Chapter Sixteen

“Can we go in with you in the morning?” Bailey asked. They were on their way home after having dinner at Port of Call. The thick burgers and baked potatoes the restaurant was known for, on top of their active afternoon, had left them all listless.

“Did they hand out book report assignments for next year already?” Tully teased.

Libby laughed and pinched Tully’s side after her comment. “Behave.”

“Ralph and I wanted to help you with whatever you’re working on. It’s got to be better than sitting by the pool all day while we wait for summer camp to start.” Bailey yawned as she stared out the window through half-closed lids. “And the pay should be better with you than the summer camp gig.”

Another round of laughter came from Libby. “She’s got you pegged on that one, boss.”

“You be quiet or I’m naming them your new assistants.”

Tully put the car in park and turned off the ignition. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she could see Ralph’s head resting peacefully against the seat. Bailey jerked Ralph awake, and Tully had to laugh, remembering her own relationship with her brothers.

Groggy, Ralph slowly climbed out of the car and kissed Tully’s cheek, then Libby’s before he headed to bed. Tully followed him up so she could talk to him.

Libby and Bailey stayed downstairs, and half an hour later Bailey told Libby good night when Tully called her from the top of the stairs.

“How’d he take the news about Libby?” Bailey asked as she opened the door to her room and waved Tully inside.

“You know your brother. He said ‘cool’ and shrugged.”

“He was still hoping things would work out and we could go back to the way things were.” Bailey pointed to the desk chair.

“Is that what you want?” Tully looked around the neat space. Aside from a few scattered CD cases, the room was orderly, nothing she’d expected from a teenager with an independent streak as wide as the Mississippi River.

“I didn’t tell you that because I want you to go back or because I have a problem with you seeing Libby. Jeez, you’d be totally miserable if you went back to Mama.” Bailey plopped down on the bed and grabbed a worn stuffed bear Tully had given her years before. “Ralph’s bummed about stuff because he doesn’t like Mama’s new girlfriend.”

“When did you meet her?”

“We haven’t officially.” Bailey made air quotes with her fingers. “We’ve just run into her a few times, and she calls a lot when we’re spending time with Mama. She talks loud enough for us to figure out she’s a butthead.”

Tully picked up a pen from the desk and twirled it between her fingers. “I’d talk to her, but that isn’t my business anymore.”

“I know that, Mom. It’s like you tell us all the time, everything you do affects your life. Mama’s old enough to know that.” Bailey stretched out and stared at the ceiling as if putting her thoughts in order.

“When I met your mom and we started building a life together, I never considered what it would be like if we started over with other people.”

Bailey laughed. “Who goes into a relationship thinking that?”

Tully chuckled. “I should have, since we’ve become a cliché, and I’m sorry for that. Having to spend time with both of us and having new people thrust into your life without your say-so can’t be pleasant.”

“This is about Libby, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.”

Bailey laughed again and sat up. “This is a change, all right. You’re looking for our blessing, aren’t you? Ralph’s and my permission to see her?”

“It’s not that, exactly.” She scrubbed her hands over her face.

“Then what?”

“I want you to be honest and tell me if you have a problem with it. This isn’t just about me.”

“Do you care about her?” Bailey got up and put her hands on Tully’s shoulders.

“I really do.”

“Then go for it. Mama’s already building a life that doesn’t include you, so don’t try to make everyone but you happy by letting Libby go.”

“Thanks, Bailey Bean. I’m glad you’re willing to support me. Dating at forty-two makes me feel kind of silly.”

“Hell, Mom, you’ve lost weight and look totally hot. Just relax and get down there before she decides to find somebody else.”

“Did they talk some sense into you?” Libby asked.

“Bailey did, anyway.” Tully leaned against the entryway of the kitchen and crossed her arms over her chest.

“So I guess I should get going, huh?”

That afternoon when Libby had admitted how she felt, something in Tully’s heart had opened up. Even if things between her and Jessica had worked out, she would’ve never been happy. With a little time and perspective she easily realized just how bad things were between her and Jessica, even if she put the cheating aside. Life was fleeting if you let it slip through your fingers just trying to survive it, and she was resolute on stopping her negative behavior. From that moment on she wanted to enjoy her children, her success, and her life with someone who really wanted to stand by her side.

Before Libby could move, Tully lifted her and sat her on the kitchen island. “Actually, I’d rather you stayed for a while. We really do have a lot to talk about.” She kissed Libby’s neck until she reached the underside of her ear.

“You’re interested in a long conversation, are you?” Libby bent her head back and anchored her fingers in Tully’s hair.

