by Rachel Lee
“Now that I can’t tell you. I remember her from when she was in her seventies and eighties and I was just a kid. She made me feel special, though. Every time I was with her, I felt wrapped in love.”
“You were very fortunate.”
From what she had said yesterday, he wondered if she had, even once in her life, felt wrapped in love.
“I was,” he agreed. “She used to take me on walks in the summertime for a picnic. She mixed her homemade preserves with powdered sugar to make icing and spread it on graham crackers. Then we’d hike out to the railroad tracks and back. It always seemed like an adventure, even though I could see the town in the distance. I was small, though, so those distances seemed huge.”
He buttered the chicken on the outside, then washed his hands. It was a nuisance, getting the butter off, but he’d never found a better way to oil the chicken, and he liked the way the butter tasted. He skipped his usual preference for some paprika and just lightly salted it. Then into the oven. When he turned around, drying his hands on a towel, he saw Amber sitting with her chin in her hand looking quite pensive.
“Something the matter?” he asked.
“Just thinking about how nice those picnics must have been for you. I’d have liked to do something like that.”
“What kinds of things did you do as a child?” He hoped it hadn’t all been as bleak as she’d sounded yesterday, pushed every step of the way by ambitious parents.
“Normal stuff, I guess. My grandparents were gone by the time I was five, and I don’t remember them well. Except they never seemed like grandparents.”
“How so?” He moved closer to the table.
“I don’t know. It was like visiting people I didn’t know very well, and I always had to be on my best behavior. Not one of them made cookies.” She gave a mirthless laugh. “I see that stuff on TV and wonder where those grandparents are. Your great-grandmother sounds like she might have fit the bill.”
“She did. Of them all, she was my favorite. But maybe she’d reached a time in life where other things didn’t preoccupy her. I guess she spoiled me in a lot of ways.”
She moved her head a little. “Maybe every child deserves someone to spoil them. I get that parents can’t afford to, but other people can.”
“How much of a monster do you want to raise?”
At that he finally drew a laugh from her. Was she coming back? He hoped so. “So nobody spoiled you?”
She twisted her hands. “I guess that depends on what you mean by spoiling. I was luckier than a lot of kids. A stable home, concerned parents, never hungry, always well dressed. Yeah, I was spoiled in a different way.”
“By helicopter parents?”
Her eyes widened. “What is that?”
“Parents who get involved in every aspect in a child’s life, always there to dive in and straighten a crooked path, to defend a kid against any kind of trouble at all. Overly involved, I guess.”
She appeared to think about that. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “I wouldn’t say they were overprotective. On the other hand...” She shook her head. “I didn’t have a whole lot of opportunity to get in trouble. Guess I just made up for that.”
“Big-time,” he said with a wink. “Seriously, Amber, we all make mistakes, some big, some small, but we all make them.”
“This is a humdinger.”
He hesitated. While he wasn’t much for Pollyannas, he could sometimes be one. “Maybe someday it’ll look like the best thing that could have happened. No guarantees, of course, but you might find that life with a child makes you very happy, and you might find another position that doesn’t consume your entire life. Just spitballing here. I don’t expect you to believe it.”
She looked down at her twisting fingers. “I don’t make mistakes. The first thing I have to learn to live with is that apparently I do make them. Then maybe I can move on.”
He felt truly bad for her. There hadn’t been a whole lot of time for her to adjust to anything and being used that way by the jackass at her firm was something that might leave bruises, if not scars, for a long time to come.
“And no talking to your father?”
“Not yet,” she said, her head snapping up. “I can already write the lecture in my head. I don’t need to hear it.”
God, that was a statement, he thought. And it sure explained why she’d called him rather than her father. “I’m not saying you have to call.”
He wished he had some clue how to help her with all this. He’d split up families in court, usually for damn good reasons, but it was usually painful for all involved, no matter how valid the reasons.
“I’m selfish,” she blurted.
Surprised, he didn’t answer, just waited. What in the world?
“I realized yesterday that I’ve been the center of the universe my entire life. My parents put me there, and I believed it. Anyway, yesterday it struck me that I had no business calling you, without a thought for what you might have going on in your life, and running straight to you for help. Then you mentioned your election coming up... I never thought of you, Wyatt.”
“Yes, you did. You called me. Couldn’t have paid me a higher compliment. So relax.”
“How can I relax when your ex shows up at the door ready to start an old battle, one that doesn’t affect me but could certainly hurt you? What happens if someone notices me going to the obstetrician? Someone will undoubtedly start speculating that you got me pregnant. None of this is going to help with your election!”
Well, the withdrawal was gone temporarily, but he didn’t like this turn of events at all. “I don’t care what people think.”
“You have to,” she said hotly. “You’re a freaking judge!”
Wow. He tried to remember if he’d ever seen this much fire in Amber. No, he was sure he hadn’t. Fear, nerves, humor...but never fiery. Always the good girl. Now this? He hated to admit it, but he rather liked it.
“It’s okay, Amber.”
“No, it’s not okay. Most especially it’s not okay that I dropped myself on you without a thought to the consequences to you. I need to leave as soon as possible.”
