Sharing Hailey (21 page)

Beth interrupted her silent self-recriminations. “Do you want to postpone our meeting next week?”

“No. Why?”

“I know how upsetting this is, Hailey.”

“Yes, it is, but it’s made me all the more determined to help your organization, and I’ll be doing the work pro bono.”

“I appreciate the offer, but that’s not necessary. I expected to pay your fee.”

“I know, but I want every cent to go to helping women who need it.” She paused. “What do women who don’t have my resources do? I’m pissed because I have to leave my home to be safe. But at least I can leave. I have the money to hide. What about women who don’t have that option? How do they live any kind of normal life?”

“Many don’t,” Beth said. “I gave you the number of a domestic violence hotline when we met last time. Have you called them?”

Hailey shook her head then realized Beth couldn’t see her. “No.”

“I wish you would. They can give you the name of a counselor in the area where you’re relocating.”

“I’ll think about it. I just haven’t had time.” Truthfully, she didn’t think counseling would help. It hadn’t when her parents died.

Beth sighed. “Okay, I won’t push. I imagine Mark and Tony do enough of that. Do you have any questions for me?”

Hailey shook her head. “No, you’ve been very thorough. You’ve answered questions I didn’t even know to ask.”

“That’s my job. I’m sure you do the same for your clients. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

Chapter Twenty

Despite the disruption to their lives, she, Tony and Mark fell into a routine over the next few days. Well, as much of a routine as was possible, with a surgeon in the house and a psycho ex-boyfriend on the loose. Mark fixed breakfast for the three of them. Tony usually ate his as he was walking out the door. Hailey cleaned the kitchen while Mark showered. As soon as he got out, she got in. While the temptation to ask him to join her was strong, she resisted. She had to be on her computer by eight-thirty.

She took a break from work around noon and made lunch for her and Mark. Nothing fancy. A salad or sandwiches. Sometimes, she’d just reheat leftovers from dinner. But having someone to share lunch with was nice, even if it was only thirty minutes.

Mark never tried to tempt her to take the day or even an afternoon off. Maybe because he was as busy with work as she was, trying to get everything in order before he helped her move to Texas. Sometimes, he came in from the shop and just watched her. On those occasions, she closed her laptop, hugged him, whispered, “I love you” and sent him back to work with a couple of pats on his butt.

Although Hailey normally took weekends off, she worked through the first weekend back from vacation because she had so much to do before leaving. Mark had as many loose ends to tie up as she did, so he didn’t complain when she spent Saturday and Sunday on the computer. And after a two-week vacation, Tony was on call that first weekend back.

Tony didn’t always make it home for dinner, and Hailey missed him when he wasn’t there. But he always called when he was late to keep her from worrying about him.

She hadn’t told any of her clients about the move. They didn’t need to know, and the fewer people who knew, the safer she would be. Most of her work-related correspondence was done via e-mail or on her cell after the initial meeting with the client. Fortunately, there were flights departing from Austin to Albuquerque almost every hour, so if she needed a meeting, she could make a quick trip.

All three of them tried to make the best of the time they had left together. They kept it positive, cheerful. Tony didn’t seem to be dealing with the impending separation as well as Mark. Whether it was because they didn’t have as much time together as she and Mark or because he wasn’t helping with the move, she didn’t know. A couple of times, she caught him staring blindly out the window or at a wall with such a dejected and hopeless expression she wanted to turn away from his pain. It was too much to handle on top of her own. But she couldn’t leave him to deal with it alone. There’d be enough of that after she was gone. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissed the back of his neck and murmured, “I love you. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

Bedtime was best…until she went to sleep. Mark and Tony were very good at distracting her with their hands, mouths and cocks. It was the only time she forgot about Daniel. After making love, while she waited for sleep to claim her, she clung to them as sadness and desperation crept over her.

And then the nightmare.

Every night.

Didn’t matter how tightly she held on or how fiercely they made love.

She didn’t talk about it. Not to Tony. Not to Mark. Talking wouldn’t change their dilemma, wouldn’t chase the nightmare away, and she didn’t want to ruin their last few days together.

