The DA was responsible for prosecuting Dani on the other charges. Alec doubted he would listen to any evidence contrary to his interests. "How can that help Dani?"
"I honestly don't think it will." Chuck put the handkerchief in his pocket and stood up. "As an attorney I can pretty much guess how this will go. Yes, you can tie Barbara Rushmore to the incident in the hospital and that will prove the boy is lying about that. A psychologist will be brought in and call it some type of referral syndrome. The child was so distraught he transferred his anger to the attempt on her life and imagined he did it. It was an act of revenge because he was helpless to do anything more than that. As for the syringe..."
He straightened his tie and buttoned his jacket. "The DA will probably bring up the chain of custody issue. He could even call it a plant by the boyfriend to save Dani."
"That's ridiculous." Alec levered himself upright. "Dani and I weren't a couple then."
"Prove it. Prove you didn't meet months ago."
"I...can't."
"My point exactly. It will be their word...Andrea's word...against yours."
Regan folded his hands behind his head and propped his feet on the desk. "So what would you suggest, counselor?"
"We do our jobs. Follow procedure. I just wanted you both to understand what we're up against. It's good evidence. Don't get me wrong. I just have to figure out the best way to use it. After all, that is what you hired me for."
So, after all the waiting, all Alec could do was go home and wait some more.
Chuck clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on. I'll walk you to your car."
They were well out of earshot from the police station when Chuck revealed his true purpose.
"I know you're upset and worried, Alec," he said without breaking stride, "but you had no place being here today, either at the station or the Rushmores. Your very presence might have compromised what little chance we have of winning this case."
He stopped short. "I wouldn't sit at your elbow watching you perform surgery. I would trust you. You have to trust me."
"You don't understand." And Alec didn't know how to explain without Chuck questioning his sanity. "Dani's depending on me. I can't let her down."
"You haven't. You've done all you can to help. You don't want to let her down? Then be there for her because she's going to need a lot of support these next few months. Don't let tilting at windmills distract you from that, Don Quixote."
He slugged him on the arm and left.
Keys in hand, Alec wandered to his car. Chuck was right. He was chasing clues and forgetting his primary goal. Was that how it had been for his previous selves? Was each incarnation so intent on protecting the woman he loved that she was forgotten until it was too late?
Alec laughed at himself. Getting things right was hard, no matter how many lives he lived. He was giving himself a migraine worrying if his next move was going to be the wrong move. Time to relax and trust his instincts. He and Dani were meant to be together. That's what uncovering the past proved to him. All they had to do was ride out this trouble...together, and they could go about their lives.
"Easier said than..." He tossed his keys up and snatched them from midair. "Ah, hell." Life wasn't easy.
When he got to his apartment an hour later, a bouquet of spring flowers in his hand, Alec discovered just how hard being together was going to be.
* * *
No reporters lurked outside Dani's house, but they had certainly left their marks. Paper cups, cigarette butts, and fast food containers littered the lawn. The flowerbeds were trampled beyond repair. The freesias, lilies, and irises were all broken at the stems. Even the pole where the birdhouse sat was bent. Tire tracks gouged a path in the grass leading away from it. She felt violated.
Dani paid the driver and lugged her suitcases inside. The red light on the answering machine flashed. Forty-three messages and probably all harassment. For the first time in her life, Dani wished she had an unlisted number. She punched the delete button and unplugged the phone.
"That takes care of that."
She sank into the chair. Derek and Miriam's chair. Odd how that worked out. Nice that it did because now it gave her a comfort she sorely needed.
Dani tucked her feet under her and rested her head on the cushioned arm. Here isolation lessened. If it crept in, she could find plenty to occupy her mind...and her heart.
Memories of her and Alec making love in the chair flooded her. Miriam and Derek's joining shadowed that. Leaving him was for the best, for his benefit. That's what love was about- protecting the one you cared about most, making a sacrifice no matter how painful.
She jumped up and grabbed a plastic trash bag from the kitchen. This is where being home came in. There was a lot to do in her nest to keep the lonelies away. There was enough crap in her yard to take hours cleaning up. Down on her hands and knees, picking the cigarette butts from the grass would take at least an hour. After that, she'd tackle the flowerbeds. After that, there was house cleaning. After that...
A car pulled into her driveway. Afraid that reporters were back, Dani tensed and looked around. Renee waved and then picked her way across the grass. Her low-heeled shoes still made her approach wobbly. Finally, she gave up, slipped them off, and strode forward.
"Alec called. He's pretty upset. I convinced him to let me come over first. I don't know how long that will keep him away."
Probably not long, knowing Alec. Dani blamed herself for taking the coward's way out with no note or no explanation. It was as if she was subconsciously sabotaging her own effort to leave.
"I think it's time we talked," Renee said.
"Yes." Dani tied off the bag. "Yes, it is. But I doubt you'll believe anything I tell you."
Another ridiculous assumption. Renee lived for stuff like this.
Inside, they brewed a pot of tea and fixed up a bowl of popcorn. Then, over a jigsaw puzzle spread on the coffee table, Dani told Renee everything. To her credit Renee kept any comments to herself. When the last syllable died, she reached for her cup of tea and still said nothing.
