A Case for Forgiveness

by Carol Ross

  “I’ve learned plenty about her myself.” Jonah’s voice was cold, and thick with sarcasm.

  “Let me guess, you’re referring to her juvenile record? Which I’d be willing to bet you were hoping to use as some kind of leverage?”

  Jonah didn’t give anything away but Shay felt her already over-strung nerves tighten further. She knew very well that information had been Jonah’s ace in the hole, even though she hadn’t wanted him to use it. She prayed that Laurel knew what she was doing.

  Laurel continued, “That information is not going to help you, Jonah. Adele was fifteen years old and in the wrong place at the wrong time with a boyfriend who was a two-bit criminal. She was young and stupid, and then she was misrepresented by an over-worked public defender. She pled to a misdemeanor when she shouldn’t have. But it doesn’t matter because nobody cares.”

  “Get to the point, Laurel,” Jonah returned firmly.

  Laurel turned toward Shay.

  “Here’s the important stuff. Shay, I talked to your Uncle Lyman. Adele’s mom, Stella, was Lyman’s secretary—that’s how she met Eli. He confirmed the affair between them.”

  She looked at Adele. Laurel’s expression conveyed a great deal of empathy. “He said your mom and Eli were in love. Stella was married at the time—unhappily by all accounts, but married nonetheless. Eli knew nothing about Stella’s pregnancy because she quit her job and moved to Utah. We can only assume that your mom didn’t want to break up her marriage, which is kind of sad because as you well know it ended anyway.”

  “That is such a touching and romantic tale of love, Laurel, but come on. This woman has been consulting attorneys, befriending Shay and her family, and apparently her friends, too, and just generally sneaking around.”

  Then he turned his piercing, dubious stare on Adele. “Why don’t you cut to the chase and tell us what you want?”

  Adele’s lips had formed a grim line and it appeared as if she was trying not to cry. She shook her head and placed one hand over her mouth.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  AFTER A MOMENT, Adele managed to pull herself together. She splayed her hands on the table top in front of her.

  “Honestly? I’m not sure now what I want. I came to Rankins to meet with an attorney named Caleb Cedar. My attorney in Utah is an acquaintance of Lyman James and he felt confident that Caleb could help ease me into a relationship with the James family, but he was there instead.” She gestured at Jonah.

  “My plan was to introduce myself to Caleb and Shay first, offer to take a DNA test—whatever it took to try and work something out. I called Shay a few times to set up a meeting but she never called me back.”

  Shay felt so guilty about that. And the idea that she could have avoided all of this by returning a simple phone call made her head spin. But just as quickly she realized that it didn’t change the fact that Adele might still own a part of the Faraway Inn.

  “I got impatient, so one day I went up to the inn to talk to Shay. I didn’t intend to get a job.”

  She looked intently at Shay. “If you remember, Shay, you just assumed I was there to apply for a job, and then Hannah started interviewing me and you guys were so sweet, and I thought...it seemed like the perfect way to get to know you and Hannah. I planned on telling you both, but I was nervous...

  “And then I went to see Jonah and he made me consider another angle—like what if you and your family didn’t believe me? What if you thought I was attempting some kind of scam? I decided to wait until I could speak with Caleb or until I had some proof of who I am. Thanks to Laurel I finally have more than just my mom’s word.”

  Her eyes were wide and sincere, and Shay felt herself being taken in by the honesty shooting from their unnervingly familiar amber-colored depths.

  “I don’t know why I didn’t think about how it might look that I accepted the job without telling you who I was. I didn’t even consider that aspect until Jonah pointed it out the day you had lunch together at the restaurant. Until then, I guess I thought I might seem cowardly...not dishonest.”

  Jonah looked defensive—and completely unconvinced.

  Shay believed her. She knew Jonah would be disappointed, but she could understand Adele’s fear. She knew all too well how difficult it was to think straight when you were scared.

  “I’m really sorry, Shay. I can see now that I probably should have handled things differently.”

