Part 34 (1/2)
By Monday morning, when the grand jury convened, Summer and Billy and Emma and Ren had still found nothing. Summer spent the endless days that followed desperately searching for her mother's mysterious letter with anyone she could find to help. And the very long nights alone, wondering how long it would take the grand jury to hear the evidence against her father. And how quickly they'd move to indict him for murder.
Early on, she'd asked Billy to stay with her, but he'd said it would be too disruptive for Will to stay in a strange place, and he didn't want to leave his son alone. And besides, his sister was often weepy and sad and he needed to be home with her. He also needed to spend time with his mother, whose health was failing, since she saw only the nurse Summer had provided-as promised-during the day.
Summer knew they were all excuses. If Billy had wanted to be with her, he could have managed it. But she didn't argue. Maybe it was better this way.
Late Thursday, when there was still no word from the grand jury, Summer let herself hope they might not indict after all. When everyone who was helping with the search had gone, and the servants had left for the day, she sat down at the kitchen table, exhausted, and sipped at a cup of coffee, hoping the caffeine would help.
She tensed when the phone rang, afraid to answer it. After six rings, she leaped up and ran for it. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”Summer? It's Uncle Harry. The grand jury indicted.”
”Oh, no!” she moaned. ”No.”
”Your father will be going to court tomorrow morning to hear the indictment read and to make his plea.”
”I won't be there,” Summer said. She had to stay home and search for the letter that might clear him. As she gripped the phone, she had the terrifying thought that her mother had lied about the letter to give her hope, when there was none.
”I know he'd like to see you there,” Uncle Harry said.
Summer didn't say anything. She didn't want to sob into the phone. So she hung up.
She had one day left to find that G.o.dd.a.m.ned note. Because tomorrow, her father would plead ”Not guilty,” when his only defense was, ”Of course we argued, Your Honor. All married couples do. But I didn't murder my wife.”
She punched Billy's number into the phone. She could hear Will crying in the background when Billy answered. ”You have to come back. Please. I don't want to be alone.”
He must have heard the panic in her voice, because he said, ”The grand jury indicted?”
”Yes. I have to find that letter, Billy. I need you here.”
”I'll be right over,” he said. ”Does Ren know?”
At that moment, Ren appeared at the screen door.
”She's here now,” Summer said.
”See you soon,” Billy said and disconnected.
”Come in,” Summer called to Ren as she hung up the phone.
Ren stepped inside and let the screen door ease closed behind her. ”I'm so sorry,” she said.
A week ago, this woman had been a stranger. But when Ren opened her arms offering comfort, Summer flew into them. She gripped Ren hard, sobbing against her shoulder. ”What are we going to do?”
She felt Ren's hands on her hair, comforting her in a way her mother never had. ”We're going to keep looking.”
Summer took a step back and swiped at her eyes. ”Sorry about the tears.”
Ren took a step forward and gently brushed Summer's hair back from her shoulder. ”None of this is your fault, Summer.”
”Sure. Right.”
”I mean it. All of this was set in motion long before you were born.”
Summer hadn't realized until Ren said something how guilty she'd felt. She wanted to believe her.
Ren smiled and said, ”I know your father doesn't blame you.”
”Really?”
Ren nodded.
”Billy's coming over,” Summer said.
”We can use all the help we can get. Shall we start again upstairs?”
”I'll search Momma's studio again.”
”Guess I'll head for Trace's bedroom.”
Sometime later, Summer heard Billy hailing her and hurried downstairs to find him and Will-and Emma-in the kitchen. ”What are you doing here?” she asked Emma.
”Billy said you needed help. I thought maybe I could make us all some supper.”
Summer saw the kitchen table was already set. ”How long have you been here?”
”I brought the chili and cornbread m.u.f.fins I'd made for our dinner,” Emma said. She turned the m.u.f.fins out of the warm tin into a basket and set them on the table.
”Bless you,” Summer said. ”I'm starving.”
”So's Billy,” Emma said. ”Even Will's starting to complain.”
Will was sitting on the floor banging on a couple of pots with a wooden spoon.
”Mer!” Will cried when he spied her.
Summer reached out her arms and Will dropped the spoon and clambered into them. He hugged her tight and she hugged him back. She met Billy's eyes, fighting tears. ”I'm so glad you're here.”
He took Will from her and settled the little boy in the high chair Summer had found earlier in the week in the attic.
”Eat, Daddy,” Will said plaintively.
Billy reached for a m.u.f.fin, broke it open, and blew on it to cool it before handing half to Will, who stuck it in his mouth and began munching happily.
Ren came into the kitchen with dust and cobwebs clinging to her hair.
”What happened to you?” Summer asked.
”I found an entrance to the attic in the closet of your brother's bedroom and decided to go up for a look,” Ren said.
”No luck?” Billy asked.