Chapter Twenty-three 7 page

But Libby made it hard. Those blue eyes just about did Tully in every time Libby turned them her way.

“Be strong, Tully, or you’ll lose a good friend,” she said to herself.

Chapter Fourteen

A week later Libby walked into the kitchen in the main house and found Tully standing at the counter drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. Tully had gotten her hair cut shorter, a new style that curled slightly at the ends.

“Good morning, Counselor. New suit?” Libby accepted a cup, smiling at Tully’s obvious pride in her new coffeemaking ability.

“You should know, since you and Bailey are the ones who talked me into it. I wanted to look the part since it’s time to let our opponents know there’s a battle abrewing. I couldn’t go in there with baggy pants, especially after someone mentioned them.”

Libby smiled. The more weight Tully lost, the flatter her butt got, but Libby secretly thought it was adorable. She had started to notice all sorts of new things about Tully, such as her favorite dishes and how Tully seemed to enjoy doing things for her.

Libby had a new desktop computer and a laptop to make her schoolwork easier, as well as a password to the online law library the firm used. She and Tully lunched together at least twice a week, and Tully indulged her when she continued to order healthy meals for both of them. In fact, if Libby mentioned that she liked anything, it magically appeared.

“The great pinstripes will dazzle them,” Libby teased. “But shouldn’t you wait until Monday?” It was Friday, the last day of class for Bailey and Ralph.

“I love having these initial meetings on Friday.”

Libby turned from the open refrigerator to Tully. “And that’s why?”

“I can lower the guillotine just enough for them to know what’s coming, then leave it hanging over their necks for the weekend. Frazzled nerves make for great negotiations.”

Libby put the fruit salad she had made the night before on the counter. It was one of the only breakfast choices, other than Pop-Tarts, that all of the Badeauxes enjoyed. “You’re going to settle?”

“I will for fifty million dollars.”

Libby laughed so hard she almost snorted as she handed Tully a bowl. “Tully, no one’s going to give you that kind of money.”

“Then I guess that answers your question. I’m not settling.”

“I think you’re spoiling for a fight.”

Tully put her hand up to her chest and gasped, “Who, me?”

They both laughed at the blatant lie.

“Contrary to what you may think, I am able to put my personal feelings aside when it comes to this case. But a good fight never hurt anyone.” Tully offered up a strawberry and smiled when Libby snapped it from her fork with her teeth.

“Remind me never to get on your bad side,” Libby said after she swallowed.

“I wouldn’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about it. I know for a fact that you don’t have a bad side,” Tully said, sounding surprisingly flirty. The rumble from the stairwell cut their banter short as the kids ran down for breakfast.

“Ah, release the beasts from captivity for the summer and they show signs of life!”

In reality, Bailey and Ralph had blossomed at their new school, as proven by their constantly ringing phone. Kids now called the house all afternoon and night, but Tully was just happy that her kids had become typical teenagers.

“Nope, you’re wrong, since we volunteered to work in the school’s summer camp for the young students. We’re going back in a couple of days,” Ralph said, bumping shoulders with Tully.

“I know, buddy. I’m pretty excited about that myself.”

Bailey’s head popped up from her bowl of fruit. “Why?”

“Because of all the valuable experience you’re going to get.”

“And?” Bailey smiled through her menacing glare.

“And the allowance break I’m going to be enjoying over the summer.”

“No reprieves to be had, so stop your daydreaming.”

“One day you’ll have children of your own.” Tully playfully grabbed Bailey in a headlock and rubbed the top of her head with her knuckles.

“I know, and you wish they’ll act just like me.” Bailey tickled Tully’s side and tried to squirm away.

“That’s a given, but not my point.” Across from them Libby and Ralph were laughing. “You’re going to have kids and still be calling me to demand an allowance.”

“Well, hey, if you want to see your grandkids.”

“Get in the car, funny girl,” Tully said, shaking her head. Bailey had lost a lot of her surliness, but not her wit.

After they dropped the kids off, Tully and Libby rode into the office together. Law school had ended for the session two weeks earlier, and Libby had decided to take the summer off.

For once, Roxanne didn’t phone, and during the comfortable silence Libby stared off into space, deep in thought.

