Geneva
God forgive me.
For the first time since Alexia’s trip to Jamaica, Geneva was glad to end their visit with her. Alexia had months, if not years, of rehabilitation ahead. Her baby girl struggled to do something as simple as take a few steps, and Geneva’s eyes burned at the unfairness of it. Always graceful, Alexia now moved like a newborn giraffe who didn’t yet understand how to make its legs work in a coordinated way.
When Geneva opened her eyes, Spence met her gaze. He covered her hand and squeezed.
“This is heartbreaking,” she mumbled and leaned closer as he hugged her.
“I know, but Lexi is a trooper.”
As if to prove him right, the subject of their conversation grinned, waved, then clung to the steel railing to support her weight when she took the next step.
Geneva waved back, pasting on a bright smile and hoping Alexia wouldn’t see through it. Her throat closed with her next words. “Do you remember how she pulled herself up on the edge of that center table the first time? She wouldn’t go back to creeping after that.”
Chuckling, Spence nodded. “Yes, she ran everywhere.”
Amused despite the heaviness weighing on her, Geneva quipped, “If you can classify her staggering all over the place as running.”
They laughed and focused on Alexia, who turned and took hesitant steps in the opposite direction between the rails, encouraged by her therapist.
Geneva wished she had her daughter’s forgiving spirit. But she wasn’t made up that way. She held on to grudges the way a baby clung to a security blanket. In this case, her character flaw wasn’t a bad thing. If she was like Alexia or Spence, she’d suck up their misfortune and hope that natural justice and the law prevailed. Since neither had manifested so far, she’d had to stand in the gap. To date, she hadn’t regretted that decision.
Spence spoke softly in her ear. “The important thing is her determination, and that’s half the battle won.”
Still focused on Alexia, she said, “I’m calling your father when we get home.”
He didn’t respond right away, and she thought he’d missed her words, until he said, “I may not agree, but I understand.”
Geneva glanced sideways because she expected him to ask her not to call. His attention was fixed on Alexia, and the indulgence in his gaze was clear. She drew strength from Spence’s strong grip that went from her waist to sealing her hand inside his. Staring at their fingers, she counted off her unfinished tasks. Last week, when Deja called and asked to visit Alexia, Geneva gave an excuse. Seeing a stranger would confuse Alexia, and it was best she regain more of her memory before accepting visitors.
Deja’s disappointment was almost tangible, but Geneva didn’t want her interacting with Alexia yet. Let her stew over how she’d let down a close friend. Whenever she produced more useful information would be time enough to throw her a crumb.
“Good going, sis.” Jaden cheered from behind them and laid a hand on Geneva’s shoulder. He’d just arrived and would stay with Alexia a while after they left. They had worked out a roster so that she had company most of the time. Geneva wanted her focused on recovery and occupied with reading and writing for her blog. She’d already made the decision to use online learning to continue her education. They would follow up with the university when she was able to concentrate better.
While Alexia was transferred to her room and situated in bed, Geneva chatted with Jaden. Although they lived in the same house, sometimes she didn’t see him except at mealtimes and even that had changed with their new, irregular hours. The irony didn’t miss her. Years ago, her decision to work from home had come partly because of the need to watch her children grow and mold them into independent individuals. Jaden was a loner who loved computers and gaming. Give him food and hardware and he’d be satisfied for days. She was proud of the resourceful man he’d eventually become.
“I’ll go check on Lexi.” She got to her feet and hugged Jaden. “Talk to you later.”
“Yeah, see you at home. There’s some stuff …”
He didn’t continue, and she wondered what he wanted to discuss but didn’t press. Jaden would seek her out when he was ready.
“I received a copy of the video from Island Escape, which makes me wonder why nothing has happened in your granddaughter’s case.”
Desmond and Marlena Leighton stared at their computer screen without moving for so long, Geneva thought she had lost them, except that her internet connection was working fine.
Next to her, Spence also sat motionless, but the heat from his gaze almost burned her skin. She’d blindsided him, which was unfair. But she had good reason. If she’d shared what she intended to do, he’d have tried to stop her. Not even he would keep her from getting to the root of the problem facing them.
Desmond blinked hard and stroked a non-existent beard, then sat up straight as if her words just registered.
