Almost Doesn't Count (31 page)

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Authors: Angela Winters

BOOK: Almost Doesn't Count
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“Betrayed.”
Sherise's head shot up as she heard Justin's voice. He was standing in the doorway and she hadn't heard him walk up. Neither had Erica, who'd had her back to the door, holding Cady in her arms.
Sherise and Justin's eyes met and she could see how much pain he was in. She felt her knees get weak. She wanted to run to him, to hold him, to kiss him and hug him. She loved him and this was all her fault. Why hadn't she realized how much she loved him when it mattered? When it could have kept her from making the myriads mistakes she'd made?
“Justin,” she said. “Where have you been?”
Justin looked at her with a stony, emotionless expression for a moment before turning to Erica. He walked over to her, focusing his attention on Cady now. She leaned forward and opened her arms as he reached out for her.
Sherise's eyes filled up with tears as she watched him look at Cady in his arms. He was so full of love for her and looked as if he wanted to cry. She felt sick just thinking of all the damage she had done. Yes, it would have been better if she'd left Jennifer for later and not piled the shock on top of shock, but the damage would have still been done. He loved Cady more than anything in this world.
“Justin,” Sherise said quietly. “She's—”
“Stop it,” he said without looking at her.
He gently cradled Cady's head as he leaned down and kissed her on her crown. He closed his eyes.
“Erica,” he said. “You need to leave.”
Erica looked at Sherise before agreeing. “Yeah, I . . . Of course. I was just—”
“Now,” he added.
She snatched her purse from the kitchen table. “Do you want me to take Cady with me?”
“No,” Sherise said quickly. “She's fine here.”
“Take her.” Justin reluctantly handed the baby over to her. “Sherise will only try to use her to soften me.”
“I wouldn't do that,” Sherise said.
“And she doesn't need to see us . . . discuss this.” He looked at Sherise, his expression darkening. “She doesn't need to be here now. Sherise will call you when she wants to get her back.”
Holding Cady as she reached the doorway, Erica turned to Sherise one last time. She looked like a nervous, scared child, but Erica knew there were limits to what she and Billie could do for her. This was their marriage and she had to step away.
“Call me,” she said.
Sherise nodded before turning away. Erica felt for her. No matter what her faults, and there were many of them, Erica loved Sherise like a sister, and she didn't want to see her in pain like this. She didn't want to see her friend cornered, even if it was a corner of her own making.
There wasn't anything she could do. She had her own nightmare of a life to deal with. She could only love and care for Cady while she had her, and be there for Sherise, no questions asked, when this was all over.
 
Billie walked past the hallway that led to her partner's office for the third time. She was trying to get control of her emotions and go over what she was going to say. She had to get off the case. She couldn't represent Ricky anymore. She had to tell the truth, so she could be ahead of this instead of waiting to get caught and watching it all to blow up in her face.
She turned again to head down the hallway to her partner's office when her cell phone's vibrator went off . . . again. She had been getting a few calls from Sherise and Erica in the last hour, but couldn't handle it. She had too much to deal with. She couldn't be their problem solver yet again. Their disasters would have to wait until she handled her own disaster. In a few minutes, she figured she'd probably be out of a job anyway, so she would have plenty of time to help them out.
Jackson Snow's assistant was not at her desk, so Billie headed straight for his door. Just outside the door, she got a beep from her text messages. She knew if she didn't turn it off, it would keep beeping until she answered it, so she reached down to turn it off. That was until she read the message from Erica.
 
JUSTIN KNOWS EVERYTHING! IT'S GOING
DOWN NOW!
 
