Trust in Me (48 page)

In the background, Tucker heard the whir of sirens.

o0o

MUCH as she had that night five months before, Beth flew into the police station just past twelve. Like last time, Linc accompanied her. After the cops had called him, he’d found her at the movies with Roman. All they knew was that Tucker and Ron had been involved in some kind of incident at the lake with Loose and Maze, but they were all right. Still, her heart beat a frantic tattoo of worry.

Pushing the door to the holding area open, she halted. Again, just like before, Tucker was seated at the table sipping a cup of coffee. His face was bruised, and he had a bandage wound around his hand. Scanning the rest of the room, she saw her son sitting on a couch; plastering an ice bag to his forehead was Lily Hanson. Both kids looked up, as did Tucker.

Ron stood. “Mom, we’re all right. Don’t panic.”

“I’m not panicking.” Giving Tucker a quick once-over, she crossed to Ron. “Are you sure you’re okay?” She studied him. “That’s a nasty bump.”

“I’m all right. Tucker’s hand is hurt, though. He should have it looked at.”

Linc had gone to Tucker and sat down with him.

“I’m fine,” Tucker grumbled “It’s not very deep.” He grinned, and the pain in Beth’s chest eased. “I don’t need no doctorin’.”

“What happened?” Linc asked.

Ron automatically looked to Tucker. Like he might to his dad.

Tucker smiled affectionately at her son. “Apparently, Maze and Loose got our girl Lily here up to the lake on false pretenses—that Ronny was there waitin’ for her. They had...ah...unhealthy motives in mind. She called Ronny, who went charging out like some knight in shining armor. He stopped along the way to pick me up.”

Beth stared at him as if he was speaking Greek.

“Anyway, we got all set to rescue the little lady. After a scuffle, seems she coldcocked one of the scoundrels with a statue of Aphrodite.”

Ron smiled. Lily gave a watery grin. Linc chuckled.

And Beth realized she loved Tucker Quaid. For what he’d done for her son—she was sure he’d been instrumental in the rescue. And for lightening up the charged moment to calm everyone down.

She reached up and hugged Ron. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”

“I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for Tucker,” he said hoarsely.

Beth glanced over at Tucker. He looked sore and tired. He winked at her, then got up and headed to the coffeepot, moving slowly, without his usual athletic grace. He made a solitary figure who had nobody to care about him as much as she cared about Ron, as Linc and she cared about each other.

Until now.

In that moment, it became crystal clear to Beth that that part of The Menace’s life was over.

Squeezing Ron’s hand, she stepped away and crossed to Tucker. His back was to her so he didn’t hear her come up to him. When he circled around, he was so surprised to see her close, the coffee sloshed onto his hand. He jolted from the hot splash of liquid. Beth took the cup from him, and set it aside; reaching for a napkin, she wiped the spill from his hand.

Then, not letting go, she pulled him to her.

In front of Lily, Linc and Ron, she enveloped Tucker in the biggest, best hug she’d ever given anybody in her life.

Then, taking his hand again, she pivoted and looked at her son. “Ron, I have something to tell you.”

o0o

THE cocoa was hot and steaming as his mother took the pan from the stove and poured it into mugs which had been his father’s. They were Glen Oaks track mugs with a sleek race car on the front. It reminded Ron of Tucker’s Jag.

His mother faced him; her pretty brown eyes narrowed when she got another good look at his face. Still dressed up from her date in a red skirt and top, she scowled. “You sure you don’t want more ice on that?”

“The damage is done, Mom. It is what it is.”

She took in a deep breath. She hadn’t gotten the chance to tell him what she wanted to say at the police station. Officer Pratt had interrupted them, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out where she was going.

Picking up his cup, he sipped the warm chocolate brew. It took him back years; he thought of all the cocoa he’d shared with his mother like this. She’d always been there for him. “This is about you and Tucker, isn’t it?”

She nodded. He noticed the sadness was gone from her eyes.

“You haven’t been straight with me, have you?”

“In some ways, not. I meant what I said a few months ago about there not being anything between me and Tucker. There wasn’t then, except some feelings we were both trying to...quell.”

“But you couldn’t.”

She shook her head. “Instead, they’ve grown.”

“I could tell. Tonight. You were as worried about him as you were about me.”

“Oh, honey, no one could ever take my affections away from you.”

