Your Honor

by Kristi Pelton

  Lucy nodded. “Yes, sir,” she answered, crippling me with confusion. “She is crazy with worry and told me to tell you how much she loves you,” she cried as the Hank guy rubbed her back.

  Perplexed, I touched Hank’s arm, trying to draw his attention.

  “Can you tell me if he’s been seen yet?”

  “No, sir. You came with Lucy?”

  I nodded. “Yes, sir.” I wasn’t sure who this guy was, but he seemed important to her. “Will you excuse me?”

  Scrolling through my contacts, I hit Bryce Boyles. After three rings, he answered.

  “Jenner, what’s up, buddy?”

  “Hey, Bryce. I need a favor.”

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “We are in the ER and I need someone seen ASAP.” I glanced behind me to where Lucy was coming apart in Hank’s arms. His worn hands brushed down the back of her hair.

  “Jenner?”

  “Yeah. Sorry. What’d you say?” I’d missed Bryce’s comment.

  “What’s the name?”

  “It’s Jack Walker. He’s an elderly man that fell tonight. I know it’s not life threatening. But he needs x-rays.”

  “Of course. I’ll call in now. Not sure who the ER doc is tonight, but I got you, man.”

  “Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I owe you one.”

  “We both know you owe me more than one.”

  I smiled as I disconnected the call.

  Lucy sat in a chair as worry etched creases in her forehead. Hank sat next to her. There were no empty seats near her, so I sat next to a window and watched her fiddle with her phone.

  You ok? I texted.

  First, she glanced at her screen, then up until our eyes met.

  I will be. Thank you for bringing me.

  You’re welcome. I have a question.

  ?

  I assumed her one question mark was the go ahead for me to ask.

  Does your Pops have dementia?

  After I hit send, I looked over at her. I watched as she opened my text. Her entire face crumbled. She glanced up at me trying to hide the raw emotion, but when she nodded, two tears trickled down her cheeks. Jesus, I whispered beneath my breath. This poor girl had been dealt the shittiest of hands. It no longer mattered to me who saw us, I needed to go to her. So I did.

  Despite the mass of people, she stood as if reading my mind, as I rounded the corner, stepping around folks to get to her. From my peripheral vision, I saw Hank watching me. The moment I got to her, I enveloped her with my arms, lifting her so that her feet dangled. I wanted to carry her burden, to somehow give her a break.

  She buried her face in my shoulder. Neither of us spoke; I just wanted her to know I was there for her. I’d hold her for as long as she held onto me.

  “Jack Walker?”

  Her body stiffened as she shifted around, and I allowed her feet to touch the ground. She wiped her face with both hands and sniffed. She needed a Kleenex, and I didn’t have one.

  “Are you Judge Weber?” the doctor in scrubs asked.

  “Yes.” I reached to shake his hand.

  “Bryce called. Is this the gentleman?”

  “Yes, sir,” Lucy stepped forward. “He fell.”

  “OK. Why don’t you bring him back, and we’ll get him into X-ray.”

  Lucy turned to me before she walked off and whispered thank you.

  Two cups of coffee, three email checks, five out dated magazines and a couple of hours later, Lucy strolled out when the electronic door slid open. I’d watched that door all night waiting for a glimpse of her. Her tired eyes spotted me as her brows pulled together.

  “Jenner. You’re still here?” she seemed surprised.

  I stretched my body as I stood to greet her; my knees cracked in complaint. “Of course, I am. I’m your ride.” I winked at her. “What’s the verdict with your grandfather?”

  “Broken collar bone and a rib.”

  “Damn. How’s he doing?”

  She tried to hide a yawn. “They’re keeping him overnight. Keeping an eye on his lungs. He’s low on iron and potassium.”

  “You ready, Little Miss?” Hank asked, coming through the door then spotting me.

  “If you don’t mind, Hank, I’d like to take her.” He and I hadn’t officially met so I extended my hand. “I’m Jenner, by the way.”

  Hank shifted his posture to give Lucy a cautious look. I made a mental note to ask her about that later. But, he did shake my hand. His handshake was strong and heavy. “Well, Jenner, I reckon Lucy needs to decide who she rides with.”

