Justice Healed (14 page)

"I'm thirty years old.  I can hardly call it abandonment," she protested.

His shoulders slumped and he turned his back to her, his hands gripping the edge of the sink.  "I just love Gwen so much.  She has her own catering business in Seattle.  I'd be asking her to pick up and start all over again if she moved here."  He swung around.  "Gwen and I want you to move to Seattle with us.  She can't wait to meet you and I can't wait for you to meet her."

Madison got out of her chair and walked over to her father, wrapping her arms around him for a hug.  "I'd love to meet her.  As for moving to Seattle, I don't see that happening, Dad."

Her father started to speak but she held up her hand.  "I wouldn't know anyone there except you two.  Trust me when I tell you moving to a new city is hard.  I've done it and it wasn't easy."

"Will you move back to Chicago?" 

She shook her head.  "No, I like being home.  Chicago was good but Springwood is more."

Greg Shay sighed.  "I'm so sorry I brought you back only to pick up and leave.  You're being more understanding than I deserve."

"What I remember is a man who put me before himself the entire time I was growing up.  You never dated–heck, I don't think you even saw a movie without me until I was in high school.  I'm grateful for that, Dad.  Now it's your time.  I'm happy for you.  Really, I am."

He crushed her in his embrace.  "How did I get so lucky?  I love you, Madison Eloise Shay."

"If you love me, you won't mention my middle name.  And I love you, too."

"Your grandmother insisted on that middle name."  Her father chuckled.  "
Your mother and I agreed to it to keep the peace."

"I've forgiven you for that because you were a terrific parent.  Now let's drink our hot chocolate and you can tell me all about Gwen.  What is she like?"

They sat back at the table and her father's body language was completely different.  He was leaning forward, his eyes twinkling.  Her father was in love, and Madison recognized the signs.  It was exactly what she saw when she looked in a mirror.

Sara, Madison's receptionist, stuck her head around the door to the kitchen where Madison was trying to gulp down lunch in record time.  She was running behind today and she hated that.  She didn't like to keep sick people waiting, especially in their tiny waiting room. 

"Can you squeeze in one more patient?" Sara grimaced.  "Sandy Donovan's toddler has a fever and she's worried."

Madison tried to chew and swallow her sandwich.  "Is she already here?"

"She is."  Sara nodded.  "What should I tell her?"

There was no way Madison was turning away a sick toddler and a concerned mother. 

"Put her in room two and give me a minute.  I'll be right there."

There were only two examining rooms luckily, and there had been a steady stream of patients in them today.  Madison tossed the remainder of her sandwich in the trash and gulped down half a glass of iced tea in one shot.  She checked her teeth in the mirror, popped a breath mint and headed to the exam room, knocking on the door. 

"Hello, I'm Dr. Madison Shay.  What can I do for you today?"

Madison clearly remembered
Sandy Donovan from school but the woman in front of her barely resembled the girl.  It struck her that Tanner was right when he'd said that life had been hard on some of Madison's classmates.  Sandy looked older and sad, almost humbled.  Her shoulders were hunched and she was staring at the floor intently.  It was a far cry from the girl with fancy clothes and perfect hair who had made Madison's life such a misery.

Sandy
looked up and tried to smile.  She held a tiny blonde-haired girl in her arms who had a very red nose and glassy eyes.  She was clutching a stuffed dog to her chest and staring at Madison with a dubious expression. 

"Hello.  Kylie seems to be running a fever."

Madison headed to the small sink and washed her hands.  "Well, let's take a look then.  Can you set her on the table?  You can sit with her there if you like."

Sandy
looked dead on her feet, with purple smudges under her eyes.  The woman hesitated for a second but then sat down on the table with Kylie next to her.

Madison smiled at the lovely little girl.  "My name is Dr. Madison.  What's your name?"

The child's blue eyes were like saucers and she took her thumb out of her mouth long enough to answer.  "Kylie Marie."  Back went the thumb.

"That's a very pretty name
, just like you.  I'm just going to check a few things, okay?  I'll tell you everything I'm going to do before I do it and you can ask me anything you want."

The girl nodded solemnly and Madison started her examination.  Kylie sat still for having her ears checked but wasn't as happy about having her throat examined.  She was downright upset when Madison looked up her nostrils but calmed down when Madison listened to her heart and lungs.  She completed the exam as quickly and efficiently as she could, knowing a sick child could be unpredictable.  Happy one second and crying the next. 

