Coming Home (Norris Lake Series) (35 page)

“But the others, why kill the others?” Stephen asked.

“To make the Tarlington’s pay,” he snarled.  “I would have gotten away with it.”

They each looked at him and then glanced at one another. 

“I don’t have anything else to say.  I want a lawyer,” Jeremy declared.

Robert Tarlington went and stood in front of his son still sitting quietly on the ground.  “Boy, I am sorry I ever doubted you.” 

“Also, get this, Michael, he framed you,” Ben admitted. “He planted your watch, id and clothes at the crime scenes.  We thought that you were a prime suspect until we matched the DNA.  I am sorry, Michael, but I had to follow the evidence.”

Michael put his head on his arms and sat sobbing quietly.

“What about the condo project?” Robert asked.  “I have put my company on the line for that project?”

“Bob,” Stephen countered, “I wanted to buy the land from you when I didn’t know that I owned it.  I am still willing to compensate you for your expenses plus a fair profit.  I have no interest any longer in creating bad feelings. I plan on making this area my home so I can be near my mother.  It’s obvious that you simply supported your son and didn’t have any idea that he’d committed this heinous act.” Stephen stood and held his hand out to Robert.  “Truce,” he said.

Robert looked at the outstretched hand.  Fueled by years of suspicion and bad feelings, he hesitated.

“Do it, Dad,” Caitlyn prompted. 

“Yes, Dad.  It’s the right thing to do,” Michael agreed, “Do it.”

Robert looked at her and his shoulders fell.

“Okay, truce, boy.”  He reached out and shook Stephen’s hand. 

Ben hauled Jeremy up and started to put him in the back of the cruiser. 

“Take it easy, brother.  I’ll get you a lawyer no matter what you have done.” He hugged Stephen close.  Jeremy looked at him stoically and took his seat in the back of the car.  “I did this for you,” Jeremy stated.  Stephen nodded and Ben closed the door.

You can see him in the morning, Stephen.  “I’ll take care of him,” Ben promised.

“Dominic, you want to join me voluntarily in the front seat or do you want to take a seat in the back next to Jeremy?” Ben asked.  “I also have two more to pick up, Jimbo and Randy.  You all can share a cell.”

“Me?  What do you want with me?”  Dominic protested.

“Public brawling.  Assault of a police officer, obstruction of justice.  How about that for starters?  I am sure I can think of some more charges too if I ponder on it a moment.”  Ben said smiling.  “You hit me remember?”

“You’re not serious.  Damn it to hell,” Dominic said starting towards the cruiser.  “Caitlyn, give David a call again. You know where the bail money is kept.”

Ben put a hand on his chest stopping him mid-stride.  “Pscyh, man, yeah, I’m kidding you.  Thanks for your help in solving this.  I don’t ever want to know how you did it.  If you told me I’d have to arrest you and then owe you one for knocking me down. I’d say you were crazy.  Someday I’ll make it up to you.  Caitlyn, take care.  Bob, Michael, Jesse, Dominic, Stephen.  Come see me tomorrow afternoon at the station and make a formal report.  I’ve got a lot of paperwork to do yet tonight, so I’d better be going.”

Stephen turned and walked towards his car.  “I need to give my attorney a call.  Robert, I will stop by tomorrow and we’ll work out the business details.”  Robert nodded and stomped up the stairs on his crutches.  “Michael, you coming?” Michael nodded.  “Caitlyn lock up when you come in,” he called over his shoulder.

“Stephen, you want to come over to my house for a while?  I have some photo albums and a diary you might be interested in.”

“Jesse, I would love to.”  He put his arm around her and walked her to his car.

“That leaves just you and me, Caitlyn,” Dominic said. 

“I know.  It’s always just down to you and me in the end isn’t it?  No matter what trouble we get ourselves into, it just seems to happen.  It’s just you and me leaning on one another.”

“Come home with me baby.  I love you.  You know that now.”  Cat leaned over and kissed him solidly on the lips then she thought for a moment. “No, Dominic.  I can’t.  I love you too but it’s not the right time.”

He shrugged.  “I am through begging, Caitlyn.  This is the end.  If you come back it will be on your own.  I won’t ask you again.  He climbed into his viper and pulled away without looking back.”

