Forbidden Promises

by Synithia Williams

  His cell phone rang. His heart jumped until he realized someone from the office was calling instead of India. He answered and was immediately hit with fires they needed him to put out. Instead of going to search for India to try to change her mind, he went to the office. Two hours helping out the other lawyers and returning phone calls flew by until he got the call the jury had made a decision. That was faster than he’d expected.

  Back at the courtroom, Zachariah’s confidence from earlier had diminished. He was quiet, subdued and drummed his fingers on the desk. Queasiness plagued Travis’s stomach. A quick jury decision usually meant bad news.

  “All rise,” the bailiff said, bringing the rustling noise of the courtroom to a halt.

  Travis stood and looked at where his family sat behind the prosecutors. None of them looked at him as the judge entered the room. His uncle wore a pleased expression. His aunt clutched a handkerchief to her chest and stared hopefully at the jury. The sick feeling in his gut intensified and he looked away. Either way, his family ties were ruined.

  The judge settled in his seat, then faced the jury. “Have you reached a decision?”

  The lead juror stood. “We have.” The bailiff took the slip of paper with Zachariah’s fate written on it and passed the slip to the judge.

  The judge read the paper, then nodded. “Proceed.”

  “On the charge of first-degree murder, we the jury find the defendant, Zachariah King, not guilty.” Gasps accompanied the answer. “On the charge of second-degree murder, we find the defendant not guilty.”

  The strain in Zachariah’s face washed away. His leg shook, and he clasped his hands into fists at his sides. One more charge to go.

  “On the charge of manslaughter, we find the defendant not guilty.”

  More gasps and sporadic exclamations. A few people clapped, Zachariah’s slim group of supporters behind them. Rumbles of conversation spread throughout the courtroom like waves.

  Zachariah pumped his fist and sighed heavily. He turned and slapped Travis on the back. A wave of relief, nausea and dread crept over Travis. He’d done it. Another case won. He’d proved once again he was the best defense attorney in the area. He should be happy. Ecstatic and ready to celebrate. Instead the sick feeling he’d had before the verdict intensified.

  The angry and hateful looks his family threw him as they rushed out of the courtroom snatched away any feelings of victory. He’d known this win would solidify him as the villain in the family. He hadn’t expected the overwhelming cloud of defeat as the realization that he not only wouldn’t be welcome, but there was also no chance of reconciliation.

  He walked Zachariah out of the courtroom and tried to look pleased. The local media had quietly followed the case of the disliked local businessman charged with murder. The thought of answering questions made him want to turn and escape out the back of the courtroom.

  Just get through this and you can go home. Call India. Maybe salvage one thing out of this shit of a day.

  He placed a hand on Zachariah’s shoulder as they left the courtroom. “Remember, let me answer the questions. You smile and nod. Don’t give them anything to add to this decision.”

  Zachariah smiled and waved at people as they left like an Olympic hero returning home with gold. “I got it. I got it. But damn, this feels good.”

  A decent-size crowd waited outside the courtroom. Zachariah’s wife and mother rushed forward, along with reporters. Microphones and cell phones were shoved in their faces.

  “Mr. Strickland, did you expect the jury to give you the verdict you received?” the channel ten reporter asked.

  “I never expect to get a verdict in my favor,” Travis answered honestly. “I know I have to earn every acquittal. All I can do is defend my client to the best of my abilities and believe that the jury will understand.”

  “How does it feel to get a man hated by much of the community off on a murder charge?” another reporter shouted.

  “Mr. King’s business practices and personal life have nothing to do with this case. This is about a man defending himself when his business was threatened. My job is to defend my client, and everyone has a right to a fair trial.”

  Movement in the corner of his eye distracted him. Travis looked away from the next reporter to see the crowd spreading. People running. Time slowed. Devon strode toward him with purpose. His arm raised a gun in his hand. The barrel pointed directly at Travis.

  Travis’s entire body went numb. No. Not like this!

  His sense of survival kicked in. “Get down!” he yelled.

  The pop of gunfire exploded at the same time. People screamed. Travis turned to run too late. Pain blasted through his chest. His knees hit the ground. Pain shot up his leg. He wondered if he’d broken a kneecap before everything went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  INDIA NEEDED TO get her mind off telling Travis they were through. Going to happy hour with Ashiya was the perfect distraction. They were settled in a corner booth at one of the bars downtown, with large glasses of wine in front of them along with an array of appetizers that included wings, potato skins and fried pickles.

  “You know we’re going to regret eating all of this later,” India said. She picked up a potato skin and took a bite.

  Ashiya picked up one of the fried pickles. “I went to the gym earlier today, so I’m good.”

  India laughed. “I hope you spent several hours in the gym. It’s going to take that much to work off all of this food.”

  “Maybe, but sometimes you just have to forget the consequences and enjoy.”

  India chewed on the potato skin. Forget the consequences and enjoy. She’d tried do to that, and after today she knew she couldn’t anymore. After hanging out with her sister, who’d quickly backed out of happy hour by saying she’d had enough “sister time,” India knew two things: one, Elaina may not love Travis anymore but a part of her still cared, and two, she felt like the failure of their marriage was her fault. A part of her might even dread the day he found someone who could make him happy when she couldn’t.