“Oh, yeah.” Tully bit down gently on the very tip of Libby’s earlobe, liking the moan it produced. “A long talk so you’ll have no doubt about how I feel about you and what a brave genius you are. If you’d left it up to me we’d have been flirting in the kitchen for the next twenty years.” She framed Libby’s face with her hands and gazed at her before she kissed her. Libby wrapped her legs around her waist, her lips parting slightly to invite Tully in.

They leisurely kissed until they either had to slow down or strip, so Tully put Libby on her feet and offered her hand, then they strolled to the pool house through a light fog.

“One of the last things I remember my mom telling me before she died was to wait for someone who understood my secrets.”

Tully put her arms around her when they reached the door, smiling when Libby rested her head on her chest. Having Libby this close made her hopeful for the future. “I don’t think you’ve had a secret from the moment I met you.”

Without moving, Libby decided to see if her mother had been right. “Tell me what you know about me.”

“All I need to.”

The answer made her gaze up at Tully. “What do you mean?”

“That you have a good heart, a true spirit, and no secrets. They aren’t necessary, because secrets stem from fear. My feelings for you are genuine, and you have nothing to fear from me no matter what.” Tully met her eyes with an openness that made Libby wrap her arms around her. “And I’m going to try to make sure we never have any secrets between us.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you knew my mom.” Libby stepped closer into Tully. “You’re right. You’re the only person I’ve trusted with who I am, and you not only understood me, you accept me.”

“Libby, that’s been the easiest thing I’ve done in a good long while. Just remember you’re in good hands.”

Libby reached for her hands and placed a kiss in each palm. For an attorney Tully’s hands were callused, a lasting testament to where her road had started. “I know that, and I’ll try to make you want to stay. Do you want to come in?”

“I really want to, but I don’t want to leave the kids too long. And when I do stay, I want our first time together to be special. When I come in it’s because I won’t be leaving you.”

“I’m keeping you to that, and thanks for taking a chance on us. Your heart—it’s in good hands too.”

After their last kiss Tully stayed by the door until she heard the dead bolt slide into place. Now her nights were going to be long for a completely different reason.

When she settled into the chair in her office, she set the Hebert case aside and started on a different set of legal papers. It was time to pay the toll of the past so she could start over. She finished just before midnight, but made a call despite the late hour.

“Are you free for coffee tomorrow morning?”

If she was expecting a fight, she was pleasantly surprised.

“Good. Nine o’clock at the Bluebird Café.”

“Just remember to keep your cool,” Libby said the next morning. She wished there was some way she could be there to watch out for her. Of course, Tully didn’t need anyone else to fight her battles, but Kara Nicolas was obviously not the most stable person, and Libby hoped she only fought with her fists and nothing worse would happen to Tully. Her black eye had long since faded but the cut had left a little scar, and Libby worried what would happen if they set Tully off again.

She stayed quiet about her fears, though, and kept her eyes on Tully’s butt until she disappeared behind the gate. She could feel her ears get instantly hot when she turned and found Bailey and Ralph standing at the back door.

“Is that what people are talking about when they say breakfast of champions?” Ralph asked innocently, getting a slap to the back in congratulations from Bailey.

“No, that would be gruel they’re talking about, which I could whip up for you if you don’t behave,” Libby shot back. The sound of the engine starting made her send a silent prayer that things would go well.

Tully drove down the oak-lined avenue of St. Charles and studied the sky. It was dark gray because of a thick cloud cover that would probably bring rain before too long. She never really thought about the weather, but now she could imagine spending the afternoon with Libby on the sofa watching television.

Jessica’s Lexus was parked close to their meeting place, and Tully took the space in front of it. She had made one stop at the bank before getting there, which had made her ten minutes late. It didn’t matter what came of this meeting; she had made up her mind to keep her cool and just move on.

Jessica put her coffee cup down and her hands flat on the table when Tully walked in. She took in the pressed chinos, dark blue polo shirt, and polished loafers. Tully resembled the young college student Jessica had first spotted one afternoon walking on the sidewalk in front of Tulane. The weight loss and the new clothes had definitely changed Tully since the last time she had seen her at their home.

“Good morning. I’m glad you called.”

The only thing about Tully that hadn’t changed was her laugh, and when it came out it was genuine since the skin around her eyes crinkled.

“I’m sure spending time with me was at the top of your list of things to do this morning, Jessica.”

“Are you going to be hostile the whole time we’re here?”

“It depends.”

“On what?” Jessica leaned back and let the waitress refresh her coffee.

“If your girlfriend is in the bathroom warming up. Though she might not want to take a swing at me with so many witnesses around.”

