Page 43 of 2nd Strike
JJ looks like he could bite a bullet in two. He's probably shearing enamel off his teeth.
"I'm sorry," I say. To all of them. I'm not sure I can sink any lower. "I'm so, so sorry."
“Well, I'm sure not going home," Ethan says. "I can't believe she did this to me. I mean, I thought she cared about me, even if I'mnother biological son.”
“Of course she does,” I argue, although I have some doubts. My heart is in my stomach. “Where will you go? You're a minor, and right now, everyone's watching you. There could be dangerous people out there who would do you harm if you’re on your own.”
“I’ll take him with me,” Meg volunteers.
“Not without permission from his legal guardian,” JJ tells her.
She waves him off and heads for the door. “I’ll call Carl.”
“No,” Ethan says, phone in hand. “I will.”
Twenty minutes later, my sister has written permission faxed over from Carl to keep him with her. Ethan, apparently, knows how to play the media card as well as Lily and threatened to contact the ABC affiliate and do a live interview if Carl didn’t agree.
Being a smart man, he allowed it, but insisted on getting hourly texts from Ethan to ensure his safety.
Carl even brought him a suitcase of clothes. It doesn't sit well with me. Lily gave the boy up to a feeding frenzy by the media; Carl gave him up, at least temporarily, to my sister, as if he were a family pet. Even if the kid did make threats, I want Carl to fight for him. To protect him and not worry about his own damned image.
I call Jackie and get her assistant. She has other clients to take care of, and even though my world is falling apart, hers goes on. I’m assured she'll call me later, and though I understand, I feel let down.
The call that comes in five minutes later is not from Jackie. “I was sitting here talking to your mother," my dad says, "and I think after your little problem is resolved, we should all go up to the cabin near the lake in North Carolina. You remember the place, Charlize? We went there when you were fifteen.”
"Hi, Dad.” My father doesn't mention the latest wrinkle, and I could hug him for that. I'm sure he's seen it on the news. “I do remember it, very fondly, in fact. I think it’d be wonderful to go with you guys for a weekend sometime."
I don't really have time to discuss future vacation plans with him, although I sure wish I did, but I sense there's a reason behind this call. It's better than him phoning and saying, "Geez, Charlie, you sure have yourself in a pile of shit."
Which is probably what he's thinking, but he also believes in me, in the idea I can get myself out of this situation.
“You should bring that friend of yours, Carrington, when we go. I want to check him out, make sure he's good enough for my little girl."
Andthereit is. He did see Lily's stunt and knows about us now. “I’ll be sure to invite him."
JJ, sitting across from me, looks up from his folded hands and gives me a curious stare. I assure my father I'm doing okay, as is Meg, and yes, we'll be over Sunday for dinner if possible.
When I hang up, I tell JJ, “The Spanish Inquisition is coming in the form of my father."
“Should I be scared?"
"Terrified."
We share a smile, and for just a second, I feel a little better.Thanks, Dad.
Lily and her media friend leave, and we disguise Ethan and sneak him out the back and into Meg's van. They plan to get dinner before going to Meg’s.
Haley leaves for the day. Matt goes back to contacting Jerry Caldren’s cousins. JJ and I dig into Jon and Anita Baker.
We come up with zilch, and eventually Matt calls it a day. JJ and I are left alone, and I wonder if there are reporters outside watching. There's no way I can sneak him out, and knowing him, he wouldn't let me anyway. I'm waiting for the background check to come in on Anita when he offers to order in food.
"I need to get out of here," I tell him. I have the feeling Jackie's not going to call today, and I'm itching to do something besides look at a computer screen. “We can't exactly be seen together in public, but I can pick up Thai on the way home and meet you at my place. Early dinner. Let me leave first, then if there are reporters, they'll follow me, and you can make a clean getaway."
He grins, although it doesn't reach his eyes. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen."
I force myself to say the words I've been stewing over the last few hours. “How is Carlena going to take the news about us?”
Carlena Gage Carrington will pitch a fit, I have no doubt. I wonder if she'll use this as leverage in the divorce.So close, I think. We were so damn close to having her out of our lives.
