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Chapter 26: Ducks and Deals

Lizzy spent the rest of Tuesday morning packing the stuff she had taken to California and some extra stuff that she left behind when she moved to Texas. By 11:30 on the dot she had returned to the diner with a backpack full of clothes and things. She had left the majority of her luggage at the house, not wanting to take it on the bus with her. She would go back for it after the trial was over and she knew exactly where she'd be for the next two months.

Casey sat down across from Lizzy in the booth on her half hour lunch and tried to smile.

"What's wrong?" Lizzy asked.

"Gordon stopped by this morning. He said Mr. Sackett called him and offered a deal. It's completely up to you but Gordon and I think you should take it."

"What does my dad think?"

"We want you to be on board before we tell your dad. It'll be easier that way."

"Easier for him to accept or easier for you to convince him?"

"Both."

"What's the deal?"

"You plead guilty to truancy and you'll serve 200 hours of community service and 3 months probation plus have an A average and you'll be attending Eden Hall Academy."

"What does he mean probation?"

"Every morning before school and every afternoon after school you will check in with your court appointed supervisor and every weekend you will spend with me. Plus you will stay out of trouble."

"Let me think about this." Lizzy thought carefully weighing both sides. "Wait, if I'm going to Eden Hall doesn't that mean I have to play hockey? I only got in on a full athletic scholarship."

"Since that would be considered a reward you won't be allowed on the hockey team until your probation is up."

"No," Lizzy shook her head.

"No what?" Casey asked.

"I don't want his deal. Have Bombay tell Sackett the deal is 75 hours of community service, 6 weeks probation, an A plus average by the end of the year, and I can serve my sentence in Ohio. This way I can get my community service done three hours a day for 25 days and only have to serve two weeks probation after I finish."

"Lizzy, the DA's offer is a really good deal and takes away the risk of chancing the judge throwing the book at you."

"Do you know how long it would take me to complete 200 hours of community service? 3 hours a day, 7 days a week, 67 days. That's just over two months and then an additional month of probation on top of that? No thank you. Tell Bombay about the deal I offered."

"Okay."

Meanwhile across town at Eden Hall, Charlie had passed around the message that he had news on Lizzy he would tell them at lunch. By the time lunch rolled around half the Ducks were worried and the other half were excited. Fulton and Adam weren't sure what they were, only that they had to know what was going on.

"Will you tell us now?" Julie asked.

Charlie looked around the Ducks table, counting the faces looking at him. "Wait, where's Connie?" Charlie asked, not seeing the brunette girl.

"Sorry, sorry, bathroom," Connie said, rushing up.

"Everything okay?" Guy asked.

"Yeah, fine," Connie said.

"Guys," Adam said as Connie sat down next to Guy.

"What's this news?" Russ asked.

"I've spoken to Lizzy," Charlie said.

"Only spoken to or actually seen?" Fulton asked.

"Both," Charlie said, "she was released yesterday afternoon and is staying with me and Mom."

"Are they going to trial?" Adam asked.

Most of the Ducks had seen Lizzy leave with the cops on Friday at the funeral and then Bombay told them a little of what was going on when they had seen him on Saturday but they were still worried.

"Let the guy talk," Ken said.

"Thanks. I don't know Adam, Bombay mentioned trying to deal but this other guy doesn't seem willing to go easy on her. Anyway Lizzy wanted me to tell you guys something," Charlie said. He took a deep breath, hoping that what he was about to say wouldn't cause chaos.

"She's fine and we should be worried about the game and not her," Fulton said before Charlie could say anything.

"How'd you know?" Charlie asked, looking stunned.

"Because that is so Lizzy. The C may be on your jersey, Charlie, but Lizzy's always pulled the strings."

"Right, you could always read her. Guys, and girls, we all know Lizzy and there is no doubt in my mind that she would deeply appreciate your concern but she also wants us to focus on the game. Remember her concussion? How she kept saying she was fine? We just have to concentrate. There's nothing we can do for her right now so let's focus on the game but I will tell her you guys are thinking of her."

"Can we see her?" Adam asked.

"You know she wouldn't want that," Charlie said.

"Come on Charlie, we're her best friends; maybe it'll help for her to see us," Fulton added.

"You know that's going to make her feel like a caged animal at the zoo."

"What if it was just Fulton and Adam? We believe you that she's okay but perhaps having them confirm it would ease our minds completely," Julie suggested.

"Okay fine. Lizzy's not going to like this but we can drop by Mickey's after practice and you two can see her. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Did you talk to Portman?" Kenny asked.

"Has anyone told him Lizzy's not here?" Russ asked.

"I couldn't. I'm sure that he knows probably about as much as we did. That she bailed but I doubt he knows any more than that. I couldn't mention her when we email and when we talk it's awkward silence when he brings her up," Fulton said. "Adam, did Lizzy ever tell you she wasn't coming?"

