Laid Bare - Lauren Dane [101]
Ben nodded. “She’s had a rough day. Caroline called. I’m getting ready to call her back.”
“She has, but she’ll be okay. She knows we’re here for her. What’s this about Caroline?”
“She’s in town. She called earlier and left a message on the machine. Erin and I talked. She’s curious but not worried.”
“And what about you? How do you feel about your ex calling you out of the blue and being here in Seattle?” Todd wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
“The breakup wasn’t bad. I don’t hate her. There’s no resentment. I care about her, sure. But there’s nothing for anyone to worry about. You and Erin are my present and my future. I told Erin that too. Wanna be here when I call?”
Todd snorted and stood, kissing Ben quickly. That sort of intimacy had grown over the last months until it had become natural.
“Ben, you don’t need a chaperone. If you did, I wouldn’t want you in our relationship. I’m going inside. Erin will be working for another hour or so and then I’m going to jump her.”
“Good idea. I’ll meet you in an hour.”
30
Erin smoothed down her blouse and took a deep breath. Todd saw the shaking hands and his heart ached. But he knew she needed to pull herself together without help from him, so he forced himself to sit and watch her get ready.
Today would be the opening arguments for Bill Richman, Ella’s ex. Todd had taken the day off and would sit with Erin the whole time. Ben had wanted to go, but their client load had grown enough that it wasn’t possible for both of them to have the day off.
It had led to an argument of sorts, stressing Erin out until she’d tossed a coin, made them each choose a side and announced a winner. After that, she’d gone into her office and slammed the door, turned up her amp and played the bass for an hour.
Todd had been hurt that they’d caused her any upset, but at the same time, that little fight had released a great deal of tension. That they’d survived it and were all three still strong meant a lot to him. They could fight and it didn’t mean anything in the big picture. The realization had made him relax a bit more, even as Ben pouted so much that Erin had babied him and made his favorite breakfast that morning.
“You ready to go? You look very businesslike today.” Todd stood as she turned and grabbed her bag.
“Ready? Hell no. But I’m gonna do it anyway.” She took his arm and held on for dear life as they walked to the King County Courthouse rather than mess with traffic.
The cool morning air did a world of good for them both. She perked up, her color came back as they walked and he felt better seeing her feel better.
She hadn’t been overly specific about her own trial experience. Just that it had been horrible. He knew enough that he could fill in the details for himself.
The metal detectors loomed ahead and she froze.
He spoke to her softly, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “It’s for everyone’s safety. In the nineties a man came in with a gun and killed his wife and her pregnant friend in the hallway outside the courtroom where their divorce was being heard.” It had been a fucking horrible day. He’d been a relatively new cop and was in the courthouse to testify in another case when it had happened. It had been one of the events in his time as a cop that’d hardened his resolve against domestic violence.
She took a deep breath and straightened, walked through the metal detectors and waited patiently until she got her bag back and he joined her.
The wait outside the courtroom seemed interminable, but finally they went inside and she chose a seat near the back but on the aisle. He wanted to sit on the end, wanted his body between her and anyone who walked past but she shook her head hard, white-lipped, and he realized she needed to feel like she could get up and leave anytime she wanted.
He put an arm around the back of the bench, touching her but not holding her.
Erin hated the nausea, but she fought it. Fought it like she fought the memories of sitting in that courtroom in LA, of being cross-examined and having to relive every fucking moment of that