Lucas sat staring at the same email for the hundredth time. His mind kept wandering though he tried to keep it busy while he waited. Alan paced beside the window negotiating over the phone for the security footage. It seemed it wasn’t going to be as easy as Lucas hoped. He would prefer to avoid official channels and skip the red tape but perhaps he wouldn’t have a choice.
Shortly after eleven there was a knock on the door. Startled he looked up as Robert entered with Tailor a step behind. Lucas blinked wondering why the older man was present. He looked to his own lawyer for answers.
“He insisted on coming,” Robert said, “otherwise we’d have to subpoena to see them. I didn’t think you wanted to go through the paperwork.”
“I didn’t,” Lucas nodded. “Did you bring it?”
Tailor removed a thumb drive from his briefcase, “The phone and sim card are in my vault. But everything was copied onto this.”
Lucas accepted it from the older man with some trepidation. Some part of him didn’t want to see it but he had to. He had to know.
“Here, let me,” Alan said taking the drive and plugging it into his laptop.
Lucas stood letting Alan sit at the desk. He was suddenly filled with nervous energy and paced to try to alleviate it as his friend opened the drive to look at its contents.
“Okay, three folders: Madeline, Lidia or Patricia. Which one did you want to read first?” Alan asked.
“Madeline.”
Alan opened the file slowly scrolling through the seemingly never-ending stream of text messages. Lucas leaned over his shoulder reading. His face grew bright red after the first message.
“What the hell is this?”
Robert grimaced as he read a few himself curious about what the fuss was about. Cautiously he said, “It appears to be a mistress bragging about how well her man treats her to his wife.”
“I never touched her!” Lucas snapped.
“Never?” Tailor raised an eyebrow.
Lucas hesitated, “Once, in college. That’s it. Never when I was married. I would never do that to Sarah or anyone else. My grandmother taught me to always honor my agreements.”
“She did,” Alan agreed. It was Alice’s unspoken rule that all contracts and agreements were binding and would be honored to the letter.
Tailor considered this. Lucas’s reaction was a bit surprising but it didn’t feel like an act. In fact he seemed genuinely outraged but there was also no physical proof.
“I hate to say it but you don’t have proof,” Robert said eyeing Lucas and echoing Tailor’s thoughts. “It’s a he said, she said situation.”
Lucas shook with his pent-up rage. If these were the messages Sarah was reading every day it was no wonder she believed he was cheating. It was enough to make him sick.
“We can maybe prove some of these are lies,” Alan said after a moment.
“What do you mean?” Lucas asked.
“Look at this one here.”
Lucas leaned forward to read, “Luke was sooo good to me. Five times. A new record.”
“Not the message. The date. Look.”
“August tenth.”
“Does that sound familiar?”
Lucas frowned.
“It should. We were in London for a conference and had to stay in that crappy hotel.”
“Oh right,” Lucas’s memory slowly caught up. “They lost our reservation and were overbooked so we had to share a double room.”
“Yeah, we were lucky to get our own beds,” Alan nodded. “So how did you sleep with Madeline if you were across the Atlantic sharing a room with me?”
Lucas nodded his anxiety slowly dropping. That’s right.
“And these too. Look December twelve through the eighteenth. That was during the Baker merger.”
“Yeah. We spent the entire week here at the office. We slept on the couches and took turns washing up in the employee restroom.”
“We joked about installing a bathroom in your office if we were going to make a habit of it. And I definitely would have woken up if Madeline tried to make a late night call on you,” Alan said. “Not that she would want to between all that spicy food you like to eat and the lack of a shower you got pretty ripe by the end of the week.”
Lucas swatted his shoulder but it only made Alan laugh harder.
“And look at this last one,” Alan pointed out. “That was the night of the Mixer. You couldn’t have slept with Madeline passed out in Sarah’s bed. I mean, it’s only a small drop in a big ocean but at least we can prove some of them false.”
“Legally speaking you don’t have to prove all of them false,” Robert said. “If you can prove some of them are lies then that sets a precedent and casts suspicion on the others. Right Tailor?”
Lucas looked at the other lawyer with an expression of surprise having forgotten the older man was still there.
“That is correct,” Tailor agreed watching Lucas with an impassive gaze. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking but at least he seemed to be giving Lucas the benefit of doubt.
“You believe me?” Lucas asked.
“In the beginning I had no reason to disbelieve these texts. But seeing your reaction and hearing your friend’s rebuttal…I have my doubts about the validity of these accusations.”
Lucas nodded. It was a start and hopefully Sarah would agree but Madeline wasn’t the only one texting her. Looking back to Alan he said, “Open the texts from Lidia.”
“All right,” Alan opened the next folder and grimaced as he read the messages.
Lucas read over his shoulder with a disgruntled expression though he couldn’t say he was surprised. Madeline and Lidia had always been close friends so the fact that she was exasperating the situation in favor of Madeline shouldn’t come as a shock.
“Certainly seems like your sister at least believes you and Madeline are an item,” Robert commented. “Or they are working together to make Sarah believe it.”
Lucas frowned. His marriage had been approved and arranged by his grandmother so he hadn’t expected such open rebellion on Lidia’s part. They all had a healthy dose of fear and respect for their grandmother but he noticed Lidia’s attitude change over the years especially after he was declared the Stanton heir and placed in charge of its interests. Maybe his sister thought she didn’t have anything to fear now that he had taken over the reins.
Finally he said, “Now my mother’s.”
“Before that,” Tailor interrupted. “I suggest you sit down to read those.”
Lucas’s brow puckered in confusion.
“Trust me.”