When Tully stopped at a light, she gently ran her thumb over the small crease along Libby’s brow, apparently not wanting to mess up her makeup. “You okay?”

In that one instant Libby felt her feelings coalesce and focus. Tully had long before stopped being her savior and become someone she truly cared about. Every moment Tully had spent with her had made her fall that much harder, and Libby suddenly feared that Tully would never return those feelings, that after everything that had happened, Tully wouldn’t want to risk her heart and try again.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears when Tully pulled over to the curb.

“You can tell me, Libby. I’ll listen and we’ll fix whatever it is together.” Tully cupped her cheek. “I thought you knew by now that you aren’t alone.”

The statement made Libby’s tears fall, and she felt foolish for not being able to control her emotions. “Maybe later, okay? We don’t have time for my issues right now.”

“The rest of our day can wait. All you have to do is ask.”

“I appreciate it, Tully, but come on before we’re late.” She reached up for Tully’s hand and with regret rested it in her lap, needing some contact with her. How could she not have figured out the depth of her feelings before now, when she had no place to hide from Tully’s eyes?

“If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” Tully said once they’d driven to her office building.

Upstairs, Jo and Frank were waiting in Tully’s office, and Roxanne started filling her in on what calls had been made so far. The Heberts had finally accepted the invitation for the meeting the hospital administration had been pushing for since the day Evangeline died.

Normally, Tully would have preferred to go with the Heberts for the initial contact, but she respected Simone’s wishes. The grieving mother had wanted to see for herself just how honorable the hospital was willing to be. More than money, she just wanted Kara Nicolas to admit she’d done something wrong and apologize.

“Did Elijah or Simone call yet? I’m willing to bet the administrators are putting the velvet screws to them, trying to make them think signing is the best choice they can make,” Tully said as she took a seat next to Libby at the table in her office.

“Not unless they’re willing to give her Nicolas,” Jo said. “I’m sure they’ll be fine until we get there.”

“Did Pasco finish his report?” Tully asked.

“He’s scheduled to come in this afternoon,” Frank said, “because he’s still trying to run down one thing.”

“Let’s get going. The details will have to wait for later.” Tully stood, an action mimicked by everyone but Libby, and told Jo and Frank, “I’ll meet you at the elevator.”

Roxanne followed the others.

“Don’t you want to go to the hospital with us?” Tully asked once she and Libby were alone.

“Do you want me to?”

“I didn’t think I had to ask. You’ve been here working almost every day on this case, so I figured you’d want to be there once we actually start.” She sat back down and rolled the leather conference chair closer. “You even wore the nice suit,” she teased.

Tully wasn’t flirting like she had in the kitchen early that morning, but the fact that she had noticed what Libby was wearing was a good start.

“You mentioned you liked it.”

“You could have smacked me if I hadn’t. Come on. We don’t want to be late.”

Jo and Frank were waiting in the main lobby when Tully and Libby arrived, Tully carrying only a small leather portfolio and the organized case file.

“Let’s make this quick, people.” She led them toward the west wing, acknowledging almost every employee they passed, most of whom knew her by name.

Libby just smiled at the easy manner until she saw Tully’s back stiffen ever so slightly. She was about to ask what was wrong when an attractive brunette walked up and put her hands on Tully’s forearms.

“My God, you look fabulous!” Jessica said. Her quasi embrace kept Tully from moving forward. “I mean really fabulous.”

With an almost disgusted expression, Tully forcefully stepped back and stared at Jessica as if questioning her sanity. She noticed that Jessica had changed too, and not for the better.

“Don’t be like that, Tully. There’s no reason we can’t be friends,” Jessica continued, not yet noticing Tully wasn’t alone. “Do you have time for coffee?”

Behind them, Libby couldn’t hear what they were saying and couldn’t see Tully’s face. All she could see was the big smile on the woman’s face as she gazed up at Tully.

“Boss, we’re running a little late,” Jo said, glancing down at her watch. Beside her, Libby was strangling the handle of the bag she was carrying.

Just then Jessica looked past Tully at the rest of the group. “Here to ruin someone’s life?”

