Two days later, Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Wright sat across from Chelsea and her mother in the conference room. The principal said, “I’m glad you two came in. You said you wanted to talk about something?”
Her mom covered her hand. “Go ahead, honey. Tell her what happened.”
“It’s all over social media. People are posting about me and Dave.”
Mrs. Wright’s eyes shadowed. Obviously, she didn’t know about this. “What are they saying?”
“N-nobody can believe Dave’s been arrested!”
“We reported him to the police. Of course he’s been arrested.”
“You said on the phone he’s out on bail.”
“Yes, he is. But he’ll be charged this morning for assault. This isn’t going away, Chelsea.”
“Will he come back to school?” Her mother was trying to be calm, but her eyes were filled with worry.
“No, we’ve officially suspended him. The court will mandate he stay away from you and the witnesses.”
Chelsea said, “He won’t be here, but his buddies on the football team will be. They’re saying they saw the whole thing and he didn’t hurt me.”
“That must be difficult to read. But you have the bruises to prove he did, and all of which was documented with photographs.”
Mrs. Collins sat forward. “Chelsea, are you afraid of the football players when you come back to school?”
“Yes. They hate me now. And everybody else will, too. Those other students just stood around and watched.”
The principal put her hand on Chelsea’s shoulder. It made her feel better. “We told you we didn’t think the other kids actually knew what was going on.”
“Maybe. What about his teammates?”
“We can alert the police to what they’re posting. They’re witnesses to a crime and shouldn’t be online talking about what happened.”
A knock on the door. The secretary opened it, and poked her head in. “Mrs. Wright, Coach Barona is here to see all of you.”
Chelsea gasped.
“I wouldn’t have interrupted, but he says it’s important.”
Mrs. Wright stood. “I’ll check it out.” She left the room.
“Chelse, I promise we won’t let anything happen to you here.”
“You can’t control the whole school, Mrs. Collins.”
The door opened. Mrs. Wright said right away, “Coach Barona has something you’ll want to hear.”
His face was grim. He was big, like Dave, and despite what Mrs. Wright told her, Chelsea cowered back in her seat.
“Thanks for seeing me.” He stayed on the other side of the table but focused on her. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Chelsea. And I’m glad you reported it. I also want you to know that I saw my players’ online pages today. So I checked up on them as soon as I got into school. They were in class at the time of the assault. I’ve already suspended them from the team for lying and bullying.”
“You don’t want to interfere with the investigation, Coach,” the principal warned.
“I’m not. My boys lied and they know we have a code of conduct. I’m disgusted.”
“I’ll consider keeping them out of school for a few days, too.”
Chelsea let out a breath. Thank God the teachers here were on her side.
After Coach left, the four of them talked a few more minutes and she and her mother left the office. They’d just stepped into the hall where they were met by a crowd of students. She’d seen those faces before.
One girl stepped forward. “We’re all sorry we didn’t stop Dave, Chelsea. We should have.”
Chelsea swallowed hard. And for the first time since Dave hurt her, she thought she might be able to get through the whole ordeal.
oOo
At the end of the day, in her classroom, Juliet was packing up her teacher bag when a stranger came to the door. “Are you Juliet Mason?”
“Yes.”
The woman bent down and picked something up. “I have a delivery for you.” She held a huge vase of red roses and came inside. Managing to grab her purse, Juliet gave her a tip after she put the flowers to her desk.
Images swamped her. Of Craig stumbling around drunk and tongue lashing her. You don’t understand me, Juliet.
When she tried to talk to him. You should appreciate the life I provide for you. Other women would know enough to value me.
As she looked up from the floor at him. Don’t be a baby. I hardly pushed you.
She plucked out the card. A symbol of my undying love. Can’t wait to see you tonight.
For a moment, she wanted to weep at the loss. She wanted to forget about the path she’d chosen. But more so…
Flinging out her arm, she knocked the vase off her desk. The sound of glass shattering echoed in the empty room. Water ran everywhere. She was staring down at the mess when she heard, “Well, that’s a good sign.”
Joe stood by the door, hands in his pockets, learning against the jamb.
“How dare he?”
“He wants you back like he had you.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
A small smile from Joe. “So it appears.”
She rolled her eyes. “This was stupid of me. Now I have to clean it up.” She gestured to the clock. “It’s almost three.”
“I tell you what. You go get together with Mitch”—the agreed-upon plan—“and I’ll take care of the mess.”
“No, Joe. I can’t let you do that.”
Entering the room, he crossed to her and cupped her jaw gently. “My pleasure. Besides, you need time to let Mitch give you reminders and last-minute pointers.”
