Chapter 64
Dave stayed at the hospital most of the night, until her doctors decided to admit Tamara for a few days. Between the physical trauma she’d undergone and the psychological damage that was sure to follow, Dave and Madeline were relieved that she would have medical care around the clock.
Sherry was awake as Dave finished his quick shower and shave. “Are you going into the office?” she asked.
“For a few hours, I guess. There are a few urgent matters I have to tend to today, and then I’m going to the hospital to relieve Madeline. She’s been there since Tamara went in last night.”
“This is just awful,” Sherry said, bending her knees and resting her elbows on top. “I hate to say this, but I knew something bad was going to happen with Andre around.”
Dave wasn’t up for this conversation. In the last ten hours, he’d heard enough and seen too much. Even he was tired.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want him here.”
Dave was pulling the shoehorn out of one of his leather shoes as he peered up at Sherry, hoping she’d read the expression of exhaustion on his face and give him a break.
“He’s trouble, Dave. I hate to say this, but he is.”
“Sherry, please stop.”
“I know it’s bad to say, but you know I’m right.”
“Sherry, please stop,” he said again, this time giving her a long drawn-out stare. He slipped on the other shoe.
Sherry kept going. “If he’d hurt Joel, I don’t know what I would have done to him.”
She just wasn’t going to let Dave take the easy way out. What was with his family? Why did each discussion have to result in an argument or violence? The seeds of hatred had been planted deeper than he’d realized before last night.
“Sherry, why can’t you shut the heck up?”
She was stunned. He was too, but she was quiet.
“I apologize,” he said to her. “I’m tired, and we had a rough night. Unless you’re going to speak a word of encouragement, I’m asking you not to weigh me down with any more negativity. Trust me when I tell you there’s plenty to go around in this family without any additions.” He straightened his tie. “I’ll be at DMI if you need me,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“Dave, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking about how you must be feeling. I know Tamara is special to you.
“Andre too,” he said.
“For what it’s worth, I am truly sorry for the way this has turned out.”
He lifted his gaze to Sherry. “Thanks. I needed that,” he said and walked out.
Today was going to be long and arduous. He ached for mercy on both his daughter and his son. Both needed a miracle that only the hand of God could extend. He’d pray for both equally, as his fatherly touch was far too inadequate to come close to providing what either needed. His heart wept.
Dave took the same route to and from work over two hundred mornings and evenings out of the year. He knew each bump in the road, every curve. He could drive the route without thinking about it, which was practically what Dave was doing this morning. The car might as well have been on autopilot. His mind wasn’t on I-75, but it was torn between the hospital and the county jail. The situation threatened to take him down. Dave called on the only source of strength he had.
On his happiest day, he believed God was there. In his greatest sorrow, he believed God was with him. He wholeheartedly believed in destiny. God had a plan for Dave and his family. Even though a storm was raging in their lives, God was still there. Dave cried out, “You see me. You see my anguish. You see my shredded heart. Yet I also know that your mercy, your grace, and your everlasting love will sustain my family.” Tears beaded on Dave’s eyelids. “Please heal my daughter’s body and my son’s mind. Please don’t let the guilt slash away at him like a knife. Father, my heart is heavy, but your mercy is light,” Dave said, letting both index fingers simultaneously swipe across his eyelids. There was a time to cry. He had, and it was done. As he drove into the parking lot, he heaved a deep sigh. It was time to stand up for his family and do what had to be done.
He popped up to his office. Thank goodness no one was on the executive floor yet. He didn’t know who had heard what, and he just didn’t want to hear from his staff about the devastating events. He dropped off his briefcase and hustled down the stairs to Frank’s office. He took a quick glance at the wall clock in the hallway and saw that it was 7:15 A.M. Frank was generally in by 7:00. Dave hoped today was one of those days. He approached his brother’s office and entered. There he was. Dave was relieved, closing the door behind him.
“Good morning,” Frank said. “I’m not used to seeing you on this floor. Are you slumming down here, where the real work gets done?” Frank said, good-humored.
Dave should have laughed, but the joy buried inside couldn’t reach the surface. It had to climb over too much sorrow. It was futile. He walked to the windows and leaned against the sill with his arms folded, causing Frank to swing his chair around.
“What’s got you acting stiff this morning?”
“Let’s just say I had the worst night of my life.”
“Okay, you got my curiosity. What happened, or is it something you’d rather not say?”
“No, you’re family. You’ll find out, anyway. So will everyone else at DMI.”
Frank slid his chair back and clasped his hands. “Now, you really got my curiosity up. What is it?” Dave directed his gaze out the window, at the wide outdoors. “Tamara is in the hospital.”
“For what? Is it serious?” Frank said.
“Pretty serious, although it’s not life threatening. She was attacked.”
“What?”
“Actually, she was raped.” Dave couldn’t face Frank and say the words.
“Oh no!” Frank said. Nah, nah. I don’t know what to say, little brother. I’m at a loss for words.” He paused for a moment. “What animal could do such a thing?” he asked with his voice raised.
Each bit of this ordeal was difficult for Dave to share. Madeline had laid into him, and Sherry had too. He knew how Frank could be, but he had to tell his brother. There was no one else he could trust who didn’t already know the painful details intimately. He was hoping Frank would deal him a break. He desperately needed a friend, not another judge.
