Paradise Valley (Virgin River #7)(95)

“Attorneys, I know. What do you think got us into this mess? This doesn’t have to do with divorce or settlements or— Well, it has a little to do with it. It’s my amends, Ms. Valenzuela. I have to make amends. It’s one of my steps. I’m trying to graduate from a treatment program.”

Brie folded her arms over her chest. She wasn’t about to be reeled in by a smooth-talking addict. “Another one?” she asked.

“Third time,” he said, lifting his chin and straightening. “I’m a real hard sell. If you’ll please call her and ask her if she’ll give me fifteen minutes of her time, I’ll never bother her again. Believe me, I know I’m asking a lot. The rule is, make amends where it won’t make the life of the person you’re apologizing to more difficult. And the list is long. So long. I’ll meet her somewhere neutral if she’d like. You can be there—it wouldn’t change what I have to say. Please?”

Brie took a breath. “Do you mind waiting in your car? I should have some privacy for the call.”

“Sure. Listen, please tell her I don’t want to upset her life in any way. I swear I’ll leave her alone after this. And really, tell her, I’m an idiot, a fool, an addict and imbecile, but I’ve always been nice when I’m clean. I’m fair. She’ll remember that. Hand to God.”

“Mr. Crawford,” Brie said sternly. “Be prepared. The answer could be no. In which case you’ll have to complete your steps without her assistance.”

“Well,” he said, hanging his head, “I hope she’ll see me. If only for a few minutes. I’d like both of us to be able to get this behind us so we can move on.”

“I’ll be sure to tell her you said that,” Brie promised. “Excuse me now.”

Brie sent him back down the walk to his car. She took a deep breath, checked on the baby first and when Ness was found sleeping contentedly, she called Abby at the cabin. She explained everything Ross had said. “I don’t know what’s included in his amends, Abby, and I don’t want you unnecessarily upset. I’m not sure I recommend this, even though I’m all for working through domestic disputes and laying them to rest, if there’s a mediator present. I can serve in that capacity, unofficially. Or, it’s perfectly all right to decline this request. In fact, I could tell him that you’ll reconsider in a few months—that right now is not a good time.”

“Do you know he never once took my calls when I wanted to know what was going on with him? When I wanted to discuss the terms his lawyers set forth? I wish I wasn’t curious. The fact is, I’d like to know what he has to say about it now.”

“You’re very pregnant. I don’t want you back in court because of some egregious prenup.”

“We have this letter saying it’s over. Right? I’ll see him,” she said. “But only if you’ll be present.”

“It’s just me and the baby here,” Brie said. “I can’t reach Mike. Would you be comfortable bringing Cam? If not, I’ll call Jack. He’d come out. Just to hedge against any kind of reaction that you and I and little Ness can’t handle.”

“Oh, I don’t think Cameron would miss this for anything,” Abby said. “But if he’s tied up with patients, I’ll stop by the bar and grab either Jack or Preacher.”

Brie took a couple of minutes to brew coffee, change the baby, fix up a bottle that would keep her quiet and then, after a good fifteen minutes had passed, with the Glock stowed away again and Ness on her hip, she opened the door to signal Ross from his car. “She’s coming,” she told him when he came up the walk.

“Ah. She is here, then.”

Brie tilted her head. “With all your resources, you probably could have learned that on your own, without coming to me.”

“There’s been too much of that sort of thing,” he said. “Can I just sit over there and wait?” he asked, indicating the sofa and chair in the corner of the room.

“Sure. What do you mean, there’s been too much of that?”

“Aw, my manager hired people to keep my back. It was supposed to be for the crazies, you know? I get ’em sometimes. Abby’s not crazy. She’s just a nice girl who got hooked up with a wrong guy.”

Brie shook her head sadly. “Turns out we agree on some things,” she said, going back to her desk. She sat in her chair and gave the baby a bottle while Ross opened a thick spiral notebook, pulled out a pen, flipped it open and began writing. After a few minutes he looked toward Brie and Ness and said, “How old is she?”

“Six months.”

“And you manage a baby and lawyering?” he asked.

“It’s a small town,” she said. “I’m seldom overworked. Which is how I like it.”

“How’d you meet Abby?” he asked.

“She was referred.”

“I thought she had a lawyer.”

“Did she?” Brie asked, although she knew. Brie was of the opinion her former attorney hadn’t helped her much. Or maybe he was just up against too much of Ross’s money. “Are you documenting this meeting?” Brie asked him.

“This?” he asked, tapping the notebook. “Oh,” he laughed. “No. This is my compilation of sins and crimes. It’s not easy to remember every one of them, since I was high and plastered most of the time.” He went back to writing.