“Oh, for fuck's sake,” Billie said.
Her words came just as the front door to Jackson's office opened, and from the look on his face, he'd heard every word.
There was an awkward moment of silence before she spoke again.
“I'm sorry, Jackson. That wasn't meant for you. It was . . .”
“I should hope not,” he said, smiling. “Although it wouldn't be the first time. I think I know why you're here.”
Billie's eyes shot open and she felt her chest begin to cave in. “You do?”
He nodded. “This was your first pro bono case. You wanted this.”
“I know, sir, and if you only listen—”
“We couldn't be more proud.”
Billie blinked, wondering if she was hearing things. She paused for a second, trying to figure out what was going on. He was smiling. He looked proud.
“Okay,” she said cautiously, still unsure. “Th-thank you?”
“We just got a call from William Ricker. He's promised to delete the code report on our client and issue a new inspection supervised by an agent of our choice.”
Billie was floored. “Are you serious? This happened today?”
“I was trying to reach you in your office, but I'm only getting voice mail.”
That was because she'd spent the last half hour pacing the hallways trying to work up the nerve to tell him that she'd destroyed her career.
“So I was just going to come over,” he said. “Good news like this is better in person.”
Billie was trying to stay focused. This changed everything. Didn't it?
“This was too easy,” she said. “Something is going on here.”
“We were told to just back off in return for our client being left alone.”
The advocate in Billie couldn't let this rest. Her mind wandered from her own problems to her case. “But for them to react this way to the little we've done means that there is something there. They're afraid of what we'd find.”
“Of course they are,” he added. “And they knew we had the quality lawyers that were willing to take the time and effort to find it out for our client, a person they thought didn't matter.”
“Ricky isn't . . .” She caught herself. “Mr. Williams isn't the only person they're doing this to. We need to find out who in the Housing Authority is working with Sanders Realty. An investigation needs to be launched, and we need to find out who else turned down Sanders and got threatened as a result.”
“I mentioned that an internal investigation would be a good idea,” he said with a voice that held a lot less enthusiasm than just a few seconds ago. “But what's important is that you've succeeded in helping our Mr. Williams.”
“This isn't over,” Billie said.
“It is,” he said. “Thanks to you.”
“What are we going to do about that?”
“Nothing, Billie. We've done our part.”
“But . . .”
“Billie.” He held up a hand to stop her. “I know what you're thinking and that's not what we do. We aren't trying to save the world.”
“Speak for yourself,” she said, with a smile.
He didn't smile. “I'm speaking for the firm. Your heart is in the right place, but we win selective pro bono cases that come to us. We don't start crusades to go out and find them. Well, at least in this case we get them dismissed, but the point is to get what your client wants, and you did that. Mr. Williams will be eternally grateful to you. Don't you think?”
She swallowed nervously. “Are you going to . . . um . . . contact him?”
He frowned as if he found her comments extremely odd. “Hell no. You're going to call him. What's the matter? You don't like him or something?”
She tried to force a smile as Jackson laughed. This was painful. She wanted to look at it as best she could. She was happy this was resolved. She was able to serve her client, that was true. But she knew she didn't deserve any congratulations and it wasn't because she'd barely done anything. It was because she'd almost ruined everything.
She was facing an internal battle now. There was a little voice that told her it was all good now.
No need to spill your guts and put your career on the line. No one was hurt.
She knew better though. This wasn't who she was. She wanted to tell Jackson everything, not knowing whether or not telling him after the fact of a victory would be better or worse.
“Jackson,” she said, pulling on all the nerve she had. “I have to tell you something.”
“I know what you're going to ask,” he said. “And, no, you can't have another case yet. You need to focus one hundred percent back on—”
“It's not about that,” she said. “I made a mistake and—”
“Oh my God, there you are!”
One of the receptionists, Sierra, had just rushed around the corner out of breath. She had a terrified look on a face that looked flawless without a speck of makeup.
“I've been trying to find you Ms. Haa—I mean, Ms. Carter.”
“What's wrong?” she asked. From the look on Sierra's face, Billie wondered if Sherise had called the office frantically trying to reach her.
“It's your husband,” she said.
“My ex-husband,” she corrected. “What does he want?”
“The hospital called,” she said. “He's been hurt.”
16
“F
irst,” Sherise said after a short moment, “Cady is your daughter.”
Standing only a few feet across the kitchen from her, he was just shaking his head, looking at her with disdain.
“I've had the tests done,” she added. “I . . . Billie has the proof, but—”
“Let me guess,” he said. “She knew, too. Both those girls knew while I'm walking around like an idiot thinking my wife loved me and my daughter was—”
“Is,” she said. “Is yours. They just found out last week. I wanted to know before Jennifer had a chance to tell you.”
“But it's true,” he said. “You had an affair with her husband before you got pregnant. You thought Cady was his.”
“Justin.” Sherise used the calmest voice she could find even though she was panicky inside. “I'm not making excuses for my behavior, but let's not pretend I didn't have a fight with your mistress today.”
“Answer my fucking question!”
She jumped at the tone of his voice. He rarely yelled that angrily at her.
“Yes,” she answered quickly. “I thought she might be. I knew she wasn't, but I thought she might be.”
“That doesn't make any fucking sense!” He slammed his fist on the kitchen counter behind him. “None of this makes any fucking sense!”
“It was just once,” she explained. “I got caught up in something and I'm not making excuses, but . . .”
“I've been trying to think about what was going on between us just before we found out you were pregnant.” He started pacing the around the kitchen table. “But I can't think of anything. We were fine, as far as I knew.”
“I know what you're doing,” Sherise said. “You're trying to excuse your affair by suggesting that we were having problems. That isn't fair.”
“This is different, Sherise.”
“I was just a selfish whore,” she said, “but you had a reason. Is that what you're going to say?”
He lowered his head, his frustration clearly growing. “We aren't going to get anywhere this way.”
“No,” she said. “This is only going to work if I'm the bad guy. If I keep bringing up your cheating, well, that just isn't fair. You want to play the victim.”
“Fuck you, Sherise!” He rushed over to her, pointing his finger in her face. “What I did was just as wrong as you. I'm not denying that. But, shit, you kept the truth about Cady from me. That's fucking worse!”
“And I can't tell you how sorry I am for that.” She reached out to touch the finger he had pointed at her, but he slapped her hand away. “Can we just not talk about Ryan or Jennifer right now and focus on—”
“But it's all connected!” He stepped away. “Isn't it? You fucked him and she targets me to get back at you.”
“You can't blame me for that,” she said. “You never had to sleep with her. You made that choice. You decided I wasn't interesting enough for you anymore.”
“You fucking women and your games.” He pressed a hand against his forehead and looked up at the ceiling. “Cady . . . What if she wasn't . . . Oh my God.”
“She is,” Sherise said. “That's all that matters.”
He looked at her with a disgusted expression. “That's what you'd like to think, isn't it? That's what you want this to be about. Well, Sherise, for once in your whole fucking selfish life, you don't get to decide how things go.”
“Justin.” She rushed over to him, pressing her hands against his chest. “Please, you have to forgive me. I am so sorry. I know I started this horrible lie, but I am begging you . . .”
“Don't bother.” He pushed her hands away and turned toward the door. “I'm leaving.”
“You can't leave me!” She started after him. “Justin!”
She followed him through the living room.
“Justin, stop!” Her voice held only half the desperation she was feeling right now.
Was he really going to walk out on her, on their marriage?
“Think about what you're doing,” she pleaded. “I know you hate me right now, but you love me, too. I know you do. That's why I wanted to fight for you!”
“No, Sherise!” He reached the door and opened it.
She couldn't let this happen. She couldn't just let him leave and walk out like this. Something told her if she did, she would never see him again.
“What about Cady?” she yelled. “What do I tell her? That both her parents were unfaithful to each other, but she's the one that has to pay?”
She watched as he started to step outside, but stopped in the doorway. Her hand came to her heart as she waited anxiously. What was his next move? Was this over or was there a chance?
“For her,” Sherise said. “For her family, I wanted to fight. I was willing to do anything. Why aren't you?”
He lowered his head, never turning around, and said, “I need time.”
He slammed the door behind him and Sherise smiled with a relieved sigh. That hesitation, that one moment he stopped and paused and thought, was all he gave her. It was all she had. It would be all she needed.
 
