chardonnay. Katherine settled on iced tea. She was so tired that if she had any alcohol, she was likely to collapse face-first in her salad.
Maybe it was the exhaustion or the stress in her life or just a streak of bad breeding showing up, but she found herself saying, 'Alex and Julie always used to argue about who would take the kids when Mark and I got older. I remember heated discussions about having to split them up so they would each have a couple. It made me so proud of both of them.'
Fiona's expression tightened. 'Yes. I remember. Julie being female makes her the more likely choice.'
'I'm not so sure. Alex has a soft spot for his siblings, especially Bailey, Oliver and Quinn. Ian, Sasha and Trisha are likely to be fully independent.'
Fiona pressed her lips together. Katherine wasn't sure if that was to keep from saying something or to stop herself from shuddering. It was obvious the other woman didn't want anything to do with Katherine's 'nonnormal' children. Had Alex known about that? Was it one of the reasons for the divorce?
She remembered how Alex talked about so much with her, yet he'd been completely close-mouthed about the reason for the divorce. He would never say anything bad about the woman he'd been married to. She'd thought he hadn't been specific because there hadn't been anything to say. But maybe there was another reason.
The waiter appeared with drinks and the bread basket. Katherine usually ignored it, but today the carbs and sweet butter called to her. She could do an extra ten minutes on the elliptical in the morning.
'I saw the pictures in the paper.' Fiona said quietly, nearly ruining Katherine's first bite of the fresh bread. 'I was devastated. How could he do that? And with her of all people. I thought of you, of course. How are you holding up?'
The words were all there. The tone was perfect. Yet Katherine had the sudden impression that Fiona was putting on a very well-crafted show.
Which wasn't fair. Fiona obviously wanted a second chance at her marriage. From Katherine's perspective, the other woman had been a good wife. But what secrets did Fiona and Alex keep between them? What had really happened when the two of them were alone?
'I didn't know what to think,' Fiona continued.
'I would guess that he's seeing someone else,' Katherine snapped, then sighed against the wash of guilt. She patted Fiona's arm. 'I don't mean that to sound harsh. I'm saying this for your own good. It might be time to move on.'
Tears filled Fiona's eyes. 'Why are you saying this? Has he told you something?'
Katherine hesitated. 'He said nothing will ever change his mind. He doesn't want to be with you anymore.'
'I see.'
'Maybe it's for the best.'
'No, it's not. I still love him. He's the only man I'll ever love. He's my Mark.'
Katherine was less sure. Of the two people involved, the one she trusted implicitly was Alex.
'I'm sorry to hear you say that,' she told Fiona. 'I don't think my son is going to change his mind.'
Fiona nodded. The tears disappeared, as if they had never been. 'I see. Thank you for being honest. It's because of Dani, isn't it? He's infatuated by her.'
'I wouldn't say that. They're involved.' They were obviously having sex, as the entire world had recently discovered.
'You can't be happy about their relationship,' Fiona pressed.
'I accept it, as you should. There's nothing either of us can do to change things.'
Fiona hesitated for a second, then said. 'Of course. You're right. I wouldn't dream of coming between them.'
Alex met Pete outside the courthouse. The hearing was scheduled for nine.
'Nervous?' the other man asked.
'No,' Alex told him. He had done as much as he could to prepare for the hearing. There was little else he could do to influence the outcome.
Even if the D.A. decided to use him as an example and charge him with everything possible, it was unlikely Alex would be spending the night in jail. He had a clean record and close ties to the community. He wasn't a flight risk.
But knowing he would continue to sleep in his own bed didn't change the fact that his future was on the line. If he was convicted…
He didn't want to think about that, about having to find a new career. He didn't want to think about how it would be wrong for that sleazy reporter to get away with using Bailey. No matter the outcome, Alex refused to regret what he'd done- he'd protected his own. That was much more his job than being a lawyer.
Pete checked his watch. 'Let's go,' he said and they walked into the courtroom.
Alex's specialty was corporate law. He'd assisted on a couple of court cases, but spent most of his time in an office. It was considered bad form to let a corporate case go to trial. While he'd sat at the table for the defense, it had never been as the defendant. He wasn't looking forward
There were already several spectators in the courtroom. Reporters, of course. Neither of his parents were there-he'd asked his family not to come. It would only give the press more to write about. There were a few junior members of his law firm, a member of the campaign and Dani.
Alex stared at her, surprised she would show up. They hadn't talked in nearly a week-not since they'd fought. As she turned and her hazel eyes met his, he couldn't remember what they'd argued about.
He paused by the wooden half wall separating the main aisle from the seats.
'What are you doing here?' he asked.
She stood. 'Showing support for truth, justice and the American way.' She smiled slightly. “I thought you could use a friend. You don't have any family here yet.'
'I asked them not to come. I thought it would give the media too much to write about.'
Her smile faded. 'Damn. So now they're going to write about me.'
He didn't bother to look around at the reporters, knowing they would be typing furiously on Palm Pilots and laptops.
'Probably,' he said, 'But I don't care.'
'Then I won't, either.' She touched his arm. 'I hope it goes well.'
She was beautiful. Her wide eyes perfectly balanced her full mouth. She wore a conservative pants suit and could have easily passed for a lawyer. Not that she would consider that a compliment.
He wanted her. Not just in bed, although he wouldn't say no if she asked, but to talk with. To spend time with. He'd missed her this past week. He'd gotten used to having her around and then she'd been gone.
He introduced Pete, then they left her and walked to the defendant's table. Alex took his seat and waited for the judge.
Thirty minutes later, his fate was sealed, but not in a way he'd expected. The assistant D. A. explained that due to lack of evidence, they were dropping all charges. The judge dismissed the case and left the courtroom.
'Way to go,' Pete said as he shook Alex's hand. 'Congratulations.'
'I didn't do anything.'
'Still, this solves a lot of problems. I'm going to phone the other partners. They'll want to know.'
Pete walked out. Alex stared after him, then turned to watch as Dani approached.
'This is good,' she said happily. 'You're free. I'm so happy. I was worried that horrible reporter would totally screw up your life.' She paused and frowned at him. 'Why aren't you more excited?'
Alex wanted to hit something. Despite having grown up with money and privilege, he'd done his damnedest to never use that to get something he hadn't earned. He'd prided himself on working hard, on doing the right thing. With a couple of phone calls, Mark had taken it all away from him.
'It has nothing to do with lack of evidence,' he said grimly. 'My father did this.'
'What do you mean? He talked to the D.A.?'
'He talked to someone. I don't know who, but I'll find out.'
