“That’s correct. The contract you signed with me states that no attorney fee is charged unless we collect money from Colfax.”
“Are you okay with that?”
Corbin again looked at Ray, who simply nodded. Rarely had such a simple gesture been more unselfish.
“Our job is to represent you,” Corbin said. “If you believe accepting Colfax’s offer is in your best interests, that’s what matters, and we’ll help make it happen, including help with all the work needed to finalize the settlement. This law firm is a business, so we have to make money, but Ray and I will have to trust that we’ll make it up on other cases.”
Tommy turned to Larissa. “What do you think?”
“I agree with Millie.”
“Then I guess we’re in too,” Tommy said.
“Does everyone understand they can’t talk about this with anyone?” Corbin asked. “And by that I mean family members, friends, people who live in another state, etc.”
“I can keep my big mouth shut for the boys,” Larissa said.
“All of you should keep that in mind,” Corbin said. “What we’re about to do is for them.”
Heads nodded around the room.
“Any other questions?” Corbin asked.
No one said a word. Corbin and Ray left the room.
It took two hours to crunch out the additional details. To Janelle’s relief all the typing was done by clerical workers at Daughbert’s office in Chicago. At one point during the process, Ray and Nate were alone in Corbin’s office.
“Colfax is cleaning house,” Nate said. “Guy Hathaway is gone, and I heard other heads at the local plant will roll.”
“If they’re responsible for this mess, it needs to happen.”
“Yeah.” Nate paused. “And I’m sorry the way this all came down for you. You know, for your job at the firm.”
Corbin and Daughbert returned. Ray realized that even if Nate wanted to continue the conversation and renew the offer to come to work at Simpkin, Brown, and Stamper, Ray wouldn’t accept it. That ship had sailed.
After the documents were signed and everyone left the office, Corbin and Ray returned to the empty conference room. Corbin plopped down, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes.
“I’m beat,” he said. “Now that it’s over, I admit I’m too old for this type of litigation.”
“You’re 100 percent right,” Ray replied.
Corbin opened his right eye. “You didn’t have to agree so quickly or with such enthusiasm.”
“If you can’t tell your law partner the truth, who can you tell?”
Corbin grinned.
“We’re still not finished,” Ray said. “We need to make one more call before we go home.”
“Roxy?”
Ray nodded. Using the speakerphone, he punched in his sister’s number.
“I need to give you an update on the Colfax case,” Ray said when she answered.
“You can’t because—”
“Don’t worry,” Ray interrupted. “It’s settled and what I’m going to tell you will be in the press release prepared by Ted Daughbert. He left our office a few minutes ago.”
“Daughbert was at Dad’s office?”
“Careful what you say,” Ray replied. “You’re on speakerphone, and our father is listening.”
“Yes, Daughbert was here,” Corbin said. “And he didn’t comment on the décor.”
While Ray talked Roxy was clearly trying to figure out how the case was resolved.
“I know they’re going to provide health care benefits for the boys,” she said. “I’m just not sure how it’s going to be justified.”
“My lips are sealed,” Ray said, “but we wanted to thank you for connecting us with Dr. Sellers. His report was crucial.”
“And suicidal for my job prospects.”
“Roxy,” Corbin said. “I’m sorry that—”
“Save your apology for this weekend, if that’s where you’re going,” Roxy interrupted. “Peter and I are coming up to Alto on Saturday, and I’d rather hear it from you in person.”
Ray and Cindy sent Billy into the backyard to play while they finished straightening up the house prior to Roxy and Peter’s arrival.
“Lie down on the sofa in the living room,” Ray said. “You can give orders from there.” He finished in the kitchen, then moved into the living area.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t fix dinner here?” Cindy asked. “Putting your father and Roxy together in a public place like a restaurant is a recipe for a short meal. At least here one of them could go to another room to cool off.”
“He insisted,” Ray replied. “And he’s going to pick up the tab. He hasn’t taken us to a nice place to eat since we got married.”
“When did he do that before we were married?”
“Never,” Ray agreed as he knelt down to retrieve some of Billy’s military action figures from their hiding place beneath a recliner. “I guess these guys were planning a sneak attack.”
“What is Roxy’s plan for this trip?”
“She didn’t say, but my guess is Peter has asked her to marry him, and she wants to tell us in person.”
“Impressive. I didn’t know you thought about things like that when it came to your sister.”
Ray crawled across the floor, where he located more action figures hiding behind the entertainment center.
“Peter has her number,” he replied, looking up at her. “Just like I have yours.”
Cindy picked up a coaster and cocked her arm as if to throw it.
