Dream a Little Dream (Chicago Stars, #4)(235)

“I know.” How could she tell him the check wouldn’t be good if she didn’t get on that bus on Monday?

“It was nice of you to give us that money.”

She didn’t know what to say or why he was here, so she kept silent.

“Emily’s—She’s doing better. Her white-cell count is way down. Nobody expected it.” He finally looked at her. “Lisa’s mom thinks you faith-healed her.”

“I didn’t.”

“She’s been getting better every day since you saw her.”

“I’m glad. But it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

“That’s what I thought at first. But now I’m not so sure.” His forehead puckered and he drew nervously on the cigarette. “It’s happened so fast, and none of the doctors can explain why. She keeps saying you closed your eyes and your hands were hot when you touched her.”

“The room was warm.”

“I guess. Still . . .” He threw down the cigarette and ground it out. “I don’t feel right about some things. My little girl . . .” He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. “I’m not the best father in the world, but she means a lot to me, and you helped her.” He pulled the cigarette pack from his shirt pocket and looked down at it. “I talked Jake into letting me come in here tonight because I wanted you to know that I’m sorry for some things, and that I owe you. Maybe there’s somebody I can call who’ll help you. All you have to do is let me know.”

“There’s nobody.”

“If I had the money . . .” He put the cigarettes back into his pocket.

“It’s all right. I don’t expect you to bail me out.”

“I mean, I would, but . . .”

“Thanks. I’m really glad about Emily.”

He gave a stiff nod.

She had the sense he wanted to say more because he hesitated, but then he moved toward the door. As soon as he got there, however, he turned back to her. “I got something to tell you.” He walked to her cell. “I did a couple of things I’m not proud of.”

She listened as he told her that he was responsible for the burning cross, the slashed tires and graffiti on the front of the house, her stolen wallet. “I always liked Dwayne, and I liked the job I had at the Temple. It was the best work I ever had, and nothing’s gone right for me since then.” Once again, he reached for his cigarettes. “I worked for Bonner for a couple of weeks out at the drive-in, but he let me go. Then you showed up here, and when he hired you, a lot of stuff came together in my head that made me start resenting you. I guess I kind of thought that maybe I still owed something to Dwayne, too. But for whatever reasons, what I did wasn’t right.” He finally lit the cigarette, drawing the smoke deeply into his lungs.

“Are you the one who destroyed the drive-in?”

“No.” He shook his head emphatically. “No. I don’t know who did that.”

“Why have you told me all this?”

He shrugged. “Lisa and Fran don’t think too much of me anymore. But I still love my little girl, and I know I owe you.”

She tried to take it in. If he’d made his confession at any other time, she’d be furious, but right now she didn’t have energy to spare on Russ Scudder.

“All right. You’ve told me.”

He didn’t seem to expect any words of forgiveness, and she didn’t utter them.

Later, as she sat in the dark on the small metal cot with her knees drawn up in front of her, she gave in to despair. Despite her tarnished reputation, despite all the evidence, Gabe had to believe her.

He had to.



The digital clock next to his bed read 4:28. Cal looked across the pillow at Jane curled up against him and knew that guilt had awakened him, along with worry about Gabe. Where was he?

Right after they’d tucked the children into bed, Cal had driven up to the cottage, even checked his parents’ house in town, but he couldn’t find any sign of his brother.

Cal still hadn’t told Jane he was the one who’d pressed charges against Rachel. He’d kept finding excuses to postpone it, mainly because he hated her to be unhappy. Then they’d started to make love, and afterward they’d both drifted off. Still, keeping this from her wasn’t right, and he resigned himself to breaking the news as soon as she woke up. No more excuses. No more postponements. He’d simply have to make her understand.

It wouldn’t be easy. Jane didn’t have any family, so she couldn’t fully comprehend the bond he shared with his brothers. And she hadn’t known Gabe long enough to realize what a soft touch he was. But Cal knew. And he’d guarded his brother as zealously as he guarded everyone he loved.


He thought of Rachel all alone in her jail cell and wondered if she was awake, too, worrying about her little boy. Why hadn’t she considered that little boy before she’d struck out against Gabe?

He wanted to believe that she’d acted impulsively, without considering the effect her cruelty would have on a man who had finally been able to start a new life, but that didn’t excuse her. She was one of those self-focused people who couldn’t see any farther than her own needs and frustrations, and now she had to suffer the consequences. Satisfied that he was doing the right thing, Cal finally drifted off.