Ron rolled his eyes. “I know that, Mom. Geez, whadaya think I am, a baby?”

“No, honey, I don’t. But I want to be sure you know that nobody could ever change what I feel for you.” She hesitated. “Or what I felt for your dad, either. I loved him very much.”

“Do you, um, like feel the same way about Tucker?”

“No, I feel very differently about Tucker than I did your father. But I do love him, Ron.”

He drew in a deep breath. The demons battered in his brain to get out. Insecurity. Fear. Old grudges.

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothin’ much.”

She gave him her best stem-mother look. “Ronny, you’ve got to have faith in yourself that Doc’s and Tucker’s attitude toward you has nothing to do with me.”

“I know it here,” he said pointing to his head.

“Well, you need to understand it here, then.” She laid her hand over his chest. “Think about the time and attention they’ve given you. I know it had nothing to do with me, but you’ve got to find that answer in your own heart.”

“What are you gonna do now? I mean, about Tucker?”

“I don’t know, exactly. I know what I’m
not
going to do. I’m not going to force this relationship on you too fast.” She stared at him hard. “But I’m not giving him up, either. I lost one man I loved to death. I’m not going to lose another without a fight.”

“Old Bonnie Parker surfaces, hey Mom?”

Her smile was good to see. “Maybe.” She reached over and grasped his hand. “I love you, honey. I’ll always love you. But life’s so short.” She glanced at the picture of his dad on the counter. “We both know that. And you’ve done a wonderful job of turning yours around. I just hope you can...” She drew back and didn’t finish. She glanced at the clock again. “It’s late. Let’s go to bed now and sleep on this. There’s no hurry in making any decisions tonight.”

Bed sounded good to Ron. He stood and stared down at her. At the woman who had been there for him for every single second of his life. Through all the shit he’d pulled and all the trouble he’d gotten into. He owed her, big-time.

“I love you, Mom. Thanks. For always being there for me.”

“I love you, too. And you’re welcome.”

He left her then, but the vision of her sitting alone in the kitchen, by herself, with only his father’s picture backdropped behind her, stayed with him for a long time.

Chapter 29

MARGO hadn’t seen Philip since her disclosure to Jack the Thursday before. Now, as she strode into the CEO’s office where Philip was standing by the window staring out and one of the company lawyers sat off to the side, her pulse raced. She realized it was
Showdown at the OK Corral
time.

Well, she of all people, the engineer formerly known as Ma Barker, was up to it. Dressed somberly in a black suit and crisp white blouse, she nodded to Jack when he looked up from his desk. “Hello, Margo.”

Turning quickly, Philip stared at her. She’d expected some kind of response—anger, guilt, disbelief. Instead, his face was blank, his eyes a flat blue. Cordially, he said, “Margo.” His voice was frigid, that of a man facing a divorce lawyer or a doctor with bad news.

“Philip.”

The lawyer gave her a terse greeting. Jack looked troubled. His face was taut with stress, and the shadows under his eyes betrayed sleeplessness. She was sorry such a good man had to deal with this offensive situation. He indicated the chairs. “Let’s all sit down.”

Both Margo and Philip sat, as they had so many times in this very room, on the chairs facing the CEO, next to each other. Jack addressed Margo. “For the purposes of expediency and to make this as comfortable as possible, I’ll outline your charges and Philip’s response to them. Is that all right with you?”

“Yes.”

He picked up papers from an open folder on his desk. “First, you contend Philip behaved inappropriately in Boston. Philip denies the charge. He did confess that while you were there, he told you that he felt you two were getting too close and he wouldn’t spend as much time with you any more, that it wasn’t good given the fact that he’s married.”

“That’s not—”

Jack held up his hand. “Please, let me finish. You’ve had your say, Margo, and he deserves his.”

Nodding, she forced her clasped hands to relax.

“As for the charges that he held your work over your head, perhaps caused or allowed some of these deadline/attention things to happen, he states that the contrary is true. Because of the fact that he cares about you—and he doesn’t deny that—he’s tried to cover for you.”

Jack looked even more weary. “In general, Margo, Philip’s position is that he acted ethically.” The CEO sat back in his chair. “As you can see, his stance is contrary to the statements you made.”

When no more was forthcoming, she spoke. “I’d like to ask some questions.”

“Go ahead.”

“Did Philip say why I’d jeopardize my career if none of this is true?”

