This Time For Keeps (Wickham Falls Weddings Book 6) Read online

  “I’d planned to become a lifer and then come back to help my brother run the shop once Pop retired. But I was wounded during my third tour and I had to put in for a medical discharge. Even before that my brother decided he preferred working on an oil rig to repairing cars, which meant my plan to serve thirty years was changed to twenty.”

  Fletcher stared straight ahead. “The doctors were able to save my leg. The scars make it look like a road map, and I find myself limping whenever I’m exhausted, but I’m luckier than many of my buddies who came home missing one or both legs.” He heard Nicole’s slight intake of breath.

  As a Special Forces medical sergeant, he had been responsible for providing initial medical screening to those injured in his unit. The roles were reversed when shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade had torn through his right leg, shattering bone and damaging muscle. He’d managed to carry two of his buddies to safety before going into shock. When he woke more than twelve hours later in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Kaiserslautern, Germany, he’d been told the prognosis was the possibility of losing the limb. He’d returned to the States and was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center. After four surgical procedures, he’d finally limped out of the hospital on a cane with the realization his military career had ended.

  Fletcher did not want to talk about or to relive his time in the army. He wanted to make amends for what he’d said to Nicole. When it had happened, he hadn’t had the courage to apologize to her. “I’m sorry about what I said to you after you told me you wouldn’t be my prom date. It was uncalled-for and I never should’ve said it.”

  A beat passed. “It’s the past, Fletcher, and I’m over it.”

  He took his eyes off the road for a few seconds. Nicole was so still she could have been carved out of stone and the sentiment in her voice was just as unemotional. “It may be over for you, but not for me, Nikki. When I spent months in the hospital, I had nothing but time to think about my life. What I’d done and things I’d said.”

  “You said what you meant at the time,” Nicole said in a quiet voice, “and my father always told me that whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart.”

  A hint of a smile tilted the corners of Fletcher’s mouth. Judge Andrew Campos had earned the reputation of dispensing platitudes to those who appeared in his courtroom before imposing sentence or a fine. “He’s right about that. I can’t retract what I said, but I know it was immaturity and jealousy that made me lash out at you.”

  “And don’t forget ego,” Nicole interjected.

  Fletcher had been aware that in high school whenever girls stared at him or remarked about his so-called good looks, he’d found it both uncomfortable and flattering. Once he’d entered adolescence, his father had given him the talk about sex. However, it had been his mother who’d warned him about not taking advantage of girls once they began coming to the house or the auto repair shop whenever he spent school recesses and vacations working with his father.

  He and Nicole had shared several classes and been on the yearbook and senior class committees, where they had worked closely together on various projects. He hadn’t made up his mind about who he’d wanted to take to the prom until three weeks before the event, when he asked Nicole if she would be his date. She had declined his invitation and a part of him hadn’t been able to accept that she had rejected him. In the end, she had gone with a boy who’d lived next door to her.

  At the time, he had been all ego, because not only was he an above-average student, popular with both boys and girls, and he was also a standout on the gridiron—all of which served to inflate his sense of self. It had taken age and maturity to for him to realize what he’d said to Nicole was not only cruel, but totally uncalled-for.

  He nodded, realizing he had to accept the truth. “You’re right. It was more ego than anything else.”

  * * *

  Nicole did not want to dredge up the past, but knew if she was going to spend six months in Wickham Falls and would probably run into Fletcher, they had to settle their past. “You were so used to girls falling over themselves to get you to notice them that you couldn’t accept that I’d rejected your invitation to go to prom with you.”

  “It wasn’t only that, Nikki.”

  Shifting slightly on the seat, Nicole turned to look directly at him. “What else was there?”

  “It’s what you said when you accused me of sleeping with a number of cheerleaders at the same time. And, for your information, I’d never slept with any girl who went to our school.”

  She went completely still. “If that’s the case then why did you say, ‘What’s the matter, Nikki? Are you jealous I didn’t ask you to sleep with me?’”