“Hello, Erica,” Jonah said as soon as he answered his phone. “Are you okay? Where did you go yesterday?”
“I don't like this, Jonah.”
Not wanting to go to his office, Erica found a quiet, private corner of the break room to contact him as soon as she got into work that morning.
“You don't like what?” he asked.
“You know every move I make,” she said. “You're having someone spy on me and report back to you.”
“Actually,” he said, “I came looking for you yesterday afternoon and Denise told me you mentioned an emergency and left. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I'm fine,” she said, even though she was far from it.
“So, what can I help you with?”
“You can tell me why you lied to me about Terrell's friendship with Reedy.”
There was a long silence over the phone.
“I know he didn't tell you,” Jonah said. “So I assume you figured this out yourself. You're a smart girl, Erica.”
“Woman,” she corrected. “And you didn't answer my question.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You were getting something out of it,” she said. “You hate Terrell and you—”
“I don't hate him,” Jonah said. “I just don't think he's right for you. You can see that now, can't you?”
“What were you getting out of it, Jonah?”
“I made a deal with him.”
She couldn't believe this. “Terrell agreed to something, anything with you?”
“I keep his relationship with Reedy out of anything I report to you and he agrees to encourage you to have a relationship with me.”
She was disgusted. Was there one man on this earth worth trusting? “This is how you operate with everything in life, isn't it?”
“I'm a man that does what he has to,” Jonah answered. “I don't apologize for that.”
“But you were willing to let me stay with Terrell, knowing what he'd done even though you've never wanted me with him?”
“I knew that you would come to your senses eventually,” he said. “And after our relationship was stronger, I'm certain I would have steered you away from him. Either that, or he'd fuck up again. It's who he is.”
“He was on the straight and narrow for a while,” she argued.
“Remember who you're talking to?” Jonah asked. “I'm the man he wanted to blackmail less than a year ago.”
“He's not doing anything with Reedy anymore,” Erica said, as if it meant something. “It was just a slipup. He was upset over our breakup.”
“Erica.” Jonah's tone was condescending. “Still making excuses for him? Well, tell me, then. What is his excuse for introducing Reedy to Nate, knowing who Nate was? What is his excuse for bringing Reedy into the car wash so he would practically be working for him?”
“Stop,” she said. “You don't have to do this. I kicked him out. I'll never forgive him for connecting Nate to that guy.”
“He can be properly punished for that,” Jonah said. “Along with Reedy.”
“I told you,” she insisted. “He's not involved with Reedy anymore.”
“He is,” Jonah said slowly, “if I say he is.”
“No,” Erica said. “Jonah, please. Don't ruin his life over this. There's been enough damage.”
“You disappoint me, Erica.”
“I disappoint you?” She laughed. “You're willing to frame him and ruin his life and I'm the disappointing one?”
“I'll make a deal with you.”
“Jonah, please.”
“Hear me out, okay? I will leave Terrell out of this, just like I'm leaving Nate out of it. I will do it for you, but you have to promise me you will never see him again.”
“I told you I've already broken up with him.”
“You've said that before, Erica. Six months later . . . I don't want a repeat of that. I think it's a fair deal.”
“Only you would say that not framing someone made you fair.”
She waited for a response, but heard nothing. She knew that Jonah was not a man to take lightly.
“You'll stay away from him, too?” she asked. “I mean it, Jonah. You won't bother him at all.”
“You stay away from him,” Jonah offered, “and so will I. We'll do it together. Forever. No matter what.”
Erica closed her eyes, feeling her heart ache. How had this become her life? She had cut Terrell out of her life and her heart, her brother's life had fallen apart right under her nose, and she was making deals with the devil. Oh, and that devil was her father.
“Fine,” she said softly before hanging up the phone.
 
