by Taylor Lee
Like a voyeur unable to look away from the fatal accident scene, she’d stood outside the team locker room door long enough to hear Chloe’s diatribe. Like Jorden, she was shocked that the young woman truly believed that her mother and father were destined to be together. Moreover, that the only thing keeping them apart was her. She heard Jorden’s disbelief and banked anger. She was impressed that he kept from screaming at his daughter. Chloe apparently was too absorbed in her fairy tale to hear the fury underlying Jorden’s careful responses. It took Jorden and Chloe getting ready to leave the team area to galvanize her to action. The bile heaving up in her throat made the toilet in the coaches room a necessary destination. Blessedly, the room was empty.
After her gut had heaved itself dry and only the threat of her pounding head splitting her temples remained, Mac allowed herself to relive the hideous afternoon. As a coach, she agonized over her decision to let Chloe play. She should have benched her for good after she refused for the third time to pass the ball to Marcia. The same thing had happened in the practice last night, but Mac had convinced herself that Chloe was merely making the point that she and Marcia were on the outs. She never dreamed that the Chloe’s simmering anger was as intense as it was. She was truly shocked when Chloe stormed off the court. It was an outrageously scandalous thing to do. In all her years in sports, she’d never seen a player leave a game in a fit of temper. It was the ultimate example of poor sportsmanship. And, Mac had to admit, that in addition to becoming an indelible part of the Wildwood basketball lore, it was now a part of her history as a coach.
Mac knew that she could have handled that part of the drama. She’d been in the athletic arena all her life and she could have and would have worked with Chloe’s behavior at least as to how it would affect her basketball career. As a psychologist, she could even have helped the young woman work through the bigger issues that were clearly tearing her apart. Except that she and the man she was in love with were at the heart of those issues that threatened to throw the young girl careening over the edge. And finally, Mac admitted, that between her and Jorden they might have been able to convince Chloe that her mother and Jorden would not be together even if Mac were not in the picture.
The problem with that assertion was that Mac didn’t know if it was true. She was aware enough to know that her profound physical reaction to Chloe’s damning accusations was that they were all too familiar. Mac had heard them before. Not from a child, but from the wife who’d tried to commit suicide to punish her husband for having an affair with the school psychologist. The lengths to which a “wronged woman” would go to ensure that the world knew she’d been wronged, and by whom, were old news to Mac. They’d threatened to ruin her life and her career. Only her strong family and stellar reputation had allowed her to surface from the scandal. That, and moving thousands of miles away from the scene of the crime—a public high school in the Bronx. The cruelest blow was when the husband had chosen his reputation and dead marriage and joined the accuser to throw this naïve other woman to the wolves.
Realizing that she couldn’t ignore her vibrating phone that was now buzzing almost non-stop, Max heaved a hard sigh and dragged it out of her pocket. For an instant she was profoundly relieved to see that it was Skylar and not Jorden on the caller ID until she remembered that Sky and Jude had been at the game. As much as she wanted to bury herself in a drunken fog under a pile of blankets in her own bed, she knew she needed to answer Sky. She and Jude had to be beside themselves with concern over Jude’s niece. With a sigh, she clicked on the phone.
“Mac, thank God, you answered. Where are you? Jude and I have been looking everywhere for you. We saw your car and knew you hadn’t left the gymnasium. Jorden threatened Jude with his life if we didn’t find you and make sure that you got home all right.”
Mac managed to say, “I’m okay, Sky. I…I’m getting ready to leave.”
She knew she sounded as bad she felt when Jude’s commanding voice came over the ether. “It’s okay, Coach, I’ve got a bead on you now. According to my GPS tracker you’re a hallway over, meaning you must be in the coaches’ john.”
Mac managed a shocked “What the hell?” when she heard the knock on the door, then the sound of Jude and Skylar entering the bathroom. The rap on the stall door that quickly swung open revealed the always, but never more than now, imposing Detective Justice. The knowing expression that flashed across his frowning face negated the need for her to say anything in explanation. Which was a good thing because it would have been hard to talk over the sobs that welled up from her chest. Before she knew what was happening, Jude had scooped all five feet eight inches of her up in his arms and carried her into the dressing room. Depositing her on one of the benches, he knelt down in front of her and handed her the glass of water Sky had somehow unearthed.