  Shay was ready to try and accept Adele as family. And if she was entitled to a part of the inn...well, then she’d have to trust that they could work something out. She’d certainly survived worse hardships than this.

  Adele reached into her bag and removed an envelope and a tissue. She wiped her nose with the tissue and set the envelope on the table. “And as far as the property goes and the Faraway Inn? I know I’m not—”

  * * *

  LATER SHAY WOULD describe the following sequence of events like a scene from an old primetime network law drama. The door of the conference room slammed open, a voice yelled “Stop. Hold it right there.” And then a wheel-chair bound Caleb sailed into the room followed by Doc.

  “Caleb!” Shay cried.

  “Gramps!” Jonah said at the same time.

  Murmurs followed exclamations.

  “I have it,” Caleb said. “I knew I was right, but I didn’t want to say anything until I had the proof.”

  “What proof?” asked Jonah.

  Caleb rose carefully from the wheelchair and addressed Adele. “Allow me to introduce myself, Ms. James. My name is Caleb Cedar. I truly regret we were unable to become acquainted sooner. Maybe some of this could have been avoided.”

  Adele stood, moved forward and extended a hand, clearly taken in by Caleb’s charm—and undoubtedly by the use of her rightful surname. “A pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Cedar.”

  Then she introduced herself to Doc.

  “Doc and I knew your father Eli very well, Ms. James. He was a wonderful man and I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to know him yourself before he passed.”

  Adele nodded happily, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Cedar.”

  “Please—call me Caleb.”

  “Gramps?” Jonah interjected. “Do you want to have a seat and explain what’s going on?”

  Doc helped Caleb get settled in his wheelchair before scooting him up to the table. Then he claimed a spot, too.

  Caleb spread out some papers. “I’ve brought documents—deeds, letters, conveyances and sales agreements... Here’s the deed that shows Adele may indeed have a valid claim to a portion thereof...”

  “We’re already aware of that, Gramps.”

  Caleb looked sideways at Jonah and said patiently, “I’m not finished.” His eyes scanned the rest of the group. “As some of you are aware, Gus was a close personal friend of mine. And I was also his attorney. I was Eli’s attorney as well until he moved back to the lower forty-eight. Just after Eli moved to Colorado, Gus and Eli struck up a deal with regards to the property’s value.”

  Caleb pushed a single sheet of paper into the center of the table. “He paid Eli for his share of the property and here’s a copy of the check to prove it. It’s partially my fault that a deed was never properly recorded. Now, of course I’m willing to testify to my knowledge—”

  Adele interrupted smoothly. “That won’t be necessary, Caleb.” She removed some papers from the envelope that had been sitting in front of her and handed them to Caleb.

  Every eye was fastened upon Adele.

  “I had my attorney in Utah draft these documents transferring any claim I may have on the property or the inn to Shay.”

  Shay’s heart was pounding wildly but she managed to ask, “What? Why...?”

  “It was never meant to be mine. I know that now. Laurel talked to Lyman and learned that Gus paid my dad for his share of the property. That was all the proof I needed. I was never out to get anything that didn’t rightfully belong to me. I’ve fallen in love with this family and I do not
want to be the cause of any further anguish for any of you.”

  Shay stared at Adele; the tears filling Adele’s eyes seemed to match her own. “Adele—”

  “You’re my family, Shay. You, Hannah, Tag, your parents, Bering, Janie... You guys have the family I’ve always dreamed of having and even if I’ve blown the chance to be a part of it I’m proud that this is what I come from.”

  “Adele, I’m confident I can speak on behalf of all the Jameses and say that you haven’t blown anything at all.”

  * * *

  “HEY, WHAT ARE you up to?” Caleb asked Jonah as he hobbled into his office. Jonah was seated at his desk, and Caleb wished he would hurry up and realize he was as comfortable there as he looked. But for now he was happy to have his darn itchy cast off and to have retired his crutches and the wheelchair that made him feel like an invalid. A few more weeks with this walking boot and he would be as good as new.