“Merely doing my job, so I’ll have to pass on the coffee,” Tully said civilly. “The kids are expecting you this afternoon after school. Just remember to do something special. It’s their last day.”

“You’re the neglectful parent, not me.”

“You’re also the tooth fairy. At least if you keep telling yourself that, you might convince yourself it’s true.”

When Tully laughed, Jessica’s face twisted into something ugly. “This is why I left.”

“You left because some piece of ass made you forget your commitments. Let’s not fool ourselves, darlin’.” Tully’s voice had dropped to a whisper, but it still carried menace.

“That was Elijah, Tully. We have to get going,” Frank said.

“Then let’s do it.” They continued down the hall, all of them trying to keep up with Tully.

“Who was that?” Libby asked Jo in a whisper. In a strange way she felt better when the talk had obviously turned bad.

“You haven’t met Jessica yet?”

“That was Jessica Badeaux?” Libby whipped her head back to Jessica, who was still standing in the hallway.

“That’s her, and if you ask me, she hasn’t improved with the breakup.”

Any other questions would have to wait as Tully opened the door to the conference room without knocking. “Neil, nice to see you again.” She held her hand out to the hospital administrator while smiling at Victor Williams and his associate. Neil never stepped into these meetings without his in-house pit bulls.

“What are you doing here?” Neil Davis frowned momentarily. “Never mind. I don’t think we’ll need you. We’re just about to offer the Heberts a more-than-generous settlement.” He shook her hand, then sat in one of the two chairs across from himself and the hospital counsel. There was room for only the Heberts, and he obviously intended to keep it that way.

“What does that mean—more than generous?” Tully asked, content to stand.

“That’s between the hospital and the Heberts.”

“I’m not talking numbers, Neil. I meant the expression.”

She glanced at Simone, who nodded in return.

“If it’s already generous, how can it be more than that? It’s an oxymoron, don’t you think? Sort of like jumbo shrimp.”

Tully heard Jo, who was partially hidden her from view behind her, laugh at the comment. They hadn’t had many cases at Children’s Hospital, but when they did Tully couldn’t help but needle Neil about his height. He was solidly built, a bit overweight, but height evidently didn’t run in his family. When he’d reached five feet two inches, his growth spurt had fizzled out, a reality that had left him with a severe case of short-man complex.

“So, Neil, what’s the offer?” Tully asked.

“Two hundred thousand, plus we’ll reimburse any funeral expenses and cover the hospital bill.”

“What about the doctor that operated on my baby?” Simone asked.

“Dr. Nicolas? What’s she got to do with this?” Neil stopped talking when the attorney sitting to his right put his hand on his forearm.

“What are you asking for here, Tully?” Victor Williams, the hospital’s lead counselor, locked eyes with her.

“For the truth. This was a routine surgery.”

“You’re a doctor, for God’s sake,” Neil said. “No operation is routine!”

Victor squeezed his arm and Neil stopped talking again.

“This was routine and Evangeline bled out, so we have twenty minutes of mystery, but you can fix that. Fill in the blanks for us and we’ll be reasonable.” Tully stated their position in as few words as possible, then waited.

She knew Neil Davis would no more admit fault than he would strip naked and stroll through the lobby. No, it would take putting a gun to his head, and Tully was in the process of loading hers.

“Mrs. Hebert,” Neil said with sincerity, “what we have here is an unfortunate incident. There was no medical mistake, no negligence—just a procedure your sick child’s body couldn’t handle.”

Simone stood. “Tully, call me when you’re done,” she said before she left, her husband close behind her.

“Mrs. Hebert? Mr. Hebert?” Neil yelled after them.

“See you in court, Neil.” Tully pointed to Frank, who produced the suit for wrongful death. “You should’ve paid attention to this one. Your first offer with the explanation I asked for would’ve done the trick.”

“You want me to serve Dr. Nicolas up to you for what happened? And I’m not talking about Evangeline Hebert.”

“That’s going to cost you, shrimp.” Tully didn’t intend to tease her opponent any longer. “My private life has no bearing on this case or any other one I’m working on, so kindly limit your remarks to why we are here.”

“We all know what a bitch you can be, so what’s it going to take to make this go away?”