  She laid her head against Hank’s chest. “I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she tiredly walked toward me. Despite my inner joy that she chose me, I respectfully nodded to Hank, an unspoken reassurance that I’d take care of her—at least for tonight.

  Chapter 12

  JUDICIAL RESTRAINT

  LUCY

  “Lucy,” Jenner whispered, gently shaking me awake. The yellow lights from the parking garage shone through the windshield. “We’re at the hotel.”

  “Oh my goodness. I’m sorry. I fell asleep,” I said, peeling my eyelids apart.

  “Please don’t apologize. I know you’re tired.”

  Jenner rested his hand comfortably at the small of my back. I wanted more than anything to invite him to my room, but I knew what his response would be. No sense going through the agony again.

  “Thank you for staying tonight.”

  “Lucy. I was your ride. I wasn’t going to leave you.”

  Those obligatory words didn’t offer much comfort.

  Silence always seemed to find its way between us, this time it was in the elevator. This undeniable connection between us really had no explanation. Jenner was right. We didn’t even know each other. Not really. So why was it so hard to accept the impossibility of our situation? Why couldn’t we just say goodbye and mean it? I was too emotionally exhausted at this point to try to sort it all out.

  Once we made it to my room, he used my key card to open the door and then followed me inside. I stood watching as he turned down the bed.

  I knew what I was about to ask was unfair. Stupid in fact. But I didn’t care.

  “You’ll stay with me?” I asked, knowing I was pressuring him. Hating myself for it.

  I saw his eyes close and heard his heavy exhale. “Is that what you want, Lucy?”

  Feeling his resilience fade, I quietly whispered, “Please. Just for tonight. Hold me.”

  Neither of us spoke after that. He stripped down to his boxer briefs. I stripped down too, more uncomfortable now than I had been before with him. This was different than after the club that night. I didn’t know him then…there were no expectations. But everything changed after that fateful day in court. I grabbed the white undershirt he’d taken off and slid it over my head before taking off my bra.

  He lifted the covers for me, and when I crawled in, I scooted until my back was against his chest. His body swallowed mine as he draped a leg over me and wrapped one arm around my ribs, tucking me snuggly to him. This was a first for me. I’d never slept in bed with a man. I expected to feel claustrophobic, instead I felt blanketed in safety.

  “One night,” he whispered. “One night. Sleep tight, Little Miss.”

  I smiled to myself. I’d take one night. I think…

  ***

  I knew before I fell asleep that he’d be gone when I woke up…and he was. A handwritten note rested on the nightstand. He wouldn’t text but he was the king of handwritten notes.

  L- You have no idea the super hero strength it required to lay next to you for even a short night and not touch you. 317-743-9917—this is the number to Dr. Shu. He’s taken over your grandfather’s case. I spoke to him this morning. Mr. Walker did well overnight. Doctor is expecting your call. If you don’t mind texting me to let me know if you’re doing okay, I’d appreciate it. J

  I fell back onto the bed. Damn that man…I didn’t know much about Jenner Weber—but there were a few things I was
sure of. We were in for one hell of a battle. I’d worked my entire life to earn my law degree, so I could do what I’d dreamed of, to protect as many children as I could. Yet, one man stood in the way of that—he wasn’t just a judge; he was the man I had fallen for. Hard.

  ***

  I saw no sign of Jenner the entire day. The doctor who had miraculously been assigned to Pops’ case was texting me updates. Very unconventional. My guess was Jenner had a hand in my preferential treatment. My phone buzzed during my afternoon session, and this time it was Jenner.

  I’m hoping you are awake by now. And I’m hoping that you haven’t been trapped under something heavy preventing you from texting. #ihatetexting

  I grinned at his hashtag, glancing up at the dull PowerPoint presentation then back to my phone. Hope slid a sheet of paper in my direction. I texted him back:

  I made it to my 9 am session! #notaslacker #thenwhydidyoutellmetotext

  I giggled to myself then read what Hope had written.

  We are meeting the judges and attorneys tonight. We saw them at breakfast before you came down. Just FYI.