  Elaina and Travis were divorced, but five years of memories and mutual pain would always link them. If India married him, she’d be flaunting their happiness in Elaina’s face. She couldn’t do that. She’d made the right decision to break things off.

  Then why do you feel so terrible?

  A fried pickle hit India in the forehead. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the appetizer that had fallen in her lap, then frowned up at Ashiya. “What was that for?”

  “You looked lost in thought and you were frowning. I want to know why.”

  “You don’t want to hear my problems.” And I don’t want to hear I-told-you-so.

  “Why not? Hearing your problems is a good way to get my mind off my own.”

  “What are your problems?” India took another cheesy bite of the potato skin.

  Ashiya wagged one finger. “Oh no, I asked you first. It’s about you and Travis, isn’t it? You’ve just spent a day with your sister and now everything is real. You should end it.”

  Guess she wasn’t going to avoid the I-told-you-so discussion. “I have ended it,” India said before Ashiya could dive into all the reasons why she and Travis needed to stop seeing each other.

  Ashiya dropped the fried pickle in her hand. “You did? Why?”

  “For all the reasons you brought up and more. Elaina will never forgive me for falling in love with him.” India had had fun with Elaina today. It was the first time the two of them had hung out. Ever. Her sister was figuring some things out in her life, and India wanted to be there for her. Elaina wouldn’t accept anything from India if she married Travis.

  Ashiya picked up her wine and took a sip. “No, she wouldn’t.”

  India sighed and ran a finger across the rim of her wineglass. “Which is why I told him no when he asked me to marry
him.”

  Ashiya’s hand slapped her chest. She swallowed hard, then coughed. “He asked you to marry him? When?”

  “Last night and again this morning.” Her fingers automatically reached for her cell phone on the table. She’d sneaked looks at the text message several times today. Glutton for punishment that she was.

  “He meant it,” Ashiya said almost to herself. She noticed India’s frown and continued, “He said he wanted to marry you. That he loved you, but I thought he was just saying that to get me off his back.”

  Cell phone forgotten, India’s gaze snapped to Ashiya. “When did he tell you that?”

  “At the museum.”

  “I shouldn’t have let things go that far.” India propped her elbows on the table and covered her face with her hands. She was tired, confused and elated. “I never should have admitted to him how I feel. But we both ended up in Asheville and we talked and I convinced myself everything was okay.” She dropped her hands and took a deep breath. “I just made things worse. You were right.”

  Ashiya tilted her head to the side. “About you and him?”

  “About everything.”

  Ashiya shook her head. “I can’t believe he asked you to marry him. Maybe he is serious. Maybe I was wrong.”

  “None of that matters. I’ve told him no. I’m breaking things off and I’m going to learn to live with that.”

  “Do you really think you can do that?” Ashiya asked doubtfully. “You two have had this thing between you for years. You going away didn’t clear it up. How is it going to work now?” She sucked in a breath. Her eyes narrowed. “You’re moving to California.”

  India shook her head. “I’m going to audition in California, but honestly, I’m thinking about the offer for the Tri-City Philharmonic. I don’t want to be away from the family. Maybe running away is what made it harder to get over Travis. I was filled with dreams of what could have been. If I stay, it’ll be easier to get over him.”

  Ashiya grunted and shook her head. “Easier to fall right back in bed with him. I don’t want you to leave either, but I don’t think you can get over him just because you will it so.”

  “I can’t keep this up and I can’t break my sister’s heart. That’s the end of it.” India picked up her glass of wine and took a long sip. “Now, can we please talk about something else? Today has been too heavy and I don’t want to dwell on it.”

  Ashiya looked like she was about to argue.

  India narrowed her eyes and glared. “New topic.”

  Ashiya held up a hand. “Fine, for now.” She lifted her glass. “To forbidden promises and the impulse to make them.”

  India chuckled and raised a glass. “Amen to that.”

  They clinked glasses and finished off their drinks. She thought about Ashiya’s phone call with the guy who wasn’t Stephen weeks ago. Was her cousin also following impulses and making promises she couldn’t keep?

  “How’s Stephen?” India asked.

  Ashiya rolled her eyes. “The same. If we’re not talking about Travis, can we not talk about me and Stephen? I’d rather discuss baseball.”

  “You hate baseball.”

  “How about those Braves,” Ashiya said with false cheer. She caught the eye of the waitress and pointed to their two empty wineglasses. “Another round.”

  Point taken. India let her cousin change the subject. They talked, ate and laughed some more. A band set up and played a few songs. When a crowd got up and danced, India let Ashiya drag her out on the floor. Anything to forget her worries and facing Travis later. Telling him no on the phone had been easy. How could she possibly do so to his face?

  By the time they left the bar, it was almost nine. India turned her cell phone on when she got in the car. She knew Travis would call as soon as he got out of court. She’d been a coward and avoided his calls. Her cell phone rang, vibrated and chimed constantly in the seconds after it powered on. Before she could check the various notifications, her phone rang again. Byron’s number.

