by Becky Harmon
“It’s about damn time,” Karen exclaimed when Jemini strolled into her office.
“I missed you too, Karen.”
“Everything you need for this afternoon is on your desk. After your hearing, I thought we’d go over your schedule for next week.”
“I’m heading back to Riverview as soon as the hearing is over.”
Karen followed her into her office, sinking into the chair across from her. “Okay. When are you coming back?”
“I’m not sure.” She hesitated for a second, not sure how Karen would take her next words. “What if I said I’m not?”
In a way she was as shocked as Karen at her words, but if she thought about it she knew the town of Riverview was calling to her. She couldn’t have been more wrong when she said she didn’t have any emotional ties to Riverview. She wasn’t sure when she had started contemplating moving there, but it seemed now like the idea had always been there. In the past, she had always worked hard to push those thoughts away but with the option right in front of her, she was finding it hard not to jump at the possibility.
“What does that mean?”
Jemini sunk into her desk chair and rubbed her face. “I’m not sure. Would you think I was crazy if I said returning to Riverview felt like coming home?”
“Maybe not crazy, but maybe it’s just your emotions getting the best of you. You’ve had a tough week. I don’t remember you ever mentioning or visiting your grandmother before. Were you close to her?”
“We haven’t been close since I was a kid, but the house and the people have brought back a lot of memories.”
“You’re a partner here. It’s not like Ken or Keith would have anything to say about you taking time off. Take as much time as you want to explore your past, and I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
“Thanks, Karen.” Jemini smiled. “If I did leave, would you consider coming with me?”
Karen’s eyes widened. “To Riverview?”
“Yes.”
She felt Karen searching her face for answers she wasn’t sure she even had for herself. After a few moments, Karen stood. At the door she stopped without turning around, and her voice, soft and a bit unsure, floated back into the room. “I would.”
* * *
Jemini strolled through the hospital and located the staff room. She had one more stop that she needed to make before she was ready to turn her attention to her case and their appearance before Judge Stevens. Even though the hospital was around the corner from her office, she had never before taken the time to visit Robin at work. One more sign that they had never really connected. She found Robin exactly where the nurse at the emergency room desk had said she would be. She was sitting with her head on the table and a can of Mountain Dew in front of her.
“Hey,” she said, gently touching Robin’s shoulder.
Robin raised her head and looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. “You’re back.”
There was no excitement in Robin’s voice. “Rough night?” she asked, staring at the woman she had called her girlfriend for the last several months.
“Rough two nights. I went out with Mary on my night off and the hospital was hopping last night. This is the first break I’ve had. It’s a full moon, you know.”
She smiled, hoping to soften the blow of her words. “I’m heading back to Riverview tonight, but I wanted to tell you I might not be back for a while.”
Robin shrugged. “Okay. So, that’s it then. I’ll leave your key when I get my stuff out of the condo.”
She almost took a step backward. Robin’s words weren’t condemning, but their finality was harsh. She had thought she would break things off with her when she returned and she certainly hadn’t expected Robin’s easy response. “You’re okay with this?”
“I didn’t expect it to last forever. We’re pretty different. It was fun, though. Let me know if you want to hook up when you come back.” Robin dropped her head back on the table, ending their conversation.
She shook her head even though Robin wasn’t looking at her. She knew she would never call Robin again. No matter what happened with Stephanie in Riverview.
She quickly crossed the street and cleared the metal detector to enter the courthouse. The meeting wasn’t in a courtroom, but the judge’s chambers were located on a secure floor in the same building. She found her clients and their two children waiting in the hallway and ushered them inside. Judge Stevens’s chamber was small and barely had room for the two chairs and the couch. The kids were now snuggled between their parents; she hoped they would all be going home together today.
“That’s not right!” Dennis Ross, the county prosecutor exclaimed as he entered the room. “They need to be separated until a decision is made.”
“Shut up, Dennis,” she said, standing. “They haven’t seen their parents in almost two weeks.”
“They saw them when they ran away three days ago.”
Thankfully the judge walked in before she had to respond to his stupidity. The court reporter followed him and took his seat at the recording machine.
“Thanks to everyone for meeting here today. Go around the room and state your names for the record.”
“Jemini Rivers. Counsel for the defense.”
“Dennis Ross. For the State.”
“Gloria Watson. Defendant.”
“Donald Watson. Defendant.”
Judge Stevens looked at both boys and nodded.
“Tyler Watson.”
“Donnie Watson.”
“Excellent. I’m Judge Stevens. I’ll be presiding over today’s hearing,” he continued. “I’ve called everyone here to get this case cleared up and off my docket. Ms. Rivers, can you give us a summary for the record?”
“Yes, sir. On January twenty-seventh, Donnie Watson was taken to the hospital for a broken arm and two weeks later he returned to have the same arm set again. As per Tennessee law, the hospital nurse filled out the paperwork to have the Watsons’ case checked for child abuse. Before the investigation could be started, Tyler Watson was admitted overnight for multiple contusions and a concussion. On February fifth, the case finally made it under review and both children were removed from the home. The Watsons hired Thompson, Myers, and Rivers, and the case was placed on my desk. We appealed the removal of the children from the home and I began filing to have the children returned immediately.”
