has a high wall and installed electric gates, with CCTV to see who’s there before I let them in. Our lives have been changed.
“Besides, I like this color on you.” Wayne toys with a stray strand of my hair that’s fallen out of its style. “You’re gorgeous.” His lips meet mine and... oh... he hasn't kissed me like this in months. After a moment he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine. “I don’t know how I got to be so damn lucky.”
Chapter Eleven
September 2007
I sit in the court room galley and watch my brother as he hugs Mom and Dad and then turns to Anna. It’s hard to believe that doing a favor for a contact has led to Sean facing at best a fine and a criminal record, at worst time in prison. His informant inside NYPD is about to testify that Sean knew what documents were in the envelope he took out of the bar the night he was arrested, in exchange for a more lenient sentence. Sean was fired from the newspaper immediately and his reputation as an award winning journalist obliterated in the newspaper’s attempt to clear its association with Sean’s dishonest investigation tactics.
I watch Sean and Anna’s awkward embrace. He kisses her cheek and turns away, walks past the point of no return. I’m sure he said he’d called Ashleigh’s former firm on this but as he sits down beside his lawyer, I’m not so sure. The young guy looks so nervous I wonder how long it will be before he bolts through the door in search of somewhere to hurl. The lawyer mutters that his second chair better arrive soon and I wonder if he knows what he's doing at all. Part of me wishes Ashleigh was here. In fact, I’m surprised she isn’t.
I know she's in New York. I haven't seen her all summer because she’s been filming a low budget movie somewhere in Southampton. I feel like she should be here. I'm sad for Sean that she’s not. They may not have spoken in over two years but I never really believed that was the end until the final blocks of my brother’s life crumbled. I don’t know how he’ll come back from this if he’s convicted. This past year, my brother has transformed into someone entirely different under the pressure of not being able to work.
My cell phone rings again. Wayne's called twice this morning already. We're still waiting for the judge to enter the court so I answer and tell him I can't really talk because of where we are. “Can I call you when we're done?”
“Sure, precious, I just wanted to check you were alright.” His concern is touching. “From what you've said it's not looking good for Sean.” I haven't said too much. I don't know anything to say, but I have a bad vibe about the novice from Worthington and Associates.
There's something familiar about the red head in the pale teal tailored shift dress and jacket combo as she walks passed me and through that little gate separating the court actors from the spectators. I'd recognize those simple, low heeled black pumps anywhere. Ashleigh was sent a pair four months ago and she burst out laughing at them. As if I'd ever put those on Krystal's feet! As I pull my eyes up her amazing legs, over the beautifully fitted suit, my jaw drops open. No. Way.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Sean hisses.
Ashleigh slams her briefcase on the table and shakes the red hair over her shoulder as she replies, “Did you or did you not hire Worthington-Jordan and Associates to represent you?”
I don't know what to say. This isn't the Ashleigh I've become accustomed to over the last couple of years. The fake nails, fake hair, fake tan, fake eyelashes. It’s all gone. She's turned back into the timid lawyer in a power suit and stilettoes, who left New York and my brother behind.
“Sit down, shut the fuck up, and let me do my job,” Ashleigh snaps at Sean. Oh-kay maybe she's not so timid anymore.
“Babe,” I whisper into the phone. “I've got to go.”
I close my phone, waiting for Sean to reply.
“Besides, I like this color on you.” Wayne toys with a stray strand of my hair that’s fallen out of its style. “You’re gorgeous.” His lips meet mine and... oh... he hasn't kissed me like this in months. After a moment he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine. “I don’t know how I got to be so damn lucky.”
Chapter Eleven
September 2007
I sit in the court room galley and watch my brother as he hugs Mom and Dad and then turns to Anna. It’s hard to believe that doing a favor for a contact has led to Sean facing at best a fine and a criminal record, at worst time in prison. His informant inside NYPD is about to testify that Sean knew what documents were in the envelope he took out of the bar the night he was arrested, in exchange for a more lenient sentence. Sean was fired from the newspaper immediately and his reputation as an award winning journalist obliterated in the newspaper’s attempt to clear its association with Sean’s dishonest investigation tactics.
I watch Sean and Anna’s awkward embrace. He kisses her cheek and turns away, walks past the point of no return. I’m sure he said he’d called Ashleigh’s former firm on this but as he sits down beside his lawyer, I’m not so sure. The young guy looks so nervous I wonder how long it will be before he bolts through the door in search of somewhere to hurl. The lawyer mutters that his second chair better arrive soon and I wonder if he knows what he's doing at all. Part of me wishes Ashleigh was here. In fact, I’m surprised she isn’t.
I know she's in New York. I haven't seen her all summer because she’s been filming a low budget movie somewhere in Southampton. I feel like she should be here. I'm sad for Sean that she’s not. They may not have spoken in over two years but I never really believed that was the end until the final blocks of my brother’s life crumbled. I don’t know how he’ll come back from this if he’s convicted. This past year, my brother has transformed into someone entirely different under the pressure of not being able to work.
My cell phone rings again. Wayne's called twice this morning already. We're still waiting for the judge to enter the court so I answer and tell him I can't really talk because of where we are. “Can I call you when we're done?”
“Sure, precious, I just wanted to check you were alright.” His concern is touching. “From what you've said it's not looking good for Sean.” I haven't said too much. I don't know anything to say, but I have a bad vibe about the novice from Worthington and Associates.
There's something familiar about the red head in the pale teal tailored shift dress and jacket combo as she walks passed me and through that little gate separating the court actors from the spectators. I'd recognize those simple, low heeled black pumps anywhere. Ashleigh was sent a pair four months ago and she burst out laughing at them. As if I'd ever put those on Krystal's feet! As I pull my eyes up her amazing legs, over the beautifully fitted suit, my jaw drops open. No. Way.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Sean hisses.
Ashleigh slams her briefcase on the table and shakes the red hair over her shoulder as she replies, “Did you or did you not hire Worthington-Jordan and Associates to represent you?”
I don't know what to say. This isn't the Ashleigh I've become accustomed to over the last couple of years. The fake nails, fake hair, fake tan, fake eyelashes. It’s all gone. She's turned back into the timid lawyer in a power suit and stilettoes, who left New York and my brother behind.
“Sit down, shut the fuck up, and let me do my job,” Ashleigh snaps at Sean. Oh-kay maybe she's not so timid anymore.
“Babe,” I whisper into the phone. “I've got to go.”
I close my phone, waiting for Sean to reply.
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