Save Me - Lisa Scottoline [27]
“Because I’m a sexy beast?” Leo smiled crookedly, but Rose saw a flicker of regret behind his eyes.
“You’re not going in, are you?”
“I have to, babe.” Leo’s brown eyes met hers, his emotions now plain. “I’m going to trial, in Granger Securities. I’m so sorry, honey, but it can’t be helped. We were number ten in the trial pool, but everything settled and we’re up on Monday. I got the call an hour ago, from the law clerk.”
“On a Saturday, they call?”
“Yep. It happens. Judges can’t afford down time in their dockets.”
“But what about John? They won’t let him stay here tonight, and if they find out he’s sick, they’ll throw me out.”
“I couldn’t get a sitter.” Leo shook his head. “Babe, believe me, if I could avoid this, I would, but I can’t. My hands are tied. You know how big this case is.”
“I know.” Rose did, it was true. He’d been talking about Granger Securities for three years. “But what about Jamie, couldn’t she sit?”
“No, she’s busy. I even called the backup sitter, and she has exams. I told her she can study at our house, but she said no. Plus I asked the neighbor, Mrs. Burton. She’s going out, and I don’t know anybody else. I’m out of options.”
“What about the sitter from the old neighborhood. Sandy?”
“No answer.” Leo shrugged. “I’d take him with me to the office, but I have witnesses flying in from Denver, and it’s all hands on deck. I have to work all weekend, and next week will be sheer hell.”
“Oh, Jeez.” Rose was getting that Peter and Paul feeling again, torn between the two children. She didn’t want to go home with John and leave Melly alone in the hospital. “On the bright side, he’s cooler. Is his fever gone?”
“Yes, but I packed the Tylenol and amoxicillin, just in case. Also I fed the dog and left the dog door open.”
“Leo, Leo!” Melly called from the bed. “Ms. Canton gave me a Hermione wand!”
“Lemme see.”
“I forget the incantation to make water come out, though. Oh, wait. Aguamenti!” Melly grabbed the wand and waved it around, and Leo ducked.
“Cool. Let me try. I don’t speak Harry Potter.” He took the wand and waved it in the air. “Bibbity, bobbity, boo! What’s the spell for a babysitter?”
Melly frowned. “Leo, Mom says I can’t watch iCarly.”
“She said that? She’s such a meanie.” Leo turned to Rose, waving the wand. “Let’s make her change her mind. Presto!”
“No TV.” Rose flared her eyes meaningfully, but Leo scoffed.
“Come on, she won’t see anything bad on Nick.”
“What’s anything bad?” Melly asked, and Leo caught himself, cringing.
“Nothing.”
“Step outside with me, will you, Merlin?” Rose went to the door with John, then turned to Melly. “Honey, stay in bed. We’re going into the hall a minute, to talk.”
“Later, tater!” Leo kissed Melly and gave her back the wand, and Rose led him outside to the window well, dreading the task at hand. Her heart felt so heavy, and she leaned against the ledge, with the air conditioning cold on her back.
“Leo, there’s terrible news about Amanda. They gave her last rites. She may already be—” Rose still couldn’t finish the sentence, and from the expression on Leo’s face, she didn’t have to. His forehead collapsed into folds, and he winced.
“Aw, no.” He wrapped his arms around her and John, holding them close and rubbing her back. “That’s terrible, so terrible. That poor kid.”
“I know. I just feel so awful for her, and for Eileen. I wish we could do something.”
“We can’t.”
“You sure?”
“Of course.” Leo released her, squinting against the sunlight. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“Just to tell them we’re thinking of them.”
“You’d make yourself feel better, but not them. You’re the last person they want to hear from right now.”
Rose felt stung, if only because it was true.
“Plus anything you say can look like an admission of guilt, later.” Leo frowned. “Let it go. Can you let it go?”
Rose had been here before. She could never let anything go. She didn’t even know what letting