  “Just reading Dad’s journals.”

  Caleb thought Jonah’s answer might be too good to be true. He’d been looking for a way to segue into this conversation. After removing Burke’s journals from the shelf, he’d placed them on a stack of paperwork knowing Jonah would stumble across them. It had taken him long enough.

  Jonah had seemed to enjoy his remaining summer in Rankins, fishing, hiking, reconnecting with old friends—even though Caleb knew he was missing Shay and battling with the choice of returning to his life in Chicago or coming home to stay. Jonah didn’t voice his struggle outright, but Caleb knew.

  “Uh-huh?” Caleb lowered himself onto a chair.

  Jonah leaned back and sighed. “You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve read Dad’s journals. I think I was fourteen or fifteen when I last read them—really read through them. Not just skimming or looking at bits and pieces—or the parts he addressed to me directly.”

  “Little different perspective now?” Caleb asked, hoping the answer was yes. Maybe Jonah was figuring a few things out on his own—asking some questions that needed asking—and answered.

  “Yes, definitely. Although I will admit that it was something Shay mentioned more than once that sparked this train of thought. She thinks I’m obsessed with money. Dad talks about wealth and success so much in these journals—intertwines them. I have spent my life believing that was an effective way to measure my success, but when I think about my job—it’s the law I really love. I’ve been paid very well, and sure it’s nice, but if I take money out of the equation I would still be happy doing this job even if I didn’t make as much.

  “But when this whole thing with Adele happened...

  “Gramps, I might not be as good of an attorney as I think I am. Why did I automatically assume that she wanted money? Shay is right—I’ve been so programmed to think that’s what everybody wants, but there are people out there who aren’t motivated by money.”

  “That’s true, thank goodness,” Gramps said and then grinned. “Jonah, as attorneys we all have those moments when we realize that the strategy we’ve adopted is all wrong. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Learn from those mistakes, apply them to the next case, and that makes you a better attorney.”

  Jonah shook his head. “It’s just shaken me up I guess. I was so sure...”

  Gramps offered an easy shrug. “You were too close. You let your feelings for Shay cloud your judgment. You wanted to fix this for her, make her happy—that’s what we do for the people we love. There’s nothing wrong with that, Jonah. It speaks to your character—to your love for Shay.”

  Caleb hoped he understood the subtle reference to his own deception in luring Jonah home. He still believed it had been the right thing to do. Even if Jonah decided to go back to Chicago, Caleb felt confident he would still appreciate these new-found discoveries about himself. But he didn’t want him in Chicago—he wanted him here. He believed this was where Jonah would find true happiness.

  “Gramps, you were right about your motivation for wanting me to come home. I do still love her.”

  “You two make up yet?”

  “No, I’m afraid there’s no making up this time, Gramps. She will never trust me. She thinks my career is too important to me—more important than the people in my life. She says I’ve always chosen the law over her.” He let out a cynical chuckle. “And I suppose that last part is true as far as law school went. But what choice did I have? I mean Yale Law—what was I supposed to do?”

  “I don’t think she ever expected you to choose differently there, did she? I mean, she was all set to go with you when Gus up and died and gave her the inn. What choice did she have?”

  Jonah nodded. “I know, but I’ve always felt like she could have opened a hotel anywhere. I couldn’t go to law school anywhere.”

  He said it like Caleb should understand the significance of the prestige he’d been awarded. And he did. He’d attended Yale himself and could not possibly have been prouder when Jonah followed—except...

  “But what about after Yale? You had a choice then. You knew you were welcome here.”

  Jonah smiled. “I know that, Gramps. And I’ve always loved knowing that, but I wanted to make my dad proud, to have my own success. His advice seemed so wise—about always making sure I had enough financially. I didn’t see it as money buying happiness—I saw it as money buying security. I wanted to have the life Dad never had—the life he wanted. The life he wanted for me. But now, when I really think about it, I’m not sure I am motivated by money, Gramps. I think that would disappoint my dad.”

