After Anna(72)

Noah assumed that Thomas was declining redirect because if he accepted, then it would give Linda the opportunity for recross. Thomas was putting Noah out of his misery, like shooting a wounded animal.

None of them knew Noah was dead inside.





Chapter Fifty


Maggie, Before

Maggie closed Anna’s bedroom door, simmering. She went down to the basement to find Noah at his computer with his headphones on, reading an array of test results. He’d reassembled his desk, bookshelves, and filing cabinet in the same arrangement as his former office upstairs. Maggie felt a twinge, appreciating his initial sacrifice, but things had gone so wrong since then. She touched his shoulder to get his attention, and he slid off his headphones.

‘What’s up?’ Noah asked, over his black reading glasses.

‘Anna is getting a professional driving teacher. She doesn’t want you to take her anymore.’

‘Really?’ Noah blinked. ‘Did she say why?’

‘That she felt nervous around you.’

‘I thought it went well.’

‘It obviously didn’t.’

‘Maggie, what do you want me to do?’ Noah slid off his reading glasses and tossed them on the desk.

‘I want you to help me get to the bottom of this.’

‘She changed her mind. Teenagers do that.’

‘Noah, why are you acting this way?’ Maggie felt like they didn’t even know each other anymore.

‘I’m acting how I always act.’

‘No, you’re not. You’re kinder than this. You’re a great father.’

‘I took off tonight for her. I’ll be up for three more hours to make it up.’ Noah gestured at the glowing screen. ‘I have to get ready for the conference. Remember? In Miami.’

‘But still, if you’re going to take the time to take her, it doesn’t take longer to be nice.’ Maggie had forgotten there was a medical conference of the NAAAI, or the National Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. The office always sent Noah, who loved to geek out at the latest in allergy advances.

‘You’re killing me, babe. What do you want me to do?’

‘How about care?’ Maggie shot back, giving way to anger. ‘Noah, what’s going on? Tell me how you feel. The kids can’t hear. We can yell as much as we want.’

‘Okay.’ Noah pursed his lips. ‘This house has been in an uproar since she got here, and all you do is make sure that she’s happy. Has she even called to find Jamie yet?’

‘She hasn’t had a chance.’

‘Right.’ Noah rolled his eyes. ‘She follows her own rules. You fill her every need. You’re jumping through hoops for her.’

‘Of course I am. I’m trying to show her I’m happy she’s here. What about you?’

‘So what I’m doing isn’t good enough?’

‘No, it’s not.’

‘Well, that’s nice.’ Noah returned his attention to the computer and slid his reading glasses back on, his mouth a bitter twist. ‘I’m not going to fight with you anymore. I have work to do. I have to moderate a panel. I’m leaving Sunday morning until Thursday night. I decided to stay for the closing sessions. I can pick up three CME credits, and Anthony Fauci is speaking, the NIAID Director. He identified AIDS, you know.’

‘I know,’ Maggie said, though she hadn’t been exactly sure. ‘You’re going to stay ’til closing?’

‘Yes, I wanted to anyway, and given what’s going on here, it makes sense.’

‘So you’re running away.’ Maggie folded her arms.

‘No, I’m doing my job.’

‘Did you remember we have the barbecue on Saturday? I emailed the invitations, and you’re leaving me to prepare by myself.’ Maggie knew it wasn’t what was really bothering her. It was just what she could get him on.

‘I’ll be home in plenty of time to help.’

‘I can’t leave things until last minute. Food shopping, going to the beer distributor, getting the extra chairs and folding tables from the garage, cleaning up in the backyard, that has to be done in advance.’

‘I’ll be here for the heavy lifting. Leave it for me.’ Noah squinted at the screen, evidently dismissing her.

‘Fine,’ Maggie turned angrily away. Something was going on with him, but she didn’t know what. She climbed the stairs, starting to wonder about the conference. And why he was staying longer.

And then she realized. He would see her.

Jordan.





Chapter Fifty-one


Noah, After

TRIAL, DAY 4

Noah sat at counsel table, as the Commonwealth witness was about to take the stand. He couldn’t help but think that the prosecution had produced enough evidence to convict him. Thomas had warned him that he would feel the worst by the end of the Commonwealth’s case, and even though Noah had been prepared, it was cold comfort.

Linda stood at the front of the courtroom waiting while her witness was sworn in, a slim Indian woman dressed in a trim blue suit, with steel-rimmed glasses and her dark, glossy hair in a short pageboy.

‘Please state your name for the record,’ Linda said pleasantly, as the witness sat down.