Pro Bono Romance

by Shirley Holder Platt

  Gabe had been reading along with Rainy. They looked up together.

  “We’d heard,” they said in unison.

  “And you didn’t think I’d want to know this?” Sophie seemed offended, and Rainy felt guilty. She’d been living in a fog and hadn’t been talking to anyone lately except Gabe.

  “Meth? That’s bad stuff. Good riddance to bad garbage,” Sophie said as she turned her monitor around and sat.

  “I can’t believe I ever thought I liked that guy. What was I thinking?” Rainy felt dazed like the name of her café.

  “You know what this means?” Gabe asked Sophie.

  “What?”

  “It means that Martin is off the streets for a good long time. He won’t be bothering Rainy now. If he survives, the cops will lock him up so fast he won’t know what hit him.”

  “If he survives?” Rainy clutched her collar.

  “It says he was burned pretty bad,” Sophie said.

  “I don’t wish him dead,” Rainy said. She hadn’t thought he might die. She’d been living in a dream world with Gabe, merrily going about her way. She should have understood the serious nature of Martin’s burns. He might die!

  “We don’t wish him dead either,” Gabe said for Sophie and himself. “I wasn’t wishing that for him. I’m just glad to know he won’t be bothering you.”

  “I think I’m in shock,” Rainy said. She didn’t feel anything. No emotion. No happiness that Martin was off the streets. No sadness that someone she’d cared about had been hurt, even if it was of his own making. No nothing. Just a dull numbness. He might die. He might die. “What if he dies?” Her mind spun.

  “It’s a lot to take in,” Sophie said.

  “Are you all right?” Gabe asked.

  The room swirled and made Rainy nauseous. Then the world went black. When she opened her eyes, Gabe’s face was almost touching hers. He had his hands on her cheeks and was saying her name repeatedly. She moved her lips, but no sound came out.

  “Rainy? Can you hear me?” Gabe seemed very upset. What could have him so unnerved?

  “I can hear you. What happened?” Rainy tried to raise her head, but it hurt, so she laid it back down and closed her eyes.

  “Rainy? Hon?”

  Sophie’s voice. What was Sophie doing here? Where was here? And then it started coming back. Martin. An explosion. Burned. Might die. Might already be dead.

  “Did I faint?”

  “You fell straight forward and bashed your forehead on my desk,” Sophie said. Her voice was coming from Rainy’s left side, but it was too much trouble to turn her head.

  “Can you sit up?” Gabe still had his hands on her face. Gentle hands. Where was his sling? His eyes were full of concern for her. She tried to sit again. This time, he assisted her, and she was able to sit. He slid his arm around her to hold her up.

  “Let’s get you to the hospital. You hit your head pretty hard,” he said. “Can you stand?”

  “I don’t need a hospital.” She touched her forehead. There was a big bump. She wouldn’t be able to hide that. How embarrassing, another bump. Maybe she’d cut some bangs to hide this one.

  “I think it would be a good idea to get checked out,” Sophie said.

  “No. I’ll be good. Just give me a minute or two.” Rainy hated hospitals. The smell. The noises. The germs. No way would she let them take her there. She breathed deep and willed her head to stop hurting.

  “You scared me to death,” Gabe said. He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth tenderly.

  “Me too, but I ain’t kissin’ you,” Sophie said.

  Everything was getting back to normal if Sophie was kidding her. Rainy tried to stand, and Gabe was right there to help her. She got back into the chair she’d obviously fallen out of and took some deep breaths.

  “I’d like to go home,” she said. “Will you tell Olivia to finish my shift?”

  Sophie nodded. Gabe helped Rainy get down the hall and the stairs and into his car.

  “My house or yours?”

  “Mine. I want to curl up with my animals.”

  “Are you feeling sleepy? You might have a concussion and that’s not what you need. Sleep, I mean.”

  She patted his cheek as he drove. It was nice to have someone worry over her.

  “I can stay,” he said as he got her settled on her couch, Samson on her lap and Delilah beside her.

  “No. I’d rather be alone for a while. But thanks,” she let him kiss her and watched as he left quietly. Too much had been happening lately. She needed time to figure out what she thought about everything, including Gabe. He’d looked at her so fondly. Did she want that? It had been fun, but was she ready for him to get serious about her? Her heart rate spiraled, so she picked Samson up and buried her face in his fur. He fought to get down, so she let go and watched him scamper away.

  Sighing heavily, she laid her head back and watched the ceiling for a while. She couldn’t think; didn’t believe she could trust herself when it came to men. She’d totally blocked the terrifying fact that Martin might die. What else was she not seeing? If she’d gotten it so very wrong with Martin even before the explosion, what was she not seeing in Gabe? She closed her eyes and his concerned face floated before her. Why was life so confusing?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight – Gabe

  The contract swam before his eyes. Gabe had been trying to read it for thirty minutes, unsuccessfully. Rainy had shut him out. It had been three days since they talked to Sophie about Martin and the explosion. Three long days since he’d watched her faint dead away without being able to catch her before she bashed her head into Sophie’s desk. Three days since she’d told him she wanted to be alone.