“You have documentation for the injuries?”
“Partially, sir. Donnie was alone when he fell from his tree house.” She glanced at the little blond-haired boy. “Twice. I have documentation from Tyler’s football coach concerning his injuries, though.”
Judge Stevens removed his glasses. “Mr. and Mrs. Watson, can you step out of the room for a moment?”
Everyone waited silently as they hugged their boys and left the room. Judge Stevens motioned the boys to come forward. Jemini stood with them, guiding them closer to his desk.
“Can I see that arm?” Judge Stevens asked.
Donnie proudly held up his cast.
“You don’t have very many signatures. Can I sign it?”
Donnie nodded eagerly, laying his arm across Judge Stevens’s desk. Across the top of the cast Judge Stevens wrote “The Judge” and Donnie giggled.
“Tell me about your tree house,” Judge Stevens encouraged.
“It’s in the biggest tree in the backyard. Dad helped me build it. Tyler says I’m a sissy because it’s not very high off the ground, but it’s farther than it looks.”
Judge Stevens nodded. “How did you break your arm?”
“Mom called me for dinner. I was hurrying and my foot slipped.”
“And the second time?”
“My shoestring caught and I couldn’t climb up or down. I couldn’t yell for help because Mom and Dad told me I wasn’t allowed in my tree house until the cast came off.” He shrugged. “All my favorite stuff is up there.”
Judge Stevens smiled and addressed Tyler. “And you’re a football player?”
“I played football myself, but I don’t remember getting any bruises like that.” He pointed at the pictures of Tyler’s bruised stomach and ribs.
Tyler hung his head. “I got in a fight after practice.”
“A fight, huh. Tell me what happened, son.”
“Some of the guys were mouthing off about how we suck and they said they let the defense sack our quarterback on purpose.”
“So you took on the entire offensive line?” Judge Stevens smiled at Jemini.
“Kinda.”
“All right, boys. Take your seats. Bring the parents back in.”
She squeezed both boys’ shoulders as she opened the door and motioned for Gloria and Donald to come back in. She gave them an encouraging nod.
She glanced at Dennis, surprised but pleased that he had remained quiet throughout the hearing.
“I find that Tyler and Donnie Watson should be returned to their home. The state will continue to monitor for up to one year after the last incident including any future injuries that may occur.” He addressed Donald and Gloria. “It’s in your best interest to report all injuries to your case worker immediately.”
“The state would like to continue in-home inspections for the duration the case is open, Your Honor,” Dennis requested.
Allowing in-home inspections meant a caseworker could appear at the Watsons’ door at any time day or night and had to be allowed access to the house and the boys. This implied Donald and Gloria were guilty and would make for a very unpleasant year for the entire family.
Jemini started to protest, but Judge Stevens made a motion to silence her.
He rubbed his forehead before turning to face Dennis. “I understand your request and in most cases I would agree. Personally, I think this was all an unfortunate situation. Let’s let this family return to their lives.”
She could tell Dennis was upset, but she couldn’t help but smile. This was why she did her job; it made everything worthwhile when justice prevailed. She hadn’t expected Judge Stevens to clear them completely, but apparently he had reviewed all the material sent over by her office.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” she said as she motioned the Watson family into the hallway.
Gloria surprised her with a hug and she readily returned it. Donald and Gloria had been wrongly accused and their case had been easy to fight. Thompson, Myers, and Rivers kept the best investigators on salary. Once they were finished digging into every corner, she took the analysis of all the information discovered and if she doubted the defendant’s claims she would not take their case. She might work for the underdog, but it was always the innocent underdog.
Chapter Nine
Steph pulled into Lake View, her eyes instantly searching for Jemini’s car. Her heart sank when she didn’t see it parked outside her cabin. It was hard for her to believe that Jemini had taken the developer’s offer and then left without a word. Brandon shifted excitedly on the seat beside her. Kathleen had called and suggested she bring him to play with Chase so she had picked him up from school. Kim was invited too when she got off from work, but she had decided to take advantage of a quiet evening alone instead.
As usual Brandon had begun talking as soon as he climbed in her truck. She was surprised to hear he had chatted with Jemini the previous night. She tried to grill him for information, but he was easily distracted, especially the closer they got to Lake View. She finally gave up, discovering nothing more than his opinion that she was nice and would be coming for dinner at some point.
Chase met Brandon at the door of the truck as soon as they parked and the two ran off immediately. They were early for the cookout so she followed the boys toward the lake. Finding a shady bench, she tried to relax. She still couldn’t believe Jemini would leave without telling her. She wanted to ask Cassie or Kathleen if they had talked to her, but she knew she couldn’t do that without revealing how deep her interest in Jemini really was.
She wasn’t ready to put her attraction into words even with her friends. Her mind and body had played tricks on her while she slept and for once she wasn’t able to ease her arousal alone. She leaned forward on the bench and put her face in her hands. Jemini had touched more than her body. There was a connection between them. Something bigger than a shared childhood and she wanted to explore it. No, she wanted to embrace it. The problem was they couldn’t communicate. They hadn’t even been able to manage a normal conversation yet.
