I See You (15 page)

The judge offered to poll the jury individually but Marjorie graciously declined.

‘In that case,’ said the judge, ‘I’m ready to pass sentence on the defendant.’

Lisa obediently lowered her head.

‘Lisa Wickes,’ said the judge. ‘You have been convicted of the crime of larceny in the second degree. I hereby sentence you to two months in the county jail in addition to time served.’

Lisa nodded humbly.

‘Bailiff will take the defendant back into custody.’

As the bailiff came toward Lisa, she turned and looked at her parents. Hannah reached for her daughter and managed to encircle her in an awkward embrace. ‘It’s all over, darling,’ she said. ‘You’ll be home in no time.’

‘It’s so unfair,’ said Lisa. ‘I didn’t steal the stupid check.’

The bailiff gruffly told Lisa to raise her hands to be cuffed. Hannah let her go reluctantly. Adam was shaking hands with Marjorie, thanking her profusely. He turned to Lisa, who looked pleadingly at her father. ‘Two more months?’ she cried.

Adam, who had put a consoling hand on her arm, pulled it away. ‘It will be over before you know it,’ he said. ‘We were lucky.’

‘Why?’ Lisa complained. ‘I didn’t do anything.’

‘Lisa, quiet,’ Marjorie hissed. ‘The judge is speaking.’

The judge thanked the jury for their service and dismissed them. He asked the two attorneys to his chambers for a conference, and then court was dismissed.

Lisa looked back at her parents, both relief and resentment in her gaze, as she was led away. Adam shook his head. ‘Doesn’t she realize how lucky she is?’

‘I guess it’s hard to feel lucky when you’re going back to jail,’ said Hannah.

Buoyed along the crowd, Hannah and Adam clung to one another, and made their way out of the courtroom. Reporters besieged them for comments, and they responded to everyone in the same way.

‘We’re very relieved,’ said Hannah. ‘Thank goodness the jury understood that my daughter was innocent.’

‘Not exactly innocent,’ said a bearded young reporter for the
Tennessean
. ‘She was convicted of larceny.’

Adam turned and looked at him. Hannah could see that he was forcing himself to respond calmly. ‘We believe that it was a misunderstanding about the check but we accept the jury’s verdict. The important thing is that they realized our daughter did not kill Mr Petty, and that she will be coming home in a few weeks. We are very grateful.’

Hannah clung to Adam’s hand, almost blissfully unaware of the cameras, the flashing lights, the shouted questions. Thank you, Lord, she thought.

‘How are you feeling, Mrs Wickes?’ asked Chanel Ali Jackson, putting a microphone in front of Hannah’s face.

‘Happy,’ said Hannah. ‘Relieved. This nightmare is finally over.’

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than her gaze fell on Troy Petty’s sister, Nadine Melton. She was standing, largely ignored by the press, with an assistant prosecutor, and she was gazing at Hannah and Adam, wiping away angry tears that would not stop flowing. As Hannah met her gaze Nadine shook her head, almost as if in warning. In spite of her relief, Hannah felt an unwelcome stab of anxiety. No, she thought. It is over, and she forced herself to look away.

R
ayanne and Chet were waiting for them with a bottle of champagne. Hannah and Adam exchanged hugs with their friends, and with Jamie and Greta.

Sydney was giddy with excitement, even though she didn’t really understand what was going on. They all toasted the verdict, and Hannah felt as if the bubbles were going directly to her head.

‘So when will she be home?’ asked Rayanne.

‘Two months,’ said Hannah, embarrassed in spite of herself. ‘I don’t believe she stole that check but we weren’t going to argue. Not after that verdict.’

‘Of course not,’ said Rayanne.

Adam, who had scooped up Sydney and was holding her on his lap, shook his head as he sipped the champagne. ‘Lisa was upset that they had convicted her of taking the check. I don’t think she understood how close she came to spending the rest of her life in prison.’

‘For something she didn’t do,’ Hannah reminded him loyally.

‘I am completely wrung out,’ said Adam. ‘That was exhausting.’

‘I’m sure you are,’ said Chet solemnly.

