McKenzie rested her head against my shoulder. We continued to walk, slow and steady. “Do you ever think there will be a day you might want to move back here?”
“I don’t think so,” I admitted.
“Because of Autumn?” She sounded so small asking such a question. I hated her second guessing herself. We were together now, and whatever she wished to know, I would tell her.
“Yes and no. You see, my father will never let me live that day—or all the days following it—down. I’m a disappointment to him, and being here, while a constant reminder of my loss, is also a reminder that I will never be good enough.”
McKenzie tilted her face upward. “You’re not a disappointment.”
“Oh, but I am in so many ways.” I softly stroked her cheek.
She reached up and tapped the tip of my nose. “If you could only see yourself the way I see you.”
The feelings that swirled up inside of me for this woman were uncontainable. In a single swift motion, I pushed her up against the brick wall we were passing. Her eyes widened and a smile danced over her lips. My body tingled with anticipation as I pressed up against her, holding her firmly between me and the wall. I leaned in and kissed her hard and deep, my hands trailing up her arms and stopping at her neck. The bill of my visor pushed back against my head, hitting the wall as I made love to my girl’s mouth. Her divine taste on my tongue was water to a thirsty man.
When I could feel her heart pounding against my chest, I pulled back. She gasped for air and smiled that beautiful smile I knew so well.
“I love the way you see me. You’re an angel.”
“I’m no angel,” she breathed. “I believe in redemption.”
“Spoken like a true angel.” I brushed her hair back from her face. She reached up and removed my sunglasses from my eyes. The sun appeared at that moment from behind the clouds and seemed to somehow spotlight her. Her blonde locks shimmered like gold and her blue eyes sparkled like diamonds. “If you could only see how beautiful you look right now.” Her blush deepened in her cheeks, giving her the perfect glow. I kissed her forehead and released her from my grasp before taking her hand in mine. “It’s not much farther from here.”
She let out a soft sigh and smiled, handing back my sunglasses. “I don’t mind. I love the walk.”
I slipped my glasses back on and adjusted my sun visor. “Me too. It’s peaceful.” Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her into the curve of my side and we started our journey again. Everything felt so easy with McKenzie. She had a way about her that was calm yet exciting.
We arrived on campus a few short minutes later, and it was exactly how I remembered it. My heart swelled with pride as I watched her take in the sites around us. I pointed out my dormitory, an old brownstone—like so many others in Boston—but there was something magical about it. Three years of memories filled that place. It was co-ed living, so the amount of trouble I got into was of biblical proportions. And even though the man I once called my friend lived inside those walls with me, I wouldn’t trade a single memory.
“So this is where the Harvard elite live?” McKenzie teased.
“For three years.”
“But I thought law school was four years?”
“Aiden and I got an apartment off campus for our last year.”
“Aiden? The same Aiden you mentioned the other night?”
A solemn chuckle bubbled in my chest and nodded, moving her away from the building. “Yeah. Aiden Wright. He was my old roommate and a good friend at one time. That was until he decided to sleep with my wife.”
“That wasn’t your fault, Andy. Just like the way things between Nate and me ended wasn’t my fault. Bad things happen. You pick yourself up, dust off, and start over again. A really smart guy taught me that.”
I stopped and cupped the side of her face in my hand. “Or maybe that guy was an idiot and just wanted in your pants.”
McKenzie took my hand from her face and placed a sweet kiss to my wrist. “Of that I’m sure.”
As we walked hand in hand, I realized that the heaviness that usually plagued me with thoughts of Aiden and Rebecca were not there. Being with McKenzie freed me in ways I was only beginning to imagine.
I pointed to each building, giving her a description of what was inside as we walked past. The grounds were practically empty, save for summer students determined to get ahead in their studies. We approached one of my all time favorite buildings on campus, and I felt my heart race with excitement. The law library. A modern day neoclassical style structure, but if you asked me, it looked like a Grecian temple crossbred with the White House. The entrance was noted with high marble pillars, and marble pillars sectioned off each window. The building sparkled in the sunlight, standing proud and beautiful for everyone to see.
I’d spent countless hours poring over books in that place. “That’s Langdell Hall. It houses the largest academic law library in world, not to mention some amazing rare books. A few my family has donated over the years. The smell and atmosphere are one of a kind.”
“I love the smell of books,” she noted. Her eyes glued to the building. “I bet it’s gorgeous inside. Can we go in?”
“It’s very beautiful inside, but only the first floor is open to the public, and there’s not much available there that you can’t find in a normal library. You have to be a student to go upstairs to the other three floors. The top floor is private reading rooms. My father still has ownership of one of them. He passes it on to one lucky senior each year that he deems worthy of using it. Usually, it’s the senior that he’s already chosen for an internship at Wise & Associates. It’s a coveted spot and many students vie for it each year.”
“Too bad they won’t let little ol’ me see upstairs. The way you describe this place makes it seem like a world of its own,” she mused.
“In a way it is.” I leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “I have one more place I want to show you. This one we can actually go inside and explore. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
We ambled along a path I knew all too well. The trees swayed softly in the breeze and the sunlight shone down on the elegant landscape. I had let myself forget how much I loved Harvard. Other things had overshadowed the memories of this place, but being here with McKenzie brought it all back to me.
