Secrets So Deep eBook
Page 26
As he leaned into her for another hug, she looked over his shoulder at her mother-in-law and her resolve to hold out dissipated. Irene’s face was lined with despair, and Glynn couldn’t help but give her an encouraging smile.
“I’m so sorry, Glynn.”
Glynn knew Irene too was taking Bas’s infidelity hard, and she probably was panicked at the prospect she might be cut off from her grandson after her behavior since Glynn’s arrest. “We’ll all be okay, Irene.”
Michael stood and held out his hand to Ferrin. “Good luck with your case, Gerry. Who do we see about the custody transfer? Can we do that today?”
Ferrin’s assistant stepped up. “Sebastian’s social worker is downstairs. We can put an order in front of Judge Bowers right away.”
“You want to come home, Sebby?” she asked, smoothing his hair where he had played with it.
“God, yes.”
“Irene?”
“I think I should stay in a hotel tonight and let you two have some time,” she said. “Maybe I’ll come around tomorrow.”
“Come for lunch. We’ll have pizza,” Glynn said with a broad grin.
From her vantage point near the top of the steps, Charlotte watched with amusement as the eager crowd of reporters milled about anxiously. Ferrin’s statement had them itching to get back to file their reports, but no one wanted to miss the next act, which would be Glynn and Michael trumpeting her innocence. If the press’s questions for Ferrin were any indication, the lead story was already framed as a colossal screw-up from the DA’s office. Glynn’s statement probably would warrant little more than a sound bite.
Charlotte enjoyed the anonymity afforded by her sunglasses, cap and casual attire. The last thing she wanted was a microphone in her face like the one Mark McKee was dealing with on the sidewalk below her. A persistent reporter was badgering him to admit he too screwed up, but Mark, dour-faced and clearly agitated, was standing by his work. Charlotte wasn’t as confident in her own judgment, and was kicking herself for missing Sebby’s critical diagnosis, an obvious psychotic break. Like Mark, she too had settled quickly for the easy answers.
And just in case her own feelings of culpability weren’t enough, Trevor Perdue was on her case as well. He apparently had seen her name linked to Glynn’s in the Post this morning and had left a priggish message on her home machine demanding to know more about their relationship.
A rush of the mob alerted her to Glynn and Michael’s emergence from the courthouse. They were smiling, but not overtly celebratory.
Michael was first to speak. “Obviously, we’re pleased.” Reporters shouted questions all at once.
“No, my client has no plans to seek recrimination against
the court. As Mr. Ferrin said, the district attorney’s office operated in good faith. He had some pretty incredible evidence, but we had the luxury of knowing all along that Glynn Wright was innocent.”
Charlotte finally caught Glynn’s eye and gave her a tiny wave, getting a wink in return. Glynn was stepping up to face the press.
“First, I’d like to say thank you to all of you who have shared your support through this difficult time. Your letters and calls meant more to me than I can ever say. And I truly appreciate the concern you expressed for my son. He’s a remarkable young man.”
She stopped to listen to a question from a nearby reporter. “No, Sebby and I plan to take a few days away before returning to our home”—she gave them a teasing grin—“and we’re desperately hoping you’ll give us some privacy for a change.”
Michael stepped in front of her to ward off more questions, but Glynn tugged gently on his elbow.
“There’s one more thing I’d like to do while I have everyone’s attention. I want to thank the people of Indiana for honoring my late husband as you did by electing me to the House of Representatives. Working together, we’ve done some wonderful things, and we’ve shared your Indiana values with all Americans.”
By the sound of it, Glynn had changed her mind about running next year for re-election, and was ready to launch her campaign.
“But now I hope you’ll understand my next request—to release me from my current term.” She grinned. “I know politicians always tell you when they resign that they want to spend more time with their families, but this time it happens to be the truth. It has been an honor to serve you, and you’ll always hold a special place in my heart.”
• • •
Charlotte collected her shoes and purse from the security bin and followed the signs for the tram that would take her to the gate. Her fellow travelers seemed subdued, not surprising for the pre-dawn hour.
Getting out of town for two weeks—one of which Perdue had given her as suspension for getting involved with a family member of a patient—was the best way to deal with this, she had decided, especially when the offer materialized for a condo in Nassau. One could leave the world behind in a place like that, and that’s exactly what she had in mind.
In the departure area, she spotted an empty chair beside a woman and her teenage companion. “I don’t know about you, but I packed enough to stay till summer.”
“So did we,” the woman said, peering over her reading glasses. She already wore a straw hat in anticipation of the Caribbean sun. “You remember my son?”
The young man was already on his feet and Charlotte put out her hand. “I sure do. How are you, Sebby?”
“I’m great,” he said, grinning broadly. “This is going to be so cool.” He sat back down and slid his earphones into place, his thumbs already working on a handheld game device.
Charlotte gave Glynn a skeptical look.
“I swear he’s fine. Except I told him you were my psychiatrist now, not his, so he’d have to go somewhere else for therapy.”
“How did the therapy part go over?”
“I think he’s okay with it.” Though still looking at Charlotte, Glynn draped a hand behind her across her son’s arm. “He knows he hasn’t finished his part of the deal yet. But I promised him there wouldn’t be any more secrets to keep.”
“And how did it go with Irene?”
“Not too bad. In fact, she bought our plane tickets . . . well, not yours. I bought yours. She’s having a little trouble with the bisexual thing, but I explained to her that Bas knew all along and didn’t have a problem with it.” She let go of Sebby and looped her arm through Charlotte’s. “We’ve dropped totally off the radar in just two days, by the way. There isn’t a word about us in the Sunday Post.”
“That should make this trip even better.”
“I don’t think it could get better than me having my two favorite people along for nothing but relaxation and sun. And here’s the best part—Allan Stines got my paperwork through last night, so I’m officially out of the House. That means I don’t have to declare this week as a gift.”
“It was nice of the Harringtons to lend us their place.”
“It belongs to Melinda’s family. They were so excited when I said we’d go. And I’m slated to meet Saul’s board at the institute as soon as we get back. If that works out, I’m taking Tina along as my administrative assistant.”
“And what about Roy? Has he lined up his next job?”
Glynn sighed. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to Roy. Michael said Ferrin’s out for blood because he perjured himself in his deposition. He knew about Bas and Marcella, but he lied to keep Ferrin from using it against me as a possible motive.”
“I wonder if Roy thought you did it.”
“I’ve tried not to think about that part.”
“Love makes you do strange things,” Charlotte said, taking stock of her own actions over the past few months. The risk was nothing compared to the reward.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the departure lounge for Flight 1061, nonstop service to Nassau, Bahamas. At this time, we’d like to begin . . .”
Charlotte stood and slung her bag over her shoulder, already thinking ahead to the hammock on the trop
ical beach, the one that filled her fantasy of the perfect getaway. She smiled to herself as Glynn’s hand grasped hers. She hoped that hammock held two.
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