Now and Then (9 page)

“Hey, Em,” he said,
rumpled in a wrinkled t-shirt and dark shorts. Even with his long hair messy, Emma’s mouth went dry just looking at him.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I … my Dad told me to come check on things because of the papers on the porch.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks. I don’t use the front door, so I forgot about that.” He ran a hand through his hair, and Emma thought he looked sad for just a second.

“Are your parents on vacation?”

“Uh … kind of. They had to go take care of something.”

“Oh. Is everything okay?”

Cole shrugged and stared out a window.

“It’s as okay as it’s gonna get, I guess,” he said.

Emma wished she knew what to say, but the awkward silence just stretched. She knew she should leave, but there was something about standing alone with Cole, having his attention, that made her want to stay.

“Do you ever wonder why some people do what they do?” Cole asked, leaning against the counter. Emma nodded, unsure how to answer. “Sometimes people … they try and try, and it’s never enough. It really sucks.”

“I know what you mean,” she said. “I’ve felt that way myself.”

“There should be a rule somewhere that if people try their hardest, if they cry and hurt and want something so badly – something good – they should get it.”

His expression of sadness was one Emma had never seen on Cole before. He was always easygoing, happy and self-assured. She wondered if he was talking about himself.

“They should,” she agreed. “But if they don’t get it, they should realize it’s not their fault. My Dad sometimes says there can be no rainbow without a cloud and a storm.”

A small smile penetrated his forlorn face.

“Yeah. And I’m leaving for college in a week anyway,
so why the hell do I care?” he said.

“Wow, a week?”

“Yeah. Gotta report for football practice.”

“Maybe I’ll get to watch you play sometime.”

“That’d be cool, Em. Thanks for bringing in the papers.”

“You’re welcome. Guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, see you around.”

Chapter 8

Now

Emma hoisted the strap of her large tote bag onto her shoulder, picking up her walking pace. Her class at the Jackson Byrne Memorial Shelter started in ten minutes, and she still needed to set up. A last-minute phone call from a client had held her up at the office.

She was glad she’d changed from heels into
flats. On her tight schedule, the walk was a workout, especially with her heavy supply bag in tow.

Around a dozen students were already at work when she walked in, and
Emma smiled at their creased brows and looks of concentration as they painted. Teaching this class always gave her a high. The students ranged from young to old, but helping someone discover art at any age was a feeling like no other.

“Hi guys,” Emma said as she unpacked supplies on a beat-up card table. “How’s it going?”

There were murmurs and grunts in response, and Emma walked over to look at the canvases on the row of makeshift easels.

“Really nice, Will,” she said softly, squeezing the shoulder of an older man with wild gray hair. He’d put in a lot of work on the landscape of the farm he’d grown up on.
Emma enjoyed hearing him talk about it while he worked.

“Jordan,” she said, grinning at a young
boy who stood on a step stool that boosted him up high enough to reach his canvas. His pearly white smile was bright against his dark face as he smiled at her.

“Do you like it?” he asked eagerly.

“I love it,” she said, admiring the creature on his canvas that looked half-dog and half-superhero. “Tell me about it.”

“He’s a super hero who got bit by a dog and now he’s turning into one!”
Jordan said, his brown eyes wide with enthusiasm.

“You’re so creative,” Emma said, patting his back.

Emma wrinkled her face with concern when she saw a girl she’d been teaching since she started at the shelter six months ago. Maddie was 11, and she was always eager to paint. Today she stared at an empty canvas, looking lost in her thoughts.

“What’s up, Maddie? Not inspired yet?” Emma asked as she appr
oached. Maddie shrugged. “Is everything okay?”

“She’s sad cause her Mom’s going to jail tomorrow,” Jordan said, looking over at them. Emma’s heart broke for the dark-haired girl she’d become so fond of.

“I’m sorry, Maddie,” she said softly.

“I’m not sad because she’s going to jail,” Maddie said in a small voice. “She did what they said she did. My Mom says the worst thing you can do is lie, and she isn’t going to lie and say she
didn’t do it. I’m sad because if she goes to jail she’ll lose custody of me. I don’t want to live in a foster home. I can’t stay here without her. I’m scared.”

Emma sighed heavily as some of the adult students looked over. She brushed her hand over Maddie’s hair, unsure what to say.

“Okay guys, this is a free painting day,” she finally said. “Just paint whatever you’d like and remember to line them up on the windowsill to dry when you’re finished. I have to step out for a minute but I’ll be right back.”