"Kylie has an ear infection in her right ear.  That's why her temperature is elevated and she feels crabby.  According to her records, she gets these quite often.  Have you talked to an ENT about possibly putting tubes in her ears?"

Sandy
looked like she might cry.  She scooped Kylie up in her arms and cradled the child.  "No.  I don't get insurance where I work and there's no money for a specialist.  Gary got hurt and he hasn't been able to work for almost a year.  Your dad's taken good care of Kylie since she was born."

"Gary Howard?"  Madison remembered him as a handsome jock who had helped the basketball team go to State their senior year.

Sandy nodded and looked down at the floor again.  "He's a good dad.  We've been planning to get married but haven't had the money to do it yet."

  "Well, congratulations on your engagement and this sweet little one.  She's absolutely beautiful,
Sandy."

Sandy
raised her eyes, her forehead wrinkling.  "How come you're being so nice to me?  I was never nice to you.  I was one of those mean girls, you know, like in the movie."

Madison exhaled slowly.  Tanner was right about how things had changed.  It was time to put the past firmly behind her.  "Yes, I remember.  But I've learned since coming back to town that people change.  You're not being mean to me now, so why would I be mean to you?"

Sandy’s mouth turned up.  "She is pretty, isn't she?  She's a good girl."

"I can see that.  She's been such a quiet, good girl since you got here.  Very well-behaved."

Beaming, Sandy placed Kylie on the table where she could play with her stuffed dog.  "I want to say I'm sorry about how I treated you in school."

Madison didn't want to think about those years at all. "Apology accepted." 

Sandy put her hand on Madison's arm.  "I was real insecure, and I know this sounds bad but it made me feel better about myself to tear other people down.  I'm not excusing what I did."  Sandy shook her head.  "I'm simply trying to explain it.  I wanted people to like me."

Madison turned back
to Kylie’s folder.  "So did I," Madison said quietly.  "I understand."

"Thank you.  I'm grateful that you were able to see us today." 
Sandy lifted Kylie into her arms and slung her purse over her shoulder.  Madison reviewed treatment for Kylie and mother and daughter left the office.

Madison handed the file to Sara.  "
Sandy said she doesn't have any insurance.  What does my dad normally do with their bills?"

Sara sighed.  "He puts it on account. 
Sandy tries to pay some but that poor girl has had a run of bad luck you wouldn't believe.  She lost her father in a ranch accident and her mother has Alzheimer's.  Then she gets pregnant with Kylie and Gary has a car accident on some black ice.  She's due for some good things."

"Let's see that she gets some then.  Let's write off her bill.  It's the last thing she needs to worry about."

Sara looked unsure.  "Sandy has some pride, Madison.  She may think this is charity.  It makes her feel better about herself to try and pay when she can."

Madison scratched her chin.  "Yes, you're right.  How about we forget to send her a monthly bill for awhile?"

Sara nodded.  "Now that I can do."  She tipped her head.  "I wasn't in the same year at school as you were but I know that the kids were hard on you.  You're a good person to forgive."

"No, it's normal to forgive."  Madison shook her head.  "It would be petty and crappy to hold on to the past.  I did for a long time and let me tell you it's no fun.  It ends up hurting you more than any one else.  Kids can be cruel at times.  The one thing I've learned is it wasn't personal."

"I bet it felt personal."

"Man, did it ever."  Madison sighed.  "But strangely, it wasn't.  It was about them and their issues.  I'm certainly not going to hate them because of it.  Doesn't mean I'm looking to invite them over for dinner either."  She laughed and headed to exam room one. 

"You just wait.  By this time next year, you'll be the entire town's best friend.  Your dad certainly is."

Madison was already feeling as if these people were her responsibility.  As a doctor, she wanted to take care of them and make sure they were healthy.  It probably wasn't a long stretch to be their friends as well.

* * * *

Tanner was having a crappy Monday.  First, all hell broke loose the minute he stepped into the station.  Sam had arrested a prominent citizen over the weekend for violence against his spouse.  A blustering high-priced lawyer had shown up this morning before Tanner had even had a cup of coffee.  The attorney wanted his client released immediately and made noises about false arrest and police brutality. 

It had taken close to an hour, but Tanner had finally evicted the blowhard from the station, basically telling him he needed to talk to the judge at the arraignment which would be held at ten o'clock in Courtroom A. 

It had been call after call all day long capped off with an AA meeting where Chris attended.  That was a win.  But he was clearly hung
-over.  That was a loss.  By the time Tanner headed down the library steps to his truck, he was ready for something good.  He was ready to see Madison.  He'd missed her all day long.  A hastily sent text before his meeting asking her to dinner had been answered in the affirmative.  Maybe the day wouldn't be a total loss after all.

