Guiding the Fall

by Christy Hayes

  Her chin went even higher. “That’s his home, too.”

  “So, where is your home?”

  That appealing line was back between her brows. Good. He wanted her as off balance as she made him feel. “I…that’s not the point. I wanted to clear the air with you so we could all go back to being normal.”

  “What’s not clear? I asked you out, you said no.”

  “I didn’t say no, I just—”

  “Oh, right. You accused me of using you to get information for the book. Sorry. Should have been more specific.”

  “Look, if you want to get specific, there are things about me you don’t know. Things you don’t want to know. Things I won’t tell you no matter how many times you kiss me.”

  All the fight drained right out of him as her words hit home. His instincts had been correct. She’d been abused, possibly sexually. The frailty he knew sat just beneath her tough surface seemed even more tenuous than he’d imagined. Without thought, he stepped toward her and lifted his hand. She slapped it away. “That’s not why I’m here. Lord, you get me off track. The reason I’m here is because Jack and Olivia are fighting about that stupid wind study, and I want to know why you told Olivia’s brother?”

  “What?” He couldn’t change gears quite so fast. “I didn’t tell Tommy about the wind study.”

  “Then how did he know? You were the only one who knew besides me and Jack.”

  He’d never felt more deflated. She thought the worst of him. She thought the worst of every man but her brother. He couldn’t blame her for feeling that way, but he didn’t have the energy to prove her wrong. Not when his heart broke for her. “You’ve been living in the big city for too long, sweetheart. This is a small town. You can’t use the bathroom at the wrong time of day without word getting around.”

  “So someone just happened to see the guys from the wind company? The handful of times they were here?”

  The urge to tell her exactly how Tommy found out was strong. Too strong. He wasn’t sure why, but if she chose to think the worst of him, he would let her. He hadn’t done anything wrong, and proving otherwise seemed an almost impossible task. He’d be damned if he’d stand in his own home and defend himself. He lifted a shoulder in a deliberately misleading shrug. “I guess so.”

  “That’s just great. I don’t know why I expected better of you.”

  When she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist in a loose hold. She could break free if she wanted. He wouldn’t do anything to make her feel caged ever again. “I expected better of you, too.”

  She pulled her hand free and escaped through the front door. Lyle sagged against the wall and let out a breath. Of all the women in the world, why did he have to fall for one so broken? He’d let her go. For the moment. He needed to think. He needed to find a way to get through to her, but first he needed the one thing that had always gotten him through. Lyle needed his mother.

  Sarah Woodward was known for two things: writing good books and attempting to plant pansies in her pots every fall, only to have the deer eat them. Dodge had tried for years to talk her out of trying, but she stubbornly filled the pots and cursed every morning when her pretty flowers disappeared. Dodge said they’d lost more money on pansies and products that were supposed to keep deer of out them than he’d spent on his tractor.

  The sight of her bent over the old pots, soil smudged on her jeans, made Lyle feel as if he was a teenager all over again. After Erica had left his house, he might have chosen the carefree days when he didn’t have anything to worry about other than chasing girls or running away from them, depending on the day.

  “I don’t know why you bother,” was all he had to say. His mother knew what he was talking about.

  “They’re pretty. Besides, I bought this new product online that’s a guaranteed deer repellant.”

  He swallowed the laugh that wanted to escape at the smudge of dirt on her cheek. “Guaranteed, huh?”

  “Guaranteed.” She sat back on her heels and looked up at him, shielding her eyes with her glove-covered hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “Who said something’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Your face.” She pointed at him before standing up. “I know that face.” She looked down at herself and laughed. “I’m a mess.” She knocked the dirt off the front and back of her jeans and tossed her gloves onto the open bag of soil. “Come on in and tell me what’s going on. I’ve got cookies.”

  “What kind?”

  “Does it matter?” she asked as they went up the stairs to the kitchen.