  I assumed by judges she meant Jenner? I hand wrote back:

  By judges, you mean the ones from last night? Why?

  My phone buzzed again. Jenner.

  I’ve taken judicial notice of your work ethic, Miss. Edwards. I’m not sure of your sleeping patterns or your personal leave usage so the verdict is still out on the slacking part. I asked you to text because I was interested in knowing how your grandfather was doing. #iamacaringman

  Hope shoved the paper back my way. But, I responded to Jenner first.

  Caring man? You sent a child home to a mother that’s going to hurt her. Kidding. Sort of. Pops is doing ok. Keeping him another day. Going by after conference today. #whenyoucareyouaresupposedtoshowit

  I grabbed the paper from Hope.

  Yes those judges. The one you work for is freaking hot. Since you can’t fuck him, set us up.

  My heart sunk as I watched her scratch out the words, then wink at me. In the mean time, my phone buzzed from the man she wanted to fuck.

  Yes, I spoke to Dr. Shu. Need a ride? #seehowcaring

  Let me get this straight, Your Honor. You can violate federal HIPAA laws by talking to a friend about my grandfather but you must not violate your judicial code??? #youcantpickandchoose

  My phone buzzed almost immediately.

  Delete your texts and this will be discussed later #ihatetextingx2

  I bit down on my lip as the fear of teasing gone too far weighed on me. And I only felt worse when I glanced at the paper Hope and I had been exchanging messages on. He wasn’t even mine, but the thought of someone else having him made my stomach churn.

  ***

  The strong smell of disinfectant and bleach whirled through my nose as I sat in Pops’ room where he had slept soundly for the past two hours. To me, he seemed frailer than before. Even weaker than when I last saw him at the home. The skin on his bruised hands was loose…thin. As I rubbed over the bruised skin with my fingers, I thought about the countless times those hands had fixed me up with his first aid kit. After the court placed me with Pops, he went far above what was necessary to make me feel loved and protected. I always wanted to do the same when our roles were reversed.

  When I went off to college, Hank moved in with Pops full time. Maggie, Hank’s wife, had died years earlier too. Pop and Hank had worked together in the fields and in the garden keeping the farm running smoothly until two years ago. Pops always had big, calloused, muscular hands—true farm hands. And as I dragged my fingertips over the backs of them, it struck me how only a shell of those hands remained.

  I lay back in the chair, closed my eyes and thought about Pops’ hand gripping Jenner’s in a firm handshake. The reality of Pops ever seeing me with any man was slim but God, how I would love that.

  “Hey. Little Miss. Wake up.”

  When my eyelids pulled apart, Hank stood over me, shaking my shoulder. My eyes immediately fell onto Pops. He was sitting upright staring at the TV. Anxiously, I stared up at Hank. The frown on his face was all I needed.

  “Go back to your hotel and get some sleep. It’s after nine.”

  “Nine!” I shot upright. I’d slept for nearly four hours. Who sleeps for four hours, especially in a hospital?

  “I’ll call you if we need you,” he smiled, leaning in for a hug.

  Feeling his arms was almost as good as Pops’ arms.

  ***

  I went straight to the bar that Hope and Bethany had texted about. It was on the opposite side of the hotel in an area that wasn’t as busy. The last text from the girls certainly got my attention. Your judge is sexy af. Walking from the subway to the bar, I looked down at my sweat shorts and Cubs long-sleeved shirt. I must look like an idiot out in shorts at almost ten at night this close to winter. I seriously didn’t care what I looked like. Even after my mid-evening nap, I felt exhausted. If I went to the hotel room to change, I’d crash again. I had no doubt. And, I wasn’t about to leave Jenner alone with Hope.

  The bar was loud, and Kurt was the first one to see me as he eagerly waved me over. I was under dressed to say the least. Some guys were in ties, some in sport coats, but no one had on sweat shorts, least of all the girls who were dressed in heels similar to my attire that first night I met Jenner in the club. I caught a glimpse of my gray Nikes in a mirror as I walked to their table. Kurt wasn’t the only one watching me walk across the bar; it seemed all eyes followed me to the table, as my clothing screamed outsider.