‘In a couple of weeks, when we’ve both got our legs back under us, let’s go out and play nine holes,’ said Adam.

‘You’re on,’ said Chet.

Rayanne and Hannah exchanged a fond glance. You never realized, Hannah thought, how precious your everyday routine was, until you were in danger of losing it. Both of their families had skated close to the edge. But they were all going to be OK.

‘Well, I don’t know about anybody else,’ said Adam, ‘but I’m going to make it an early night.’

There were murmurs of agreement all around.

‘Rayanne said you’re leaving tomorrow, Greta?’ Hannah asked.

Greta nodded, and Jamie tightened his grip around her waist and tilted his head to smile into her eyes.

‘Well, I wish you could stay longer,’ said Hannah. ‘We didn’t get to spend enough time with you.’

‘Next time,’ said Greta.

Next time. It had such a positive, optimistic sound to it. Greta was already planning to return to Jamie’s home town. Hannah thought to herself what a nice girl Jamie had found. ‘Jamie, this one’s a keeper.’

Jamie beamed at the compliment. ‘I think so!’

Hannah felt a little pang at the sight of him, obviously happy and deliriously in love. Jamie and Lisa had been devoted chums as children. Hannah had always secretly hoped that it would turn into something more. But once they were teenagers, the differences between them became more pronounced. Jamie avoided books and his grades were average. He much preferred playing sports to studying. Lisa, with her glasses and her unruly hair, was young for her class and a brain, as kids said so condescendingly. As if being a brain should be viewed as a handicap, Hannah thought. Now, all the judgments of school days were behind them. Jamie had grown into a fine young man with a steady, if unexciting profession. Lisa, now that this trial was over, had a future of unlimited possibilities in medicine. The last shall be first, she thought.

‘Well, Adam’s right. We need to get home and get this little one into bed. Thank you all for standing by us.’

They all took their leave with repeated thanks and congratulations and kisses. Adam and Hannah crossed the short distance to their house, Hannah carrying Sydney, and they went inside and closed the door. Their world felt safe and sensible again. Everyone went to bed early, and peace reigned in the two houses.

Hannah was awakened from a restless sleep the next morning by the sound of a car pulling out of Chet and Rayanne’s driveway. Jamie, she thought, taking Greta to the airport. She glanced out the window. It was too early to tell if the day had not fully dawned or if it was going to be overcast. She thought about getting up, even though there was still no sound from Sydney. And then, even as she considered arising, she fell back to sleep.

She awoke again to Adam nuzzling her neck, and she rolled into his arms and into lovemaking in their delicious, familiar way. Before long, they were asleep again, and only awoke when Sydney toddled into the room and climbed up into the bed with them.

‘What time is it?’ Hannah asked, as she absently wrapped one of Sydney’s soft blonde curls around her finger.

‘It’s after nine,’ said Adam.

‘We really slept,’ Hannah observed.

‘We needed it.’

‘Let’s go out to breakfast,’ said Hannah. ‘Somewhere where nobody knows us.’

‘You’re on,’ said Adam. ‘But we’ll bring two cars. I want to go to work.’

‘I think I’ll play hooky one more day,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m so beat. And I want to spend the time with Sydney. And go see Lisa this afternoon.’

They murmured agreement, and Hannah thought how lovely it was to have their normal life back. Of course, things weren’t normal for Lisa. She was still in the county jail, and might be facing consequences for that larceny conviction at medical school. But considering what they might have been facing, it seemed slight.

They drove out of Nashville, halfway to Shelbyville, and had breakfast at a cafe that served sausage, biscuits and eggs all day. The cafe was in a ranch-style log house, and the owner’s grandchildren were playing on the porch. Sydney entered cheerfully into the game while Hannah and Adam finished their coffee and watched them right outside their window table.

Adam and Hannah kissed before getting into their separate cars and then Adam kissed the top of Sydney’s head. ‘Come home early,’ Hannah said. ‘I’ll make something you like for dinner.’

‘What?’ he asked.

‘I’ll figure something out.’

‘I know you will.’ He smiled and got into his car, and waved as he pulled away. Hannah buckled Sydney into her car seat and headed for home.

