Lane is on his knees at Derek’s long dining room table eating mac and cheese while Elaine sits beside him holding a glass of white wine.
“I hate waiting,” she grumbles, picking up a stray noodle that escaped onto the mahogany surface.
I can’t help smiling at how a child changes the tone of Derek’s single-male penthouse condo. A line of trucks is on the floor in the living room in front of the gigantic flat-screen television that’s paused on a little-boy building show.
“At least we’re all together,” I exhale, wishing Dex were here instead of with my mom back in Wilmington. “If you hadn’t made the drive, I’d be bouncing off the walls.”
“You could’ve gone to the office to wait with Patrick.”
“Even worse!” I cry, dropping into one of the leather armless chairs arranged around the dark-wood table. “It’s nothing but reminders of what’s happening.”
“Did Kenny say she was driving up?” Leaning forward, I pick up the wine bottle and pour myself a glass.
“She and Slayde had to finish with clients at the gym, and then they were picking up Mariska at her place.” She glances up at the clock. “It only takes half an hour to d
rive here from Bayville.”
I resist the urge to chug my glass of wine, and instead, I’m out of my chair again, pacing the room. “What can we do, Lainey? I’m about to go crazy.”
“Want to watch a movie?”
“Not really.” Chewing my lip, I walk to the windows and look out on the spring afternoon.
Stuart and Marcus had an eleven o’clock meeting with the prosecutor this morning, and from there they said they’d know if Derek would have to go to trial or if they would commute the charges and sentence him to time served. We’ve only heard once from Stuart, who said their meeting with the prosecutor was very productive. All that’s left is a judge to sign off on their agreement.
“My chest is so tight, I feel like I’m having a heart attack,” I laugh. “It’s like we’ve won, but we haven’t. One person stands between us and the future.”
My best friend is out of her chair and crossing the room as I’m still speaking. Standing beside me looking out, she hugs me, putting her chin on my shoulder. “I don’t know a whole lot about this process,” she says, “but I think if the prosecutor is on our side, the judge will go with his advice.”
“Even in a murder case? What if they get one of those hanging judges?”
“Oh my god, stop!” She cries, shaking her light-blonde head. “Now you’re making me nervous.”
A sudden knock on the door actually makes me scream. “Jesus!” Rubbing my stomach, I dash across the room to answer. “I’m so nervous, I’m screaming at the drop of a hat.”
Star is outside with Cammie on her hip. “Is it okay if we hang out with you guys?”
“Of course!” Holding the door wide, I let them both in.
Star’s involvement in the case is over. Bennett played his hand, and for now he seems to be winning. Still, none of us can return to normal life while Derek is in jail.
“I can hardly stand this,” Star says, putting her baby girl down. The little girl immediately crawls to where Lane is driving his truck up and down the lines in the rug. “I wish he’d waited. I wish he’d talked to me about Bennett’s ultimatum.”
She wrings her hands, and I grab another wine glass. “Wine?”
“God, please,” she exhales. “I’m about to start smoking again.”
“I might join you!” Elaine says, joining us around the table. “Cheers.” She holds her glass up, and we tap our three glasses together.
I take another long pull and walk to where the babies are playing, oblivious to our adult concerns.
“She’s so close to walking,” I say, as Star’s dark-haired beauty pulls up on the coffee table. “I remember when Dex was that age.”
With a sigh, I drop my head in my hands. Derek has to come home. He can’t miss being with Dex, teaching him to play football, helping him learn to ride a bike. The thought of him getting a life sentence makes my entire body shake.
“How much longer before we know something?” Star asks.
“No idea,” Elaine says, taking another drink. “Stuart will call Patrick first, I’m sure. They’re just waiting to get an appointment with the judge.”