punch bowls on people? How are you going to contain the scene?” Lindsey asked, scrutinizing Piper’s face. Jules looked back and forth between both women and spoke before Piper could.

“She’s right. You might be too close to the situation to help me if I really lose it. Plus Frankie
is
more comfortable with you. You know her routine. But, Lindsey, this gala is five hundred dollars a plate. It’s a fundraiser for one of the family’s charities and it’s black tie. I brought a dress but what will you wear?”

“Well I don’t have a black tie,” Lindsey shrugged, “but I’ll make do. Just let me know what time to meet you in the lobby of the hotel and I’ll be there with bells on.”

As they walked through the parking lot of the hotel, Jules worried if Lindsey would truly have some kind of outfit with bells on it. The only thing that mattered tonight was finding and confronting Michael. But part of her was terrified Michael was embarrassed about Jules’s humble origins. Walking in with an underdressed Lindsey would only make the gap between her lifestyle and that of the Coopers even more glaring.

Michael straightened the bow tie of his tuxedo and pulled on each of the sleeves to get it perfectly positioned. The funeral was over and all that was left was a gala celebrating his father’s generosity. It was laughable, really. He took a swig of the gin he’d bought in a flask. It barely put a dent in his ragged nerves but something was better than nothing.

As he walked down one of the many long, shimmering clean hallways of his parents’ house, back toward the entryway, he heard his mother’s falsely warm voice. 

“Michael dear, may I speak with you for a moment?” She was dressed in a gorgeous black flowing gown embellished with crystals and lace. Like always, the neckline scooped just low enough to still be deemed respectable but showed his mother was not shy about her mostly paid for body.

“Yes, Mother?” Michael asked, not trying to hide his reluctance as he turned toward her.

“It means the world to me that you are here for us, Michael,” she hummed as she reached up and touched his cheek affectionately. “Your sister and I need you so much right now. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to talk to you about this. Do you think you and I can sit down after lunch tomorrow?”

“I’ll be gone by then, Mother.” Michael’s tone was flat and unwavering. He had no intention of getting sucked into spending more time here. He needed to be back with Jules and Frankie in Edenville before it was too late to earn his wife’s forgiveness.

“You mustn’t leave, Michael. We need you here. You, more than anyone in the world, understand how disastrous it would be if your father’s company were taken over by anyone outside the family. Your sister and I aren’t prepared to handle what needs to be done. You need to step in and take control of your father’s business and his charities.”

“There is no chance in hell I’m associating myself with his business or his charities. They are a sham. He’s extorted and embezzled more money than he’s ever donated. Why in the world would I walk into that?” The snap in Michael’s voice was partially driven by the slight buzz he was feeling, but his answer would be the same sober. He’d left this place as a twenty-four-year-old with absolutely no intention of ever associating his name with the criminal activities taking place.

“You don’t have to agree with your father’s business practices, but I thought you’d at least care enough about your sister and me to try to protect us from the backlash that will come if any of those things are exposed. Our family would be ruined. The charities we have that do good in this world would be dissolved. The people we help would all go without. Not to mention all the people your father’s manufacturing company employees. This is bigger than just your moral high ground, Michael.” Her voice was a low whisper with a hiss in it that reminded Michael of who she really was.

“My moral high ground has never been enough to protect any of us. That’s why I left. That’s the only thing that works—distance. You were by no means ignorant of the business decisions, Mother. You played an active role in flat-out stealing people’s money. I’m not going to put myself between you and that bullet. You chose Dad; you chose to stay with him and be his partner in all this. I’m sorry he died and left you holding the bag, but that isn’t my problem. I’m going to this gala tonight, and I’m leaving after breakfast tomorrow. That’s final.” Michael’s voice boomed and echoed through the large entryway as he stormed out of the house and leaned against one of the pillars that stood like soldiers guarding their front door.

“Hey stranger,” his sister’s voice called through a smile. “I feel like we haven’t even had a chance to talk yet.” She was wearing a short, black, form-fitting dress with a necklace so full of diamonds it hurt his eyes when it caught the light of the sun.

He opened his arms to her and she dove in for a hug. She was still so small. She was born premature and Michael remembered how frightened he was that she might not survive. He was twelve years old, and he swore if she lived he’d donate his entire comic book collection to charity. The day she came home from the hospital he boxed them up and had the chauffer drive him to Goodwill. It was a deal he was still so glad he made.

“Sorry we haven’t really talked yet, Jo,” he said, kissing the top of her head. He released her and watched as she flattened out her dress and adjusted her necklace, exactly the way their mother would have. She resembled her more than he’d ever realized, and his only hope was that their similarities stopped at appearances. But it soon became clear that wasn’t the case.

“Please don’t call me Jo. My name is Josephine. It’s impossible to be taken seriously when people call you Jo. Mother says you’re finally staying in town to take over Dad’s company and his charities. I want to talk to you about that.”

Michael never wanted to be sharp with his sister. He felt bad for her, really. She still idolized their parents and was completely ignorant to all the things Michael had discovered about them. Dozens of times when they argued about Michael leaving town and not coming back, he considered telling her the truth. But in the end he always decided not to rob her of the illusion that she was in the presence of great people. There were days he wished he’d never been robbed of it himself.

“Mother was wrong. I’m not staying, Jo.” He knew she didn’t want to be called that but he didn’t want to feed into the idea that she was anything other than the kid he left behind here years ago.

“You’re running again? Seriously? Our father just died. He’s left behind an enormous amount of unfinished business and you don’t care. Mother just lost her husband. Don’t you think she could use you for support?” There was a determination in her eyes that instantly reminded Michael of his mother when she became dead set on getting her way. Suddenly all he could feel was sadness.

If Jo knew anything about their parents’ relationship she’d realize, as Michael did, that there was no love lost between them. The death of her husband was probably a welcomed relief to Tabitha—outside of the business troubles he was leaving behind, that is. “Why don’t you come with me Jo? I have a great life back East. You could be happy there, just like I am.”

“You’re a moron. You don’t know anything about me or what makes me happy. Stop calling me Jo. I’m not a child. I graduated summa cum laude. I could take any one of a hundred jobs I’ve been offered around the country but I have a life here. I’m engaged, which you’d know if you’d acted like my brother at all in the last decade. I’ll be married here, and I don’t plan to abandon our mother even if you’ve found a way to live with yourself for doing it.”