“Jackson?”
“Jackson Kane the entrepreneur who founded Pathways and the clinic where I volunteer. Nick’s his lawyer. I, um, researchedNick on the Internet. I couldn’t help myself. He lost his son two years ago when the child was five. There were articles online about it.”
Her mother’s expression turned sad. “That’s the worst thing that could happen to a parent.”
“I wonder how damaged he still is?”
“Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learned is we’re all damaged in some way. Life is hard, and no one escapes its scars.”
“I guess.”
“How long can you stay?”
“I brought an overnight bag.”
“How lovely. All this time with you.”
“I feel the same, Mom.”
* * *
Nick lay in bed that night, unable to fall asleep. He was plagued by thoughts of Noreen and couldn’t keep himself from thinking about her. He sighed and started to count sheep…
They were in bed together again making love. He knew he shouldn’t want this closeness with her but he was helpless to stop it.
Suddenly he was back at that sandbox and his son was happily filling a bucket. His phone rang and Scotty looked up at him. “Daddy, don’t go. You know what will happen.”
Nick held up his phone. “Okay, I won’t take any calls.” Instead, he sat on the raised cinderblock surrounding the sandbox, heedless of his three-thousand-dollar suit. “I’m here, buddy. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Nick startled awake.Oh, Dear Lord, Scotty’s still alive.He whipped off the covers to go check on him, but caught sight of the clock, and the light coming in from the blinds revealing his oak bed and classy bedroom.
No, no, no.He put his head in his hands.
* * *
Noreen switched on the lights in her office. It was late afternoon and got dark early. She watched the wind whip past her floor-to-ceiling windows, blowing so hard, what leaves remained falling off the trees. She picked up the remote and turned on the gas fireplace she’d had installed because the winters in Western New York were frigid.
Something crashed in the outer office. She wondered if Marianne had come back. Her assistant had left early and Noreen had treated her cooly because of it. She got up and opened her office door. Surely the outside door was locked but she should check. The handle didn’t move. The door was secure.
Suddenly she felt a presence in the room.
No, no, no. She knew it wasn’t Marianne. She screamed…
“Noreen, sweetie, wake up.”
More screams. She felt the shaking. “Wake up, Noreen.”
Her eyes flew open. It was dark, but she could see someone in the dim light she left on when she slept.
Eve sat down and pulled her into her arms. “Shh, love. Shh. You’re home, in my house and you’re fine.”
Noreen drew back, finally recognizing her mother’s voice and the safe arms around her.
* * *
“Hey, there Nick. Thanks for getting together with me.”
“I’m always on call for you, Jackson. That’s why you pay the big bucks.”