Victor and the woman next to him rolled their eyes.

“The thing I love about you is your consistency, Neil.” Tully dropped her portfolio and leaned over him with her hands pressed to the table.

As Neil craned his neck up, he lost any advantage he’d had from the seating arrangement.

“You’re a bean counter with the compassion of a shark, shorty,” Tully said. “I just told you what it would take, but it’s evidently not in your nature to admit fault of any kind, even when it would be cheaper for you in the end.”

“A number, Tully, not a lecture.”

“More like a date, Neil. I’ll be happy to get Mrs. Hebert what she really wants, and that’s justice for her only child. She wants to know what happened and for others to know that as well. In this case it’ll be jurors, and once they’re finished listening, I’ll leave it up to them to give you a number.”

She faced Victor before standing straight. “See you soon.” They made a quick exit after that since everyone was already standing.

Tully kept her hand on the small of Libby’s back until they reached the car. Seeing Jessica again and having to deal with Neil and Victor hadn’t upset her as much as Libby’s sad look. Tully was confident she could deal with the first two annoyances, but Libby was still an unknown factor in her life.

Chapter Fifteen

The ride back to the office was again silent, but Libby noticed how tightly Tully was gripping the steering wheel. The meeting and Neil Davis’s reaction to it weren’t a surprise, so this was something else, and if she had to put a name to it, it would be Jessica. The way her face had softened when she saw Tully had been hard to miss. It spoke of their history that she felt comfortable enough to walk up to and put her hands on Tully.

The more Libby thought about that history, the harder she pressed her fingers into the armrest, squeezing with so much force that it squeaked. Instead of heading for the office parking garage, Tully put her turn signal on and parallel parked on the street near the park across from the federal building. When the engine stopped, Libby let go and shook out her hand, not realizing she was tensing her fingers to the point of pain.

She watched as Tully walked in front of the car and headed to the passenger side, opened the door, and held out her hand. “This place isn’t very big, but it’s quiet.”

“Do you need to think?” Libby took Tully’s hand but didn’t get out. “Because you have a great quiet office upstairs if you do.”

“What I want is for you to talk to me and tell me what’s wrong, but I can’t force it out of you.” Tully let Libby’s hand go, and Libby got out of the car. “It’s really okay if you want to pass.”

Libby took a deep breath before walking to the nearest empty bench. It was early, but the heat was already stifling in the humidity the region was famous for. Beside her she heard the slight crackle of the starch in Tully’s shirt as she sat down, something that would definitely disappear if they stayed out here too long.

“Can I ask you something, Tully?”

“You have the right to ask me whatever you like.”

Libby combed a strand of hair behind her ear as a delay tactic. Having this conversation was a huge risk. “Why is that? Why do I have the right to ask you whatever I like?”

“Simple. I trust you with what’s in here.” Tully tapped her temple. “You’re my friend. So ask whatever you like.”

“Do you want Jessica back in your life?”

“Why would you ask that, of all things?” Tully leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees in the very familiar pose she struck whenever she was troubled about something.

Libby could tell from the answer that she was avoiding the issue. “I’m sorry, it’s not my business.”

“No, I’m sorry. Really, I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just that a real answer to that question might make you think less of me.”

“She’s your partner and you’re willing to forgive her. I wouldn’t think less of you for wanting her back.”

“She was my partner and now she’s not. A small part of me wants to hurt her the way she hurt me, but I’m not going to give in to that. I can forgive some offenses, but I can’t recover from others.” Tully’s voice had risen a bit, but she was far from yelling. “This is something I can’t recover from.”

“Then why do you think I’d be upset with you?”

“Because I want nothing more than to put her through the same hell I went through when I found out what she’d been doing. I hit that bitch she was with so hard I thought it would make me feel better.” Tully sighed again before scrubbing her face with her hands.

“Did it make you feel better?”

“Momentarily, but now I could give a shit.”

Libby put her hand on Tully’s back. “You were together a long time, so of course you care.”