  He settled into his spot at the bar and let her serve him. When he’d taken a bite and washed it down with milk, she leaned her elbows on the counter and laid her chin on her fisted hands. “Women trouble?” she asked.

  “Is it obvious?”

  “Not much else ever gets you down. Is this about the young woman you shared ice cream with at the Dairy Barn last week?”

  “Word travels fast.”

  “Lightning speed. Word has it a bomb could have gone off and the two of you wouldn’t have noticed.”

  “I don’t know about that.” He plopped the last of his cookie between his lips and wiped is mouth on a napkin she’d placed under his plate. “She’s got me so confused.”

  “Not in a good way? And if we’re discussing your love life, I’m going to need a name and some context.”

  “Her name is Erica Forrester. She’s Jack’s sister. She lives with him.”

  “That would put her just across the river from you?”

  “Yep. She’s…contradictory. That’s the best word I can think of to describe her. She’s one giant contradiction.”

  “Context, Lyle,” she reminded him.

  “She lives with Jack here and back in Denver. When he lost his vision, she dropped everything and went to him. She takes care of him, as much as he needs taking care of. I don’t think he needs taking care of, but he keeps her around because she doesn’t have anything to get back to. I’m not sure of her living conditions before he lost his sight, but I don’t think they were good.”

  “Isn’t he a multimillionaire?”

  Lyle nodded and reached for another cookie. “He won’t say much, and I can’t tell if it’s because he doesn’t know how she was living or because he feels guilty for not helping her sooner. Either way, I’m having a hard time not giving him a piece of my mind.”

  “Maybe she didn’t want him to know how she was living or she refused his help. It’s hard to help someone who doesn’t want it.”

  “That could be true, but he had to know…he had to suspect. Her mother died when she was a toddler, her father was an alcoholic, and Jack left home when she was seven. As best I can tell, she took care of her dad in some very bad conditions until he died when she was eighteen.”

  Sarah’s eyes were full of pity. “Poor thing.”

  “I know, right? But she’s stubborn and unfriendly.”

  “Her defenses are up,” Sarah said.

  “I know that. I’ve known that for a while. I’ve had to bulldoze right over her to get her to let me in.”

  “Has she?”

  He shrugged. “As much as anyone, I suspect.” He gripped his glass. “I’m going to be honest with you, Mom, because you know me. You know I don’t go looking for women around every corner.”

  Sarah laughed. “I swear you took up running to get away from all the girls who used to chase you.”

  “I like her, Mom. There’s something there, there’s been something there from the very first look.”

  She put a hand over his. “I’m glad to hear it. I was wondering when you would get tripped up by a woman.”

  “Your gauge is a little skewed thanks to Kevin.”

  Sarah stood up. “I’ll say. So, she’s worked her way inside your steel trap of a heart. What’s the problem?”

  “She’s been hurt. She said there are things I don’t know, things she won’t tell me. I think she was abused.”

  “Oh, honey.”

&n
bsp; “So, she’s pushing me away. She can’t believe I like her without some ulterior motive.”

  “What motive?”

  “The book. She accused me of using her for research.”

  “She’s scared, honey.”

  “I know. What do I do? How do I let her know I won’t hurt her? I want her to trust me.”

  “Trust is earned, Lyle. If she’s pushing you away, you have to be steady. She has to learn she can count on you to be consistent.”

  “It’s hard. She thinks I told Tommy that her brother’s doing a wind study.”

  “A wind study?” Her eyebrows shot up. “You mean for a wind farm?”

  “He’s just hedging his bets.”

  “I wonder if Dodge knows about this?” she mumbled.

  Lyle snapped his fingers. “Hello? I’m having a crisis here.”

  “Sorry.” She put his empty plate and glass in the sink and tuned back Lyle. “Why does she think you told Tommy?”

  “You know Tommy. He’s got his pulse on everything in the valley. Garrity told him about the permit and –”

  “Garrity,” Sarah mumbled, “that old coot.”

