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We both turn to watch her approach. She holds out a small gift box to Jericho. “A peace offering.”
He grunts.
I nudge him. He takes the box and opens it. Inside is a Cotton Candy gift card. “What the hell is this?”
“Unlimited cake. Lifetime supply. For you and for your family.” Megs smiles.
He reads the little card then looks up at her.
“Look,” she says, the Megs I know back. “We both love Isabelle. I already love Matty and that little girl of yours is on that list now too, so I’m sorry for my part in this. I should never have let my stubborn friend,” she casts a chastising look at me, “run with her stupid idea.” Another look.
Jericho smiles.
“But I did and I’m so happy you’re all safe. If a little worse for wear,” she tells him.
He grunts.
“But we’re going to be in each other’s lives and weirdly, Jericho, I don’t dislike you. Let bygones be bygones?”
He glances at the card again then back to Megs. “I don’t suppose I dislike you either. You’re pushy and are a poor decision maker, but I think you mean well.”
“Wow,” I say but they both shush me.
“Welcome to my home, Megs.”
“Thank you, Jericho. Oh, and you have me to thank for the balloons,” she adds as we follow her into the dining room. It looks like a pastel color explosion as so many balloons bob along the ceiling, the kids jumping to try to catch the ribbons.
“Oh great,” Jericho mutters.
“I’m glad you like it,” Megs says. “And you’re welcome.”
They exchange a friendly smile and, for the first time since I’ve known Jericho St. James, we all come together almost like a normal family and have cake. Just cake.
51
Jericho
At Isabelle’s insistence and with young Matty in mind, I step into Hildebrand’s office and close the door. The Councilor is seated beside Judge on the leather couch in his office, paperwork spread out before them on the coffee table.
“Mr. St. James,” he says and stands.
“Councilor. Thank you for seeing me. Judge. Thanks for coming.” Over the last few weeks I’ve been consulting with Lawson Montgomery in dealing legally with the Matty-Julia issue. Given his knowledge of the legal system and his position within IVI, he’s a good ally to have.
“Have a seat.” He gestures to the glass of whiskey on his desk. “Would you like one? I think we may both need it.”
“I think you’re probably right.”
He pours me a tumbler, refreshing his and Judge’s then sits back down. “This is highly out of the ordinary.”
“I realize that.”
“Discretion will be of utmost importance as it always seems to be when it comes to my dealings with you.”
It was how we started our talks about Isabelle. “I think we want the same thing. There is a child involved, after all.”
“How is the boy?”
“Doing well. He’s settled in nicely.”
“Good. And your wife?”
I smile at the mention of her. “Also doing well.” Her belly is rounding with the pregnancy and she’s even more beautiful than she already was.
It’s been four months since the events at Gerald Gibson’s home. Matty has settled in and is not the scared little boy he was that first day I met him. He’s sweet and outgoing and between him and Angelique, the house is always full of laughter and joy. It’s more wonderful than I could ever have imagined.
He still asks about his mother but there’s nothing we can do about that. We’ve told him she needs to go away for awhile, and he seems to accept that although I can see he’s confused. Thanks to Hildebrand, we’ve at least been able to let him see her twice.
And that’s one of the reasons I’m here.
“Let’s get the easy one out of the way first,” Hildebrand starts. “Mr. Jones has been reprimanded for his role in destroying evidence as far as the cremation of Carlton Bishop’s body is concerned. He was threatened and I believe him. I’ve dealt with Ms. Bishop and I know how she operates.”
“That’s fine. I trust Dr. Rosseau’s expertise and reputation would stand against Jones’s should it come that.”
“It won’t. That chapter is closed. But the matter of Ms. Bishop.”
I draw in a deep breath.
“I certainly wouldn’t have thought that you, Jericho St. James, would be here on her behalf to plead for her life to be spared.”
Plead. I don’t like that word. “Neither did I, Councilor. And I’m only here for the sake of the boy.” And Isabelle because her heart is too kind to want to take an eye for an eye. She is too forgiving. But Hildebrand won’t be moved by Isabelle’s kind nature. A Sovereign Son, however? He’ll bend over backwards for Matty Bishop.
“And that is the only reason I have agreed,” he says, but I wonder if that’s true. Julia used him, too. And he knows it. Bringing her before The Tribunal will not shed him in a good light. As a Councilor, he is immune from punishment, but his name would be dragged through the mud. He’d likely have to resign his position. The humiliation would be too great and we both know it.