“That’s just it, Libby. I don’t. That’s why I can’t recover. My heart can’t and I certainly can’t wrap my head around the betrayal. Jessica isn’t even on my list of things to worry about. She made her choices and I can live with that. Hell, even if she hadn’t slept with Nicolas, it would only have been a matter of time before we got to where we are now. We both changed over the years, but not in the same direction.” She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “But enough about my problems. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Libby still had her hand on Tully’s back, but she couldn’t get the words out. She wasn’t willing to give up times like these when she had Tully’s complete attention and concern. Telling her the truth might sever their connection. “I don’t know if I can.”

“You can trust me, Libby. We can work it out just like we did with the job and your apartment.” She stretched her arm along the back of the bench. “No matter what it is, I promise to help you through it.”

Libby leaned back and looked into Tully’s eyes. In the sunlight they appeared clear, a true window to her soul. “This time a job and a place to stay aren’t going to fix what’s bothering me.”

Tully curled her arm around Libby so she’d come closer. “Why not?”

“Because you said your heart couldn’t recover.” The comment slipped out almost without permission, but Libby knew she needed to cure her own heartache. “Look, just forget it.”

Tully put her fingers under Libby’s chin and gently coaxed her head up. “I’m not blind. You’re hurting and I want to know why. Please don’t shut me out.”

The compassion always on Tully’s face gave Libby courage. They were so close that she had to take the chance. Slowly Libby moved forward and Tully didn’t back away, even though her eyes were wide with what looked like fear.

Libby released a small moan when she realized that Tully’s lips were as soft as she’d imagined them and that she felt as solid as she appeared. The kiss started slowly, then Libby deepened it, overjoyed Tully hadn’t pushed her away.

When they parted, Libby followed Tully back and pressed one more chaste kiss on her lips. “That’s what was bothering me, and I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for wanting to kiss me?” Tully’s arms were still around Libby.

“Sorry that I couldn’t hide my feelings from you anymore. You just said your heart won’t recover, so I guess it doesn’t matter anyway.”

“I didn’t mean forever, Libby. Just when it comes to Jessica.”

She did lean her head back this time when Libby tried to kiss her again. “That doesn’t mean I’m the right person for you.”

“Shouldn’t I get to decide that?”

“Your feelings probably come from all the help I gave you. I did that because I care about you, not because I wanted you to think you owe me something.”

Tully appeared stunned when Libby stood up and slapped her on the head. “Is that what you think of me?” She stood in front of Tully with her hands on her hips. “Do you?”

“Libby, be reasonable. You’re twenty-four, with a bright future ahead of you, and I’m forty-two.”

Reasonable arguments as defined by Tully made Libby slap her head again. “This has nothing to do with favors, age differences, or any other lame excuse you come up with, you idiot.”

“It doesn’t?”

“No!” The yell frightened a flock of pigeons off the benches nearby. “It has to do with what I feel in here.” She placed her hand over her heart. “It has to do with the fact I’ve never felt like this about anyone.”

She turned, not wanting Tully to see how vulnerable she was. “I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen, so I’m not some young idealist who’s confused gratitude with love.”

Tully stood at the word “love.” It was a word uttered lightly by some, but she didn’t think Libby would use it that way. And her apparent rejection had crushed Libby’s hope.

If she was honest with herself, she had felt a spark of interest from the first time she saw Libby in the coffee shop. She would have never acted on it, but it had lowered her defenses enough to lead to their friendship. And after all the time they’d spent together recently, Tully couldn’t imagine not having Libby in her life.

“I only said it because I want the best for you.” Tully put her hands on Libby’s shoulders from behind.

“Why can’t you believe that it’s you?” Libby put her hands over Tully’s. “Don’t you trust me enough to believe I know what I want? What I need in my life?” She let go of Tully’s hands, turned around, and wrapped her arms around Tully’s neck. “How about we try something new?”

Tully laughed but didn’t move away. “This is about as new as I can think,” she said, indicating their position.

“I’d start getting used to this, but that’s not what I’m talking about. You look me in the eye, Tully, and tell me you don’t care about me.”

“Are you joking? A woman who’s hit me on the head twice, kissed me, and called me an idiot in less than two minutes has more than enough potential to run away with my heart.” Tully gave in to the pressure of Libby’s soft hands and brought her head down. This time she allowed herself to enjoy the kiss. She moved her hands to the small of Libby’s back and pushed her tongue gently into her mouth.