  Fletcher shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “You don’t know. Had you found me so unattractive that you couldn’t see yourself sleeping with me?”

  “No, no,” he said quickly. “It was just the opposite. I’d always thought you were one of the smartest and prettiest girls in the school, but I was afraid to ask you out because of your father.”

  Nicole stared at Fletcher as if he had taken leave of his senses. Andrew Campos had been the local judge for the first ten years of her life before being appointed to the criminal court in the state capital. “What did my father have to do with anything?”

  There was a swollen silence until Fletcher said, “Did you ever wonder why most of the boys at the school wouldn’t talk to you?”

  “No. Why wouldn’t they?”

  Fletcher smiled. “They were afraid of Judge Campos.”

  Her jaw dropped. “Are you saying they viewed my father as some kind of monster?”

  “Not a monster, Nikki. Just someone they didn’t want to have to deal with in case you told him a boy had attempted to take advantage of you.”

  “That’s absurd. And you weren’t afraid of having to face him when you asked me to prom?”

  His smile grew wider. “No, because I knew it would be the first and hopefully not the last time I’d ask you out on a date. And besides, I wouldn’t have done anything you hadn’t wanted me to do.”

  “Like sleep with me?”

  “I told you before, I didn’t sleep with any girl from our school, and I had no intention of starting with you.”

  Nicole felt a modicum of relief he hadn’t thought of her as a “judge’s daughter” trophy about which he could brag to his buddies. And Fletcher had been truthful about boys either not talking to or coming on to her. There were occasions she’d felt totally isolated when her female classmates gave her smug stares because she wouldn’t have to compete with them for the attention of the more popular boys. Her best friend had been the boy who’d lived across the street from her and who’d confided to her that even though he was attracted to the same sex he was afraid to come out; she was the perfect foil for his proclivity.

  “Thank you for being truthful,” she said as she forced a smile.

  “Does this mean you’re going to accept my apology?”

  “As I said before, it’s the past, Fletcher.”

  “It’s either yes or no, Nikki.”

  Nicole turned and stared out the side window at the passing landscape. If Fletcher wanted absolution for his remark, then she would offer it. “Yes, Fletcher, I forgive you.”

  She quickly dismissed his apology, pondering the issue of having to deal with her brother’s in-laws. She now understood Reggie’s dilemma whenever he called to talk about his wife’s family. There was never a time he did not complain about the drain on his finances when writing checks to cover the Clarkes’ bills. Nicole had not wanted to get involved in what could possibly become a family feud, so she’d offered him little or no advice on how to deal with the Clarkes.

  “Are your parents enjoying their retirement?”

  Fletcher’s question broke into Nicole’s musings.
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br />   Once her parents had retired, they gave Reggie and Melissa their house as a wedding gift. She smiled. “Oh, yes. They’re like kids in a candy shop. They live in a gated retirement community with every amenity you’d want and need. Dad offers legal advice pro bono for at-risk youth, while my mother volunteers tutoring those studying for the LSAT. They claim it’s their way of giving back.” Her smile faded. “But whenever I talk to Mom, I can hear sadness in her voice when she talks about Reggie. She claims she prays every day that he will make it through his first ninety days without relapsing.” Her brother had managed to hide his addiction from those in The Falls until he’d overdosed and been transported to the hospital.

  “Is she able to see him?” Fletcher questioned.

  “No.”

  “Isn’t that rather restrictive for family members?”

  “Yes and no. Yes, because it keeps families in limbo as to the patient’s progress. No, because some may be complicit in aiding their addiction. Once I told my parents that Reggie needed in-patient rehab treatment, they found a private facility less than a mile from where they live. Convincing him to go was like attempting to pull an impacted wisdom tooth with a pair of tweezers.”

  Fletcher asked her yet another question. “What did you do to convince him?”