Jack nodded. “I think he should answer that.”

Philip faced her. “I have no idea why you’d turn on me like this. We’ve been close for eight years. As I told you in Boston, too close. Was that it, Margo? We got too close, and when I wouldn’t take it further you couldn’t handle it?”

“How can you say that? You know it didn’t happen that way.”

A muscle in his jaw leapt. “Of course it did. And I told you I was sorry, but Sally and the girls were too important to me to jeopardize my relationship with them—for you.”

“I can’t believe this.” She looked at the ceiling. “That isn’t how it happened at all.”

Philip shot Jack a look of male bemusement. His big, powerful shoulders shrugged underneath navy wool. “I don’t know what else to say, Jack.”

“Margo?” Jack’s voice was kind, but unhappy.

“I don’t know what else to say, either, except I’m sticking to my facts. Philip has sabotaged my work. Period.”

Jack looked to the lawyer, who finally spoke.

“Then there’s nowhere to go with this but to put a memo in each of your files documenting the complaint. If either of you is ever involved in this kind of thing again, it will be there as prior evidence.”

She cocked her head. “I can see your point.” She faced Jack. “But I’m meeting with my own lawyer tomorrow. If her advice is to drop it, I probably will. If not” —she stood and smoothed down her skirt— “I guess, as they say, I’ll see you in court.” Turning, she walked to the door.

“Margo?” Jack’s voice held traces of exasperation. “I haven’t finished yet.”

She pivoted. “Yes?”

“I want to tell you something else.” He glanced at the lawyer, who nodded.

“What?”

“I’m offering you the vice presidency of engineering.”

That took the wind out of her sails.
“What?”
She just stared at him. “Why? After all this, I thought...”

Again the lawyer spoke. “Yes, I’m sure you did. And I’m sure your lawyer would have a field day with that news. The job’s yours, if you want it.”

Your lawyer would have a field day.

She addressed Jack. “Let me get this straight. You’re offering me the VP of engineering so I can’t prove any discrimination on your part?”

“Of course not. I’m offering you the VP of engineering because, as I’ve said openly and documented, by the way, you’ve had an impeccable record at CompuQuest up till now, and you’re the best choice for the job.”

Ah, life. It was so strange. For years she’d dreamed of this moment and how happy she’d feel. Instead, the whole thing was tainted. For some reason she thought of Linc. What would he do with this turn of events?

He’d tell you to tell them to fuck off.

She smiled.

“Margo? Are you happy about this appointment?”

She shook her head. “No, Jack, I’m not happy about this appointment.”

He blew out a heavy breath. “I think we can put this unfortunate misunderstanding behind us, if we all try.”

Unfortunate misunderstanding?
Oh, brother! “How long do I have to decide?”

“Decide?”

“If I want the vice presidency?”

Jack’s eyebrows arched. “Oh, well, take as long as you like.”

“Fine. I’ll let you know.” Margo gave the two men one last look and strode out of the office.

Geraldine wasn’t at her desk. Margo was glad she didn’t have to face the woman. She needed to think about what had just transpired in Jack’s office. She wished she could call Linc. Get his take on it. But she wouldn’t. She needed to work this out by herself, like a lot of things lately.

Funny, though, she didn’t feel so alone anymore. She felt centered, as if she had roots. As if she had...help.

Linc? God, maybe.

Nah, it couldn’t be that.

o0o

“HI, babe.” Linc spoke into the telephone and frowned at the receiver. “If you’re there, please pick up.”

No answer.

“All right. Then I’ll have my say this way. It’s damned stupid that you won’t talk to me. I love you. I want to know if you’re all right. How can you cut me off like this?” He paced his office. Swore. “All right, I know it’s been tense between us. But we can work it out.” He waited. Then heard a
b-e-e-e-p
.

“Shit!” He looked at the phone. “Well, I’m not giving up.”

He punched redial.

“This is Margo. Leave a message.”

“This is Linc,
babe
.” The endearment was less tender this time. “Don’t you get it? I’m not giving up. I love you. We can work this out. I need you in my life, Margo. We need each other.” He kicked an innocent wastebasket he happened to walk by. “Okay, okay, I know we haven’t been able to do this the right way since I became a minister. But breaking my arm has given me a lot of time to think. I’ve decided we’ve been going at it the wrong way. We need to...” He thought for a minute.
B-e-e-e-p.