“All I’m asking is just a chance,” Libby said, so close that Tully could feel her breath against her lips. “And you can trust me with your heart. If you do it’ll be safe for a lifetime.”

“My heart feels fabulous already,” Tully said with a smile. “Thank you for taking that chance. We could’ve been dancing around our feelings for a very long time. If I’m honest with myself I’d say I feel the same way about you, but would’ve never admitted it.”

“You big argumentative types just need a kick in the pants sometimes.”

“Yes, but once you get us going, we can make it so you can’t live without us.”

With just a light tug, Libby pushed her head down and kissed her again. “Oh, honey, you’re way too late. I’m already there.”

Kara Nicolas stalked out of Neil Davis’s office, so furious her hands were shaking. He had just finished briefing her on that morning’s meeting with the Heberts and their lawyers. After hearing Tully’s name again, she wished she’d hit her harder the first time she’d laid eyes on her.

She headed for the doctors’ atrium at the back of the hospital and lit a cigarette before the door had a chance to close. When it opened again, she almost flicked her smoke at her visitor. Giving in to Jessica’s itch was going to set Tully on her heels like someone possessed, and Kara could ill afford to be under the spotlight. She wanted to be alone.

“Maybe you should get back to work, Jessica.”

Jessica ignored her curt tone and cut the distance between them by half. Ever since she’d met Kara, with her cocky personality and deep brown eyes, she hadn’t been able to stay away. Kara was Tully’s exact opposite, except that both of them were very sure of themselves. Jessica had never thought she’d find someone worth gambling so much for. “Not before you tell me what’s going on.”

“That bitch you used to live with is gunning for me because of what happened to Evangeline Hebert. You’d think those people would have gone back to their little fishing village and left me the hell alone.”

“Honey, they lost their child. It’s only natural that they’re still upset.”

“You’re taking their side?” Kara stepped forward and jabbed her index finger close to Jessica’s face. “A fucking fisherman and a housewife have the right to judge me? Is that what you’re telling me?”

Jessica knew Kara wouldn’t be saying things like this unless the stress of her job was getting to her, so she changed her approach. “You know I’m on your side, so calm down.” She took Kara’s hand and kissed her palm. “I just want you to concentrate on some upset parents who’ve talked Tully into representing them. This is important, so listen to me. Maybe you should change some things until all this is over. If Tully can find anything wrong, or anything that can be conceived as wrong, she’ll use it against you. It’s what she’s good at, and I don’t want you to suffer.”

Kara jerked her hand away from Jessica’s. “Maybe the first thing I should change is getting you out of my apartment and out of my bed. What do you think?”

“How can you even say that? I’m just looking out for you.”

“You’re either with me the way I am or you’re not. You try to change me and there’s a hospital full of women in there who would love to take your place.”

Jessica stood still for a long while, wondering where her pride had gone. When had it become all right for someone she loved to talk to her like this? “I love you and I’m going to stand with you. That’s all you need to know.”

She glanced at her watch as Kara pulled her forward and kissed her. Though there was no gentleness in her kiss, it still ignited Jessica’s libido. She would just take a few minutes to reassure Kara, then pick up the kids from school. She’d been anticipating their tradition of going for beignets and coffee at Café du Monde, which they’d done from the time the kids had started school.

“You have some place you need to be?” Kara asked when Jessica glanced at her watch again.

“Just here in your arms, baby.” A few minutes wouldn’t hurt. The kids would be outside waiting.

“Tully?” Roxanne’s voice came over the intercom. “I hate to bother you, but Bailey’s on line one.”

The request broke through Tully’s stupor, and she realized she hadn’t heard a word of what Jo had been saying. Her mind was squarely on the outer office, wondering what Libby was doing.

“Hey, babe, what’s wrong?” It was close to four in the afternoon, so she was ready to listen to some grievance Bailey had with her mother. Ever since they’d started on a visitation schedule, Bailey or Ralph would find some excuse to call her when they were spending time with Jessica.

“Nothing’s wrong, except for the fact we’re sitting out here in the heat.”

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 494