She headed for the office of Scott Lansing, the shelter’s manager, considering how fortunate she’d been to grow up in such a stable home. Maddie would probably have bigger things to consider than just a crush on a boy when she became a teenager.

When she saw Scott staring at a spreadsheet on a computer screen, Emma wasn’t surprised he was working so late. He practically lived at the shelter.

“Hey,” she said, rapping lightly on the wall since his office had no door.

“Emma, come in.” He smiled and pushed the papers on his desk into a stack. Emma had always liked Scott, a gangly man with dark glasses and a blond ponytail. He was warm and thoughtful, and always made time for her.

“Hi, I’ll be quick,” she said. “What’s going on with Maddie’s Mom?”

Scott’s brow furrowed as he exhaled deeply.

“It’s pretty sad, actually,” he said. “
Jana’s got court tomorrow because she stole some stuff back when she was still using drugs. It happened before they came here, and she’s been clean for 60 days now. I made a call to the DA’s office, but I didn’t get anywhere. If she takes the plea deal, she’ll get 30 days in jail, and she’ll have to give up custody of Maddie while she’s there. I’m confident we can help her get Maddie back when she’s released, though.”

“Jail
time? What did she steal?” Emma asked with disbelief.

“I’m not even sure, but
she has priors,” Scott said. Emma gave him a puzzled look.

“Prior c
onvictions. Drug addiction can make people do some crazy shit.”

“I just hate this for Maddie,” Emma said. “She’s such a great girl.”

“I do, too. And Jana’s a good Mom. She’s on the right path now. She’s just sick about this, but she’s trying to stay strong for Maddie.”

“Does she have an attorney?” Emma asked.

“Just a lousy public defender who brought her a lousy plea deal,” Scott said, rolling his eyes.

“What if …” Emma considered. “What if I could get an attorney to help her for no charge?”

“It couldn’t hurt,” Scott said, shrugging. “But there’s not much time. The hearing’s tomorrow afternoon.”

Emma pulled out her phone. She looked at Cole’s number, remembering he had dinner with a partner.
That left only one other attorney she knew.

*****

The sight of her sister rushing down the halls of the homeless shelter in designer heels made Emma smile.

“Em, are you okay?” Layla asked breathlessly. “You sounded upset in your message.”

“Sorry, yeah, I’m okay. I just need your help. Well, someone else does,” Emma said.

“Okay … what’s up?”

Emma relayed Jana’s legal situation, and Layla nodded thoughtfully.

“I’d help if I could, Em, but I’ve never done criminal work,” Layla said. “And if she has an attorney, I can’t do any work on her behalf.”

Emma groaned helplessly.

“
Layla, you can do anything you put your mind to. Please. There has to be something you can do.”

“Okay,” Layla said. “I’ll meet with her and explain some things and if she wants to drop her p
.d., I’ll see what I can do.”

“What’s her p
.d.?” Emma asked, confused.

“Public defender. I’m assuming based on what you’ve told me she doesn’t have a private attorney.”

“Oh, right,” Emma said. “No, public defender, like you said.”

“We can probably get a continuance tomorrow,” Layla said. “I’ll do my best on it, okay?”

Emma lunged for her sister with a hug.

“You’re the best,” she said. “And I hope you realize you have to do this for free.”

“Of course I do.” Layla laughed.

“I have to go finish up my class,” Emma said.

“Okay. Can you help me find Jana so we can talk? Then I’ll wait for you to finish so we can get some dinner. I’m starving.”

“Layla, don’t say that here,” Emma said softly. “Some people here have actually been through that.”

Layla’s hand flew to her mouth.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“I’ll have Scott take you to meet Jana,” Emma said. “And don’t worry, the secret of your kindness will be safe with me.”

“That’s good, because I have a reputation to uphold,” Layla said, smiling.

*****

H
er gaze wandered over his light coat of stubble, and Emma marveled at the way Cole always managed to look rugged and polished at the same time. His dark, tailored suit was a perfect counterpart for his unshaven face. Even his hair pulled off both looks: cropped short, but mussed more than styled.

“Penny for your thoughts,” he said, focused on the bumper-to-bumper traffic they were in as they headed away from the city for dinner at Leo Stanford’s home in the suburbs.

“I’m a little nervous,” Emma admitted, hugging her arms around herself. “The only attorney I’ve ever spent any time around is my sister. I think this is how you felt when we were going to the gallery. I’m worried everyone will be discussing legal precedents and I’ll be lost.”