  “He knew he needed help after his sons found him unresponsive on the bathroom floor with a hypodermic in his arm. They were so traumatized that I decided to put them into counseling.”

  “Good for you, Nikki. Addiction is a disease that affects the entire family.”

  “You’re so right about that,” she said softly, knowing Reggie’s addiction to opiates had affected not only his children, parents and sister, but also his in-laws.

  “You can let me out here and I’ll walk to the courthouse,” Nicole told Fletcher when he turned into the designated public parking lot. “I appreciate you dropping me off. I’ll take a taxi back to The Falls.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I’ll drive you back,” Fletcher volunteered. “I’ll wait here while you defend your client.”

  Nicole met his eyes. “I’m the client.”

  “You’re joking, aren’t you?”

  “I wish,” she countered. “My nephews’ grandparents are suing me because they want court-ordered visitation.”

  “Have you kept them from seeing the boys?”

  “No, but it’s a lot more complicated than that.”

  “If that’s the case, then I’m coming in with you.”

  She smiled and rested her hand on his forearm. “I can assure you that I don’t need backup.”

  Fletcher stared at her hand. “If you have to deal with folks from Mineral Springs, then you’re going to need someone to have your back.”

  “Don’t be silly, Fletcher. This is not some football game between rival teams.” No one could pinpoint when the football rivalry between Wickham Falls and Mineral Springs had begun, but it had been evident when she was in high school, and rumor was that it persisted more than a decade and a half later.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Fletcher said as he pulled into an empty parking space and shut off the engine. “I’m still going in with you.”

  Nicole did not want to argue with him when she had to keep her head straight to defend her decision against the lawyer the Clarkes had hired to represent them. “Okay. Come with me.”

  For the second time that morning, she had conceded to Fletcher, something she had only done in the past with her commanding officers. As a former captain in the corps, she was used to giving orders and having them followed without question. But she was no longer active military, just a civilian attorney who had resigned her position as an associate with a prestigious Miami-based law firm to take care of her family.

  Chapter Two

  Nicole stood in the designated line for attorneys and court personnel. She showed one of the court officers her credentials, allowed him to examine the contents of her tote and was waved through. She watched as Fletcher removed his belt and placed his keys and cell phone in a small plastic container before he was allowed to pass through the checkpoint and join her.

  “I wonder how many people actually bring weapons into a courthouse,” he said as he slipped on his belt.

  “You’d be surprised,” she said. She walked over to the board where various dockets were posted. “Even though we have a concealed carry law in the state, folks take that to mean they can bring their firearms everywhere.” Nicole perused the board and found her name. “I’m in courtroom two.”

  Fletcher fell into step with her. “When I read in our high school graduating class newsletter that you were a lawyer, I was surprised you hadn’t become JAG.”

  Nicole wanted to tell Fletcher that she had had enough of the military. Although she had served honorably and with distinction, after several deployments and attending military funerals or witnessing comrades battling PSTD, she’d realized she wanted out. “As I said before, it’s the past, Fletcher.” Once she’d filed the separation papers to become a civilian, Nicole had never looked back.

  “I’m sorry for prying.”

  She smiled up at Fletcher. “There’s no need to apologize. I’m just not ready to talk about it now. But once I straighten out this dilemma and clear my head, I’ll tell you everything.”

  Fletcher rested a hand at the small of her back. “No rush.”

  “Thank you.”

  Nicole walked into the courtroom, Fletcher following, and avoided the hostile stares of the Clarkes as she took her seat opposite them. The elder Clarkes, Johnnie Lee and Bessie, along with their adult son, Jamal, and daughter-in-law, Brandy, were in attendance.

  There were three other cases on the docket before she was called. As the defendant, she hadn’t had to prepare an opening statement. She just had to tell the truth when asked. The Clarkes’ dapper lawyer put on a performance that was so theatrical it was laughable.

  “They lost their only daughter and her unborn baby in a horrific accident and the only things they have of hers to hold on to are their grandsons.”