“What video?” Marlena asked with one hand pressed to her chest.
“The one from the night when your granddaughter was beaten and violated.”
Marlena’s hand crept to her neck. Her dark-brown eyes that were so much like her son’s flashed to her husband. “What does she mean?”
When Spence gripped her hand, Geneva ignored him. She’d had enough of tiptoeing around her in-laws. “One of those boys raped Lexi.”
Now, Marlena covered her mouth and deep wrinkles formed on her forehead. “My God.” She turned to her husband. “Did you know about this?”
At her side, Desmond shifted and the color drained from his face. Spence had inherited his good looks, including his tawny skin and sculpted lips, but thankfully not all his character traits.
“Well …”
“Desmond, please answer the question.”
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “It came up in the report.”
Marlena’s eyes glistened as she turned back to Geneva and asked, “They caught all of this on camera?”
“That’s right.” Easing her hand out of Spence’s, Geneva added, “So, it’s a mystery to me why nothing happened with the rape kit that was done. Nor does the Miami police have anything on this case.”
When Desmond stared directly at the laptop, she continued, “At least, not when I checked.”
Taking a breath to settle her nerves, Geneva pointed at the screen. “This is exactly why Jamaican people don’t trust the police. Good God, it’s been three months, and all I’ve been given is a runaround.”
Her father-in-law rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I understand your frustration, but this is more complicated than you think, Jen. The incident took place at a tourist rental property, so it has to be handled with sensitivity—”
Her tone was strident when she snapped, “Don’t you mean it has to be shoved under the carpet and forgotten because the villa belongs to a set of rich assholes?”
Her in-laws gasped, and Desmond folded both arms across his chest. “It’s much more than that. Jamaica has a bad enough reputation, and the police are under pressure with the—”
“Pardon my language, but I don’t give a rat’s ass about Jamaica’s reputation or the police having a hard time. I. Care. Only. About. My Daughter. This is your granddaughter. What are you doing about that? Does it even matter to you?”
His face reddened. “How can you say that? You know how I feel about Alexia.”
“I’d ask the same questions,” Marlena snapped. “I thought the case was now being handled by …”
How on earth could she miss the fact that nothing had been done? Marlena was the limit. Too docile and trusting. While she fussed at Desmond, Geneva collected her thoughts. She needed to access Desmond’s laptop again. The local authorities had had more than enough time to do their work while she was busy with Alexia’s so-called friends. She was done waiting.
Spence sat with his head lowered between his hands, but Geneva was beyond caring. He’d have plenty to say about keeping the video to herself, but she’d climb that mountain when it stared her in the face. For now, she had one aim in view.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m tired of waiting for nothing to happen.”
“Are you threatening me, Geneva?”
“You’re family, so that’s not something I’d do.” She smiled at Desmond, while rage threatened to cut off her air. “But if the Miami police do not receive that rape kit by Wednesday, I’ll write to your police commissioner about this matter. And that’s only the beginning.”
“That’s not necessary,” he protested.
“Don’t you dare tell me what’s necessary and what isn’t.” Her voice cracked, and she blinked hard at the memory of Alexia’s painful effort to walk and how that boy had assaulted her. “I’ll do whatever it takes to hold every person who has a hand in this matter accountable.”
Spence stood and left the room without a word. A moment later, a door slammed.
It was just as well. She didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with his issues. Not right now. Without bidding Desmond and Marlena goodbye, she closed the program but was too tired to rise from the sofa. She allowed herself a moment to breathe and clear her headspace, then used the laptop to access the computer in her office.
To settle her mind, she stared across the living room where she’d insisted that all of them spend part of their Sunday afternoons together as a family. The accent wall in a deep shade of pink complimented the flecks of matching color in the drapes. They’d originally hired a decorator, but late last year she and Alexia had re-decorated and included the adjoining dining nook to better reflect everyone’s combined taste.
The common areas they shared were no longer showpieces created by a designer, but places where they connected and spent time with each other. But Alexia’s trip had shattered that aspect of their lives. Now, their home was silent, as if occupied only by the ghosts from their previous life.
Casting the memories aside, Geneva let her fingers fly over the keypad as she cemented the next phase of her plan.