“Okay, what do you want? If it’s just to give me a lot of shit, I’d rather leave now.”

“Calm down.” Tully nodded when the girl held up the coffeepot. “I wanted to go over a few things. First off, I figure you’re living with Dr. Nicolas, so I’d like to buy you out of the house.” She took out the first set of papers from the file she’d brought in.

“Always the organized one, aren’t you?”

“Let’s just say I now know who I’m dealing with. It’s best if we do things in the most straightforward way possible.”

Jessica thrust her head forward a little and let some of her anger out. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That I don’t want you coming back telling me how unfair I was, so just listen to what I’m saying before you start attacking, okay?” She laid three separate sheets in front of Jessica. “I had the house appraised by three separate firms. They were within ten thousand dollars of each other, so I went with the highest value. I’d like to offer you half of that appraisal.”

“What if I want the house?” Jessica picked up the cashier’s check that Tully had also put in front of her.

“Then I’ll need a check in that amount from you by the end of business next Friday.”

Jessica cut her eyes up to Tully after the quick, calm comeback. Tully wasn’t exactly known for giving in so easily. “What’s the catch?”

“None. I want the house because the kids are comfortable there, but if you want it, I’m sure they’ll enjoy hunting for a new one. Hell, that might even be for the best, for all of us.” She reached out and snatched the check out of Jessica’s hand and put it back in the folder.

“What if I want to keep the house with the kids in it?”

“Then pick a court date and let me know when to show up. If you insist on a fight that doesn’t involve fists, I’ll be more than happy to oblige you.” She didn’t raise her voice or show any emotion that would hint that she was upset. With the first issue out of the way, she laid out another set of papers. “Have we decided that you’ll keep the house?”

“I don’t want the fucking house, Tully.”

“Okay, I see your new acquaintances have improved your vocabulary immensely.” She handed back the check and summoned the waitress to witness Jessica’s signature on the receipt. “Next we’ll move on to the joint accounts.”

That took two hours, and when they were done, Jessica asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Not that I can think of, but you’ll be the first to know if I do. Good luck to you, Jessica. I don’t really expect to talk to you much unless it has to do with the kids.” Tully paid the bill in cash. “Whether I like it or not, you’re their mother and we’ll be forever tied because of that.”

“Do you really hate me that much?”

“Hate you? Not really. You wanted something new and I wasn’t it. I can live with that. How you got there is your business, and you’ll have to live with where you’ve ended up. All I ask now is that you don’t let many days like yesterday happen. Bailey and Ralph were really hurt, and there was no excuse for it. No piece of ass is worth bringing pain to your children.”

“I have no response to that.”

“Good, then we’re done.” Tully stood and had just reached into her pocket for her car keys when Jessica’s reaction stopped her. Tully turned and looked at the door to find Kara Nicolas. She appeared to have slept in what she was wearing, and she scanned the room rapidly. Despite all the things that were obviously wrong, it was the sweating that captured Tully’s attention. Granted, it was noon and May in New Orleans, but unless Kara had run over to the café, there was no reason for her to be that drenched.

“Are you going to be all right?” Tully asked Jessica. She balanced her weight over her feet and waited. Kara appeared a bit crazed, and Tully was ready for anything after what had happened the first time they’d met.

“Are you trying to say something?” Jessica asked in return. “Just because I’m sleeping with her there has to be something wrong? Get on your white horse and ride away, Tully. I’m fine.”

“You got it, babe.”

Kara’s nostrils flared at the endearment Tully had used. It seemed to make her lose what little control she was displaying at the door.

Even if Tully thought she was ready, there was no way to defend herself from the running start Kara took from the door. One moment she was standing at the table ready to leave, and the next second she was falling over the table and the elderly woman who had been sitting behind them now sat above her, holding her fork close to her mouth. The Mexican omelet she had ordered was splattered all over the front of Tully’s pants.

At the bar the waitress was dialing 911.

“What exactly is your problem?” Tully asked Kara as she wiped a blob of black beans off her forehead.

“You may sit back and let someone take your woman, but that’s not my style,” Kara announced. “And I don’t give up easily.”

When Jessica smiled, Tully vaguely wondered if she found Kara’s antics romantic. She certainly didn’t. “Trust me, I’m willing to give you a set of checks too if you keep her, you moron.” Tully laughed hard as she stood up and shook herself off. “You’re going to make the next few months easy, aren’t you?”

Kara stood close by opening and closing her fists. “What do you mean?”

“The courtroom loves people who like to put on a show.” She laughed harder when Jessica jumped up and held Kara back. “Oh yeah, they’re going to love you.”