  Caleb felt a jab in the vicinity of his heart, worse than the jabs of pain from his healing ankle bones. He looked right at Jonah and realized they didn’t call tough love “tough” for no reason. In fact he decided on the spot that it should be called “brutal” love.

  “Son, speaking of your father—there was a little more to my motivation in getting you back here than pushing you and Shay together.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Have you ever wondered why your father didn’t go out and have that life he was always chirping about?”

  “He was stuck here in Rankins.” Jonah’s voice rang with certainty. He tapped on the journal lying open on the desk in front of him as if it were all the proof he needed.

  “What makes you think he was any more stuck than me? Or Doc? Or Crab? Or anyone else who settles here in this delightful little corner of the world?”

  Caleb watched Jonah’s eyes shift and settle on the wall of books above Caleb’s head. “I don’t know. In his journals he talks about being stuck in this town, and about how much he doesn’t want that for me. How he wants to get me out of here. How important it is for me to be able to take care of myself, have security, and afford the things I need.”

  “Jonah—you know I loved your dad. He was my son. I loved him every bit as much as any father has ever loved one of their own. But I thank the stars that your heart is more like mine—and your mother’s—than it is his.”

  Those blue eyes locked on his and Caleb saw the curiosity swirling in there.

  “Burke talks a fair amount in those journals of his about how much he misses the city, too, right?”

  “Yes, he does.”

  “Did you ever consider why he left it in the first place? If he loved it so much, why didn’t he stay there?”

  Jonah’s brow furrowed in thought. “I assumed he came back because Nana had died.”

  Caleb shook his head. “Nope—your grandmother died months before he and your mother moved back. And I tell you—as sorry as I was to lose her, I’m glad she didn’t live to see the mess he’d created—the lives he destroyed.”

  “Lives he destroyed? Gramps, what do you mean?”

  “Jonah, he was stuck in Rankins because he was running from the law. I was doing my best to try and unravel it all for him when he and your mother were killed in that plane crash.”

  Caleb watched the shock transform Jonah’s face.

  Finally he spoke. “Gramps—what?”

  “Your d
ad was a criminal, Jonah. There’s no way for me to spin it—and I don’t think I should. You’re a grown man and I was wrong to keep it from you all these years. I’m so sorry, son. I’m sorry that it happened, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t honest with you from the start. But mostly I’m sorry for how it shaped you—for the choices I believe you made for him instead of yourself.”

  * * *

  JONAH DIDN’T THINK he’d ever experienced emotions like he was having now. To say that his foundation was shaken was an understatement.

  Maybe Gramps was on to something about being too close to the situation with Shay and Adele. He could see that now, how badly he’d wanted to fix everything for Shay—to take away her pain and maybe make up for some of what he’d failed to do ten years ago.

  But, his own father...? How had he not seen this?

  “What did he do?” He found himself asking the question even though he knew the answer was going to hurt. It felt a lot like driving by a car accident and trying not to look; you just wanted to assure yourself that this horrible, terrifying thing wasn’t happening to you...

  “Stole about ten million dollars from clients and lost it all.”

  Jonah knew his dad had been a real estate developer, but he’d never really known any details about his business.

  “It was a phony land investment deal. You know your dad went to college in California. That’s where he met your mom. Audrey was a good woman, Jonah—I want you to know that. She wasn’t aware of any of this until it was too late. Broke her heart, too. Anyway, he decided to stay in California after he graduated because he loved city life. Like you, he rarely came home. Until he got into trouble.”

  “Gramps, I, I’m...Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

  Caleb ran a hand over his jaw like he did when he was mulling something over. “I should have. I see that now. But how do you tell a nine-year-old or a twelve-year-old or even a seventeen-year-old boy who lost both of his parents in such a devastating and tragic way that his dad was a crook? And then when you got older...I don’t know, I thought it best to let you have your fantasy of your dad as a good guy. What could it hurt? But then I began to see how much it affected you, Jonah. Too much. You’ve spent too much time trying to have the life your dad wanted instead of the life you want.”