We approached a reddish-brown building. The brick looked more like cobblestone than brick. The bell tower to the west side rang every hour on the hour. Cobblestone stairs led up to the entrance where a plaque hung next to the grand oak door―Wise Hall.
McKenzie’s eyes grew big when she read the plaque. “You have a building at Harvard named after you?” Her voice raised several octaves in surprise.
“Technically, it’s named after my great great Grandfather, but yes, I guess you could say I have a building named after me. It was built back in 1921 as a place to study family law. Family law was just getting started at that time. The Great War, or World War I as we call it today, was doing things to people that this country wasn’t prepared for. Trust funds were being set up for minors, the horrible word divorce entered the vocabulary of the American people, and the need arose for lawyers to begin practicing these methods. My great great Grandfather, Reuben Wise, having been a Harvard alumni just as his father was, donated the money to have this building constructed.”
McKenzie traced the lettering of my name on the plaque. “Established in 1921,” she read aloud. She looked back at me, and in her eyes, I could see the pride I’d longed to see from Rebecca. This meant as much to her as it did me. Almost as if she were apart of my family and this was her heritage. “What an honor to be a part of history like this, Andy.”
“Would you like to go inside?”
“Absolutely!”
I reached around and opened the door for her. The smell of the building transported me back to a day where I was still young and naïve. Removing my cap and sunglasses, we walked down the halls looking at various pictures of former classes, professors, and
even a bust of Reuben Wise. McKenzie read each description carefully, like she was trying to memorize something for a test. I enjoyed watching her excitement. So many knew my heritage, but few actually understood it. They took it as just another rich family leaving their mark on the Harvard campus. This meant so much more to me. While in college, I must admit I was kind of embarrassed by it, but now as an adult, I was proud of my heritage and what it meant to be a part of this institution.
As McKenzie looked at a picture of my grandfather teaching a class, I heard a familiar voice echoing in the halls. I rested my chin on McKenzie’s shoulder and whispered in reverence, “Would you like to crash a lecture?”
Her eyes widened. “We wouldn’t get in trouble for that?”
“I’m an alumni and a Wise.”
“Yeah, but I’m not.”
I placed a tender kiss to her jaw. “They won’t say a thing. I promise.”
“I’ve always wanted to know what it felt like to be in an Ivy League class.”
“Now’s your chance.” I took her hand and led her to the class of my old professor. We slipped into the classroom and sat on the back row. Niles Peltier hadn’t changed a bit since I was last under his tutelage. His gray hair was wild and unkempt, and his green eyes danced while he talked. As always, he was very animated in speaking. He was dressed in his usual khakis with a navy tweed jacket and a bow tie adorned his neck.
“Divorce is a trying time for all parties involved. That includes the husband, the wife, the children, the surrounding families, as well as the attorneys. Anyone who tries to tell you that it’s your job to be cold and calloused while dealing with a client is wrong and needs to find a new profession. You wouldn’t tell a doctor to close his heart to his patients, would you? No. You want him to care. You want him to be empathetic. Well, when your client is sitting in front of you telling you that their marriage is coming to an end, they don’t want a cold-hearted bastard. They want someone they can trust. They want someone who makes them feel safe when their world is crumbling around them.
“Can anyone tell me what the cardinal rule is when interviewing a client for the first time?”
The class sat in silence, looking around at each other, hoping someone would answer before Niles called on someone.
I raised my hand. “Yes, you in the back.” Niles pointed to me. I looked at McKenzie as I stood up. Her face went from pink to red in a matter of seconds. She slinked down into her seat, trying to hide from the crowded gaze that was now on us.
“The cardinal rule is you must review all the facts before building a case.”
Niles crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the dry erase board behind him. “And why is that important?”
“Because the evidence won’t lie. People, on the other hand, can and will. It’s our very nature.”
“But divorce is a messy and emotional business. Especially where children and money are involved. How do you know that all the evidence is given to you when you accept the case?”
“You don’t. But a good attorney knows how to utilize information to their advantage. You either find some loophole to have the evidence dismissed, or you confront the client and request that they accept a settlement in light of the new information. Either way, the client gets what they truly deserve in the end.”
A proud grin careened Niles’ wrinkled face. “I’m impressed Mr. Wise. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Andrew Wise of Wise & Associates has graced us with his presence and knowledge today. See me after class, Mr. Wise.”
With a bow of my head, I returned to my seat. I wrapped my arm around McKenzie’s shoulders and relaxed, listening to Niles finalize his lesson. After he dismissed the class, McKenzie and I stayed seated. A few students stopped by and shook my hand, introducing themselves to me before leaving the class. Once the last student exited the room, we stood up and made our way to the front.
“Drew, my boy! It’s been too long.” Niles greeted me with a warm handshake.
“Yes, it has been.”
McKenzie, standing ever so coolly next to me, smiled and watched our reunion with the sincerest of grins. “And who might this young lady be?” Niles asked.