"No, I heard it from Charlie that first day. You know I doubt that she told him. Every time we talked she never brought it up. In fact I was the one that always mentioned school and hockey. If Lizzy did the same with Portman, there's a chance he doesn't know she's not here."

"How are we going to tell him?" Kenny asked. No one had an answer for him.

After practice that night they dropped by Mickey's and found Lizzy drawing but she wasn't alone. Bombay was sitting across from her.

"I just don't get it, Lizzy," Bombay was saying. "This is a really great deal. The DA is being very generous with you. Why won't you take it?"

"Very generous?" Lizzy asked, putting down her pencil. "Do you remember your sentence when you were charged with DUI and reckless endangerment?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"That was a misdemeanor; this is a petty misdemeanor, even less of a crime. Your DUI on top of 12 moving violations within 12 months, you should have had some jail time. Instead the judge slapped you with 500 hours community service, probation, and a suspended license. Tell me how the DA thinks this is generous? You don't want me testifying in front of that judge. I can be exceedingly sweet and I will get the charges dropped."

"Okay, let me make a phone call." Bombay stepped outside and Adam, Fulton, and Charlie sat down. Charlie next to her and Fulton and Adam across from them.

"How'd you know that about Bombay?" Adam asked.

"Same way you did—my dad looked into him. Didn't want me playing for a convicted felon or something. It was actually 12 moving violations in three years but the result still would have been the same. Bombay's sentence was a slap on the wrist. All he has to do is try harder and he'll get me a better deal. What are you guys doing here? I thought Charlie was told to tell you I'm fine and not to worry about me."

Charlie smirked and Adam and Fulton looked away.

"Guys, really, I'm okay. Focus on the game not on me."

"Charlie said you'd say that," Fulton said.

"Come on guys, you know I got this."

"Why do you do this, Lizzy? We ask you one simple question and you push us away," Adam said gently.

"Because you shouldn't be worrying about my problems. I love you all, you know that, but the only thing you should be worrying about is the game, school, and girls. Not about me."

"You know someone once told me that it was okay to accept help even if you don't think you need it. You know I always thought it was me and you against the world." Adam looked at her carefully. "That no matter what happened with the Ducks you knew I was always there for you. Turns out it's only me and you when I'm in trouble. That it's okay for you to help me but not for me to help you. Be that way." Adam stood and left and Lizzy sighed.

"I'll go make sure he's okay," Charlie said.

Once Charlie left, Lizzy stared down at her hands as they rested on the table.

"Though Adam has a point, we are your best friends and we want to help you; I know how you like to handle things on your own." Fulton took Lizzy's hand and stroked the back of it with his thumb. "Just don't forget we are here and you don't have to go through all this alone. I love you and I would do anything for you just ... please. You have my number, give me a call when you're ready. And if you're never ready to talk to me, you can always talk to my mom and if she's not good enough Port will always listen to you. No judgements."

Lizzy nodded. Fulton squeezed her hand then he too left. Once he did Bombay sat back down.

"Sackett rejected your offer. I'm sorry, Lizzy," he said.

"So what now?"

"Now I do my best to get the judge on our side."

"Will I have to testify?"

"It might help but I will only know for certain if you tell me why."

"Why what?" Charlie asked, sitting down next to Lizzy.

"Let's not do this in public," Lizzy said.

"Okay," Bombay agreed.

"Why don't you come over for dinner? We can talk after that," Charlie said.

"As long as it's okay with your mom."

"What's okay with me?" Casey asked.

"Can he come over for dinner?" Charlie asked.

"Come on Aunt Casey, we'll get Chinese takeout then we can talk about the next step," Lizzy said.

"I can't remember the last time you sided with Gordon off the ice, Lizzy. For that reason alone, sure, if you don't have anything else," Casey answered, looking from Lizzy to Bombay.

"Okay, but it's my treat," Bombay said, "I insist." After dinner, which mainly consisted of Charlie talking about his day, they sat down in the living room. "Okay Lizzy, tell me why you chose to skip school for nearly a month," Bombay said.

"Do I have to?" Lizzy asked.

"If you have a good reason, the judge may take that into consideration," Bombay explained.

"Can we not do this in front of Charlie?" Lizzy asked.

"That's your decision Lizzy, I'm here to help you," Bombay said. Lizzy looked down at her hands and Bombay nodded. "Charlie," he said gently.

"Fine," Charlie spat, "you know I wouldn't say anything but I'll go." Charlie stood and left the room.

Once Charlie's bedroom door slammed, Lizzy looked up. "Are you going to tell my father?"

"Legally I can't keep it from him because you are a minor."

"What? I can't do this if you're going to tell him."