“I know exactly what I’m going to say. And I’m not afraid, because Mitch will be there.”
“That’s my girl,” he said tenderly.
“Oh, sorry to interrupt.” Olivia had spoken from the doorway. She gestured at the flowers. “Yikes.”
“Long story,” Joe quipped.
“Anything I need to know about?”
“No,” Juliet said as calmly as she could.
“Call the janitor.” She entered the room. “I came to update you on the progress of Chelsea’s situation.”
“I heard Dave’s out on bail.” Joe’s tone was disapproving.
“Yes, but they’re charging him with felony assault.”
Joe asked, “Will he get a plea deal?”
“He’ll request it, but there were witnesses who came forward today. And he’s so much bigger than her, she has bruises…I consulted with our attorney and he said the DA will recommend the harshest penalty. But he thinks that if Dave shows enough remorse, the judge might go light on sentencing. Fines. Community service.”
“Then he’ll come back here?” Juliet heard the fear in her own voice.
“No. The district would fight that. In any case, I was alerted today that the Bakers are putting him a private school. Just to be safe, the DA also recommended Chelsea get an order of protection against Dave.”
A sigh from Joe. “That’s really good news, Olivia.”
“Probably the best we could hope for. Thanks for both your help.”
When the principal left, Joe turned to Juliet. “One down, one to go.”
oOo
Mitch suggested he stay in the den with the door ajar so he could hear the conversation between Craig and Juliet. He’d be able to step in if necessary. His visible presence would inflame her husband, and Juliet didn’t want to make this worse. From the living room, she saw a cab swerve into the driveway. Her heart started to beat fast. Dear Lord, could she do this?”
Of course she could. She would.
Craig came through the door, bearing gifts. A Tiffany bag and a box of Godiva chocolates. He brought them into the living room and set them on the coffee table in front of the chairs. She’d chosen one so he couldn’t sit next to her. Mitch had advised she stay out of his proximity. The room was also well lit. “No welcome at the door, love?”
“No, Craig. No welcome.”
“Did you get the flowers?”
“Yes.”
“Open the gift.”
“No.”
He stepped back and sat on the chair across from her. “All right, let’s talk this out. Get back to normal. I’m exhausted.”
“Nothing’s getting back to the way it was. And by the way, that was far from normal.”
Tears welled in his eyes, shocking her. He hung his head and clasped his hands between his knees. Then he peered over at her. “I know, Juliet. I’ve been awful to you. I swear I’ll be better.”
“How many times have you said that to me?”
“I don’t know. Were there many?”
“Scores. Especially after you hit me.”
“I was drunk when those things happened. I don’t remember much of it.”
“I do. I remember every iota of pain you caused me. And I refuse to take anymore.”
“I don’t expect you to. I won’t hurt you again.”
“How would you stop, Craig?”
“I can do anything I set my mind to.”
“Would you stop trying to control me, too? Make decisions for me? Can you finally take an interest in my work, my beliefs?”
The shame disappeared. “Now, that, I don’t understand.”
Damn him. “You know nothing about me.”
“That’s crazy.”
“What classes do I teach?”
“English.”
“No, which individual classes?”
“How would I know that?”
“You could ask. Or listen when I talk about art and music and integrating them into my courses.”
He sighed heavily, as if he’d been the beleaguered one.
“Who are my friends?”
“You don’t have many.”
“Do you know why?”
“Don’t tell me that’s my fault.”
“As matter of fact, it is.”
“Jesus, Juliet. Is this dump-on-Craig night?” He stood. “If so, I need a drink.” He walked to the wet bar. “Where’s my Scotch?”
“I threw it out.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want you to drink tonight.”
He whirled on her. “How dare you make decisions for me?”
“Now there’s the Craig I know. So I’m going to come right out and tell you I want a divorce.”
His expression was incredulous. She started to feel sorry for him. Then he laughed. An ugly sound. “Seriously? You can’t live without me. I do everything for us.”
“Which is my fault for allowing it, Craig. But no more.”
“All right, if you want to pay the bills, take care of the cars and house repairs, go ahead. The jobs aren’t much fun.”
“I do want to do those things. But for myself. Not for you.”
“Where is this coming from?”
“I finally saw our life together for what it is after you hit me a week ago. And I don’t like it. I want out.”
“That’s too bad, doll, because a scandal is untenable if I want to rise in the ranks of politics.”
“I know, Craig. That’s why you’re going to agree to divorce quietly, with no demands. And no claim on Hannah.”