“How the hell did you find me?”
Jude’s emerald green eyes flashed momentarily with humor belied by the rigid set of his jaw. “You need to know, Red, when a Justice man hitches onto a woman, it becomes a family mission to ensure that said woman is safe. And that we know where she is. We used to have to chip ’em like puppies or like we did with Chloe and Emma when they were babies. Now we just rely on GPS.”
Mac couldn’t decide whether she was horrified or angry at yet one more example of Justice brothers’ arrogance. Instead, she laughed. Even though it was a laugh contorted with sobs, relief spread over Jude’s face.
“Damn, woman. You were hard to find.” He hesitated for a moment, then huffed. “Guess my big brother was right. He was convinced that you had to have heard the blabberings of my crazy niece. Christ, Mac, I don’t know what to say, except that you have to know that Chloe has truly gone off the deep end.”
Mac managed to shake her head in agreement and gratefully accepted the damp washcloth that Skylar handed her. She pressed it against her eyes, hoping that the cold cloth would lessen the swelling. Both Sky and Jude were quiet giving her room to collect herself.
When she felt like she could stand, she met Jude’s concerned gaze. “I’m okay, now. I…I just had a bit of a meltdown.”
At their wide-eyed, agreeing nods, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Honest. I’m okay. I just want to go home.”
Jude helped her to her feet and guided her toward the door. “That’s good, Coach, because that’s where we’re taking you now.” Waving away her insistence that she was okay and could get home by herself, Jude admonished her, “Look, Red, this is something you should know if you don’t already. People think I’m the toughest Justice brother. Let me correct the record. Since we were kids, when our big brother Jorden gave an order, there wasn’t one of us who didn’t obey. Hell, even the Judge responds when Jorden issues a decree. In this case, Jorden ordered me to find you, take you home, and make sure that you were fed and watered before we tucked you in bed.”
Even though Jude’s eyes were lit with laughter, there was no questioning his seriousness. Knowing only too well the effect of Jorden’s commands on her body and spirit, Mac didn’t doubt that others paid attention to the commanding attorney. Seeing Jude’s lip quirk, she was sure he’d seen the flush she felt flaming her cheeks and no doubt knew the other kind of orders Jorden was given to issue, especially to women. Mac was relieved to see that when they got into the parking lot it was empty except for her car and Jude’s Porsche. Apparently she’d hidden long enough that all the curiosity hounds had left. Sky insisted she would drive Mac’s car while Jude picked up takeout on the way to her house.
Mac headed for the bathroom, intent on getting in the shower. Sky nodded sympathetically and told her to take her time. Looking in the mirror, Mac was horrified that she looked as bad as she felt. She stripped off her clothes and stood under the steaming spray until the water ran cold. Toweling off, she dragged her wet hair into a ponytail and shrugged on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. She reached for her phone that she’d tossed on the dresser and scrolled through the text messages from Jorden. The first one summed up his fee
lings and hers.
“Dear God, I am so fucking sorry that you overheard Chloe’s insanity. Please darling, go home and wait for me.”
The second message explained that there was no way he could leave Chloe to come to her, and the third and fourth begged her to let him know that she was okay. The final message was anguished. He expressed his relief that Jude and Sky had found her. He begged her to take care of herself and that he would call her as soon as he could.
Sky and Jude were waiting for her on the deck. A fully loaded pizza and her favorite kale salad with beets and goat cheese were in the middle of the table. Mac’s stomach quaked at the sight of the odiferous food, knowing that she couldn’t swallow a bite. However, she was more than ready to take on the large tumbler of Maker’s Mark that Jude had poured for her, daring her stomach to try to resist.
“I talked to Jorden on the way over, Mac. He was worried when he didn’t hear from you and relieved as hell that we were here with you.” Jude’s tone wasn’t accusing, just matter of fact.