"Casey, can you give us a minute?" Bombay asked.

"Okay," Casey agreed. She went to check on Charlie as Bombay explained what he meant.

"If I was any other lawyer and your dad wanted to know, I would have no legal standing to keep it from him. Your father controls your legal rights until you turn 18. However I'm not just any other attorney. Even though I still can't legally keep it from him, I've been your hockey coach for long enough to know why you wouldn't want to tell him so I will do my best to make him see he doesn't need to know why you didn't go to Eden Hall."

"Thank you," Lizzy breathed.

Casey came back moments later and reclaimed her seat on the couch.

Then Lizzy explained her reasons to Casey and Bombay the same way she had to Hans and Jan.

"Being scared doesn't excuse you from a month of school," Casey said.

"I wasn't scared, I was terrified. Still am. It's like standing on the high dive and getting ready to jump in to a pool of water. Like going 95 down a dead end road waiting to smack into the cement barrier at the end. Like freefalling without a parachute. Hasn't there ever been something you've been so scared of doing that you'd do anything to avoid it?" Lizzy asked.

"I was scared to raise my son alone but I did it anyway," Casey said.

"Casey," Gordon said. If he didn't get to the bottom of this, he feared he wouldn't be able to help Lizzy. "If staying in Minnesota and going to Eden Hall scared you so much, why didn't you just go to school in Ohio where you wouldn't have to face hockey or getting back on the ice?"

"To face my dad and validate his concerns about his daughter playing hockey? He's always said "she's just a girl" or "hockey is too rough." Facing him was not an option. Skipping school was the least of three evils."

"Lizzy, you know you could have said something," Bombay said.

"You know my brother raised me. With all boys you get tough and you don't talk about feelings. I've never had that one person I could tell anything to and they wouldn't judge me or feel uncomfortable. Fulton tries but I can tell how uncomfortable he is when I start talking about feelings. You know, you never pushed to make sure I was okay after that hit either. I just told you I was fine and you let it go." Lizzy looked at Bombay accusingly.

"That was my mistake. I should have pulled you away and made sure instead of taking your word for it," Bombay told her.

"You could always come to me," Casey said.

"It's one thing to say that but feeling it is completely different. Yes, I know you've always been there to give me unconditional love, Aunt Casey, but when I was little you were a half hour drive away and I never felt like I could tell you things and you wouldn't judge me. I never got that feeling from anyone. Even if they meant it I never felt it and that's no one's fault but my own. Since I've never felt like I had that person to talk to that wouldn't judge me I've always just kept things bottled up. I mean being that person for Fulton and Adam and Charlie was so much easier than putting myself out there and hoping I'm right."

"Lizzy, I will do what I can to help you through this as much as I can but I also believe that you should talk to the Ducks. I think they might surprise you with how much they understand." Bombay smiled gently.

"Back to the point, do you think any of this will help?" Lizzy asked.

"It might," Bombay said.

First thing Wednesday morning the doorbell rang awakening both Lizzy and Charlie. Since Charlie was so mad at her, Lizzy had fallen asleep on the couch. When the doorbell rang Lizzy had fallen off the couch and down the hall Charlie had fallen out of bed. Casey had answered the door then glanced over her shoulder to make sure Lizzy was okay. Once she was sure, she looked back at the person at the door.

"Gordon, you're 4 and a half hours early. Is everything okay?" Casey asked, letting him in as Lizzy got back up on the couch.

"Yes, everything is fine. I'm sorry if I woke anyone but I was a bit worried and thought I'd take you all out to breakfast," Bombay answered.

"I don't know. After dinner last night ..."

"It'll be fine Mom," Charlie said.

Casey looked at her son who stood at the end of the hallway that lead to the bedrooms then looked at her niece who shrugged. "Alright, you two get dressed."

Lizzy let Charlie change first in his bedroom then she did. At breakfast the older waitress asked the question that Lizzy and Charlie had always been asked when Casey took them anywhere. "How old are your twins?" she asked.

"They're not actually twins," Casey said.

"He's my cousin; we're three days apart, though we are both 14. His mom, my aunt," Lizzy said. It was her standard answer to the question.

"My mistake; you two just look so much alike," the waitress said.

"Thank you, and before you ask he's my lawyer and our hockey coach," Lizzy said, saving the older woman some embarrassment.

"I see." The waitress took their order then walked away.

"That always happen?" Bombay asked.

"Yep," Charlie and Lizzy answered in unison. They glanced at each other then stared down at the table.

I'm not even going to ask for more reviews anymore. I'm just going to take what I get an be happy about this. Evidently of the 20 or so people who read this only two ever want to express their opinions. If there's anyone else I'd gratefully accept anything you want to say. Either way, thanks. Stay tuned because next time Portman returns.