Thirty-Four

Rusty threw a towel around his neck and rose from the reclining pool chair. He took Laura’s hand and helped her up. “It’s almost time.”

She squeezed his hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

He readjusted her new engagement ring and gazed into her eyes. He tried to smile. It didn’t work.

Laura wiped something from his face and turned to the pool. “Come on, kids! It’s time to go inside.”

Kaylie and Brady stopped splashing and climbed out of the pool. Laura threw them each a towel and they all went inside. She turned on the TV. 

“Hurry up and get dressed,” Rusty told the kids. He grabbed his blue V-neck from the dining room chair and slid it on.

Laura rubbed his shoulders. “You didn’t have to.” She kissed his ear.

He kissed her cheek. “Once this is over, I’ll be able to relax.”

“Let me mix you some lemonade.”

“I just want you near me.”

She took his hand and led him to the couch. “I’ll be right back.” 

The kids came back, dressed. 

“Did it start?” Kaylie asked, suddenly serious.

Rusty shook his head.

“Where’s Dad?” Brady asked. “He said he’d be here.”

A car sounded in the driveway.

“And he’s here,” Rusty said.

“I’ll get the door,” Laura called, coming out from the hall. Now wearing a brown and green flowing dress, she smiled at Rusty.  She went to the front door. Rusty followed a few steps behind. 

“Good to see you again, Chris.” Laura wrapped her arms around him.

“You, too.” He put his arms around her and then stepped back.

“Mandy would have liked this,” Rusty said.

Chris frowned. “Unfortunately, it took her death for it to happen.”

“The important thing is that it did. Let’s hurry. The coverage is about to start.”

Chris grabbed his stomach. “I don’t know if I’m ready for it.”

“Me, neither,” Rusty said, “but we need to watch.”

Soon, all five of them were gathered on Rusty’s sectional, fixated on the television. After a few too many commercials, a local journalist appeared in front of the court house. Behind her was a crowd gathered outside, but not allowed inside.

Laura grabbed Rusty’s hand and held it between both of hers. The kids both scooted closer to Chris. Rusty and Chris exchanged a nervous glance. He knew they were both thinking the same thing—had Travis’s expensive attorneys managed to help him get away with murder?

Everyone thought it would take a lot longer for the trial to start, but his attorneys made it happen faster than any other in the state’s history. 

Now was the moment of truth. The jury had deliberated. Handed their decision to the judge.

Would Mandy receive justice? Or would her killer roam free?

Rusty peeked over at Brady. His arm was linked with Chris’s. Despite finding out about the biology of their relationship, they had grown especially close over the last year. Kaylie said she’d never seen them get along better.

Brady looked over and met Rusty’s gaze. He held up his hand and crossed his first two fingers.

They’d need a lot more than luck, but Rusty raised his hand and crossed his fingers, also. He turned his attention back to the screen. The journalist was going over the major details of the trial. All stuff Rusty knew by heart. He and Laura had followed the case closely. Almost obsessively.

It had been enough of a distraction that between focusing on that and going to the local AA meetings, he hadn’t touched alcohol since that day in his room with the picnic basket. He’d come clean to Laura about his problem, and she’d been more than supportive, giving up drinking herself. Also, his new sponsor had been a real help getting Rusty to come to terms with his conflicting emotions—feeling as though he was betraying his family by loving Laura and the kids.

The woman on television wouldn’t stop talking. She needed to get inside so they could hear the judgment. Rusty squirmed in his seat.

Laura patted his hand. “Relax, sweetie.”

Relax? Not until Travis Calloway was handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Images from the trial flashed across the screen, including ones of Rusty on the stand. Then Chris. Finally, Laura and the kids. Rusty’s stomach churned acid. It still angered him that Kaylie and Brady had been brought into it. They knew nothing about Mandy’s relationship with Travis. At only twelve and fourteen, they shouldn’t have had to be witnesses on a murder trial.

But they had been there the morning Mandy was discovered. And they knew their mom and her life well—minus anything to do with Travis. If he was convicted, they would be able to feel like they played a part in their mother’s justice.

“Come on,” Chris muttered.

“They sure like to drag things out,” Rusty said. His stomach continued churning. 

Finally, the screen showed the inside of the full courtroom. They’d been invited, but neither Rusty nor Chris wanted to put the kids through that. They both agreed a fun swim in the sun beforehand would be the best thing for them.

The worst scenario would be having to face Travis—in person—if he was set free. Though Chris was in anger management, he didn’t trust himself if that was the outcome. Rusty wasn’t sure he trusted himself, either, even though he’d already been given the chance to let his fist meet Travis’s face.

The camera stopped on Travis, whose face was bruised, and then it focused on the judge. He spoke about the heinousness of the crime committed. The seriousness of murder. Of trying to cover it up.

Was that a sign? Rusty dared not get his hopes up. It was probably just the judge’s opinion. The jury’s decision sat on his desk, unopened.