When Billie entered Porter's hospital room, she saw him sitting up in his bed talking to a female doctor, predictably asking when he was going to get out of the hospital so he could go back to work. He had a hand in a cast just past his wrist, a bruise on his lips, and a gauze covering the left side of his forehead.
When he saw Billie, he immediately got angry.
“Where in the hell have you been?” he asked.
She approached the bed. “I came as soon as I could. Are you okay?”
“Hello,” the doctor said. “I'm Dr. Banks. You're the wife?”
“Ex-wife,” she corrected. “What happened here?”
“I thought we were waiting for your wife?” Dr. Banks asked Porter.
Porter looked at her, seeming a little embarrassed. “I might have called her that. I was upset at the time. Someone tried to kill me.”
“What happened?” Billie asked again.
Porter looked at the doctor. “Can you give us some privacy?”
She nodded and left.
“You happened,” Porter finally said.
“What do you mean, Porter? And fuck off with the games. Tell me.”
He cringed as he shifted in his bed a little bit. “I'm leaving my building to catch the metro when some guy hits me from behind and knocks me to the ground.”
“You were mugged?”
“That's what I thought,” he answered. “So I offer the guy my wallet. He doesn't want my fucking wallet. He kicks me in my ribs and tells me to stay the fuck away from you.”
“What?” Billie gasped. “Me? Who was this?”
“That's what I wanted to ask you, Billie.” He held his hand up. “That asshole stomped on my hand. He broke it.”
It took Billie a second to register this, but she realized suddenly that it had to be Ricky. Who else would be telling Porter to stay away from her? Robert? No, he hadn't put up much protest when she'd told him that she didn't want to see him again. But in her last encounter with Ricky, she'd made it clear to him that Porter was a problem for her. But she never thought he would do this.
“Was it the same guy you saw me with outside my apartment?”
He shook his head. “No, it was another guy. The cops got him. I got lucky. One was driving by only seconds after he ran away. They sped after him.”
“Porter, I don't know who would do this,” she said. “I've never asked anyone.”
“You know a guy named Reedy?” he asked.
Billie immediately knew where she'd heard that name last. “That's . . . That's the name of the guy I was trying to find out about . . . but that was for Erica. He's gotten Nate involved with drugs.”

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