Chasing Justice (25 page)

“You think she’d miss me if I wasn’t there tonight? I thought maybe it was all this commotion and when this settled down she’d toss me aside,” Michael said, relieved at the forgiveness and the invitation.

“She still might, but I doubt it. She really seems to like you. I know your reputation though. Don’t confuse my ability to get over the withholding of a part of your past with how I might act if you hurt her. You won’t survive that.” Bobby raised his eyebrows and wiped any sign of humor away from his face, he was serious.

“I like her Bobby, she’s special. I don’t know where it’s going to lead but I can assure you my reputation is grossly exaggerated, and I won’t hurt her. I guess I should give you the same speech about Piper. I’m the closest thing she has to family as far as I can tell, and I don’t want to see her hurt either.” Michael pushed through the front door and stepped out onto the sidewalk pressing the button to unlock his car.

“I don’t intend to hurt her. You might not be sure where things with you and Jules are going, but I have no doubts where Piper and I are headed. I love her,” Bobby laughed, not able to contain his happiness. He had thought for years that he was in love with Jules, but now, in contrast to how he felt about Piper, he realized his affection for Jules was one of family.

“What? Man, that’s fantastic,” Michael shouted. “Just be careful, Piper is like a bird, you don’t want to spook her. She’s always ready to fly away. I think if anyone can figure out how to love her, it’s you.” Bobby put his hand out expecting Michael’s firm grip but instead Michael pulled him in for a hug. “I’ll meet you at Betty’s.”

As Bobby drove his truck up Betty’s long dirt driveway he tried to make this night about the victory they had all achieved. He tried to direct his mind to the joy and relief Jules would feel or the vindication Betty would experience. Instead all he could think about was Piper. She brought him to this place in his life, this crazy moment he never imagined he’d experience. He tried to force himself to think of Stan tonight, but instead the thought of holding Piper superseded everything.

Every lamp in the house was on, like a lighthouse calling the men home. Bobby waited a moment while Michael pulled in, and they exchanged a knowing look as they stepped onto the driveway. They knew they were about to be greeted with a whirlwind of questions and commotion. They both took a deep breath as the porch door swung open and Jules came sprinting out.

Bobby felt a pang of sadness when he saw only Jules running toward them. For the first time, she wasn’t the person he was hoping to hold. Judging by the familiar but quick hug he shared with her, it was clear she was thinking the same thing. He had hoped to be embracing Piper by now, and she couldn't get to Michael fast enough.

Jules moved past Bobby and, staring up into Michaels green eyes, she asked, “It’s good news, isn’t it?” She held her hands over her heart, protecting it.

“It’s great news,” Michael said, laughing as Jules jumped up toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Bobby was relieved to see Betty coming toward him, a good distraction from the passionate kissing he could see out of his peripheral vision.

Betty put her warm hands on Bobby’s cold cheeks and smiled. “Well done, son. He’d be so very proud of you.” She patted his cheeks and looked away before the tears gathering in her eyes spilled over. “For the love of Pete, Julie Marie, dismount that man before you hurt him. Act like you got raised right.” Jules rolled her eyes and slid her way down Michael. “Plus I want to hug him,” Betty said opening her arms wide to Michael.

Bobby could do nothing but stare at the screen door as Piper’s shadow appeared behind it. He wondered why she wasn’t racing down to him. Was she angry? Hurt?

“That girl is crazy about you, Bobby,” Jules whispered from behind him. “She’s a hard nut to crack, but she’s got eyes for you something fierce. Whatever you do, don’t blow it.”

“I’m wondering if I already have,” he said quietly, his heart aching for her to join them. Feeling out of options, he waved at her awkwardly, and could see the brightness of her smile against the darkness of the night. The weight on his chest finally floated away.

“Let’s all get up in the house and have something warm to drink. I’m sure you’ve got lots to tell us, and it’s colder than a cast iron commode out here.” Betty shooed them all toward the porch as Piper opened the door. She patted Michael on the shoulder as he passed by and attempted to do the same to Bobby. He caught her hand before she could, and pulled her out onto the porch, letting the door shut noisily behind her. He didn’t care if that drew the attention of everyone who was now inside—he wanted this moment.

“I’ve got a lot to say to you, Piper.” He pushed the loose hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear, and lowered himself slightly to meet her eyes.