She watched him leave and then went into the house turning off the lights.

A few days later, at twilight on a Monday evening, Cat heard sounds at her front door.  “Knock, Knock, Knock.”  Caitlyn set down her glass of juice and turned off the TV.  She pulled the afghan to one side and went to answer the door. She was surprised as she pulled it open. 

“Rose, it’s nice to see you. I didn’t expect to see you here. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”  She grabbed Rose’s hand and held it warmly.  She’d always loved Rose and considered her one of her closest friends as well as a confidant.  At first Caitlyn thought Rose was a saint for mothering Dominic and being a supportive wife to Billy for so many years.  Now she was sure that Rose was an angel sent from heaven. 

“How’s Dominic?” Caitlyn inquired.

“He’s not good Caitlyn.  Can I come in?”

“Oh, I am so sorry.  Where are my manners?  Come in, please.”  She opened the door wide and closed it behind her company. “Have a seat,” she said gesturing to the couch.  “Would you like something to drink or eat?” 

“No, thank you, Caitlyn. I need to talk to you about Dominic.”

“What is it?  You sound so serious.  Is he all right?” Caitlyn worriedly took a seat opposite Rose.

“He’s functioning.  He’s pretending to carry on but he’s so unhappy, I can’t tell you.  I worry about him every day.  He’s working himself to death to keep from thinking about you.”

“Rose, I didn’t mean…” Caitlyn started.

“Hear me out.  He thinks you don’t want him around and he doesn’t want to force you to come back to him.  He realizes that he let his job take over your lives.  He knows now what’s important in his life. He knows that success means nothing without you in his life.”

“If he realizes all of this and has had such revelations, why hasn’t he told me?  He hasn’t said what I need to hear. He hasn’t said he was sorry.  He hasn’t promised that it won’t get that bad again.  I have more to think about than just myself.” Caitlyn put a hand protectively to her mid-section.

“He thinks he has.  He’s a man.  You and I know they aren’t too bright and often think they’ve done something right when we both know it’s been a botched job at the best.  He thinks he’s told you all of these things.  I’ve read some of the emails he sent you and I knew he hadn’t told you what you needed to hear.  I came here to tell you that he would say it if he was capable.  He wants you back, dear.  I know.  I have been there in the mornings to watch him go to work and wonder why each morning that you haven’t returned.”

“What about the baby?  He never wanted a baby.  I don’t want him coming back just because he is obligated.”

“He’s not obligated. He’s in love.  To tell the truth I never thought he was capable of loving someone.  He had such a poor childhood with the violence of his parents fighting over him.   He’s lucky he’s not some sort of psychopath or serial killer.  He withstood it all and he’s a survivor.  He’s just confused - as most men are.  I’ve lived with him since he was a child.  I saw him through all of those years when a young man thinks he’s fallen in love. He never felt about someone the way he has felt about you though.  He is truly completely in love.  Regardless of the bad things he does, Dom will do inappropriate or bad things because one he was raised improperly and two he just seems to have that knack of finding trouble. His father taught him to mistreat women.  Cat, your husband is trying to work against those things that are ingrained in his very being.  It’s hard to stop being himself just because he loves you.  He’s trying to be a different person for you.  Give him the chance to be that better person. You’ve made it through the really hard times with him. Don’t throw that away.  You have a strong love.  Believe in it.  Give him another chance.” 

“Rose, I love him.  I have never doubted that.  I have just always doubted that he loved me.  There are times when he has said some things that are so hateful.  If he really feels those things then he can’t love me.”

“There’s a fine line between love and hate.  He hates you sometimes because he loves you. You make him vulnerable which is something that frightens him.  His father taught him that you can’t be vulnerable no matter what.  It’s a sign of weakness.  By loving you, he’s weak.  It’s a controversy in him that he fights every day. You love him.  He loves you.  I think he’s changed, but you’ll have to make that determination on your own.”

“Does he know you are here?”

“No, Caitlyn.  He would adamantly have objected to it. He wouldn’t have wanted me to come.  You know that without asking me.”

“Yes, I suppose so.  I just don’t know, Rose.  It’s a big decision.  It’s not just what’s right for me but what’s right for my child now.” 