Out of the corner of his eye, Tanner saw Chris heading down the sidewalk.  Jogging to catch up with him, Tanner put his hand on Chris's shoulder.

"Chris, got a minute?"

His son whirled around, his jaw jutted out as if ready for
a punch.  For the life of him, Tanner didn't know how Chris had bottled up all this anger. 

"A minute.  What do you want?  I came to the stupid meeting
, didn't I?"

Tanner muffled a heavy sigh.  "You did and I'm glad.  I saw Harvey talking to you before the meeting.  Did he offer to be your sponsor?  He's a good man."

Chris shrugged.  "He said something about it.  But I told him I'm not an alcoholic.  I mean, I like to drink, but I could quit anytime I want.  I'm just coming to the meetings so Stacey will let me see Annie."

There were worse reasons to go to an AA meeting, but Tanner couldn't think of any at the moment.  Chris was deeply in denial about having a problem, which Tanner understood.  He hadn't been happy about admitting it either.  Arguing about it, however, would get him nowhere.

"Listen, I wanted to ask you to have dinner with me one night soon.  I'm going to ask Emily, too.  I want you both to meet someone."

Chris's eyes narrowed.  "I heard you were seeing Madison Shay.  Is that who you want me to meet?"

"It is."  Tanner nodded.  "Will you do it?"

He held his breath as his son seemed to consider the offer.  "I guess.  I haven't seen Emily in awhile."

Tanner ignored the barely concealed barb from his only son.  "Good.  I'll get with you and we can decide on a day and time.  Thanks."

Chris turned his back and headed down the sidewalk without another word.  Tanner was still standing there, his heart aching for his boy, when his phone rang.

"Tanner."

"Vegas, huh?  Did you do anything you're ashamed of?"  Logan's voice was full of amusement. 

Tanner sighed and started to walk back to his truck.  "How did you know I was in Vegas this weekend?"

"I must have seen it on Facebook."

"I don't have a Facebook account, asshole."

"Twitter then?"

"Try again."

Logan laughed.  "I talked to your
Deputy Sam on Saturday.  Listen, can you meet at the roadhouse tomorrow?  Nine in the morning.  Marshal Davis wants to talk to us and go over the assignment and get a plan together."

"I'll be there.  We're finally going to he
ar the details?  It must be close then."

"I think so.  Within a week or so."

Tanner made a decision then and there.  "I got some information about Fenton from that DEA agent."

"None of it good from the sound of your voice."

"It's not.  Do you have a minute?  I need to talk to someone about this."  Tanner swung into his vehicle and started the engine, cranking the heat full blast. 

"I'm on duty but nothing is happening.  Shoot."  Tanner could picture Logan in his office, his feet propped up on his desk, lounging back in his chair.

"I need to get my family away from Fenton," Tanner began, filling Logan in on everything.  If Tanner had to, he'd get all the guys together and they could brainstorm ways to keep everyone safe.  With or without Fenton, their towns were in the middle of a deadly drug war.

* * * *

Tanner kissed her lips lightly before sitting down at the table.  Madison hadn't stopped smiling since they returned from Las Vegas the day before.  Being with Tanner made her happy.  He seemed to feel likewise, although he'd had a moment of dark clouds right as they were boarding their plane.  It had quickly dissipated and he'd been acting normally since.

"I'm sorry I'm late.  I had to talk to Chris after the meeting.  Have you been waiting long?" Tanner asked.

She shook her head.  "Just long enough to get settled and get a hot cup of cocoa.  It's freezing out there today."  Madison shivered, even in the warm restaurant.  It had been cold in Chicago, but she'd spent most of her time in the hospital so it rarely mattered.  Here in Springwood she had more of a personal life.  Not that it was easy having one when it was around zero degrees with a couple of feet of snow on the ground.

The waitress came to take Tanner's drink order and then bustled away.  "You look tired, Maddie.  Hard day?"

She smiled remembering the long list of patients she'd seen.  "More like long day.  I saw my last patient less than an hour ago.  Tina Sands brought her eleven year old in today.  He'd broken his arm playing King of the Mountain on a fifteen-foot snowbank.  Up until then I was running on time.  After that, I was late all day."

Tanner thanked the waitress for his coffee.  "That's right.  School was out today for some teacher thing.  I take it he took a tumble down that
snowbank?  Hell, I remember doing the same thing when I was his age.  Lucky I ever made it to twelve."