* * *

Two days before the hearing, Mark and Hailey met with Beth again. Tony managed to take an hour away from his patients to join them there.

When they sat down in her office to discuss the protection order, Hailey thanked God that Mark had two years of law school to get them through this. She was happy to sit back in the burgundy leather chair and listen as he and Beth discussed the case. Tony asked a couple of questions, but he was unusually quiet. When Beth started talking about precautions they needed to take on the day of the hearing, Hailey sat up straighter.

“You don’t want to arrive at the same time he does,” Beth said. “Is he usually early, late or right on time for an appointment?”

“That depends,” Hailey answered reluctantly, glancing sideways as Mark. “If it was a date with me, he was usually late.”

Mark stiffened beside her, and Hailey put her hand on his thigh, hoping to calm him.

“But for business meetings he was usually right on time,” she added.

“Then you should arrive at the courthouse at least thirty minutes early. The hearing is scheduled for nine. Be at my office at eight. We’ll take care of any last-minute details then walk over together. You’ll need to leave your cell phones here. No weapons, including pepper spray. There’s a room in the courthouse where I put my clients until the hearing. You won’t have to see him until just before it begins. After the hearing, I’ll ask the judge to hold him for thirty minutes so you have time to get out of the courthouse before he leaves.”

Hailey didn’t know what to say. She’d been worried about seeing Daniel, worried about what he might do. But there was no way around it. To get the protection order, she had to go to court. Both she and Daniel had to attend the hearing. It eased her mind that Beth had a plan for getting them safely to and from the courthouse, as well as minimizing the time they had to spend with Daniel in the courtroom.

“Let me reiterate that you are all potential targets. It’s not unusual for friends and family who help the victim to become victims themselves. You know that from his attack on your sister-in-law. Mark, Tony,” she said, leaning forward over her desk. “I know your major concern is Hailey, but you also need to protect yourselves.”

Hailey was glad she emphasized this point with them. She hoped they would be safer once she left New Mexico, but there were no guarantees.

“We understand,” Tony said.

“Good.” She sat back in her chair. “Now, I have one more question. And before I ask it, I want to explain something to you. Daniel’s lawyer will do his best to make Hailey look bad. He’ll question her sanity, her morality, her drug and alcohol use, her sex life. It’s not fair, but it’s fact.” She paused and looked at each of them before continuing. “Mark, Tony, I’d prefer to speak with Hailey alone now. Would you step out of the room?”

The men answered in unison, “Sure.”

“That’s really not necessary,” Hailey replied. “They’ve known me since elementary school. They know everything.”

“Are you sure?” Beth asked. “This could get dirty.”

“Positive,” Hailey said.

Beth nodded, though she didn’t seem convinced. “Are you currently dating anyone?”

Hailey slipped one hand into Mark’s and the other into Tony’s and took a deep breath. “We’re together. In a relationship. All three of us. I don’t think Daniel knows. We haven’t been together long—less than three weeks.”

She held her breath and tightened her fingers around Tony’s and Mark’s hands, waiting for Beth’s reaction, her judgment, her scorn. Tony and Mark squeezed her hands in return, offering support and reassurance.

Beth didn’t blink, didn’t raise her brows or drop her jaw. She spoke slowly, deliberately. “Let me make certain I understand what you’re telling me.” She paused. “You and Tony and Mark are in a romantic relationship together?”

“Yes,” Hailey said, her voice clear.

Beth clasped her hands on the dark wood desk. Her eyes narrowed as she considered the announcement. The hum of the computer was the only sound as Hailey watched her mulling over this new problem.

Finally, she said, “I’d like to tell you that it won’t make a difference if this comes up at the hearing. The reality isn’t so pretty. In these cases, the abuser’s lawyer always attempts to shred the victim’s character. An unconventional lifestyle makes it much easier to plant doubt in the judge’s mind.”

Hailey’s stomach clenched. That didn’t sound good.

“Daniel knows you’re involved with Mark. That was the accusation he made when he confronted you?” Beth asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“He didn’t say anything about Tony?”

“No, nothing.”

“He hasn’t sent you any e-mails, texts or voice mails about Tony?”

“No, he hasn’t contacted me at all since the attack.”

