Until I Saw Your Smile (48 page)

“I intend,” she said, wiping sweat off her chest, “to always be one step, one orgasm, and one thought ahead of you.”

Chapter 37

E
ngaged life began in earnest the next morning with two phone calls at five
AM
.

Since both sets of parents were early risers, Matthew put his cell phone on speaker on the shelf of the prep table as he and Angela prepared for the day.

“Daddy, it's me, Angela.”

“Is everything okay?” her father asked.

“Everything's fine,” Angela said, sifting flour. “I just wanted you and mama to know that I'm engaged.”

“Engaged?” her father said. “I didn't even know you were dating.”

Angela cringed. “Yeah, I guess I should have told you about that.”

“When have you found the time?” her father asked.

Angela smiled at Matthew. “He just sort of appeared in my life one morning.”

“When's the last time we talked?” her father asked.

“Easter, I think,” Angela said.

I don't feel as bad about calling my mother now,
Matthew thought
.

“Were you dating him then?” her father asked.

“Yes,” Angela said. “We've been seeing each other since the second of February.”

“You could have told us sooner.” Her father sighed. “Well, who's the lucky man?”

“He's right here helping me make pastries,” Angela said. “His name is Matthew McConnell. He's not only my fiancé, but he's also my business partner.”

“Hello, Mr. Smith,” Matthew said, rolling out some dough. “You have an incredible daughter.”

“Your
business
partner?” her father said. “Since when do you have a business partner, Angela? Don't you think you should run something like that by the
founder
of that coffee shop and your mama first?”

Angela has kept her parents
deep,
deep in the dark about me.

“Daddy, I . . . a lot has happened that I haven't told you or Mama,” Angela said, “things I should have told you a long time ago.”

Matthew picked up the phone and turned off the speaker, handing it to Angela. He kissed her cheek, whispered, “Tell them,” and went out into the dining area, wiping a few tables and polishing the display case.
She has so much to tell them. I hope they can handle it.
He poured himself a cup of house blend and sipped it, watching the lights come on inside La Estrella
.

Thirty
minutes later, Angela signaled him back to the kitchen.

She turned on the speaker. “He's back.”

“Matthew, I owe you an apology,” her father said. “I'm already proud to know you and I haven't even met you. Angela has told us how much you've helped her, and I want to say thank you.”

“Hello, Matthew,” a female voice said.

Angela's mama.
“Hello, Mrs. Smith.”

“Thank you for keeping our daughter safe,” she said. “Angela had me look at your picture on the Internet, so I am looking at you now. You are a handsome man.”

“Thank you,” Matthew said.
And
they
have Internet in
their
home.
“I've seen your picture, too, Mrs. Smith. Angela has your smile.”

“Yes, she does,” her mother said. “So when are you two getting married? And where? We will be there no matter what.”

“Mama, we're still working that out,” Angela said. “But you'll be the first to know. We need to talk to Matthew's parents now, so . . .”

“Good-bye, Angel,” her mother said.

“Good-bye,” her father said. “And call us the second you know when and where, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy,” Angela said. “I will. Good-bye.” She turned off the phone. “They know everything now.”

“How do you feel?” Matthew asked.

“I feel bad,” Angela said. “I should have told them a long time ago.”

“What would they have done?” Matthew asked.

Angela rolled her eyes. “They would have come back to Williamsburg to rescue me. Either that or they would have flown me down there.”

Matthew dialed his parents. “This will be a shorter call.” He turned on the speaker. The call went directly to voice mail.
That's strange. Someone's usually up by now.
“Hey Dad, Mom, Angela and I are engaged. I'll call you later today with the details. Just wanted you to know before anyone else. Bye.” He closed the phone. “Ready to make some money?”

“You left them a
voice mail
to announce your engagement,” Angela said.

“I'll call them later,” Matthew said.

“You better.” Angela opened the refrigerator. “Is it supposed to be hot again today?”

“Mid-eighties, I think,” Matthew said.

“We'll need more strawberries then,” she said. “And I want you to call your parents back.”

He kissed her forehead. “I will.”

After opening the shop, Matthew finished his coffee before walking down to HOD Fruit & Vegetable. Along the way, an idea struck him that made him smile.

I think I know the
exact
date and place.

He first called his parents.

“We got your message,” his father said. “When's the date?”

Matthew told him the date and why.

His father liked the idea.

His mother complained initially, but she agreed. “Have I told you how hard you've been on me, Matthew? You're pushing me into an early grave.”

“You'll outlive us all, Mom,” Matthew said.

“No thanks to you,” she said.

He called Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and they were overjoyed, giving Matthew a few more ideas.

“How are you going to keep this a secret from Angela?” Angela's mother asked.

“I have learned a great deal from your daughter about keeping secrets, Mrs. Smith,” Matthew said. “I think I'll do okay.”

Matthew bought two boxes of fresh strawberries, and as he walked, his phone buzzed. “This is Matthew McConnell.”

“McConnell, this is Paddy.”

What does O'Day want?
“What can I do for you, Paddy?” “You know I'm lead on the Warrick case, right?” O'Day said.

“I'm sure I read it somewhere,” Matthew said. “How's your case going?”

“Not good,” O'Day said. “Our eyewitnesses are getting cold feet, and the two that are prepped and ready are going to get hammered by Filardi on the stand because they're scared shitless of the guy. I can't get one of them to speak louder than a whisper.”