“Don’t worry.” He skimmed his hand
across her bare thigh in reassurance. “None of the partners are married to attorneys, and I don’t think any of the junior attorneys coming are, either. No one wants to talk about work, anyway. I should tell you, though, that Leo’s married to Teresa Pine. She’s the heir to a huge manufacturing fortune. Their house is incredible.”

“Now I’m even more intimidated.”

“Don’t be. They’ll all love you. But, uh …” He plowed his hand over his hair, which Emma knew was his nervous habit.

“What?” she asked skeptically.

“I need a favor.”

“That sounds a little ominous.”

“No, it’s not, it’s just … I went to dinner at Leo and Teresa’s house right after I started at the firm, and it was quite an evening. There’s another partner, Tom Warner, who’s in his 70’s, and his wife Lindsey is maybe 40. She cornered me and came on to me. It was bad, because I didn’t want to offend her, but I’d never mess with a partner’s wife. So I’m wondering if you’ll stick really close by me and not object if I maybe make it sound like we’re … really serious.”

“Okay.”

Spending the evening with Cole Marlowe pretending we’re seriously involved. What a sacrifice.

When they
made their way into the suburbs and he pulled into a long, winding stone drive, Emma realized what he meant. She’d never seen such a lavish, ornate home. It went on and on, with a dozen different roof peaks. The stone exterior of the house had an aged, distinguished look.

“That fountain is the size of my apartment,” she mumbled. Cole pulled up near the front, where a uniformed attendant stood by to accept his keys and park the car.

“Did I tell you how magnificent you look tonight?” Cole asked Emma as he offered his arm.

“
You did, but thanks for telling me again.” She smiled and gripped his forearm as he led her up to the tall front door. Flanked by potted topiaries, there was something about the old-world design of the door that made her nostalgic for the architecture of Europe.

When they entered, s
he handed over her trench coat, feeling overly exposed in her dark gray, form-fitted dress. The silky fabric skimmed over her curves, and she wondered if she’d been too bold in her choice. The natural waves of her long, thick hair covered part of the open back, and the neckline was high. She’d only considered Cole seeing her in it, though, not dozens of people she’d never met.

Layla always said that 99 percent of looking hot was being confident. Emma took a deep breat
h and smiled, taking the hand Cole held out to her.

Being in the spectacular home as his escort and meeting one beautifully dressed person after another made Emma feel like royalty.

“Cole,” a round man with silver hair said, grinning as he extended his hand.

“Kevin,” Cole said warmly. “Haven’t seen much of you. This is my girlfriend, Emma.”

“Emma,” Kevin said, shaking her hand. “It’s great to meet you. Cole, I won’t tell the others you’re managing a life outside the office. Junior attorneys get worked to death at our firm.”

Kevin was pulled away, and Cole reached up to a passing waiter’s tray, grabbing two flutes of champagne. When he handed one to Emma, she sipped it gratefully.

“Cole Marlowe,” a woman’s sultry voice said from behind them. Emma turned to see an attractive, middle-aged blonde approaching. The low neckline of her black dress revealed tan lines on her chest.

“Mrs. Warner,” he said, whipping Emma into him with an arm around her waist. “This is my girlfriend Emma.”

A momentary flicker of distaste passed over Lindsey Warner’s face.

“
Lovely to meet you, Emma,” she said as she studied her. “Cole, it’s nice to finally see you with a girl who’s got some meat on her bones.”

“Emma’s amazing,” he said, pulling her tightly against him. “Is Leo here? I was hoping to talk baseball with him.”

“He’s sitting out back. Why don’t you go find him while Emma and I get to know each other better?”

Cole paused, looking unsure, and Emma jumped in.

“Go ahead,” she said. “I’d like some girl talk.”

He looked skeptically at her, and Emma wanted to laugh at his apparent belief that she couldn’t hold her own against Lindsey Warner.

“Come out in a little bit,” he said, bending to plant a soft kiss on her neck. “You know I don’t like to be away from you for long.”

His intimacy warmed Emma from head to toe.  She glan
ced at Lindsey, whose gaze was locked on Cole as he walked toward the wall of glass doors. Emma hoped the champagne would infuse courage if she needed it.

“Have to keep your eyes on a man like him all the time,” Lindsey said lightly.

“I don’t know that I have to, but I sure like to,” Emma said.