  It was obvious the judge was used to his performance. She stopped him halfway through his monologue when he accused Nicole of not sharing her nephews with their aunt, uncle, cousins and grandparents. “That will be all, Mr. Halloran. Is this true, Miss Campos?” the judge questioned Nicole.

  “No, it is not, Your Honor. The court is aware that my brother has given me temporary custodial responsibility of his minor sons, and that I also have power of attorney for his business finances until he completes a six-month program for his substance abuse. At no time have I prevented the Clarkes from seeing their grandsons.”

  “What the boys need is a positive male role model, not some unmarried ex-Marine lady captain who believes she knows what it takes to raise boys,” Jamal Clarke shouted.

  Nicole gave her nephews’ uncle what she thought of as her death stare. “My marital status should not be a factor when it comes to taking care of my nephews.”

  “Your Honor. May I address the court?” Everyone turned to stare at Fletcher when he stood up.

  The judge peered over her half-glasses at Fletcher. She nodded. “Can you please state your name for the record?”

  “Jesse Fletcher Austen.”

  The judge nodded again. “What do you want to say, Mr. Austen?”

  Fletcher met Nicole’s eyes for a brief moment. “I don’t mean to usurp Miss Campos’s responsibility in caring for her nephews, but I’m volunteering to step in as a male role model until their father returns.”

  Judge Nelson narrowed her eyes. “Why do you believe you would be a positive role model for the minor Campos boys?”

  “I was a US Army Special Forces medical sergeant for fifteen years. During my last tour, I was wounded in combat, awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star and a medical discharge.”

  “What is your conn
ection to Miss Campos?” Mr. Halloran asked.

  The judge held up her hand. “Careful, Mr. Halloran. Right now, I’m the one asking the questions. Mr. Austen, are you in a relationship with Miss Campos?”

  Fletcher shook his head. “No, Your Honor. Nicole and I are good friends. We went to high school together.”

  The judge smiled. “I applaud you and Miss Campos for your service to our country.” Her smile faded when she looked at the Clarkes. “Mr. Halloran, I suggest you talk to your clients and get them to agree to something that is amenable to Miss Campos.”

  “I’m willing to have the boys spend every other weekend with their grandparents, or whenever there is a school holiday or recess,” Nicole said quickly. “The exception will be the Christmas recess, when I plan to take them to Florida to visit with their paternal grandparents. I can drop them off on Fridays around 6:00 p.m. and pick them up at the same time on Sunday evenings.”

  The middle-aged lawyer with a mouth filled with shockingly white porcelain veneers smiled. “Please give me a few minutes to confer with my clients.” It took less than a minute for him to come to a consensus with those he represented. “My clients have agreed to Miss Campos’s arrangement for visitation.”

  The judge banged her gavel. “This case is concluded.”

  Nicole walked over to her nephews’ grandfather. Her eyes were drawn to the noticeable scar above the tall dark-skinned man’s left eye. Johnnie Lee Clarke, a Vietnam veteran, had earned a reputation as a brawler in his younger days. It had taken him a long time to come to the realization that he had no tolerance for alcohol and finally give it up altogether. He wouldn’t allow anything stronger than pop in his home.

  “We could have solved this if you had come to me directly rather than spend money to hire a lawyer,” she said to the older man.

  Johnnie ran a large hand over his shaved pate. “When I asked you to leave the boys with us before you drove Reggie to Florida, you said you couldn’t do that.”

  “Did you forget that I told you I didn’t want the last image Luke and Danny had of their father to be of him lying unconscious on the bathroom floor? The doctors had prescribed enough methadone for Reggie until his intake, which gave the boys time to hang out with him without the fear of him ‘getting sick’ again and having to give himself a needle filled with medicine to make him well.” She’d hated lying to the boys, but at their age she hadn’t wanted to expose them to the awareness that their father was addicted to heroin.