I don't like where this is leading.
“What about all the evidence Novak said she had?”

“We didn't get any DNA or prints from
any
crime scene,” O'Day said. “None. Warrick covered his tracks well.”

And without snowshoes.
“There was nothing on the boots Angela wore?”

“Nothing but dust,” O'Day said. “We found some cigarette butts in the alley behind her place, including Warrick's brand, but they couldn't pull any DNA from them.”

“What about the phone call he made to me?” Matthew asked. “He admitted being at Angela's during the last blizzard.”

“And that's the only indisputable evidence we have right now,” O'Day said. “If he hadn't called you, we would have had to drop the attempted rape charge for lack of evidence because Miss Smith destroyed all the evidence. Right now, it's back to his word against hers, and we need her words. We have to have her testimony. Live.”

Matthew's heart sank. “I was hoping she wouldn't have to testify. I was hoping you were going to use the tape of her grand jury testimony.”

“It's great testimony, don't get me wrong,” O'Day said, “but Angela isn't exactly the most reliable witness because of her condition, and Filardi knows she has PTSD.”

“How?” Matthew asked.

“I don't know how he knows,” O'Day said. “He only threw it in my face the other day.”

Why is this happening now?
“We both know Angela's
memory
is unreliable.
She's
not unreliable.”

“It will be the same difference to Filardi, McConnell,” O'Day said.

“So why put her on the stand at all?” Matthew asked. “Run the tape and hope for the best.”

“Look, McConnell, I don't want to call her as a material witness,” O'Day said, “but if I have to, I will.”

“We're up against it, McConnell,” O'Day said. “We believe Warrick attacked five women, and we charged him with five counts of attempted rape, but the man was smart. He didn't leave a trace behind.”

“What about the things he said?” Matthew asked. “Didn't he repeat the same words to each victim?”

“And how would you as his defense attorney attack those repeated words?” O'Day asked.

Matthew nodded. “I'd say the witnesses had been coached by the district attorney, but as a prosecutor, I'd damn sure get those words into evidence.”

“We will, we will,” O'Day said. “We aren't as dumb as you think we are, but Filardi is trouble. You know that. He's in the news today chirping and creating a media circus saying his usual bullshit. ‘My client is innocent, this is a vendetta, the five women accusing my client have been misled and brainwashed by the police, they have no physical evidence whatsoever.' It makes me sick.”

“So what exactly do you need?” Matthew asked.

“We need Angela,” O'Day said, “and since you're her lawyer, we expect you to advise her to do the right thing.”

Matthew stopped in the shade a block from Angela's, setting the strawberry boxes beside him. “Or what?”

“McConnell, you know we'd rather have her as a cooperative eyewitness,” O'Day said, “but if we have to issue a warrant to get her to appear, we will. Talk to her, okay? The trial starts next week. I'll be in touch.”

Matthew closed his phone.
Now what? Why does this have to happen today? Life is finally coming together for Angela and me. What do I do now?

He dialed Dr. Penn. “Sorry to bother you, Dr. Penn, but I may need your help.” He explained what O'Day wanted Angela to do.

“Is she stronger now than she was three months ago?” Dr. Penn asked.

“I think so,” Matthew said. “But she's been having nightmares more often as the trial approaches. I don't think she's slept more than a few hours a night for the last month.”

“As might anyone who has been through what she's been through,” Dr. Penn said. “But I think I've told you this before. Angela is
much
tougher than she appears to be.”

“I know that,” Matthew said.

“And this will give her the opportunity to face her attacker,” Dr. Penn said. “Many people never get this chance. This might be the best possible therapy for her.”

“I thought love was the best therapy, Doc,” Matthew said.

“It still is,” Dr. Penn said. “Love will always be the best therapy. But in Angela's case, confrontation may be her ultimate cure.”

He's right. He has always been right.
“By the way, we're engaged.”

“That's wonderful,” Dr. Penn said. “But why don't you sound happier?”

“We're engaged as of yesterday, and now this.”

“Why should this diminish your happiness?” Dr. Penn asked. “Facing Warrick will only help Angela, I assure you. When's the happy event?”

I thought I had some idea an hour ago.
“We haven't set a date.”

“Did she accept your proposal without any reservations?” Dr. Penn asked.

“Yes,” Matthew said.

“No hesitation whatsoever,” Dr. Penn said.

“None,” Matthew said. “Is that significant?”

Dr. Penn laughed. “Go tell Angela she's going to testify against Warrick, and don't wait another minute.”

“I don't know if that's a good idea,” Matthew said. “She told her parents what happened to her only a few hours ago, we got engaged only yesterday, and she's still not sleeping well.”

“Ask her right now,” Dr. Penn said. “I'm not a betting man, but I bet she says she can't wait to testify.”

“Is that your considered opinion as a man or a psychiatrist?” Matthew asked.

“It's my considered opinion as
me
this time,” Dr. Penn said. “I have seen remarkable changes in Angela. She is by far the toughest person I've ever met, and remember, I served in Vietnam with the toughest of men. I believe Angela has been waiting four long years to confront this man, and here's the golden opportunity. Go ask her.”

“Just go up to her and say, ‘You're going to testify in open court against the man who attacked and ruined your life four years ago,' ” Matthew said.

“If that's the way you want to say it, sure,” Dr. Penn said. “She's going to surprise you, Matthew, and you won't need to call me back, probably ever. I'll read her testimony in the newspaper.”