“And go where?” he asked quietly.
She averted her face. Clearly she had no answer. And apparently he hadn’t convinced her that she was truly welcome here. He wasn’t worried about the election. However that went, he wasn’t that involved. He liked being a judge, but he’d liked working as a lawyer, too. His whole life didn’t hang on one thing.
But hers did now. She’d just given up everything, lost everything she had worked for. Maybe she thought a career change would be as troubling for him as hers was for her.
He was still trying to think of ways to reassure her when the doorbell rang. The sound struck him as poorly timed in the worst way. Amber needed something right now, and that wouldn’t come from answering the door.
But before he could stir to go see who it was, he heard the door open. In an instant he knew who had arrived.
Just what they needed right now: his dad.
Chapter Six
“Do I smell chicken roasting?” Earl asked cheerfully as he entered the kitchen. At once his sharp dark eyes measured the situation.
Wyatt figured he and Amber looked pretty tense, and Earl wouldn’t miss it. He tried to divert his father. “Are you inviting yourself to dinner?” It had happened a hundred times before, but not at a time like this. Earl knew he had company.
“Wouldn’t miss it. Alma’s gone to visit her sister. This must be your friend Amber.”
Amber stared at him, clearly wondering who Earl was and why he had just walked in and invited himself to dinner.
“Amber, this is my father, Earl. Dad, my friend Amber.”
“From law school, right?” Earl said, offering his hand. Amber shook it without sp
eaking, merely offering a faint smile.
Earl pulled out a chair and sat, eyeing Amber. “You look a lot younger than I would have expected.”
Wyatt wondered how to handle this. His dad was probing, and like a good lawyer he probably wouldn’t stop his cross-examination until he was satisfied. “Amber started law school young, Dad. And I don’t think she appreciates your inquisitor’s tactics.”
Earl twisted his head to look at his son. “She can stand it. She’s a lawyer, too.”
At that Amber made a muffled sound, but her face revealed nothing. Earl studied her for a few more seconds as he shrugged his jacket off and let it drape over the back of the chair. He paused a moment to smooth his gray hair, then he charged in again. “I’m surprised I didn’t meet you before. For friends of long standing, you two sure haven’t spent any time together.”
Wyatt wanted to groan. He shouldn’t have to explain anything, nor should Amber. “We kept in touch, Dad. Now drop it, please.”
Amber spoke at last, surprising him by the firmness of her tone. Earl must have awakened the lawyer in her. “I was two years behind your son, Mr. Carter. He went his way when he graduated and I went mine, to St. Louis and then Chicago. Unfortunately, my work didn’t leave me any time for visiting old friends or taking holidays.”
“A good reason to avoid those big firms,” Earl remarked. “But you’ll probably be bored to death here.” He twisted again to look at Wyatt. “What are you serving with the chicken?”
“I haven’t fleshed out the menu yet.”
“I like that boxed stuffing mix. Or how about yellow rice? I realize you won’t get to show off by opening a box for your friend here, but it’s good stuff.”
That elicited a welcome laugh from Amber. Earl’s gaze settled on her again. “I heard you met Ellie today.”
Amber’s eyes widened. “You heard about that? She was only here for a minute.”
“Word gets around. Did Wyatt tell you about their breakup? He should have told more people.”
“Dad...” Wyatt was ready to throw up his hands. He wished he could ask his father to leave before he managed to upset Amber, but...well, it was his dad’s house, too.
“Only a bit,” Amber said.
Wyatt spoke. “Don’t encourage him, Amber.”
“Why not?” she asked. “The woman came by, obviously with an agenda. Maybe I should know more about it.”
Earl fixed her with his gaze. “I could like you. Of course she had an agenda. She’s always had an agenda. First it was to marry one of the most powerful men in the county, one who owned one of the biggest houses and had a social life with the movers and shakers...if you can call them that around here. Big dreams, that girl.”
Wyatt sighed and gave up. He poured his father some coffee and joined them at the table. “I’m a slightly large frog in a very small pond, Dad. No more important than anyone else.”
“I’m glad your ego didn’t grow,” Earl said, “but the simple fact is you’re a judge. That’s important, however small the pond.” He turned back to Amber. “So did he tell you Ellie wanted him to dismiss charges against her cousin?”
Amber nodded.
“Well, of course he wouldn’t do it. Not that he couldn’t have, but Wyatt, I’m proud to say, has very strong principles and ethics. So of course he said no. And of course he realized that he’d almost gotten engaged to exactly the wrong kind of woman. Although she certainly claimed to have been his fiancée. The woman couldn’t tell the truth if her life depended on it. Now while Wyatt probably wouldn’t tell a soul this, I know how deeply hurt he was.”
“Dad...”
“Let me continue. So Ellie sets about trying to sabotage him by telling everyone they broke up because he’s gay. Wyatt doesn’t care about that. But some folks do. Only time will tell how much damage that woman managed to do to him in some quarters. Now he’s coming up for retention.”
“I know,” Amber said quietly. “I was saying just a little while ago that I need to leave so I don’t cause any problems with that.”