“I…I couldn’t talk to him. I didn’t want to interfere with his time with Chloe.” She hesitated, then asked rhetorically, “You know what Chloe said, don’t you? That her mom and dad would be together if it weren’t for me?”
“Yes, Jorden told me that earlier when he couldn’t reach you. He had to be insane with worry and fury given the craziness of the situation. But he was calm, controlled, except that he was desperate to know that you were all right. You need to understand, Mac. Francine is certifiable. She should have been locked up years ago. God, we all saw her at the birthday party and that scene at the last basketball game. But she isn’t sick, she’s wicked. Goddamn the conniving bitch. I truly believe the only reason she’s going after the girls is to hurt Jorden. He’s the only man who has ever said no to her. And dammit to hell if that isn’t waving a red flag in the face of the craziest bull that ever walked the earth.”
Jude was quiet for several moments as he sipped on his whisky. He focused on her, then said with a heartfelt sigh, “Unfortunately the only thing that might make her crazier is knowing that Jorden has fallen in love. You gotta understand. She doesn’t want him. He tried for years to make that family work. Put up with shit that no man should put up with. He was determined that they could be a family. She spit in his face. It was one thing to step out on him, not come home half the nights she went out. But when she endangered the girls, he threw her out and never looked back. Francine didn’t believe it. Was sure he’d take her back. He always had. But Francine never lets go of something or someone she thinks belongs to her. And in her warped worldview, Jorden is hers. If she can’t have him, she’ll make sure that no one else does. Trust me, if trying to get custody of the girls doesn’t get his attention, and he still shuns her, she will go after the only other woman that Jorden has loved.”
Mac closed her eyes as if she could shut out the ugliness that was flooding her hyperactive brain.
When she didn’t answer, Sky spoke softly. “You know how much Jorden and the rest of the family despise her, don’t you, Mac? She has done more damage to their family than anything has except their parents’ murders.”
Jude sighed. “Sky’s right, Mac. Goddamn, on the one hand I hate like hell that you’re involved in this. On the other hand, I am so fucking grateful. Knowing that my big brother has a woman like you in his life, a woman that he loves and who is as wise and gorgeous and as strong as you are is the only thing that is keeping this family of Justice men from taking out a hit on that bitch. But darlin’, I’m warning you, don’t underestimate her. She’s gonna come at you every way she can. Look at the shit that’s she’s put in Chloe’s head. Christ, I despise her for what’s she’s doing to my niece as much as I do what she’s doing to Jorden.” He dragged his hands through his tousled hair and met her gaze.
Mac didn’t miss the anger and pain contorting his glare. Taking a deep breath, she assumed a toughness she was far from feeling. “You’re right, Jude. I’m going to be honest. I’m more worried about Chloe than I am about the rest of us, including Jorden. Chloe is extremely vulnerable. You saw what she did today. That was a desperate move from a deeply troubled young woman. She’s heading for a fall, a big one. I don’t want to alarm Jorden, but Chloe is on the edge of a precipice that she might not be able to climb off of. It’s going to take all of us to get her out of Francine’s clutches.” Lying through her teeth, she met Jude’s hard gaze. “I’m tough, Jude. I’ve been through a few maelstroms of my own and survived. No one, including Francine Justice is going to hurt two people that I love. As you guys would say, if Francine doesn’t get with the program pretty damn quick, she’s a dead woman walking.”
After Jude and Sky left, Mac poured herself another tumbler of whisky. She could only hope that the liquid courage would make her as strong as she’d pretended to Sky and Jude that she was. Unfortunately, she’d seen the evil in Francine’s eyes when she understood the threat Mac posed to her plans. She could only pray that Francine wouldn’t dig into her past. She’d find a goldmine of weapons that in the hands of a mastermind like Francine would be lethal.
Chapter 22
“I asked Mr. Justice to join us, Mac. Coach Reynolds, Principal Daniels, and I felt that it was important for him to be in the discussion. I assume you agree.”