  “She thinks it was me.”

  “What did she say when you told her the truth?”

  He dropped his head and rubbed the back of his neck. His instincts weren’t always right. “I didn’t tell her.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. She thinks the worst of me about everything. I just didn’t feel like defending myself to someone who wouldn’t believe me anyway.”

  “So now she thinks you did it and feels justified in pushing you away?”

  Lyle stood up and walked through the den to the doors that led to the deck. He opened the door and went outside. The cool fall air brushed over his skin while the river rumbled just below. He felt his mom’s hand rub along his back as he leaned against the rail. “I’m just another in the long list of men who’ve let her down. How do I fix this?”

  “The truth will come out eventually. When you decided not to tell her the truth, were you hoping she’d find out and have to come back and apologize?”

  “Probably.” He let out a breath. “I screwed up.”

  “Maybe not. You said she wouldn’t have believed you. If she finds out the truth from someone else, she’ll have to believe you had nothing to do with it.”

  “How is she going to find out the truth? Erica doesn’t even know Tommy and certainly not Garrity.”

  “I suppose, on this particular issue, you let it go. But, honey, if you really like this girl, and I know we wouldn’t be having this conversation if you didn’t, from now on just be yourself. Be who you are, do what you do. Be nice to her. Talk if she wants to talk. Smile when you see her. It’s her issue; don’t make it yours.”

  “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

  “Love changes a person.”

  Lyle whipped his head around to stare at his mom. “I never said anything about love.”

  “The seed of love. Lyle, if you didn’t care about this girl—really care—you’d chalk it up to the crazy ways of women and move on like you have a dozen other times. This isn’t like the other times.”

  “No.” About that, at least, he could be honest. “It’s not.”

  “Tread lightly, but not too light. Don’t avoid her, don’t push her. This is a small town. She can’t avoid you forever.”

  Chapter 40

  Olivia’s hands shook as she tried to put her phone back in her pocket. She gave up, walked inside the Tap, and tossed it in her purse. She ran her hands through her hair and took deep breaths, in and out, in and out.

  “What’s wrong?” Tommy asked when he found her minutes later doing the same breathing routine.

  “I just got off the phone with the investigator. Dr. Hell’s requested a hearing.”

  “What does that mean?” Tommy had his hands full of papers, but he dropped them on the bar and grabbed Olivia’s shoulders.

  “It means I need a lawyer. Oh, God, Tommy. This nightmare will never end. I actually thought she was calling to tell me the investigation was over.”

  “How long do we have?” he asked as he yanked his phone from his back pocket. “I’m calling Garrity. I should have done this from the start.”

  “They have to select a hearing officer and then conduct the hearing. She said it would likely be next week.”

  “Regina?” Tommy barked into the phone. “I need to speak to Garrity.” Tommy’s brow furrowed. “When will he be back? Tomorrow? Can I reach him on his cell? No, no. Just have him call me as soon as he gets in. Thanks.” Tommy rubbed his forehead. “Garrity had a case go to trial in Westmoreland. He won’t be back in the office until tomorrow. Regina said I could call him tonight, but his wife’s still recovering from surgery. I’ll touch base with him first thing in the morning.” He pulled Olivia into a hug. “Don’t worry. We’ll get Garrity up to speed and make sure you’ve got representation before the hearing.”

  “I’m scared, Tommy. This is starting to sound more like a legal issue. Could I get in trouble with the law?”

  “I doubt it. If there was any evidence of child abuse or sexual abuse, you’d have heard from the law already.”

  “This makes my stomach turn. That woman’s out for blood. I don’t understand why she’d ask for a hearing when the investigation is almost complete.”

  “We’ll get to the bottom of this. Don’t worry, Olivia, I won’t let you become the scapegoat for some out of control kid.”

  “Okay.” She wasn’t so sure, but Tommy looked as worried as she felt. He needed to see her be strong. “Thanks for calling Garrity. I’ll pay you back for whatever this ends up costing you.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care what it costs. You’re my sister. This is what we do.”