Dani traced her finger around the rim of her cup while she waited. She had thrown a lot Renee's way, but never in all their lives had she known Renee to be at a loss for words.
"I wish you would say something."
She gave a soft laugh. "I wish I could think of something to say. Anything I can think of comes off rather selfishly."
Dani leaned on the table. "What do you mean?"
"Oh...I keep wondering how long you and I have really known each other. I wonder if Kevin and I have lived and loved before. I wonder if Dr. Roberts could regress me." She snickered. "Then I remind myself that this isn't about me. You're in a terrible dilemma and I ought to be able to come up with something to help, some suggestion." She shook her head. "Only nothing comes."
Headlights flashed against the window. A car door slammed.
"That's probably Alec."
"I'd put money on it." Dani sipped her tea and fit a piece of the puzzle.
He walked in without knocking, filling the room with his aura. Alec jerked his thumb toward the door. "Time's up, Renee."
She unfolded herself from the floor and left. Dani kept her gaze glued to the puzzle. Once the door clicked shut, Alec tossed the ring before her.
"Why?"
She traced the circle with her finger. "Because I love you."
"I love you too. I'm going to marry you."
"It might have been nice if you asked me first."
"I was getting around to it."
"I found the tapes, Alec."
"Then you know it's imperative for us to get things right this time."
Dani tilted her head back to look at him. "Or destroy ourselves again?"
He sat in the chair behind her and pulled her against his knees. "That's not going to happen."
"It's already happened. I don't know about you, but my life was running pretty smoothly until I stepped into your orbit. The second I come into spitting
distance of you, nothing's gone right. The accident, that nurse, this crap with T.J. None of this would have happened if I hadn't met you."
As much as she loved him, Dani hated to put it in those terms. But if she looked at things objectively, this was the bottom line-they were bad for each other. Actually, he was bad for her.
He combed her hair from her face. "I'll give you that much. But I look at those things as pulling us closer together, making us bond. I didn't need a session with Ira to tell me I loved you. I knew it the minute I saw you. You reached out to me too. That has to count for something."
Dani twisted around. "Nothing good. Our relationship is costing you dearly. Your reputation is being dragged through the mire with me. You've shoved your patients aside for me."
"Wrong."
The word came out harshly, quickening Dani's heartbeat.
"As much as I love you, I would never neglect my patients. I've cleared my schedule of non-critical surgery and seen those in recovery released to home. I'm not the only plastic surgeon at the hospital. And if an emergency arises, I'm only a beeper away."
"But the board of directors..."
He lifted her chin on his finger. "I don't want to be chief of surgery."
Dani pulled his hand away and laced her fingers through his. "But your reputation, Alec. You've worked so hard. I can't...I refuse to let you give that up."
His eyes narrowed. "Did Ira tell you this?"
"No." Dani forced herself to meet his gaze. He had to understand that she was serious. "Dr. Rushmore spoke to me after I left Ira's office."
Alec stared, blank-faced, his body rigid. "That explains a lot."
Then explain it to me because I don't understand.
He ran his thumb slowly over her knuckles. "His wife, Barbara, is the nurse you identified. I recognized her from the sketch. Regan and I confronted her."
"She's the enemy?"
"I knew as soon as I saw her eyes. And she fits the pattern...the family member trying to get me for the sister, daughter, whoever. She wants me for Andrea and would have been after any other woman in my life. It just happened that woman is you."
"Coincidence or destiny?"
He shrugged. "I've given up trying to figure it out. All I know is that I love you. Me, Alec Edwards. This isn't about Demetrius and Adia, Marcus and Octavia, Carl and Greta, or Derek and Miriam. This is about you and me. We're going to get through this. We're going to be married and raise a family and love each other-"
"Forevermore?"
Alec chuckled. "Something like that."
"And what about Barbara Rushmore?"
The sparkle in his eyes faded. "She's gone. I got a call earlier from Chuck. Regan went to the house to bring her in for further questioning. Walt told him she had left the country for an extended vacation."
"Obviously he knows what she did."
"Or he suspects. He'd want to protect her."
"No." She shook her head. "Not her...himself. His reputation. The hospital's."
"Possibly." Alec retrieved the diamond ring and held it up to catch the light. "I love you, Dani. I need you in my life. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You make me happy. You fill my heart. You give me peace."
"What about the others?"
"We aren't trapped in the same loop as our predecessors. We have control over the situation. Ira's seen to that. Like I said before. This isn't about them. This is about us. Don't let fears that don't matter come between us."
He took her left hand in his and poised the ring over her finger. "What do you say? We get married and live happily ever after with a dog, a cat, and two point one children?"
Dani didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She did a little of both. "Yes. As soon as the trial is over."
"Agreed." Grinning, he slipped the ring in place and pulled her over his body. Before he could seal their engagement with a kiss, a knock at the door interrupted.
"Who is it?"
His bark was better than any guard dog. Despite her fear that reporters were at the door, Dani smiled as he charged forward.