Piper was trying desperately to play it cool. “You’ve got an anxious crowd in there waiting for details. I’ll be here when it’s all over. We’ll get a chance to talk.” She hadn’t expected how overwhelmed she’d be at the sight of Bobby, safe and standing in the doorway. If life up to this point had taught her anything it was that loving something too much was dangerous. Her feelings for Bobby scared her. The amount of willpower it took to suppress her innermost thoughts of what she wanted for her life was stifling.

“I think I can deal with that. We’ll talk later. But we’ll kiss right now.” Bobby leaned in and kissed Piper with such urgency that she almost stepped backward. It only took a second for the sweet taste of his lips and the smell of his clean skin to make her fall toward him. His cold hand running over her cheek and through her hair sent chills through her whole body.

As he let her go he knew it may not be easy to love Piper, or to help her to let go of her past and believe in him, but it would be worth it.

Bobby heard Betty clearing her throat, and though his eyes were locked on Piper’s he knew they had an audience.

“I’m happier than a puppy with two tails that y’all are getting on so well, but I’ve been wearing a hole in the floor pacing and waiting. There’ll be plenty of time for pawing at each other later.” Betty took the liberty of opening the screen door and waving them both in.

The group gathered in the familiar sitting room, and Bobby began to tell Betty and Jules the details of what had transpired. Both sat with eyes wide and occasionally cursing at the realization of who was involved. Piper was pleased as she heard him recount the details of the events between Judge Rosenthal and Christian Donavan. She was so relieved to hear that not only would they see justice served, but they would be safe from any retaliation as well. When Bobby finally finished, he asked if they had any questions for him.

“So they won’t actually get charged with Daddy’s murder? They’re going to jail and getting punished, but no one will ever know they killed him?” Jules didn’t want to sound ungrateful for all that had happened, for the risks that everyone had taken, but she wanted her father’s story told.

Michael felt the need to step in and answer. “No, I don’t think they’ll be able to charge them with it, but we won’t know until more of this gets sorted out. I know it’s disappointing, but I can assure you that I’ll follow it closely, and if there is any opportunity to do so, we’ll pursue it.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Betty said, sitting up straighter in her chair, “the best thing you’ve ever done is not tell me about any of this until it was over. I’d’ve cut that judge’s throat and let him bleed all over his runny eggs without a second thought about spending my life in jail. I know y’all took some big risks, and I want you to know I’m eternally grateful. I can’t tell you what knowing the truth has done for me. It’s a debt I’ll never be able to repay.” Betty wiped tears from her cheeks.

“Well, I’ll take my payment in pot roast,” said Michael, trying to lighten the mood. “Or fried chicken. Really, I’m pretty flexible.”

“I’ll put a big meal out for breakfast tomorrow. You kids are all staying over, aren’t you?” Betty asked, looking hopeful for the company.

“Of course,” said Bobby, ignoring the urge to grab Piper by the hand and drive her somewhere, anywhere they could be alone. “Judge Rosenthal assured us all this would be the headline story tomorrow, so we should all be together to watch it.”

Betty nodded, looking exhausted. “I’m turning in. My heart is tired. You kids stay up and help yourselves to anything in the kitchen. I’ll see y’all in the morning.” Betty went around and kissed each of them on the forehead then slowly dragged her tired body upstairs.

“We’ve got to go celebrate,” Jules said in an excited whisper. “Let’s go out for a drink and dancing. I can’t sit in this house all night, I’ll go mad.” She was standing now and practically jumping out of her skin.

“I think I’ll hang back here. My adrenaline has been on overdrive, and I need to unwind for a little bit. You and Michael should go,” Bobby said, stretching as if he were completely exhausted, even though he had never felt so awake.

“Come on, Michael, let’s go out. I’m so excited. I want to have some drinks and laugh and have a good time,” Jules said, pulling Michael up by his arms.

They all moved to the porch as Michael and Jules pulled on their coats to leave. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, and every other sentence was punctuated by a kiss and a smile. As they stepped off the porch, Michael turned back toward Piper who hadn’t said more than a handful of words since they had returned. “You good?” he asked, winking at her, knowing that maybe he should stay, but he really didn’t want to.

She nodded yes and waved them off. She couldn’t fight the feelings that had followed her throughout her life, the melancholy in the face of everyone else’s joy. She didn’t know why she felt worse in this moment than she had through all the turmoil of the last few months.

As Michael’s headlights disappeared from view, darkness fell back over the front yard. Bobby had begun loading wood into the firepit and searching around for the matches.

Piper sat on the familiar porch swing and pulled a blanket over her legs. She watched Bobby building a fire to keep her warm and realized that really was who he’d be to her. Maybe she didn’t know how to keep herself cozy and balanced on the inside, but he would keep lighting her fires to make up for it.