“No,” Ray said. “Don’t exert yourself. I’ll come closer so you can bop me on the head.”
The doorbell rang and he got up to answer. His father stood on the doorstep, wearing a crisply laundered shirt and freshly pressed pants.
“I thought we were going to meet you at the restaurant,” Ray said.
“There’s a change in plans,” Corbin replied. “I want to make a stop on the way.”
“Where?”
“You’ll know when we get there. Where’s Billy?”
“In the backyard.”
Corbin headed toward the kitchen, then stopped. “Cindy, will you be okay if we take a short walk and have to stand for a few minutes?”
“Yes, so long as I can take it easy.”
Corbin left to see Billy.
“What do you think he’s up to?” Cindy asked.
“I don’t know,” Ray replied. “After all the uproar about the Colfax case settled down a little, we had a good week. Once the press release went out, we had three people contact us about decent cases. Nothing huge but better than most of the other open files in the office.”
“So should I talk to the Realtor about Kitty’s house?”
“Yes.” Ray smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”
He was straightening up the guest bathroom when the doorbell chimed again. This time Cindy beat him to the door and let Roxy and Peter inside. The first thing Ray did when he went into the living room to greet them was check out Roxy’s left hand. Sure enough, a large, shiny diamond, surrounded by a ring of smaller ones, glistened on her ring finger. Cindy stood beside her, beaming.
“You were right,” Cindy said.
“I knew it!” Ray said. “Congratulations!”
“No job yet,” she said, “but I’ve said yes to something, and someone, way more important.”
Ray shook Peter’s hand and gave Roxy a quick hug.
“I saw Dad’s truck,” Roxy said. “I thought he was going to meet us at the restaurant.”
“Change of plans,” Ray replied, “and I don’t know what they are. I’ll get him. He and Billy are in the backyard.”
“Don’t say anything to him about this,” Roxy said, pointing to the ring. “Let’s see how long it takes him to notice.”
Corbin was standing on the ground beneath a tree as Billy climbed higher.
“They’re here!” Ray called out. “Billy! I hope you’re not going to have to take
another shower before we leave.”
Billy scrambled down and jumped to the ground from a limb that seemed way too high. He popped up and ran over to Ray.
“Pops and I are planning a fishing trip,” he said. “There’s a private pond he knows about that’s about two hours away. We’re going to camp out and fish.”
Corbin spoke. “Someone in, uh, the group I go to told me about it. He’s going to set it up with the owner. Supposedly the pond is home to some enormous bass that need to be caught and given proper names.”
“Sounds good,” Ray replied.
“So I can go?” Billy asked.
“We’ll talk it over with your mother. Go inside and wash your hands.”
Corbin and Ray returned to the living room. Peter shook Corbin’s hand. Roxy nodded in his direction but held back.
“Congratulations,” Corbin said to Peter. “I look forward to getting to know you better as a son-in-law.”
“What? How did you notice?” Roxy asked, holding out her hand.
“I may be old,” Corbin said with a smile, “but I’m not blind.”
Billy returned from washing his hands.
“Can Billy ride with me?” Corbin asked Ray.
“Okay,” Ray replied. “The four of us will take our car.”
“Buckle your seat belt,” Corbin said when he got into the truck.
“Pops, I always buckle my seat belt,” Billy replied.
They backed out of the driveway. Making sure Ray was behind him, Corbin drove slowly away from the house.
“Daddy said we’re going to eat steak,” Billy said.
“That’s right. And I want you to order anything else you want on the menu.”
“Even dessert?”
“Yes. I hear the coconut cream pie is awesome.”
They drove toward the center of town. When they reached the church, Corbin slowed down and put on his blinker.
“It’s Saturday,” Billy said. “There’s nothing going on at the church.”
“I know. We’re going to Gran’s grave. Is that okay with you?”
Corbin waited for a car to pass so he could make the turn. Billy’s face was serious.
“You don’t have to get out if you don’t want to,” Corbin continued. “You can wait in the truck.”
Corbin entered the cemetery and parked beneath a large oak tree. He opened the glove box and took out a thick envelope.
“What’s that?” Billy asked.
“It’s why we’re here.”
Corbin got out, and Billy joined him. They began walking toward the grave. Partway there, he felt a touch as Billy took his hand. Corbin glanced over his shoulder and saw that everyone was following.
They reached the grave. The mounded dirt had almost sunk to ground level, and the plot was now covered by newly sprouted rye grass. Ray, Roxy, Cindy, and Peter joined them. They stood in a semicircle facing the gravestone.