  Alone time he could understand. But to refuse to answer his calls or texts? Why would she do that? Things had been going along so well. They’d been great together. She had been eager to be with him, a willing and adventurous partner in love making. Why did she need to be alone for so long?

  She wouldn’t come out when he was at the café, either. She hid behind her kitchen door and sent Olivia out to say she was busy when he’d asked for her. He picked up the contract and tried to concentrate. The letters swirled and wouldn’t come into focus. He might as well not be here.

  He pressed the intercom number for Sophie.

  “Yes?” she answered right away.

  “Have you spoken to Rainy lately?”

  “She’s made herself scarce since that day she fainted. Why?” Sophie sounded busy and distracted.

  “She’s shut me out. I need your help.”

  “Hang on, Gabe. Let me get back with you,” she said, and she rang off.

  Out of his mind with worry, he pushed his chair back and began pacing his office like a caged tiger. A couple of minutes later, Sophie walked into his office.

  “What do you mean, she shut you out? I thought you two were going at it like rabbits.”

  “You’ve never learned subtlety, have you?” He couldn’t believe she would say something like that about her best friend, but the woman was famous for speaking her mind.

  “We were getting along great. I don’t understand this. Why won’t she talk to me?”

  “I’ll see what I can find out,” Sophie said. She put her hand on his forearm and stopped him from pacing. “Go home. You’re not doing any good around here.”

  He ran his eyes over the piles of work on his desk. Pushing his hands through his hair, he took a few steps toward his chair.

  “I have too much to do.”

  “And how much have you accomplished today?” Sophie asked.

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  “So, listen to me. Go home. Take some time for yourself. Listen to some golf and fall asleep on the couch. Things will be better. I promise.”

  “How? How will things be better if she won’t tell me what’s wrong?” Gabe was pleading, but he couldn’t stop himself.

  “Look. I’ll see if she’ll go out for drinks with me. Maybe she’ll tell me what’s
up.”

  “Would you? That would be wonderful. You’ll tell me whatever you find out?” Gabe felt like he was in high school with his first crush. How crazy was that?

  “I will. Now go. Get some rest. Take a chill pill. Do whatever you have to do.”

  “I guess I could.” He stood stock still, immobilized by the situation. Sophie pushed him toward the door. She took his suit coat off the hook and handed it to him. He walked out and to his car, mumbling. The woman had gotten under his skin, and then deserted him. He had never been so confused and hurt. Had she felt this way the first time he’d kissed her then left suddenly? If so, he was surprised that she’d ever forgiven him.

  He didn’t think being alone at his house would help, so he drove to Nat’s place of business. Maybe the dogs would distract him.

  Nat was at his desk, shuffling papers when Gabe walked in.

  “What’s up?”

  “Just came to see how you’re doing.”

  “Doing fine. Now, tell me why you’re here.” Nat didn’t suffer fools lightly, and he’d always been able to read his brothers’ moods. “Why aren’t you hard at work doing whatever lawyers do?”

  “Can’t concentrate. Thought I might talk you into going to the batting cages and hitting some balls.”

  Nat lifted several papers and rattled them.

  “Some of us have to work for our living. I’ve got tons of paperwork; I have a new trainer that I don’t think will work out. She’s out there now, probably messing up royally. Can this wait until after six? Anyway, what would your physical therapist say about you hitting balls right after getting out of that sling?”

  “Forget it.” Gabe stood and turned to go.

  Nat had his eyes on the paperwork and didn’t watch his brother leave. Gabe felt out of sorts. He wanted to hit something, or someone. He’d never gotten a good jab at Martin, and now the guy was in a coma. He thought he might jump out of his skin when his phone rang with Rainy’s ring tone.

  “Hey!” he said, relief in his voice.

  “Sorry, I haven’t called you back. It’s been busy around here.”

  “Uh-huh.” He tried to modulate his voice, but was sure she could hear the hurt.

  “I needed to think. Thanks for giving me some space.” The wind blew his hair into his eyes, reminding him that he needed a trim.

  “So. Have you had enough time? Would you like to go out tonight? I’d love to see you.” When did Gabe Hart start groveling? Oh yeah, when he fell for Rainy.

  “I don’t think I’m ready for that. I just wanted to let you know that I’d be out of town for a few days. Didn’t want you worrying.”

  “Oh? Where are you going?” He’d gotten into his car, and could hear better now.

  “Longview.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I need to see Martin.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. Was she crazy?

  “I need to see how he is for myself. If he’s going to die, I want to say goodbye.”

  “This is Martin we’re talking about, right? The guy who ransacked your house, kidnapped your dog and tied her up so tight she almost choked to death, then he kidnapped you and held you against your will. The guy who was not just dealing drugs but making them? Are you nuts?” He was yelling. He couldn’t help it. He was at his wit’s end.

  “You don’t have to like it, Gabe. It’s something I need to do.” She sounded so down. He was sure this was a bad thing, and he needed to talk her out of it.

  “Rainy, listen to me, please,” he said. “Going there. That’s not going to help anything. He’s burned. He’s not conscious. You can’t have a conversation with him. He’s probably got a guard at his door for Pete’s sake.”

  “I didn’t ask your permission, Gabe.”