“I know.  I went through the same thing, Cat.  I married Dominic’s father and took responsibility for him.  I didn’t know what was right for the boy, but did my best.” 

“Dominic’s dad is much like him.  There was a time when I didn’t know if it was the right thing to stay.  In the end it was the best for the boy to have me there to counter his father and to be supportive. I believe that it’s best to know your heritage good or bad rather than wonder all your life.”

“I hear you, Rose.  I understand and I respect your beliefs.  I just need time to think.  I want to make the right decision for the both of us.”

“All right, honey.  Well I have to go. I have horses to feed.”  She hugged Caitlyn close.  “You take care of yourself and call me if you need anything, whether things work out between you and Dominic or not.  You are very special to me Cat; I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

“Thank you,” Caitlyn said as Rose left.  She waved good bye and closed the door.

About few hours later there was another knock on her door.  She sat for a moment wondering if she should answer the door.  She wasn’t sure if she could deal with the stress of another visit. 

Knock. Knock, Knock.  Okay, well she’d throw the dice and let it ride.  She walked to the door and opened it.

“Jesse, hi, how are you, she sighed.  I am so glad it’s you.

Well, thank you, child.  I haven’t had such a warm welcome in a long time. Why are you so glad it’s me?”

“My mother-in-law stopped by earlier today to talk to me about Dominic.  It was stressful.  I was glad you weren’t another visit like that.”

“We’ll thank you I guess.  That’s a compliment.  No, I am not another visit like that.  I came by to see how you were holding up and to tell you some good news about Stephen and I.” 

“Wonderful. Good, then come in.  Come in.  I could use some good news today.”  Would you like some iced tea?

“I would love some.  I am parched.” Jesse took a seat in the living room and Caitlyn poured them both some iced tea.  Carrying two glasses, she handed one to Jesse and sat heavily down in the brown leather rocker. 

“Okay that’s taken care of now what about you and Stephen?  I am dying to know all of the details.”

“He and I spent a day pouring over photo albums and my great grandmother’s diary the other night.  It was eye opening.  He’s so much like me Caitlyn.  I love him so much.  I have only known him a short time but I feel we’ve been together forever.  I can see his face in every picture of my ancestors.  He’s had such a hard time of it and overcame the adversity of life to become so successful.  You can’t but admire him and love him.” 

“You sound kind of biased.

“Yes, well I am his mother. I am allowed to be biased. It’s a mother’s right.”

“So down to brass tacks about why I am really here.  What are you going to do about Dominic?”

Surprised, Caitlyn said “I don’t know.  Why do you ask?”

“We’ll this may surprise you but I had a visitor the other night.  It seems that your Dominic is a persuasive con man.  He found out not only my address, but also my favorite meal and a 50 year old bottle of malt bourbon, brought them over to me at my house.  He not only showed up with a catered meal of fresh lobster, crab and shrimp, but also brought gifts for Ranger and a new wireless laptop so I can write outside on my deck and also at my dock.  He spent hours setting up the wireless system and computer himself. He’s quite a charmer.”

“Yes, I know.  That’s how I ended up married in the first place.  With a hint of a smile Cat remarked, you realize that you’ve just experienced a sale from a used car salesman?”

“Well, sales – con – whatever it was, I was impressed and told him I would come keep an eye on you.  I thought I might be able to talk you and Pattycake into coming over and having leftovers with me while I show you my new toy.  Then I can keep an eye on you and we can indulge”.

“I would love too.  Let me get my hospital bag just in case,” she said as she strained to get up out of the recliner.  “I am sorry, you’ll have to give me a hand.  It seems as if this old pregnant person is stuck in this chair,” she said holding out her hand to Jesse.

Late Wednesday night, he knocked on the door waiting anxiously for her to open it.  He held a bouquet of red roses on one hand and a box of candy in the other.  It was her favorites, dark chocolate covered cherries.  He pulled at his collar nervously and smoothed his pants legs.  He shouldn’t be this nervous about seeing a woman he’d been married to for 5 plus years and slept with that long too.  There weren’t many situations they hadn’t seen each other in from sickness to joy.  So what was he nervous about? It was foolish. Jeez, he was acting like a scared school boy rather than a successful grown man.