  “Damn, Luce. You dressed up for us,” Bethany laughed.

  “Clearly. I came straight from the hospital.”

  “How’s your grandpa?”

  I nodded. “He’s doing ok. Where is everyone?” And by everyone, I meant Jenner.

  “Hope and Judge Weber are over playing shuffle board. Kurt and I were playing pool, but we lost to those two douche bags.” Matt and Advaith grinned.

  I plopped my booty up on a bar chair where I could creep on Jenner and Hope with my peripheral vision. They looked like they were a team playing another couple. My heart sunk a bit.

  Kurt slid a dirty martini my way. “I remembered,” he said, tapping his temple.

  “Thank you,” I smiled.

  “I was wondering if we could chat about a case,” he asked.

  “Of course. What’s up?” I loved talking about cases. I loved the thought of helping a child. You know how a parent loves their child before they even meet them? That was me—saving them, helping them. That’s what I was born to do. Funny how I wanted none of my own.

  “It’s a case you filed about thirty days ago. The parents hired me as counsel.”

  “Oh, cool. Which one?”

  “Hunting. Jeff Hunting.”

  “Three year old. Yes, I remember. He was found at 2 am in a local market. No parent. No shoes.”

  Kurt sipped his drink. “Allegedly.”

  “Allegedly, my ass,” I laughed. “I’ve got witnesses and police statements.”

  My martini was going down smoothly…and quickly.

  “Fair enough. I was going to see if you would be open to doing an Order of Informal Supervision. These parents want to comply.”

  “HA!” I laughed. “They were high on meth, Kurt. Do you know what meth does? It makes you not responsible enough to care for your children. Hence the middle of the night trip for the toddler to the grocery market.”

  He nodded. “I agree. But the child was in foster care for seven days. They’ve learned their lesson.”

  Eating my green olive, I chewed on what he said. I wasn’t sure selfish parents like that could learn a lesson.

  “I suppose if you buy me another drink, we could discuss conditions,” I winked playfully.

  “Done.”

  Halfway through my second martini, Hope and Jenner came back to the table. Even though Kurt was talking, I watched her touch Jenner’s bicep through his polo.

  “I tell you what.” I tri
ed to focus on Kurt. “You have both parents get a drug and alcohol assessment, submit to UA’s, and allow Family Preservation into their home, and I’ll be much more willing to consider it.”

  Kurt leaned in close to me. “Deal. I can think of a few other conditions we could tie in.” He slid a cocktail napkin toward me. He’d written in black ink:

  Love your brains. Love your body more. 516-244-7911

  I glanced up at him with raised brows, not knowing how to respond to that. How did we go from attorney/attorney conversation to him liking my body?

  “Hey girlie. How’s your grandpa?” Hope asked.

  I nodded. “He’s doing ok. How are you?”

  “I’m good.” Hope held up her index finger and thumb measuring about an inch. “I’m a wee bit drunk,” she whispered. “Still hoping to score with the hot judge.”

  I smiled…on the outside.

  “Oh my!” she squealed. “Who gave you their number?” Hope snatched the napkin waving it in the air.

  My eyes darted to Kurt, then to Jenner. His glossy eyes stared past me at Kurt. When Kurt’s phone started ringing on the table, he grabbed it quickly but it was too late.

  “Ah, ha!” Hope shouted. “Kurt likes Lucy.” Then she tossed the napkin back onto the table.

  Kurt’s face turned five shades of red. Mine probably matched his. Advaith and Matt nudged him, laughing. I tried not to look at him, hoping not to make it worse. He finally walked over to the bar with his friends. When Hope excused herself to go to the restroom, my eyes flickered to Jenner’s. His fingers deftly pulled the napkin with Kurt’s message written on it, toward him. With his eyes still on mine, he crumpled up the napkin into his fist. Then he shoved it into a long neck beer bottle on the table.

  “I don’t know what that means. Is that a jealousy thing? Is that an ‘I don’t want you talking to him’ thing? Everything you do contradicts what you say.”