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“No, it’s more than that. I’m scared shitless. How do you watch someone you love go through it all over again?”
“You’ve told me how hardheaded she is. If she’s anything like you, I have no doubt she’ll get through it just fine.” I know what I’m saying is bullshit, but sometimes bullshit is all you’ve got, even the sincerest kind.
“Lucas is living with her. It’s strange.”
I really don’t want to hear about her ex-boyfriend, but this is an unusual circumstance, so I have to take my licks as they come.
“He’s not bothering you, is he?”
“No, it’s nothing like that, but he has wormed his way around my dad’s office, getting the bigger cases to work on and being all cozy with my dad. I guess he only sees me as an incompetent teenager right now.” Her sadness filters through the phone.
“Baby, I’m just a plane ride away, you know. Less than three hours to commute one way.” I’ve got the airline and Gary on speed dial to make arrangements in an instant, but I don’t tell her this.
“You’d be worth it, just so I could sleep next to you every night.”
“I should have built planes instead of boats, Hollywood.” We try to coordinate a weekend to fly and see each other, but with everything going on, we can’t pin down a date that works for several weeks, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow.
Chapter Seventeen
ABIGAIL
A Month Later
The case my dad has me working on is almost ready to resolve itself. My client spent the required time in a detox facility and here we are in court for a hearing. It’s packed with other defendants, mostly for traffic violations and a few serious drug charges. Even though this is a DUI case, it’s fairly cut and dry, or at least it should be. I’m supposed to meet my sister later for a salon appointment and this is the last thing on my agenda for today. As ironic as it is while lawyering a DUI case, I’m kind of looking forward to getting home to a nice bath and a glass or wine, all in moderation of course.
“Are you ready?” Looking over at my client, Oscar Campbell, he at least looks cleaner and smells better than the last time I saw him. He’s wearing a dark brown suit and a tan shirt with a matching tie.
“It’s now or never, you know.” He looks around the courtroom with a stoic expression and I truly feel sad for him.
“You’re license will likely get revoke, but since you’ve been attending treatment and AA meetings, we might be able to get the judge to take those things into consideration.”
“That’s very nice of you, Ms. Holliday.”
“Abby, you can call me Abby. I’m not as formal as the partners.” Shuffling more papers, I look for my legal pad to scratch notes on when the jud
ge is ready to call us forth to make his decision.
“I shouldn’t tell you this, but I was hoping I might be able to make a confession today. Clear the air, maybe my conscious. My sponsor says it will do me some good.”
“That’s admirable, but as your legal counsel, I need to advise you in the doing so, those implications could change today’s proceedings.” Smiling, I nod and go back to taking some notes and wondering if I put a bottle of my favorite Riesling in my fridge or if it is still on the counter.
“Ms. Holliday, this is something more than just making amends.”
“Abby, and really, is this more appropriate for your sponsor or a priest maybe?” I guess I’m blowing him off, but I can’t see how what he has to say will bear on today’s final hearing. “Mr. Campbell, we’re really close to completing your case.”
“But, Ms. Holliday, this has to do with a young woman I killed in an accident some years ago.” And right there, my world drops out from under me.
“The court calls Mr. Oscar Campbell to the stand.” The clerk calls the case and I stand on shaky legs, dropping my legal pad and my files to the floor.
“Your honor, I need to ask for a continuance, please.”
“Counsel, I was under the impression your client was ready to agree to a plea deal?”
“Uh, he is, yes, but you see, not today. Because today, I learned some interesting facts.” Oh, for the love of God, I sound like an idiot. I need to get both myself and my client the fuck out of here to get my bearings and figure out exactly what he meant by telling me he had killed a woman.
“Counsel, you seem a bit distracted.”
“Sick, Your Honor. Just sick, an emergency actually.” I’m pretty sure if I’m not sick, I will be soon and my face probably shows it.