  “But,”

  “I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. Should be back by Sunday unless things go differently than I expect.

  “And what do you expect? Are you going to sit by his bedside and hold his crispy hand?” Gabe’s anger had taken over. He was helpless in this situation, and he hated being helpless.

  “I’m going to hang up now,” she said, and the phone went dead.

  He hit the steering wheel so hard it broke the skin on his hand. He sucked the blood off and hit her speed dial number. She didn’t answer.

  “Son of a…” He started his car and drove toward the café, hoping that’s where she was. He needed to talk some sense into the woman.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine – Rainy

  The drive from Hartford to Longview would take a little over two and a half hours. Rainy hadn’t thought about how long it would take to get to the hospital. All she’d known was that she had to go. To pass the time, she tuned into the radio, but seemed to only find commercials. She wished she had satellite radio. She needed to drown out the thoughts in her head. Thoughts about her childhood. Her mother and father screaming at one another. How she and Melinda hid in the closet when it got loud.

  She’d been eleven when her father disappeared. He never said goodbye. He’d been mean, hit her mom when he was drunk, but he was still her dad. She’d blamed her mother for running him off. Now that she was grown, Rainy understood things. She’d long ago forgiven her mother and her father. She was sure she’d been better off without him around. But he was the first in a long stream of men who’d disappointed her. And now he was dead. She hadn’t found out until he’d already been buried in Nashville. The woman he’d been living with had called to tell her three weeks after the fact.

  Not again. She repeated to herself as she drove. When she wasn’t thinking of her dad, it was other men that came to mind. It was impossible to remember all the betrayals, disappointments, outright lies she’d been told.

  She needed to see Martin. She wanted to look at the man and figure out how she’d been so deceived. The radio played yet another commercial and Rainy punched the off button. She was hungry. Why hadn’t she had a bite to eat before she left? She pulled into a service station to fill up the tank and buy some junk food to eat in the car.

  At the pump, the wind blew her hair into her eyes. She’d run off without sunglasses, and her eyes were feeling the strain already. Her mind reeled with memories. When she was fifteen, she’d thought she was in love with James. He’d carried her books between classes, made her laugh, taken her to a movie. His mom had driven them. Rainy remembered how he’d yawned and put his arm around her as they sat on the back row. He’d wanted to make out with her, but she’d giggled in his face. She had been too young and silly. The next weekend, she saw him at the same theater with his lips on Sheryl Thompson’s. Rainy had run out of the theater, crying her heart out.

  Then there’d been her date to the prom. She’d been dating David for fourteen months, which had seemed like forever back then. He came to the door with a corsage that he’d pinned on her dress with clumsy fingers. She’d felt pretty. Special. He held her hand. Opened the door of his old beat up Toyota Camry for her. They’d danced and laughed. She was having a wonderful time. Her best friend, Rebecca had been there with Cason. They were double dating. Rainy took a restroom break. When she’d freshened her lipstick and smoothed her hair into place, she stepped out into the hall. She’d seen an interesting picture on the way into the ballroom and decided to take a closer look. As she passed an alcove, she saw Rebecca in a lip lock with David.

  She could still feel the hurt in her chest. She’d run out of the hotel and into a cab. Then she cried herself to sleep, but only after she jumped up and down on the stupid corsage David had given her. She slapped the steering wheel in anger. What had she done to deserve such treatment? She’d never cheated on a man. Never lied to one. There were so many others. As her tires roared in her ears, the miles ticked away. At least she was driving east. The sun was finally behind her, and her eyes weren’t bothering her as much. Her head hurt, but she thought that was more from the memories swamping her than from the sunshine. How dare the day be so bright
?

  She tried the radio again. A song, finally! Hallelujah! She sang along until it ended and another commercial started. The next song they played was Elton John’s, “Benny and the Jets.” That song held memories she didn’t want, so she changed the station. The memory wouldn’t go away, though. She’d been dating Lanny. He was tall and lanky, accident prone. He loved to play baseball. She’d sung along with the radio, loudly and out of tune, on the way to one of his games as he held her hand. She’d been in the bleachers, the best of fans. He’d slid into third and pulled a ligament. She drove him to the emergency room, waited for hours with him. The next day, he told her he wanted to date other people.

  College had been no better. She’d fall in love and be jilted or dumped. She had a pattern. Martin was only one. And why would Gabe be any different? She needed to forget love. His kisses made her melt. When he looked longingly into her eyes, she wanted to believe him. But she’d felt that way about Martin at first. He’d swept her off her feet. She needed a new radar. Hers was broken.

  After her butt had fallen asleep, and her head felt like it would explode, she finally pulled into the hospital parking lot. She took a ticket and watched the gate open. The sign informed her that she’d pay eight dollars if she stayed over fifteen minutes. Highway robbery, but what can you do? She found a space in the crowded lot and made her way toward the entrance. The lady at the information desk directed her toward the bank of elevators. Martin was on the fourth floor.

  Rainy punched the button for four and put her back against the rail of the elevator as an orderly pushed a patient in a bed into the crowded space. He punched the button for the second floor. As he maneuvered the bed, an old couple held the door then entered, punching the button for the third floor.