There had been plenty of women in her life over the years, especially when she was in college, but none had the effect on her that Jemini did. Her body hummed with anticipation at the thought of seeing her again and she couldn’t help but wonder if she would. Brandon’s high-pitched squeal made her lift her head and check on the boys. They ran through ankle-deep water at the edge of the lake, chasing each other. Chase’s thin pale legs glowed in the sunlight beside the thickness of Brandon’s brown calves.
To have fun and play—that was all that mattered to them in this moment, enjoying a friendship that went beyond their differences. She remembered the thrill of having Jemini as a companion and playmate. The contrast in their skin colors had held no significance to them either. Not then anyway. Things had changed a bit in the last twenty years. When her freckles had appeared each summer, Steph had been jealous of Jemini’s bronze skin tone. Now, she was painfully aware how very attractive it made her.
“Hey, stranger,” Kathleen said, sitting down beside her.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing out here alone?”
“I figured you guys were busy getting ready for the cookout, and I didn’t want to get in your way.”
Kathleen watched the boys before turning her attention back to Steph. “Thanks for bringing Brandon. We’ve had mostly adults this week and Chase has been pretty lonely.”
“Brandon goes to an after-school program when Kim’s at work, but I think he ends up doing a lot of babysitting of the younger kids since he’s the oldest kid there.”
They both laughed when Brandon dove to the ground, kicking sand all over Chase. He stood, spitting sand out of his mouth, and both boys ran into the water to rinse off.
“We’ll put them both in the outside shower before dinner,” Kathleen suggested.
“That would be great. I can only imagine the places he has sand.”
“Makes my skin itch just thinking about it. Are you going to ask about her?” Kathleen let the silence stretch before she prompted her again. “Steph?”
“What am I supposed to say? She left, right?”
She saw Kathleen’s eyes widen at the anguish in her voice, and she tried cover it. “I can see her car is gone. I should have expected it. She already has an offer on the house.”
“She’s only gone for the day. She’s planning to come back tonight.”
Relief flooded through her. She turned away from Kathleen. She would get another chance to convince Jemini to stay. Later she would worry about how she was going to do that. She had been so unsuccessful to date she couldn’t even come up with a plan. She thought about their kisses earlier. Each one said more than she had been able to say in two days. Maybe that was the only way they could communicate. She certainly wouldn’t argue about having more of that.
“You like her, right?” Kathleen asked.
“What’s not to like? Oh well, aside from the fact she’s selling Dorothy’s house from underneath Agnes and Kim.”
“Come on, Steph. You know this isn’t easy for her.”
Steph ran a hand across her face, rubbing her eyes. This wasn’t easy for her either. She had already decided if Kim and Agnes moved, then she was selling her place too. The house and the property would never bring her peace again. The thought of losing her family’s home brought back the anger she hadn’t felt in a while.
Her eyes met Kathleen’s as the words sank in, reminding her that Kathleen seemed to know more than she should. “You’ve been talking to her, haven’t you?”
“Maybe
a little.”
Steph raised her eyebrows, waiting for Kathleen to continue.
“She’s very confused, but the last time we talked she seemed adamant that she wouldn’t sell unless they allowed Agnes and Kim to stay.”
“Really? I guess that’s a start. I didn’t have a lot of confidence in our ability to bring her home like Dorothy wanted anyway.”
“I wouldn’t give up yet,” Kathleen said with a mischievous smile. “I think we should all go out tonight.”
“Go out? Like to dinner? But what about the cookout?”
“No, I mean dancing. After dinner. Greg is coming so he can watch the boys. Cassie and I have been talking about going to a lesbian bar in Pensacola for a while.”
Maybe a night out and away from Jemini would be just what she needed to clear her head. She shrugged. “Okay.”
“Great. I’ll ask Jemini when she gets back.”
Steph frowned. Inviting Jemini wasn’t what she had in mind. Why would Jemini want to go out with them anyway? “With Jemini too? I’m not sure that’s her style.”
“I think she could use a carefree evening.”
“A carefree evening maybe, but I’m not sure she would fit in at a lesbian bar.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not sure…I mean…I don’t know if she is or not.”
“She is.”
She glanced at Kathleen and then back at the boys, who were now pushing each other off the floating dock. She forced any emotion from her face. “How do you know that?”
“She told me.”
Steph couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across her face. She no longer had to feel bad about kissing Jemini. Maybe there were other ways she could convince Jemini to stay in Riverview and maybe, just maybe, she had a chance for something more.
Kathleen grasped her chin and turned her face back toward her. “What happened to your eye?”
“Hazards of the job.”
Kathleen gently stroked the bruise on her cheek before dropping her hand. Her displeasure in Steph’s job was evident. “I won’t ask for details since you already know police work makes me crazy. Cassie doesn’t talk much about her law enforcement career so I try not to bring it up either. I’m glad there are men and women willing to do the job, I only wish it wasn’t my friends.”