“Well, I was thinking the same thing,” Earl said. “Before. But with Ellie in the mix...do Wyatt a favor, Amber. Stay.”
Wyatt shook his head, wondering what kind of machination his father was up to. “My election prospects aren’t Amber’s problem, Dad.”
“Maybe not, but if she’s a friend, she’ll care anyway. She can put any rumors to rest even if Ellie tries to wind it up again.”
Wyatt clenched his teeth. His dad wouldn’t let go of that, couldn’t get it through his head that if people were going to choose a judge based on something as irrelevant as his social life, then he wasn’t sure he wanted to be a judge any longer.
Amber spoke slowly. “I’m aware of the concern. But I don’t want to be a new one.”
Earl sighed. “How could a woman staying with my son be as big a problem as...”
Amber interrupted. “I’m pregnant. And not by Wyatt.”
“Well, no one needs to know...”
“From what I gather about this town, some will when I see the obstetrician on Thursday.”
Wyatt had the rare pleasure of seeing his father shut up.
“Anyway,” Amber said, “just before you arrived, I was telling Wyatt that I should leave soon so I don’t somehow become an issue in this election. Ellie said something about me being a cover story. Do you really think my mere presence here could change that perception in those who believe what Ellie said originally? And if people start to believe that he got me pregnant and we’re not married, how does that help?”
“Damn it,” said Wyatt, “this is the twenty-first century and I’m not going to be guided by Victorian rules. Period. What’s more, Amber, you have no place to go from here yet. No plan. You were blindsided and I offered to help. To hell with everything else.”
“That’s my son,” said Earl, smiling faintly. “Full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes.”
“I wouldn’t have imagined that,” Amber replied. “He’s so very thoughtful, contained, even tempered. He’s full of good sense.”
“Usually,” Earl said with a significant look at his son.
Wyatt was losing his usually even temper. “Dad, just stay out of this. Amber needs a friend. I’m her friend. I told you before that I’m not worried about the election. Period. So just leave it alone.”
Amber looked at Earl. “From what I saw yesterday in court, he’s a very good judge.”
“Most folks seem to think so.”
“Then what’s the problem,” Wyatt demanded.
“There’s just so much you can thumb your nose at people.”
“The people I’m thumbing my nose at will probably wind up in my courtroom sooner or later charged with something!”
“Ha,” said Earl. “I was beginning to wonder if being a judge had deprived you of your passion.” He turned back to Amber. “He hasn’t been told yet, but he’s getting the endorsement of the police association and the chamber hereabouts. And a few others. It’s going to come out in the local paper and news in about ten days. Plenty of endorsements. But endorsements alone don’t win an election. Then there’s that group of religious fringe types run by old Loftis. They don’t like you at all.”
“A whole thirty of them,” Wyatt said. “Can we change the subject, please? This is nothing for Amber to worry about.”
“I’d like that yellow rice with the chicken,” Earl said, then looked at Amber. “If you don’t mind.”
“It sounds good to me.”
Wyatt seldom felt off balance, but his father and Amber had succeeded in making him feel that way. He was used to making his own decisions, choosing his own path, and now it seemed these two were conspiring. He supposed they thought they were helping, he certainly didn’t think either of them wished him ill, but... Damn, it was his
election. A lot about Conard County still resided in an earlier time, but that was part of the place’s charm. He would rise or fall by it, and he accepted that.
The chicken began sizzling in the oven, adding more of its delicious aroma to the air. He glanced at the clock and decided it was going to be an early dinner. Which meant his father would be out of here soon after, before he did something to upset Amber.
He was very much afraid his father would, too. It wasn’t that he was a hurtful man, but all these years of practicing law had taught him how to guard his tongue, as well as how to speak out when he believed it necessary. In protective father mode, he could be quite harsh.
“So,” Earl said as Wyatt pulled out the rice cooker, “Wyatt says you were blindsided?”
Wyatt stiffened. Why don’t you poke a little harder, Dad? Maybe you can make her cry again.
“Sort of,” Amber said. “A married partner who said he was getting a divorce but wasn’t. And an unexpected contraceptive failure.”
Earl nodded. “Relax, son, I’m not here to hurt your friend.”
Maybe not, Wyatt thought, placing the cooker on the island near an electrical outlet. Then again...
“Old story,” Earl said. “If history were a record of men lying to women, it would be a thousand times as long.”
Relief washed through Wyatt as he heard Amber laugh quietly. “You might be right, Earl.”
“Course I am. Now, Wyatt, he’s often right. I’m always right.”
Another laugh. Then quietly, “Earl, I really don’t want to cause him any trouble.”
“You won’t,” Earl said decisively. “Made up my mind. You stay put and I’ll get out ahead of the gossip. It can be done.”
“I’m still here,” Wyatt reminded his father acidly. Cripes, a person would have thought he was running for the presidency, not circuit judge.
Earl turned his head. “My gosh, you still are. Cook away, boy. I got a lady to get to know.” Then he leaned toward Amber and said the last thing Wyatt wanted her to hear. “Never could figure out why Wyatt didn’t date you in law school. He called me every weekend and we talked more about you than we did about his studies.”