The phone rang right after lunch, and it was Lisa. ‘Do you believe that crappy jury convicted me?’ she protested.

‘Darling, all things considered, we were lucky,’ said Hannah, pained by her daughter’s attitude. ‘You should be grateful.’

‘That’s easy for you to say,’ Lisa sniffed. ‘I’m stuck here for two months and God only knows what will happen to my scholarships.’

‘We’ll figure it out,’ said Hannah soothingly. ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure we can reason with them about your scholarships. Right now, I’m just so relieved.’

‘Mother, I don’t understand what you’re so happy about. Here I was, accused of some crime that was really just an accident. And now I have to spend two more months in this place!’

Hannah tried to see it from Lisa’s point of view. She told herself that she too would be upset if she faced jail time for something she didn’t do. But in light of what the outcome could have been, it was difficult to feel unhappy. She changed the subject. ‘I was thinking of coming to see you today. Can I bring you anything?’

‘A file in a cake,’ said Lisa, only half joking.

‘It won’t be long and you’ll be home.’

‘Yes. But with a record. This is ruining my life. I wish I’d never gotten involved with that idiot.’

‘Troy.’

‘Yes, Troy. What a mistake.’

Hannah thought back to Adam scouring Lisa’s hard drive. Looking for the search that wasn’t there. She pictured Troy’s sister, watching her almost pityingly after the trial. Then she shook her head. ‘It’s all over now,’ said Hannah. ‘Let’s think positive. Sydney sends kisses.’

‘Great,’ said Lisa.

‘See you later,’ said Hannah, but before the words were out, Lisa had hung up.

For a few moments, Hannah sat, staring at the phone. Then she sighed and put it back in her pocket. She scooped up Sydney, took her outside to water the flowers and then she watched Sydney play with the water from the hose until it was time for her nap. After Sydney was settled in her bed, Hannah went back to the living room to read. The thought of the drive to the county jail was unappealing, but once Adam got home she was determined to go and see her daughter.

A knocking at the back door roused her, and she went to see who it was.

Jamie stood on the doorstep.

Hannah smiled at him, puzzled. ‘Jamie. How are you?’

Jamie met her eyes briefly and looked away. ‘I’m OK.’

‘I heard you leaving the house this morning,’ said Hannah. ‘Did Greta get her flight all right?’

‘Yes. Just fine,’ he said. ‘Thanks.’

‘Your folks?’ Hannah asked, frowning.

‘They’re fine. Can I come in, Mrs Wickes? I need to talk to you.’

‘Sure,’ said Hannah. ‘Come on in.’

Jamie came into the kitchen. He was a slim young man, tall with broad shoulders. Today he was wearing a neat oxford-cloth shirt and jeans. There was nothing hip-hop about Jamie. His hair was a little bit spiky, in his one concession to fashion. He turned to Hannah. ‘Is Mr Wickes here?’ he asked.

‘No, he’s at work. Did you need to talk to him?’

Jamie frowned. ‘It might be better if it was just you and me.’

‘OK,’ said Hannah, feeling a little puzzled by his troubled air. ‘Come on in the living room,’ she said, leading the way through the house. ‘Have a seat.’

‘Where’s Sydney?’

‘Taking a nap,’ said Hannah.

‘She’s a nice little girl,’ said Jamie, nodding. ‘Greta was crazy about her.’

‘You think you two will …’ Hannah let it go, seeing the look in his eyes.

‘Maybe … someday,’ he said, frowning. ‘Look, I need to just … say this before I lose my … nerve.’

Hannah pulled back from him. ‘Say what? You seem so … worried.’

‘Worried. That’s a good word for it. I am worried. I didn’t even tell my mother I was coming over here because I didn’t want to discuss this with her. Or my dad.’

‘Well,’ said Hannah carefully, ‘if you’re concerned about something, you might as well just … say so.’

Jamie nodded but still he hesitated.

‘Jamie?’

‘Right. OK. You remember how Lisa and I used to be friends when we were … younger.’

‘Sure,’ said Hannah. ‘You two were inseparable as children. And you stayed friends for a long while there.’