Corbin cleared his throat. “It needs flowers, doesn’t it?” he asked.
Roxy already had a tissue in her hand and held it to her eyes.
“But that’s not why I wanted to come here today,” Corbin continued, holding up the envelope. “I came to leave this. You all know something about the journey I’ve been on in recent weeks. And coming here is a huge step. I’ve tried to make a fearless moral inventory and admit to God the exact nature of my wrongs”—his voice cracked—“against her. I’ve asked God to forgive me, and I’ve made a list of the things I’d say to her if she were standing here with us.”
Corbin released Billy’s hand, stepped forward, and placed the envelope on top of the gravestone. He’d written To Kitty in large letters on the outside.
He heard Roxy gasp out a sob. Tears were streaming down Cindy’s face. Ray and Peter watched, wide-eyed. Billy sniffled.
Corbin cleared his throat again. He had to say this with the level of earnest conviction he felt in his heart.
“Kitty, I humbly ask you to forgive me. Everything I need to make amends for isn’t on those sheets of paper, but it’s a start. And I’m praying for God to show me more.”
Corbin stepped back. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but a heavy burden lifted off his soul. He turned to his children.
“Ray, I’m working on another list for you. And Roxy—” Corbin stopped as suddenly his own tears broke through. He paused for several seconds. It took every ounce of willpower for him to continue. “There’s no way a sheet of paper can make up for the pain I’ve caused you. But I want to do the best I can if you’ll—”
In a flash Roxy stepped across the few feet between them and fell into his arms. Corbin held her as she sobbed against his chest. His own tears streamed off his face onto her shoulder. Both Ray and Peter were now wiping their eyes.
And that’s the way they remained until the fountains were dry.
Roxy stepped back. Corbin glanced down at Billy, who rubbed his eyes with his broad little hands. The boy gazed up at Corbin with a look of pure innocence that transported Corbin back to his own childhood, before the ravages of his devastating choices wreaked havoc on the lives of those he should have loved. The boy’s simple look gave Corbin hope that restoration was possible. He gently stroked the top of Billy’s head, then leaned over and kissed it. He straightened up and faced Roxy.
“Thank you,” he said, looking at her tearstained face. “But this is just the first step. I know rebuilding trust is going to take time and has to be based on changes in my life that are real.”
Then he turned to Ray and Cindy. “And thank you for filling the gap Kitty left. The good in her lives in both of you.”
Cindy’s lower lip trembled as she faced the gravestone in silent homage to the godly influence of a woman who’d gone to her reward. Ray seemed to stand up a bit straighter and taller. They remained in a semicircle as the late afternoon sun shot through the bare limbs of the trees that stood in silent witness.
Then Billy reached out and took Corbin’s hand. The boy joined his other hand to his mother, who took Ray’s hand in hers. One by one, they came together. Hand in hand, heart to heart. The semicircle became a circle.
No longer a house divided.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Discuss some things about Kitty that make her special.
2. How are Ray and Roxy alike—and different? What are some of the common characteristics of adult children of an alcoholic?
3. Can we ever love another person enough to change them into who we want them to be? (See page 139.)
4. Corbin did not consider himself an alcoholic. What were some signs that he was?
5. What was your response to Peter’s comment to Roxy—“I don’t want the woman I love to carry such a huge weight of past pain into our future relationship”?
6. Was it a surprise to you that depositions can be more contentious than a trial? (See page 218.)
7. Do you remember the line on page 233—“And there’s no statute of limitations on prayer”? What do you think about that, and how might it affect your life if it is true?
8. What do you think about Corbin, and how did your opinion of him change throughout the book? Answer the same question for Ray and Roxy.
9. What did you learn about Alcoholics Anonymous from reading the story? What do you know about its history? Without revealing any confidential information, have you known someone who was a member of AA? What was his or her experience?
10. What do you think can be the relationship between AA and Christianity?
11. How would you define the “Peter Factor”? (See page 296.)
12. If you were to recommend the book to someone, who would it be and why? Which character(s) influences your answer?
13. If you could ask Robert Whitlow, the author, one question about the book, what would it be?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a novel is both solitary and collaborative. Thanks to my wife, Kathy, for protecting my solitude, to LB Norton, who corrected my mistakes, and to Ami McConnell, my longtime editor, for he
r guidance and suggestions. Special appreciation to my friend Pat for his insight that kept the story true to its mission.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert Whitlow is the bestselling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. He received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review.
Visit him online at www.robertwhitlow.com
Twitter: @whitlowwriter
Facebook: robertwhitlowbooks
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