He picked up the envelope. 

Laura squeezed Rusty’s hand. Or was it him squeezing her hand?

Brady leaned against Chris. Kaylie brought her hands up to her face, squeezed tightly together. “Please, please,” she whispered.

The judge opened the envelope. It seemed to take forever. Finally, he pulled a piece of paper and unfolded it.

Rusty held his breath. He was tempted to close his eyes. He’d seen the slimy lawyers at work. They could have convinced the jury that Travis was not guilty.

Silence rang in Rusty’s ears. 

“Hurry up,” Brady said.

The judge unfolded the paper a second time and stared at it. He looked up at the camera with no expression on his face. 

Rusty wanted to jump up and yell.

The judge handed the paper to the foreman.

“The verdict is…”

Laura squeezed his hand.

“Guilty as charged. Travis Calloway is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.”

A female sob—probably Angeline—sounded. Then cheers broke out in the courtroom. 

Rusty’s body went limp with relief. He leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling for a moment.

“Yes!” Kaylie exclaimed. She and Chris high-fived each other. “Brady?”

Brady’s eyes were wide.

“Mom has justice now,” Kaylie exclaimed. She held up her palm for Brady to hit.

Rusty’s heart went out to his nephew. He’d just watched his biological father sentenced to life in prison. For murdering his mother. He was probably conflicted and confused—at best.

“Let’s get some air, buddy.” Rusty leaned over and patted Brady’s shoulder. 

Brady nodded. The two of them went out back and sat at the edge of the pool, letting their feet dangle in the water. Rusty didn’t say anything. What was there to say? Nothing could change anything for the boy. He’d never get the chance to meet his birth father if wanted to. It had to be a hard hit. Just as it would have been if Travis had been declared innocent. 

“Sometimes life puts us in no-win situations,” Rusty said.

Brady kicked his feet, splashing water onto his bare legs. “I’m happy that Mom’s killer is going to pay.” He sighed. “But I’m sad, too.”

Rusty put his arm around Brady. “You have every right. Your mom was taken from you. And by your birth dad.”

“What am I supposed to feel?”

“Anything. Feelings aren’t wrong.”

Brady leaned his head against Rusty’s shoulder. “I love my dad… but part of me wishes I could know Travis. I’m a horrible person.”

“No you’re not. You’re an amazing young man with more on your plate than you should have to deal with.”

“You really think so?” Brady asked.

“I know so.”

“How did you deal with your family dying?”

Rusty took a deep breath. “Not very well. I pushed everyone away for a long time. It wasn’t until I met you guys and Laura that I let anyone in. Actually, losing my family is why I never came out to see you guys before.”

“Did you feel bad?” Brady looked at him and tilted his head.

“You bet. I almost didn’t come back when I went home because of the house fire.”

Brady’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“But then when I heard you guys were in trouble—that you needed me to keep you out of foster care—I realized how much we needed each other. And you know what else I figured out?”

“What?” Brady stared at him with a deep-seated eagerness in his eyes.

“That it’s okay to love many different people. Even if it feels like you’re betraying someone.”

Relief covered his face. “You mean it’s okay that I want to meet Travis?”

Rusty nodded.

“Even though he killed Mom? And my dad would hate me for it?”

“He would never hate you.” Rusty’s heart broke, realizing just how much Brady was holding in. “Never.”

Tears ran down Brady’s face. “Thanks, Uncle Rusty.”

Rusty wrapped his arms around Brady and pulled him close. “Anytime, kid. And I mean that. Don’t keep these worries to yourself again. Got it?”

Brady nodded.

They sat out there for a while, until Brady sat up. “I guess we should go in there and celebrate. Do you think Mom knows?”

Rusty ruffled his hair. “I’m sure of it. In fact, I’ll bet she’s up there with your Aunt Lani and your cousins, having a huge celebration.”

A wide smile spread across his face. “I like that. Mom has them, and we have you.”

He kissed the top of Brady’s head. “And one day, we’ll all have each other.”

Brady wrapped his arms around Rusty and squeezed. 

Rusty sniffed the air. Something sweet made his mouth water. “We’d better head inside. I think they’re waiting for us.”

“I can’t wait to see what Aunt Laura made. It smells delicious.”

They went inside to the kitchen where Laura was setting a large plate of desserts on the table. She gave Rusty a wide smile. “Why don’t we take this outside?”

Everyone carried the sweets and drinks out front, where Rusty’s porch swing had its new home. Laura arranged the food on the table next to it. 

Chris’s phone rang. “It’s my new boss. I’d better take it.” He hurried inside.

Rusty sat in the middle of the bench and spread his arms across the back. Laura sat next to him. Brady popped a piece of chocolate in his mouth and sat on the other side of Rusty. Kaylie squeezed in next to her brother.

Rusty’s heart swelled. Family filled his bench again.