Jamie frowned, his gaze faraway. ‘Did she ever tell you,’ he asked, ‘why we stopped being friends?’

Hannah shook her head. She was not going to repeat Lisa’s assertions that Jamie was too stupid to be friends with. Hannah always suspected that Lisa was just covering up her hurt feelings when Jamie got involved with sports and NASCAR. She thought that maybe he had come to find it embarrassing to be known as the friend of someone younger, even if she was in the same grade. Lisa was plain and brainy and uncool in the eyes of the older boys. ‘I thought you two just grew apart,’ said Hannah. ‘You were a little older than her. It was just one of those things,’ she said.

Jamie frowned. ‘No, it wasn’t,’ he said.

‘It wasn’t?’ said Hannah, taken aback.

‘It was something very specific,’ he said.

‘OK,’ said Hannah. Part of her wanted to say, do we have to deconstruct this long-gone friendship right now? I am so weary from all that has happened. Is this really the time and place? But she stayed silent.

Jamie glanced at her, and then looked away. He was kneading his hands together absently, rubbing the backs of his hands with his long fingers. ‘I have a very important reason for bringing this up. I wouldn’t be troubling you with it otherwise. You’ll understand when I tell you.’

‘OK,’ Hannah said again, nodding. She was overcome with a feeling that she was going to regret listening to Jamie’s explanation. She wanted to stop him but couldn’t think of a good reason to do so.

Jamie took a deep breath. ‘I’ve tried not to think much about this over the years. It was too upsetting. But I was following the trial, particularly when Lisa took the stand and talked about Troy Petty. About being disgusted, finding him … you know … with Sydney.’

Hannah watched his face, wondering what in the world he was getting at. ‘Well, unfortunately there are men like that,’ she said. ‘Pedophiles.’

Jamie looked up at her, anguish in his eyes. ‘I would never mention this to you, but there’s an innocent life involved here.’

‘Jamie, I don’t know what you’re getting at but I’ve got to tell you,’ Hannah snapped, ‘this is all becoming too weird …’

‘All right. All right,’ he said. ‘Look. Something happened when my father’s sister and her family came to visit. I was about … I had just turned seventeen that summer.’

Hannah dimly recalled the visit. Chet’s sister lived in Arizona, and came only rarely to Tennessee. ‘I remember that,’ she said.

‘My cousins, Shane and Alberta, were just toddlers. And my mother asked me to mind them so they could go and visit some great-aunt of theirs near Chattanooga. Well, she gave me my choice of minding them or going to Chattanooga, so the choice was easy. I said I would do it. We had that little kiddy pool set up. And the swings. I figured, how bad could it be?’

Hannah nodded, remembering that time.

‘Well, Lisa came over. You know how we always were. Back and forth through the hedge,’ he said, and there was a catch in his voice. ‘Even then, she was like my best friend.’

‘I know,’ said Hannah, and she heard the note of warning in her own voice.

Jamie heaved a sigh and looked down at his own, interlaced fingers.

‘So,’ Hannah prodded him.

‘So, she came over, and we were playing in that little pool with them, and drinking Cokes. You know, just whiling away the afternoon. And I said I had better take them in and find them some dry clothes. Lisa said she’d help me, and she followed me into the house. I was rummaging around in their suitcases for some dry clothes while Lisa peeled off their little swimsuits.’

‘She wasn’t used to small children,’ said Hannah.

Jamie ignored the interruption. ‘I finally found a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for each of them, and I looked up, saying eureka or something like that, and Lisa had her arms around them. She was kissing them and such …’

‘Affectionately,’ said Hannah, supplying the word.

‘And then I realized that she had taken off the top of her suit.’

‘Jamie, look, if you’re about to tell me that you and Lisa … I always assumed that maybe you two experimented a little bit. I don’t find that shocking.’

Jamie looked at her darkly and Hannah retreated into silence. ‘This is about the children. Lisa was nuzzling them and she said to me, “They’re so cute.” I was a little … surprised, but I agreed with her that they were cute. And then she said, “Take your suit off.”’