  “Hey Byron, is everything okay?”

  “No. I’m at the hospital. Travis was shot.”

  * * *

  INDIA RAN INTO the hospital. Byron had given her Travis’s room number over the phone. She punched the buttons next to the elevator and stopped herself from beating on the doors to make them open faster. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited for the people to file off and then for others to get on with her.

  Please let him be alive. Please let him be alive.

  Fear and stress put the words on repeat in her brain during the long ride to the fourth floor. The fingers of her right hand tapped anxiously against her chest. When the doors finally opened on her floor, she rushed out and down the hall toward the nurses’ station.

  “India, wait,” Byron’s voice called.

  She spun around. Her brother stood outside a waiting area. She ran to him. “What happened?”

  Byron’s shirt was unbuttoned at the top, his tie loose around his neck. There was strain around his eyes and he hugged India tight. “Travis won the case! His cousin, Devon, wasn’t happy with the verdict,” he said after releasing her. “The bullet hit him in the upper chest, but thankfully, Travis was turning and it missed his heart. He’s been out of surgery and is in recovery. They’re moving him to a private room as we speak.”

  Her head spun. “His cousin shot him?” He’d feared his family wouldn’t be happy with the verdict, but to try to kill him?

  “Apparently there had been threats from his family during the trial,” Byron said as if reading her thoughts. “Threats Travis didn’t tell anyone about.”

  “Why would he keep something like that to himself?” India rubbed her temples. Her head throbbed.

  “We both know how Travis is with his family,” Byron said, rubbing her shoulders. “He probably didn’t think the threats were real.”

  Her hands shook. “He’s okay though, right?”

  Byron didn’t nod. “For now. The bullet did cause damage, and he lost a lot of blood. The doctors say they’ll know more when he wakes up.”

  She looked around the waiting room. No one from Travis’s family was there. The realization didn’t surprise her, but it did anger her. “Where are Daddy and Elaina?”

  “Dad was out of town on business. He’s on the way back. I haven’t been able to reach Elaina since finding out. Was she at home?”

  After she left India and Ashiya, Elaina hadn’t said she was going back out that night. “I don’t know. I wasn’t home. I was with Ashiya. When I left Elaina, she was going by the office to check on some things.”

  A woman in blue scrubs came from behind double doors and walked over to them. “That’s the recovery nurse,” Byron said.

  The woman stopped in front of them. “Mr. Robidoux, Travis is in his own room now. He’s asleep but if you want to check in on him, that’s fine. Just keep it to a few minutes.”

  Byron shook her hand. “Thank you.”

  He and India left the waiting area and got back on the elevator to Travis’s new room one floor up. India’s heart beat erratically as they got to Travis’s door. Her chest constricted when they saw him in the bed. He was still. Too still, with a gray pallor beneath his dark skin. Tears pricked India’s eyes. He’d almost died.

  Byron went over and placed his hand over Travis’s. He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. India hurried over and placed her hand on his back. She shook with the force of not breaking from the fear and hurt slicing inside of her.

  “I’ve got to get out of here,” Byron said in a strained voice. “I can’t see him like this.”

  He turned and stalked out of the room. India didn’t care about comforting her brother. As soon as he was gone, she sank onto the side of the bed. Her body trembled uncontrollably, the terror of the minutes between answering Byron’s call and getting to the hospital
catching up to her. She picked up the hand not pierced with the IV. It was cool to the touch. India bit her lower lip and suppressed a sob. Her eyes jumped to his chest. It rose and fell with his easy breaths. She relaxed slightly. He was alive. She’d almost lost him.

  If he had died—

  She cut the thought short and clutched his hand to her chest. “Travis, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell any of us how angry your family was? Maybe we could have done something.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I could have lost you today.” He would have died thinking she didn’t love him. India shook her head. “I didn’t mean it, when I said I wanted us to be over. I love you. I don’t know how or if we can make this work, but I want to try. I love you so much.” She brought his hand to her lips and swallowed a sob. “I’ll marry you.”

  A gasp followed by a crash came from the door. India jerked up. Her wet eyes met the wide shocked eyes of her sister.

  “Marry him? Love him?” Elaina asked in a tight voice. She shook her head. “You’re sleeping with my ex-husband!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  ELAINA TURNED AND ran from the door of the hospital room. India hurried after. Her feet slipped in the pile of water and broken glass from the flowers Elaina had dropped. She steadied herself on the door, then continued. In the hall she watched as Elaina pushed past their dad and Byron on her way to the elevator.

  “Elaina, stop,” India called.

  Her dad reached for her arm. “What are you two doing?”

  India avoided his grip and her brother’s gaze. She had to explain to Elaina. The elevator hadn’t opened yet, which allowed India to catch up to her sister.

  “Let me explain,” India said.

  Elaina whipped to face her, her gaze as sharp as razor blades. “Are you or are you not sleeping with my ex-husband?” she asked in a crisp, haughty tone.

  India flinched and ran a hand over her face. “It’s not like that.”

  “Then what is it like? You said you were going to marry him!” Elaina’s voice rose.