Forcing herself to take deep breath, Mac nodded in agreement to Craig Peters, Superintendent of Schools. “Of course, Superintendent Peters. Mr. Justice needs to be part of this discussion.”
Not having seen Jorden since the crisis on Saturday, Mac’s stomach pitched at the thought of seeing him now. They’d had multiple short, intense conversations in the last two days that were painful at best. She longed to talk to him at length to know how he was doing. More than anything she wanted to be with him, which wasn’t possible. His voicemail the night before was short, strained, and thick with pain, telling her how much he missed her and needed to see her. She hadn’t tried to call him back, knowing that he was likely with one or both of the girls. Besides, there was nothing that either one of them could say except how much they missed each other.
At that moment Jenny Edwards, the school secretary, spoke over the intercom indicating that Mr. Justice had arrived. There was a rap on the door and Jorden entered. Mac was not surprised that he looked serious. His jaw was rigid and his dark eyes were slate hard, the creases around his eyes were deeper, more pronounced and spoke of pain, not laughter. Mac longed to reach out to him, bury her head against his chest and somehow comfort him. Instead, she looked down at the table, determined not to reveal her shaky emotions.
“Good morning, Craig, Tom, Virginia.” Jorden nodded to each as he rounded the conference table and shook their hands. When he reached Mac’s chair, he clasped her shoulder, then pulled out the chair beside her and sunk into it. Turning to her, he said with a strained smile, “How are you holding up, Coach Durant?”
Mac was impressed that her voice was as calm as it was, given that her heart was hammering against her chest. She would have been surprised if Jorden or the others didn’t hear it, it was pounding so hard. “I’m doing as well as can be expected, Mr. Justice. How is Chloe this morning?” In way of explanation, and not wanting to imply closeness between Jorden and her, she quickly explained, “I checked in with Attorney Justice over the weekend to see how Chloe was doing.”
Jorden sighed. “Yes, you did, Mac, and I appreciate it.” Turning to the others he spoke solemnly. “As I told Coach Durant, to be perfectly blunt, Chloe is not doing well. She’s upset, hostile to me, and more than a little embarrassed about the incident on Saturday. Unfortunately, her primary emotion is anger. I know that Principal Daniels and Coach Durant are aware that Chloe has been in a tailspin lately. Her grades have dropped, she has missed several basketball practices, has chosen to hang out with a new group of girls, and abandoned long-term friendships. Her outrageous behavior on Saturday is but the latest example of new things that Chloe is doing that I never dreamed she was capable of. Coach Duran
t, in the role of the school psychologist, is aware that Chloe’s mother and I are in a challenging custody battle. The former Mrs. Justice wants to share custody of Chloe and Emma with me. I’m fighting hard to make sure that doesn’t happen. I tell you this because it’s clear that the road ahead for Chloe is a rocky one.”
Concern was apparent on all of their faces. Superintendent Peters shook his head.
“Look, Jorden, I don’t have to tell you how upset we all are at what has happened. Frankly, I’m shocked. Chloe and Emma have been model students and superb young women in every sense of the word. It has been an honor to have them in our student body. I wouldn’t have seen any of this coming in a million years. Not that we aren’t aware of the challenges you and the girls faced in the past. However, I had assumed that the issues with their mother had been resolved years ago.”
Jorden sighed and surreptitiously placed his hand on Mac’s thigh. A jolt of lightening couldn’t have affected her stronger. With a supreme effort, she managed to keep from visibly startling and instead gave into the comfort of his closeness.
“I agree, Craig. We all thought those doors had been firmly closed, in fact, locked. Unfortunately, my former wife has filed suit for custody of the girls.”
Virginia Daniels didn’t hide her dismay. “Surely, Jorden, the court will not agree. Good grief, everyone in this town knows what that woman did to those little girls when they were young. You have been an extraordinary father. Why, there isn’t a person in this town who wouldn’t testify to that on your behalf. I’m amazed that Francine has the audacity to think that she could possible get custody of them.”