“She’s my daughter, too.”
“First off, I can’t risk you’ll get violent with her. But think about it. You don’t pay any attention to her. You don’t seem to even like her. This is part of the deal. You can’t see her, either.”
“Or what? You’ll make a scene?”
“You bet I will. I watch cable news. I see stories about things like this on television and the man involved never comes out of it unscathed.”
“Hell, Mark Sanford had an affair and he got elected to the House.”
“He isn’t a wife beater.”
“Neither am I!”
“Yes, you are. You’ve hit me four times, physically pushed me around more and bruised me. As bad as that, you’ve emotionally battered me.”
“Where are you getting this lingo?” His eyes widened. “You didn’t go anywhere, talk to anybody about this, did you?”
“I did. To the county domestic violence center. They’ve got the whole story documented. If that somehow made its way to the press, you’d be ruined. Not me.”
“The shelter can’t divulge those things.”
“No, but I have copies. To send anywhere I want. It would be enough to ruin you.”
His shoulders stiffened. “This is well planned.”
“Finally.”
Jamming his hands in his pockets, he paced. When he stopped, he said, “So what? I move out of here? I have to reside in Bayview.”
“You can keep an apartment.”
“Did you know I’m in line for a cabinet post that’s recently been vacated?”
Thank you, God. “Then you can move to DC.”
He glared at her. “What if I don’t agree?”
“I’ll take out an order of protection—so if you come near Hannah or me, you’ll be arrested. This becomes public record then.”
“I can’t believe what you’re saying.”
“I mean it all.”
For a few long moments of staring blindly out the window, he faced her. “All right. You win. For now. I’ll consult a lawyer and decide if this is what I want, too.”
“Go ahead. I’ve already gotten an appointment with one.”
“Have you filed for divorce?”
“I’m telling you first.”
“Thanks a lot, Juliet.” His tone was sarcastic. “I suppose you think you can stay in this house.”
“I can. If you recall the attorneys for my parents’ estate said the money couldn’t go to any kind of community property. That’s why the house is in my name.”
“I never thought you’d use it against me.”
That made her feel bad. Because he was right. She’d assured him it didn’t matter where the money came from. She considered the house partly his. “We can work out the money split, Craig. You deserve half of the worth of the house proceeds.”
“I don’t deserve this.”
“We see things differently.”
A long hesitation. Then, “I’ll go. I’ll take my car.”
“Let me know where to send your things.”
“Probably to DC. I’m climbing the political ladder fast, Juliet. Who knows? Maybe you could have been First Lady someday.”
She didn’t make a retort. Let him think he scored a point.
He went into the kitchen, and she heard his keys jangle. Before he left, he poked his head back into the living room. “I’m not saying you’re getting your way. You have me over a barrel in some ways, but you haven’t won yet.”
“I don’t want to win anything, Craig. I want out of this marriage.”
“Maybe I do, too. There’s a lot of single women in Washington. Don’t think I haven’t had any offers.” He raised a smug brow. “One in particular.”
Holy hell, did he have another woman in the wings? She didn’t care at all, only if that might help her.
He slammed the door on the way to the garage. She heard the car start and saw it tear out of the driveway. Then she collapsed onto the chair.
Mitch came out of the den. He crossed to her and knelt in front of her. “You were very brave with him.”
“It…just came out.”
“But?”
“I want to cry my eyes out now.”
“Go ahead, honey. That’s what my shoulder is for.”
oOo
When Joe hefted Hannah, then Brady out of the car on Saturday afternoon, they ran through the garage and into the house. Joe followed.
“Mo-mmy. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, pumpkin.” Juliet hugged her daughter. “But I saw you every day.”
“I know.” Hannah drew back. “Can Brady and me play in my room while you talk to Mr. Taylor?”
“How do you know I’m going to talk to him?”
“You always do, Mommy. You like him.”
The kids took off and Juliet smiled after her. “Out of the mouths of babes.”
“Back at you.” He leaned against the kitchen counter. She was close and he could see the lines around her eyes and mouth. “How are you today?”
“Better than yesterday. Did Mitch fill you in?”
“He said you were very brave.”
“I got my point across. Sorry I didn’t call you myself. I—”
“Hush.” Moving in closer, he brushed a thumb over her mouth. She let him, then he stepped back. “We have an agreement that we haven’t been too faithful to. Especially now that you’ve set your plan in motion.”
She nodded.
“What will you tell Hannah?”
“Nothing yet. She probably won’t even notice he’s not around for a while.”
“That’s sad. You clarified he couldn’t see her, right?”