He sat down beside her, reminding Piper of the first time they had sat there together. It was funny how wrong their perceptions of each other were then—how far from the truth. Now it was like they were sitting down together for the first time as they really were.

“I know that I might have spooked you earlier when I said I thought I love you. We haven’t known each other long, and there has been so much going on you probably think I’m crazy. That’s why I want to take it back,” Bobby said, pulling the blanket up.

Piper didn’t think she was ready to be loved, but that wasn’t at all where she thought the conversation was going. “I understand,” she said, trying to mask her shock.

“I was wrong when I said I think I love you. What I meant to say… what I
should
have said… is I
do
love you. There’s no hesitation here. I know how I feel about you. I won’t rush you or pressure you to be something you aren’t or to feel something you don’t, but I’m not foolish enough to lie to myself or to you. I didn’t want to make some big proclamation tonight, but sitting out here with you right now, I’m having a hard time not blurting out some very corny stuff.” Bobby reached over and laced his fingers with hers. “Will you sit and listen to me professing my love?”

“We’ve been through a lot, Bobby, and I’m sure emotions are running high for everyone. Part of me wants to get lost in your eyes and let you say sweet things to me all night, but a bigger part of me has no idea how to deal with all of that.” Piper felt her anxiety rising. She’d prepared herself for all kinds of heartbreak in her life, all forms of disappointment, but falling in love was not something she’d readied herself for. “I have some fundamental flaws, Bobby. Like tonight when everyone was smiling and celebrating, that’s not at all how I felt. These moments when most people are overjoyed, I’m completely out of sorts. I’m anxious and sick to my stomach, because for me these happy moments are fleeting. When I let myself indulge in the idea of something even remotely positive, reality comes flooding back in to knock me down. I’m not built to enjoy life; I’m built to endure it. I don’t understand why you would love someone like that.” Piper felt the tears as they moved down her cheeks, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t self-conscious or afraid to look weak. Bobby had seen more of her than anyone, and somehow he was still sitting here begging for the chance to love her.

“Piper there are so many things in this world to be afraid of. Don’t let happiness be one of them. You don’t understand why I would love you? I love you because you are tenacious in the face of reality. I love that you have no idea how incredible you are, because that means I get to be here when you finally figure it out. There’s a good chance that one of these days you’re going to wake up and see yourself the way I see you, and I can’t wait to be a part of that. Whatever loving you brings my way, I’m ready for it.” Bobby brushed the tears from her cheeks and pulled her into a powerful hug. She felt a little afraid of how tight it was, but when she let herself melt into him she realized this is what loving him would be like. Maybe she’d feel squeezed, maybe she’d worry about not getting enough air, but it was the warmest, safest place she’d ever been and she didn’t want him to ever let go.

“You must be pretty jealous of Michael and Jules then, aren’t you?” Piper settled her herself onto his chest and he rested his chin gently on the top of her head. She hadn’t really cuddled much before, but now she sure understood why people did it.

“Why in the world would I be jealous of the two of them? I’m glad they are hitting it off, but I don’t feel the least bit of envy.” Bobby gazed off into the fire. He knew Piper didn’t profess her love in deep terms of endearment, but she had let him hold her, and he took that as a small pledge of love for now.

“Hitting it off? Where do you think they’re going? I imagine they went to have a few drinks, and soon they’ll be having shameless passionate sex back at his place. And you are sitting on a porch, watching a fire, holding my hand. It doesn’t seem like you planned this out quite right.” Piper smiled up at him and waited for another kiss, which he gladly gave.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now. When I make love to you, I don’t want to think about this day and everything that happened. I don’t want to share the day we make love with anything else. I don’t want to be clouded by adrenaline or cramped up in the cab of my truck like a couple of high school kids. Tonight is about holding you and kissing you and showing you that it’s safe to celebrate. I’ve got the rest of my life to love you. We’ll have our moment, and it will be incredible.” Bobby squeezed Piper tighter, and while he really did mean what he was saying, there was part of him that wanted to ignore his own advice and find a quiet place to show her how he felt.

“Doesn’t Betty have a bottle of strawberry moonshine up in her pantry?” Piper asked, sitting up and smiling mischievously. “She did say we could help ourselves to whatever we wanted, right?” She hopped up and tiptoed her way into the kitchen, lifting herself onto the counter and pulling down the mason jar of moonshine Betty had shown her months earlier. She decided to forgo the glasses and take turns with Bobby, sipping the sweet and potent concoction until she had no choice but to be content