"I said, 'Who is it?'"
A small voice from the other side replied, "It's...it's...we want to see Miss Morgan. We're her kids."
"And her friends. If you don't open the door, we'll bust it down."
Dani laughed at the sound of Diana's voice-the triple threat was here. She leaped over the table and ran to the door.
Alec barred the way. "It could be a trick."
She shook her head. "No...let them in. I need them."
With a twist of the knob, he swung the door wide to the swarm of students, parents, and friends.
Alec sat in their chair and watched Dani engulfed with affection, righteous indignation, and plans for fund-raisers to pay legal fees. She was innocent and they were damned determined to prove it. Yes...this was what she needed.
Dani was unique, drawing people into her circle of warmth unknowingly. He knew that the night of the accident when he walked into the waiting room and saw these same people standing vigil.
It would be a crime to take that from her. That's what prison would do. Her spirit would be dead within a week. No one would be the same without Dani to center them. Alec especially. Watching her, absorbing the moment, he didn't have the heart to tell her that unless Chuck came up with a miracle, they didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of finding her innocent.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dani stared at the pregnancy test wand in the bathroom trash. Positive. How could anyone miss it, glaring the way it did? Discussion would have to come later. Any joy she felt over the news was washed out by the trial. She grabbed the bag.
"Why are you taking out the trash now?" Renee asked.
"I think you know." She marched past her. "The last thing I need right now is to have Alec see a pregnancy kit in my bathroom trash. Especially one with a positive reading."
"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
"Obviously. With any luck the garbage will be picked up before the neighborhood dogs scatter the trash all over the yard."
"I'll take it. You finish getting ready."
Dani was as ready as she was going to be. She had been for hours. The waiting might not be so bad if Alec were here. But an early morning call from the hospital took care of that. Hopefully, he would be done by the time the trial began.
She studied her reflection in the full-length mirror. She was the picture of professionalism and maturity. Chuck had gone through her wardrobe and selected a navy blue coatdress with white piping. It was understated, yet screamed quality. Unfortunately, it was also her favorite. If things didn't turn out, Dani would never be able to wear it again.
The front door slammed. "Chuck's here. Are you ready?"
No. "More or less."
She grabbed her purse and met Chuck at the door. "Alec had to go to work. He'll meet us at the courthouse. My parents should already be there."
"Good. Ladies..." He led them to his van. "I understand there's quite a crowd at the courthouse. I just wanted you to be prepared."
Dani appreciated the attempt, but it didn't help.
* * *
Hundreds of people jostled for position on the courthouse steps: the public carrying signs with the words "whore," "sinner," "repent" in big, black letters; friends and students on the other side also with signs "Justice For Dani", "T.J. Costas lies"; and reporters who recorded everything for the world to see.
Her mind flashed to another time, another life. Octavia facing the mob in Rome, Greta facing the same in Germany. Both women also unjustly accused with sickening results. Dani's stomach clenched.
Chuck weaved her through the crush, ignoring questions flung their way. Inside, more of them waited for a piece of her. Camera lights blinded their progress. The air around her grew stale, smothering. The room shifted and then she realized it was her, not the room. Darkness clouded her vision. She clutched Chuck's sleeve in an effort to hold herself upright. It was no use.
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* * *
Dani shoved the ammonia capsule from under her nose. Strong arms pulled her upright. Her head wobbled, but she forced her gaze to focus on Alec's blurry features.
"You made it," she whispered.
Alec frowned. "Of course I made it. I told you I would." He pushed the smelling salts her way.
Dani drew back. "I'm fine. No more."
Alec forced a paper cup to her lips.
"I don't want any water."
"It's orange juice and you don't have a choice."
Apparently not. Clutching it between shaking hands, Dani drained the cup.
"You haven't eaten for two days. It's a wonder you didn't faint long before now."
She glanced over his shoulders to her parents, finding no help there. Her mother wrung her hands. Her father crossed his arms and nodded. It wasn't fair. She was the daughter, yet from the instant they met Alec he had become a favored son. Dani thought it was cute and she was tickled they liked him so much, but not when they took his side against hers-even when he was right.
"I just couldn't see the sense of eating if I was just going to barf it back up." She crumpled the cup in one hand and tossed it to Renee.
"I offered to write you a prescription to keep your stomach settled."
"Kevin didn't seem to think it would do any good."
"Kevin isn't your doctor."
Dani poked her nose in his face. "And neither are you."
Chuck wedged himself between them. "You two can argue all you want later. You don't want to keep the judge waiting. Dust yourselves off and let's go."
She glanced down at her dress. It was filthy from her fall to the floor. So much for pristine appearance. Dani prayed it wasn't a hint of what was to come.
The buzz of the crowd reached her a few feet from the courtroom. Here was a smaller version of what greeted her outside plus one extra, added attraction-Andrea Rushmore's smirking face right on the aisle.
Dani looked away. Alec sat in front with her parents, Renee, Kevin, and Renee's parents directly behind the defense table. That was where she placed her concentration as she took her position next to Chuck.
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