Champagne Kisses (The Kisses 4)

I straightened the paperwork on the table, hiding my smile from her. The amount was obviously more than she had expected. She was still nodding to herself and murmuring that it was fine. A slow look of relief was flooding her features. I wanted so badly to ask what had happened to her since I saw her last, but now was not the appropriate time. This was when I needed to put on my game face and have her sign the papers.

"Excellent. I'm glad that's agreeable. If you'll just sign here... and here... and then fill out this section here, then I can have the medical bills taken care of and the sum wired to your account," I said, handing her a pen. She took it from me, carefully reading the document before she signed. I didn't hide my smile this time. The only other person I knew who read legal documents completely before signing them was Emma, and I was always impressed that she did.

After perusing the document, Samantha signed her name with a flourish in the required areas. Her handwriting was small and neat, and she made sure everything was perfect before handing it back to me. I carefully put the document back in the folder, sliding it into my purse before standing.

"Thank you, Samantha. Can I get you anything before I go?" I asked.

"No thanks," she said, but then her brows tightened and she looked up and made eye contact. "Are you going to go see Robbie?"

I nodded before carefully pocketed my glasses, stowing them in the hard case and slipping them into my purse.

"When you see him, will you tell him I'm all right? And that I'm not angry? I'd really like it if he came and visited me. For old time's sake." She bit her lip. I had always suspected that the two of them had been on the verge of being more than just friends, but this confirmed my suspicions. I wondered for a second what Robbie's life would have been like if she hadn't moved.

"You got it. I'm sure he'll want to see you." I gave her a warm smile, which she quickly returned. "Thank you again, Samantha. I hope I get to see you again soon, though preferably not in the hospital next time."

Samantha laughed, and she settled back into her pillows and book as I left the room. I waved to the nurse at the front desk, humming softly as I walked across the damp asphalt of the parking l

ot. At least this part of my day was going better than expected.

Chapter 23

Present Day

I parked carefully in front of the police station, making sure I was evenly between the two lines. Just because Dean said he knew the sheriff, I didn't want to push my luck. I just wanted to get Robbie out with as little fanfare as possible and get him home to see his father.

The door chimed softly as I walked in. It was a small building, barely more than a room and an office, with two barred cells along the back wall. Sitting in one of them was a very dejected-looking Robbie. He glanced up as I came in, and then put his head back in his hands to stare at the floor. Dean was leaning up against the chest-high wooden monstrosity of a desk, talking with a man in a crisp tan uniform.

"How were things at the hospital?" Dean asked, and all three men looked up to hear my answer.

"Samantha's doing fine. She's agreed not to press charges," I stated. I heard a low sigh of relief come from the cell. "May I talk with Robbie?"

"Yes, ma'am, you may. Dean and I here just have a few more things to fill out before you three can get on your way." The sheriff gave me a friendly smile. He stood up carefully from the stool behind the desk, limping as he walked to the back cage. As he fit the key into the lock, I glanced at his name tape. Grinswald. I wondered if it was the same Matt Grinswald that was on the beach with Dean and me. I almost asked, but I could wait until after talking to Robbie.

"Hey, Robbie. You sober?" I sat down next to him on the hard wooden bench. He looked miserable. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants that were too big with an oversized SWAT sweatshirt. His light brown hair was messy, and his green eyes were rimmed with red; I couldn't tell if it was from being hung over or from crying.

"Sober. Unfortunately." He sounded absolutely wretched.

"I saw Samantha. She's doing fine, and she wants me to tell you she isn't mad at you." I put my hand on his shoulder. He looked up briefly at my mention of Samantha's name, but his eyes went quickly back to the floor. "Robbie, what's going on? What are you doing?"

"I'm sitting here listening to the rain," he said. I frowned.

"That's not what I meant and you know it. You're better than this," I said, gesturing to the jail cell.

"It doesn't matter. I'm always going to be the fuck-up. That's my lot in life." His back bristled under my fingers, but I kept my hand on him.

"It's only your lot in life if you make it that. I've seen you sail, Robbie. I've seen drive and determination in you that would make Jack look like an indecisive toddler. You're better than this," I told him. I meant every word. If he could only see how he shone when he was sailing; if the world were a boat, he would be president, prime minister, and king. I wished he could see what I saw in him.

"Unfortunately, you're the only one who thinks that." Robbie looked up at me, his eyes angry and hurt. "My dying father thinks I'll never amount to anything, my brother's a billionaire CEO, and my mother's a harpy. What the hell am I supposed to do?"

I sighed. My heart was breaking for him. All I could see as I kept my hand on his back was the scared little boy I took home from his first sailing lesson. Maybe it was because I had just seen Samantha, or maybe it was the smell of the water in the air, but to my eyes, he was just a little boy. I rubbed his back, trying to think of how to convince him that he was better than he thought. I had tried to keep my eye on him when he was a boy, but Jack had been my real responsibility. I tried my best, but there wasn't a way for me to be in two places at once.

Dean rapped gently on the bars, catching both our attention. "The sheriff has agreed to drop all charges."

The sheriff's keys jangled as he opened the door, releasing the two of us into the office. As I walked by Dean, I whispered, "That must be some favor he owed you."

"Nothing much," Dean said with a shrug. He put a strong hand on Robbie's shoulder, guiding him toward the exit. "All right, Robbie, let's get you home before anyone notices we were gone."

Robbie stopped cold. "Dad doesn't know I'm here?"