“I did. I don’t trust him not to hurt her.”
“I hope he doesn’t protest that.” Joe gestured to the door. “Mitch said the locks and alarm code have been changed.”
“Right before you got here.”
“I’ll breathe easier.”
She wrapped her arms around her middle. “So, what will you do the rest of the weekend?”
“Be with Brady. With Lacey and Dad. Juliet, I haven’t told you a couple of things about my dad.”
“Do they concern me?”
He nodded. He hoped she didn’t get mad. “I told him about my feelings for you.”
“When?”
“Before we voiced how we felt. I was…angry at myself for being dishonorable. Missing you. Sullen, I guess. Dad can read me like a book.”
Reaching out, she put her hand on his arm. “That’s all right, if you needed him as a sounding board.”
“You don’t have anyone for that, do you? To talk to about your feelings for me.”
“It’s what I get for…no I’m not going to say it. I’m partially responsible for letting Craig isolate me. What’s the second thing?”
“My dad, Mitch and Kurt took turns surveilling the entrance to Zoe’s condo Wednesday and Thursday nights.”
“Seriously?”
“Don’t be mad. That’s them. White knights all the way.”
“Hmm. You must get it from Seth. No, I’m not mad. I wish they’d told me, though.”
“And if you’d said no?”
“I get it. Any other secrets?”
“Nope. You?”
“None.”
He straightened and shifted from one foot to another. “I guess I better leave.”
“You should.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I don’t want you to, either.”
“I will. After this. Then I’ll keep the agreement.” He tugged her into his arms and held her to his heart. Hers began to beat at the same rhythm as his. No more of this, he knew, not until she got her head on straight, but knowing he’d have it—and her—made the wait worthwhile.
oOo
Chelsea rang the doorbell, then looked over at her parents. They were still sad, still upset but had insisted on coming with her today.
A tall man, with dark hair sprinkled with gray, answered the door. Captain Lansing. Chelsea had seen him around school events with his wife. “Hi, my name’s Chelsea Roberts.”
His eyebrows skyrocketed, then his gaze transferred to her parents. “These are my mom and dad, Linc and Sara.”
“Nice to meet you all. Do you need to see Cassie?”
“No, actually, we came to see Dash.”
Awareness dawned on his face. “Come inside. He’s in the family room with my daughters.”
When they reached the back of the house, Chelsea found Dash sitting on the couch with Mrs. Lansing’s daughters. A box stood on its end, displaying the picture of a large castle.
“This is an exercise in torture, you guys,” Dash said.
The older girl gave a disgusted noise. “Boys aren’t very good at puzzles.”
“Hey, everybody?”
They looked up. Even Cassie, who was on a chair at the other end of the room, reading. She put down her book.
“Dash, you have visitors.”
With a wary expression, Dash stood. “Chelsea? What are you doing here?”
“My family and I came to thank you.”
“Would you like some privacy?” Captain Lansing asked.
“No.” Her dad spoke up. “You all can hear this.” He crossed to Dash. Held out his hand. “I’m Chelsea’s father. Her mother and I want to personally thank you for what you did for her on Wednesday.”
“Those other creeps standing around did nothing.” This from the older girl. “I’m Alexandra, by the way. We’re in the same class but don’t run into each other much.”
Chelsea smiled at her. “Yeah, I recognize you. I know the other students didn’t help, though they did come forward on Friday.” She turned to Dash. “But you risked your own safety and whatever fallout you get from this.”
“Why would he get fallout, Daddy?” the younger daughter asked.
“Baker’s friends might be mad because he got kicked out of school.”
“He left voluntarily. I’m Cassie by the way. Would you like to sit?”
They took seats. “We can’t stay. We have an event in New York for my work. But we had to thank you in person.”
“That’s very nice of you,” Mr. Lansing put in when Dash didn’t say more.
“And Dash, if there’s anything we can ever do for you, we want to. I’m only a professor at Hunter College but I have contacts in the city for a job, school if you want to go. Anything, let me know.” He raised his chin. “I know your circumstances. If you need money…”
“Nothing for me. But you could give some money to the county battered women’s shelter.”
“We already have. And are going to make it part of our yearly charitable giving.” He glanced at her mom. “My wife makes the money in the family as she’s a broker on Wall Street.”
After a few more exchanges, her parents stood. “We should be leaving. Chelsea?”
Chelsea gave Dash a shy smile. “We drove separately, Dash, because I want to spend a little time with you.”
“Why?”
“To get to know you better. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. I’d like that.”
“Great. So would I.”