Part 24 (2/2)
”Just a minute,” she called out, turning the stiff lock. She pulled the door open.
Lucas stood there, his hands clasped over his briefcase in front of him, a broad smile on his furrowed face. ”Keely,” he said. ”I've got a surprise for you.”
Frowning, Keely opened the door wider to admit him.
A wan, tired-looking Dylan stood beside him on the front steps, looking down at his feet.
Keely's heart leaped and she cried out. Abby shrieked at the sight of her brother. Keely threw her free arm around him, and Dylan encircled his mother and Abby in a brief, fierce embrace. ”Oh, Dylan,” Keely murmured into the shoulder of his leather jacket. ”Oh, honey, you're really here.”
”I'm back, Mom,” he a.s.sured her. ”It's okay.”
When they let one another go, Keely turned to Lucas and looked at him in amazement. ”What happened?” she cried. ”How did you ever manage . . . ?”
Lucas shook his head. ”I checked up on that social worker who came here. Mrs. Erlich. I thought I recognized the name. A few years ago, she was charged with negligence when she had a child returned to a home and then the kid ended up with brain damage from a beating.”
”Oh my G.o.d,” said Keely.
”Maureen Chase refused to prosecute her. She said it was the parents, not the social worker, who were to blame. Ever since, Mrs. Erlichhas been 'vigilant,' shall we say. Maureen made sure she was a.s.signed to Dylan's case.”
”Just to persecute us!” Keely cried. ”Isn't that illegal?”
”Technically, no. But when I explained this all to Dr. Stover, as well as telling him that Mark broke off his engagement to Maureen to marry you . . . well, he decided that Dylan could go home.”
”Lucas,” she said, ”you're brilliant.”
”He still wants you to bring Dylan to see him.”
”Oh, I will,” said Keely. ”I will. Come in. Get in here. Both of you.”
”I can't,” Lucas demurred. ”I promised Betsy we'd go down by the bay this afternoon to watch the plovers. I just wanted to see your face.”
”Oh, Lucas, thank you,” she said. ”I can never thank you enough.”
”No problem,” he said. ”Dylan, rest up. Stay out of trouble.”
Dylan nodded and walked into the house. Keely hesitated, then turned and spoke in a low voice to Lucas. ”Is it official?” Keely asked worriedly. ”This isn't just a visit . . . ?”
Lucas frowned. ”We're . . . halfway out of the woods,” he said carefully. ”Maureen Chase is still making threats.”
”What kind of threats?” Keely asked.
”Says she'll find a judge who will reverse Dr. Stover's decision.”
”She can't do that!” Keely exclaimed.
”I don't think she can,” said Lucas. ”Not without some compelling reason.”
Keely's gaze became icy. ”Well, I may just be able to beat her at her own game.”
Lucas frowned. ”What does that mean?”
Keely hesitated. ”Let's just say I may be able to find out what really happened here the night Mark died.”
”Find out how?” he asked.
She thought about mentioning Wade. His name was on the tip of her tongue, but she stopped herself. Looking at Lucas now, she realized that he would never go along with such a plan. ”I'm following up a hunch,” she said.
”Keely,” Lucas sighed, ”you've got Dylan home with you now. Justfuss over him and make him comfortable-and leave the legal wrangling to me. I can handle Maureen Chase.”
Keely nodded. ”I know you can. And Lucas, I can never thank you enough.”
”Go ahead,” said Lucas. ”Enjoy your reunion.”
Keely watched him limp down the walkway toward the car, and then she closed the door. She walked into the living room, where Dylan was still standing, holding his duffel bag, like a visitor. She came up behind him and took his bag from him. ”Sit down,” she said. ”What can I get you, honey? You look so tired. Oh, I'm so glad to see you.”
”I'm okay, Mom. I'm okay,” he insisted. ”Get a grip.”
”Get a grip,” she scoffed, squeezing his face between her hands and kissing his forehead.
Dylan pulled away from her, grimacing dramatically. ”Cut it out,” he groaned.
Keely sat back and smiled at him. ”G.o.d, it's good to have you home,” she said. ”To get you out of that place.”
Dylan rolled his eyes. ”No s.h.i.+t,” he said.
”Dylan,” she warned, but she didn't sound convincing.
He looked down at the baby. Abby was leaning against his s.h.i.+ns, her little hands on the knees of his jeans, and was giving him an amazed, toothless grin. ”Hey, squirt,” he said gently. ”How you doin'?”
”She's glad to have you back,” said Keely.
Dylan nodded, and he smiled at her, but his shoulders slumped.”I'm glad to be back. That place was the pits.”
”Are you still taking the medication?” Keely asked.
”Yeah. I'm supposed to keep going to see him, too.”
”I think that would be good,” said Keely. ”He seems like a very sympathetic person.” Her words were measured, but in truth, had Dr. Stover been handy, she would have kissed and embraced him.
”Yeah, he's okay,” said Dylan.
”But you have to keep talking to him. And to me, too, darling. You can't let things build up inside the same way. You have to trust me. We have to trust each other . . .”
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