I wrapped my arm around her, hugging her to my side. “Professor Peltier, this is McKenzie Evans, my girlfriend.”
She reached out and shook hands with Niles while staying close to my side. “It’s a pleasure, Professor.”
“Please, call me Niles. So, what part of Texas are you from, my dear?”
“Amarillo, but how’d you know I was from Texas?”
“I’ve been at Harvard for thirty years, and in that time I’ve heard every accent and dialect you can imagine. Yours is a dead giveaway, and if truth be told, it’s one of my favorites.”
“Aren’t you a charmer?” McKenzie giggled, waving him off.
Niles smirked. “Drew, my boy, this one’s a keeper.”
I pressed a kiss to McKenzie’s temple. “Trust me, I know it.”
“How much has our young scholar told you of his tenure inside these walls?” Niles questioned her.
“Not much? Why?”
“Oh, God,” I groaned. “Please, don’t.”
“Aw, c’mon, Andy. You promised I’d get to hear stories about you,” McKenzie whined.
Niles’ smirk grew wider. “Andy, huh? I’m liking this girl more and more by the minute.”
I covered my face with my hand. “I’m screwed,” I mumbled under my breath.
“How about you accompany me to my office and we shall have a little chat about your sweetheart’s escapades on the HLS campus.” Niles offered McKenzie his arm. She looked up at me, asking permission with her eyes. I groaned and nodded once. Her smile widened as she accepted his arm. “Lead the way, kind sir.”
Yep, I was screwed.
Upon entering his office, he offered us both something to drink. After serving us his customary Earl Grey, which I could never stand the taste of, he sat down opposite of us in an oversized arm chair. This office looked exactly as I remembered it. Disorganized chaos. Books strewn everywhere. Papers in piles, stacked as high as could be reached. Niles never married, as far as I knew, and the only family photo in his office was of Gavin, Andie, and me when we were little, holding a huge fish we’d caught in the pond on his land.
“Well, McKenzie, to start off, I must state that Drew was my prized pupil. He made me proud in every way, shape, and form. If I could steal him away from his father’s firm, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
McKenzie patted my knee and smiled. “He’s very good at what he does, and his father is lucky to have him.”
Niles sat his tea cup on the coffee table between us and leaned forward. “How right you are, Miss Evans. Now, did he ever tell you that he almost spent a night behind bars?”
I nearly choked on my tea. I told McKenzie about my accident and how I could’ve gone to prison due to my daughter’s death. For Niles to bring that up, well, it ripped me straight to the core.
“Um,” McKenzie searched for words.
Niles didn’t seem to notice the discomfort between us. He plugged on. “It was the end of his junior year. Finals were posted and I’d heard rumor that many of the juniors were planning a celebration. It’s not uncommon for the students to have parties around here.”
McKenzie and I both sighed in relief, but when I realized what story he was about to tell, I felt a whole new set of nerves. “No! Not that one!” I exclaimed.
Niles laughed. “Oh, yes, that one. You see, my dear, our boy here, along with Aiden Wright and several others, became quite inebriated that night. In their drunken state, they felt that a nice run in the cool night air would do them some good.”
“Oh, I bet that was a riot to watch.”
Niles leaned back, drumming his fingers together. His bushy eyebrows raised and a devilish grin stretched his aged face. “It was, my dear, especially since they were all stark naked.”
“Naked?” McKenzie turned to me to me in amusement. “You streak
ed on the Harvard campus?”
It was my turn to blush, and trust me, I could feel the heat burn my cheeks. “I was drunk. It sounded like a good idea at the time.”
“That’s priceless.”
“Not really. I was arrested for indecent exposure and public intoxication.”
“To which I had the charges dropped,” Niles included. “I knew Drew had a bright future ahead of him, and he proved me right. I had never done anything like that for a student before, nor have I since then.”
“I was just grateful you never told my father.”
Niles reached for his cup and looked down into the amber liquid with a solemn expression on his face. “What Jonathan doesn’t know…” He lifted the cup to his mouth and downed the remainder of his tea.
I fought the urge to ask Niles what happened between him and my father. At one time they were the best of friends. My mother adored him. Gavin, Andie, and I all considered him like a second father. And then one day, he was just gone. It wasn’t until I began my college career that I was reunited with him, and I’d missed him all those years. He was the only reason I knew my father endured me as a kid. Niles stood up for me when no one else seemed to. When he was gone, Gavin took over the role. But I figured some things were better off left in the past.
“Doesn’t hurt him,” McKenzie finished.
“Definitely a keeper,” Niles noted.
After that, Niles spent another hour telling McKenzie story upon story of my tenure at HLS. It was wonderful to listen to her laugh, even at my own expense.
As we got up to leave, Niles leaned over and hugged McKenzie. “It’s good to see him happy. He’s been through a lot. I’m glad he finally found the girl that was meant for him.”
“Thank you,” McKenzie murmured. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”
“And you, too, my dear.”
Niles turned to me. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Thank you for the invitation to Gavin's stag night. It’s good that he's doing so well. Great things are coming to the Wise family.”
“That we do. I’m sure it will be a night for us to remember.”
The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) Page 5