“Who knows about your relationship? Friends, families, coworkers, the cashier at the grocery store?”

Mark answered. “Hailey’s brother and his wife, Nikki. Plus Nikki’s brother and sister.”

“Are they in the area?”

“No,” Hailey answered. “They live in Texas.”

“No one else knows?”

All three shook their heads.

“No,” Mark replied.

“Can you keep it that way—refrain from telling anyone and make sure Hailey’s family keeps it quiet?”

No one spoke. Hailey looked from Tony to Mark. “If it keeps us safe, yes, we can keep it quiet,” she said firmly. They might not like it, but they could do it. Had to be easier than keeping it from her brother.

Beth nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Tony, you’re not going to like this, but I don’t want you in the courthouse.”

He started to speak and, judging from the determined glint in his eyes, he didn’t intend to agree, but Beth held up a hand to cut off his protests.

“I know it’ll be difficult. Think of it as one of your patient’s parents pacing in the hospital waiting area while you perform surgery on her child. You’re the parent. I’m the surgeon. Hailey’s the patient. Mark can be the anesthesiologist, since Daniel knows about him. You stay here in my office. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Tony and Mark didn’t look happy about it. Both of them were grinding their teeth. She could tell by the muscles twitching in their jaws.

Beth looked directly at her. “How do you feel about this?”

She cast a guilty glance at Tony before answering. “I think you’re right. I don’t like it, but I understand.”

From the corner of her eye she saw Tony check his watch. “I’ve got a patient in five minutes.” He stood and extended his hand to Beth. “Thanks for your help. I’ll see you Friday before the hearing.”

Beth shook his hand. “I’m sorry. I know how difficult this is for you.”

“We’re done here, right?” Hailey asked.

Beth answered, “Yes, unless you have something else to tell me.”

“No, that’s it.” She wanted to slip her hand into Tony’s, entwine her fingers with his, but she didn’t. They had to hide their relationship. She simply said, “I’ll walk you out.” Her meeting with Beth about the grant was supposed to start now. “Beth, I’ll be right back. Can you wait a few minutes?”

“Sure. Take your time,” she replied.

Mark followed them to the elevator without touching her. Odd for him.

When the elevator door closed, she turned to him. “Are you okay?”

He looked over her head at Tony and spoke to him, ignoring her, yet answering her question. “It doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s just a few hours,” Tony said

“It’s more than that,” Mark countered.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Are you on call tonight?”

“No.”

“I’ve got some things to take care of. Can you stay with Hailey?”

“I don’t want—”

Mark interrupted. “I know you don’t, but you need it.”

What didn’t Tony want? What did Mark think he needed? She hated that they could read each other’s minds well enough that they didn’t need to finish their sentences.

Tony let out a long, tired sigh. “We’ll talk about it tonight.”

God, she was getting tired of that sentence.
We’ll talk about it tonight.
Why couldn’t the rest of their relationship be as easy as the sex?

The elevator door opened, and they walked down the hall and through the building lobby in silence. When they stepped outside into the bright sun, Hailey shivered as a strong cold wind hit her, funneled through the tall buildings surrounding them.

It was time for them to go their separate ways—Tony to the hospital, Hailey back to her meeting with Beth. She didn’t like leaving Tony, but she didn’t have a choice. He had an appointment with a patient, and he’d have to be dead or dying before he’d miss it.

She stared at his back as he walked away. His head was down, his broad shoulders hunched forward. Even his step seemed heavier than normal. Ignoring the biting cold, she watched until he turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

* * *

When Tony came home that evening, his face was drawn, tired. Mark handed him a beer, and Hailey led him to the breakfast bar then pushed at his shoulders, urging him onto a stool. She and Mark served the pasta primavera and garlic bread they’d prepared before they sat on either side of him.

The three of them stared at the meal. It smelled great, but Hailey wasn’t hungry.

“Okay,” she said. “Let’s talk.”

Neither man spoke.

“Tony, you know Mark won’t let anything happen to me.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll come straight back to you after the hearing.”

“I know.”

“If Daniel doesn’t find out about you, you’ll be safer after I leave.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you dwelling on it? This isn’t like you.”