Alan hesitated before standing and offering Lucas the chair. Once Lucas was seated he opened the final folder. Lucas glanced at Tailor a moment before focusing on the messages but he barely read one before he was on his feet.
“What the hell!”
“What?” Robert peered over his shoulder, startled by his outburst, “Why are you still here? Why haven’t you strangled yourself with a cord yet? Holy shit.”
Unable to stay seated Lucas paced the office shaking at the threats and suggestions his mother had been unleashing for years behind his back. Alan reclaimed the chair and scrolled through a few more but they were all the same.
“No offence, but your mother is sick,” Robert said.
“How could she do that? Say those things?” Lucas paced. “If grandma found out she’d be cut off and thrown out. Same with Lidia. I didn’t think they’d ever try to openly defy grandma like this.”
“Maybe now that your head of the family they thought they could get away with it,” Alan said. “What son or brother would toss his family aside?”
“What husband lets someone abuse his wife like this?” Lucas challenged his face contorting in rage. “They are going to find out. When I get through with them…Have you gotten the video?”
“They are playing hardball,” Alan shook his head, “citing invasion of privacy. We may have to subpoena them in order to release the footage.”
“What video?” Tailor asked with a frown.
“From the Mixer four years ago,” Alan answered. “Luke has no memories of what happened that night and we’re not entirely sure it was all due to alcohol.”
“I see,” Tailor nodded. “I’ll give them a call and get it then.”
“You?” Lucas looked at the older man. “Why would you do that? Why help me?”
“Oh, it’s not for you. But this may bring Sarah some much needed closure,” Tailor said. “I’m also doing it for Zoe. She’s never asked about her father but she’s wanted to meet you for a long time now. She seems to be getting attached so I’d like to figure out what kind of man you are.”
“Exactly what are Sarah and Zoe to you?” Lucas asked. “And don’t say they are your best friend’s daughter. I don’t buy it.”
Tailor sighed. After a moment of thought he said, “In my life there was only one woman I ever loved. Unfortunately she loved my best friend. So I watch over her legacy now.”
Lucas stared at him, “…Sarah’s mother. Does she know?”
“Perhaps. Sarah’s very perceptive but we never talk about it,” Tailor stood. “Give me a day. I’ll return tomorrow.”
“You think it’ll be okay?” Alan asked after Tailor had gone. “I mean, he doesn’t really have a reason to help and we don’t have a reason to trust him.”
“He cares about Sarah…that’s enough.”
“All right,” Alan shrugged.
“How many of Madeline’s text messages can we prove are lies?” Lucas asked returning his attention to the computer.
“Oh well…” Alan closed the other windows and focused on Madeline’s messages. “So to start…”
* * *
Lucas nervously entered the house. It was late but there was still a warm, pleasant smell in the kitchen. Ulima had left his supper in the fridge waiting to be warmed up. Though he wasn’t terribly hungry he took out the small container and set it in the microwave.
He sat down at the table slowly eating the dumplings sprinkling them with Tabasco for added flavor. As he ate he imagined Sarah doing the same thing and he smiled at the thought. He wondered if she would like the Indian restaurant he found several years ago. Maybe when this was over she would go with him. He hoped so.
The meal was quiet and unfulfilling. Without Zoe or Sarah it quickly lost its charm and wasn’t particularly satisfying. After a while he tossed his leftovers and quietly headed upstairs. Passing the living room he noted the scattered toys. Lucas was not one for messes preferring everything to be organized but seeing the children and dog toys left out gave the house a warm feeling. It was a reminder of how sterile and lifeless his world had been.
With a sigh he climbed the steps and paused on the landing. Quietly he peeked into Zoe’s bedroom. She was sound asleep with the corgi curled up next to her. The canine stirred as Lucas entered and yawned. Seeing their visitor was someone familiar the dog relaxed and settled back to sleep. Lucas quietly moved to the bed sitting down and watched Zoe sleep.
His gaze moved across the room. Since it was a guest room it had been left alone in neutral tones. Even the comforter was just plain beige. There was nothing wrong with the overall scheme but it didn’t suit the three-year-old at all. She should have warm, bright colors.
Here too were a few scattered toys as well as souvenirs from her trip so far. There was a Statue of Liberty statuette and stuffed animals from the Bronx Zoo. There was also a pink picture frame, a New York frame and a brown one with horseshoes in the corner. Both were currently empty but he was certain each would eventually house pictures from the trip.
Looking around the room Lucas could almost picture the colorful shelves and a little table, maybe even an art corner with an easel. It brought a smile to his face to see the room made for her. He recalled the play sets at the Prescotts’ as well as the one in Vermont. The yard here had more than enough space. He almost called in a work order now to have one installed.
Lucas nodded to himself and gently stroked Zoe’s hair. He would get Alan on it as soon as the other issues were resolved. Standing he let himself out of the room and headed down the hall. He paused at Sarah’s door. Hesitating he placed a hand on the door and quietly leaned on it.
Soon, Sarah. I promise I’ll figure it all out. And maybe…maybe earn some forgiveness.
Quietly he turned and continued to his own room. Yanking off his suit he showered before collapsing on his bed.
He had to make it right. There was so much to atone for but he had to make it up to her. One thing was certain his family would pay. He now understood why Sarah insisted Zoe be kept away from them. The very thought of his mother coming anywhere near the three-year-old made him shudder.
Absolutely not. Never.
Zoe would never know his mother or sister. He would not allow them near her. They did not deserve to know the perfect little imp that was his precocious daughter and she would never be caged by them.
Just like her mother…they both belonged in the sky flying free.
Sarah…
Whether she acknowledged it or not she was still shackled by her past. He would find some way to help her break the last of those chains. But how?