“It was Andre.”
“Who? Your son Andre?”
Dave nodded in confirmation, unable to say his son’s name again without wailing in agony.
“Wow,” was all Frank could say while his head shook from side to side.
Minutes passed, and so too did Dave’s doubt that God would help them through this nightmare.
“I’m going to need your help,” Dave told his brother.
“You have it. Anything I can do, name it.” Frank’s reaction made it feel like old times between them. Maybe the mutual support and respect hadn’t died, which was a dab of encouragement to Dave at a time when he needed it most.
“I have to get an attorney for Andre.”
Frank looked perplexed. “Getting a lawyer is no problem. I can do that with a simple phone call, but I have to ask, is that what you want to do?”
“Yes,” Dave answered without hesitation.
“But let’s think about this. The only reason I’m adding my two cents is that you came to me for help. As your brother, who cares about you and your family, I’m going to tell you the truth. You know me. I always have and always will be straight with you. Andre deserves whatever punishment is coming to him. The court will appoint a lawyer to represent him. You don’t have to get involved.”
Dave had anticipated Frank’s reaction. He expected most people to have the same opinion. They weren’t going to understand why he was willing to help his son, the rapist. He was certain many believed Andre was a worthless criminal and deserved to be right where he was, behind bars. Dave’s heart couldn’t shut the door on Andre, no matter what he did. God hadn’t cast Dave aside when he sinned and fell from grace. Dave wouldn’t cast Andre aside, either.
“He’s my son, Frank, and I will not abandon him again. I’ve done it three times already, as Madeline has bitterly pointed out to me. I won’t let him down again.”
“Fair, but how are you going to live with getting your daughter’s rapist legal representation?”
“I am crushed by what my son did, but I have to forgive him. Who am I not to?”
“How can you forgive something like that, Dave?”
“Not easily, but I’m commanded to forgive. Trust me, it’s not easy, but I choose to forgive. I have to. Otherwise, anger, revenge, and a boatload of negativity would have plenty of room to grow in my heart.”
Frank shook his head. “You are definitely more of a man than I am if you can forgive that easily.”
“I don’t feel great about any of this, but this is the situation I find myself in. I have two kids who are in crisis. They both desperately need a strong father to be there for them, and I will be there for both.”
“This may be a silly question, but where is Andre going to stay when he gets out? I hope you’re not going to ask me if he can stay with me.”
“No, I wasn’t going to ask. It hadn’t crossed my mind.”
“Good. Because I want to support you, but I have my limits.”
“You do raise a good question, though,” Dave acknowledged. “I guess I hadn’t really thought about it. When he gets out on bail, he can’t stay at my house. I’ll probably get him a place at the Westin and stay there with him until his court date.”
“You know how slowly the legal system moves. He could be out on bail for a year before his trial,” Frank said.
Dave raised his eyebrows and hunched his shoulders. “Then we’ll be at the Westin together for a year.”
“And Sherry’s going to be okay with you moving out?”
“What choice do I have?”
“Well, I can tell you flat out, I couldn’t get him out on bail if he were my kid. And if I did, it would be to kick his tail.”
“Honestly, I don’t hate my son. Actually, it’s just the opposite. Andre needs help, not a jail cell. My heart cries for him. To do what he did speaks to the hell he’s been drowning in for years. We just didn’t realize he was this far gone. I’ve been so caught up with the back and forth between Madeline and Sherry for the past ten years that I lost touch with my kids and what they’ve been dealing with. For that I’m truly sorry,” Dave said, pounding his chest with his fist. “I will get him some intense therapy as soon as his feet hit the ground. I should have done it years ago, but this is where we are. I can’t dwell on past mistakes, which are too many to count. I’ll have to do what I can for him now and make it count.”
“Well, I’ll have the name of an attorney for you in about an hour.”
“I appreciate that,” Dave said.
Surprisingly, Frank stood and drew Dave in for a solid hug. He didn’t pull away from Dave for several seconds. Dave was grateful for the embrace and the support.
Dave walked to the door and placed his hand on the handle. “Oh, and I’m going to need your help around here for a few days . . . maybe even a week or two.”
“Whatever you need,” Frank said, flicking his hand in the air, his fingers pointed toward the door.
“I’ll have Sharon come down this morning and walk through my calendar with you.” Dave twisted the knob and then released it, remembering one more thing. “Oh, and I suspect it’s going to be a frenzy around here when the media gets wind of the story,” he said in a solemn tone.
“You’re right. It’s wise for you to stay away from here for a while. Let the dust settle.”
“I hate to leave you here alone to clean up this mess.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ll take care of it. You just go home and take care of your business. Your family needs you. Go, and don’t worry about DMI or the media. I got you covered.”
Dave wanted to weep. The support was overwhelming from someone he loved and trusted. Dave acknowledged that one decision a long time ago had set in motion years of anguish for those he loved. Yet he wasn’t going to live with regrets. What was done was done. Frank’s actions were a hearty reminder to him that family restoration was possible, even when it was least expected and most desired.
He entered the empty hallway and found a safe haven. It might appear dark at the moment for the Mitchell family, but there was hope. Dave clung to the notion that somehow, someway, his family would be united. It was that hope that allowed him to keep moving forward.