  She kissed his cheek. “I love you, Tommy. I don’t say it enough, but I count on you being here for me.”

  “I know you do. I’m happy to do it. You’d do the same for me.”

  Olivia snorted. “Like you’d ever run into something you can’t handle.”

  “You never know,” Tommy said and put his arm around her shoulder. “I could have a shopping emergency or need advice on an outfit.”

  “You had to ruin the moment,” she said but felt eternally grateful for his love and support.

  “Go on home.” He looked around at the post-lunch mess. “I’ll clean this up.”

  “No. I need the distraction. I’ll be fine.” She snagged the bus bin from the kitchen and cleaned the tables she was in the middle of bussing when she got the phone call. Amazingly, the investigator had sounded almost sympathetic. She’d obviously been on the receiving end of Dr. Hell’s wrath.

  Don’t think about it, she told herself as she tossed plates and trash into the bin. Garrity would handle it. He was a competent lawyer, even if he was, like, a hundred years old. He had wisdom and experience. He’d lived in the valley his whole life. He’d been friends with Olivia’s father. That had to count for something.

  But later, over Erica’s excellent pork chops and roasted fingerling potatoes, when Olivia moved the food around her plate instead of eating, Jack demanded she tell him what was wrong. Olivia calmly explained that Dr. Hell had requested a hearing and Tommy had called in a favor with Mitchell Garrity.

  “When did this happen?” he asked after dropping his fork.

  “Today. Around three, I guess.”

  “Three?” He pressed a button on his watch and they all listened as the male voice announced the time as seven-twenty-eight. “Four and a half hours ago? And you’re just telling me now?”

  “It’s under control,” she said. “Tommy was there, he called Garrity’s office, and they’re going to confer in the morning.”

  “With a local attorney? What’s his specialty?”

  Olivia didn’t know where the anger had come from or why he was speaking so harshly to her when he should have known how upset she was about having to face a hearing. “I don’t
know that he has one.”

  “Call your brother and cancel with this Garrity person. I’m calling in an expert.”

  “Who?” she asked. “What kind of expert?”

  “Someone with experience in education, with…” He closed his eyes as she’d seen him do when he was listening to his talking computer. “Administrative or regulatory law.” He pushed back from the table and headed toward his office.

  “Where are you going?” Olivia asked.

  “To make some calls.”

  When his office door slammed, Olivia and Erica shared one long, wary glance. “I don’t think Garrity’s going to have your case for long,” Erica offered.

  Olivia blew out a breath. “I’m not sure if I should feel grateful or afraid.”

  Erica shrugged. “Both for now. He’ll get the best, Olivia. He won’t stop until you have the best.”

  Olivia set her fork down and gave up any pretense of eating. “I’m thankful for his help, Erica, I really am.”

  “But?”

  “But what’s that going to look like when some big city lawyer comes strutting into Westmoreland to defend me? Are the hearing officer and everyone else going to feel like nothing more than a bunch of country bumpkins? Because that’s how I feel right now, and I haven’t even met whomever he lassos into helping.”

  “It’s business. They won’t come down because Jack asked; they’ll come down because Jack pays them a lot of money to be at his beck and call. You should have seen him when I got a speeding ticket in Denver. You’d have thought I was falsely accused of murder.”

  “You’re not making me feel better, Erica.”

  “You can’t stop him, and in the end, you’ll thank him. Trust me. Call your brother and let Jack work his magic. This is what he does.”

  ***

  Jack heard the tentative knock as he typed some notes on his computer. “Come in.”

  Olivia’s blond hair lit up the small space like a sunrise when she stepped into the room. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

  He swiveled around and held his arms open for her to have a seat on his lap. She’d huff and puff whenever he yanked her into a chair, but he liked the way she felt in his arms. He’d craved holding her the whole time he was on the phone with his lawyer.