Chapter 23
A/N You may have noticed it's taking me a while to crank out this story. Unfortunately, I've been unwell over the last couple of months and not always able to keep up with my regular schedule. Fear not, we will get to the end of this saga. It'll just take a little longer than usual to get there. Hope you stick around, things are about to become very exciting.
'Your turn!' Olivia Berrigan said with a friendly poke to her sister's arm.
Ginny looked up, snapping out of her reverie. Both her moms and her sister were staring back at her. She'd been having trouble concentrating even though she'd been given the ultimate choice of board games and had picked her current favourite, Scattergories. Truth be told, her heart wasn't really in it. Her moms had made a big deal of having family night, ordering in Chinese and stocking the shelves with their daughters' favourite junk food. For the first time in weeks, they were all home on a Saturday night as Ginny finished purging her 'sentence' and Diana and Christie had wanted to take full advantage of having the family all together for a change.
Ginny had been watching the clock incessantly, waiting for eleven o'clock to roll around so she could make up some excuse and retire to her room. Logan had promised to call and check in on her and right now, nothing else mattered. She'd been grounded for almost a week and except for the day Logan had whisked her over to his place for fun and games, she'd seen nothing but the inside of White Plains High and the four walls of her bedroom. She was fit to be tied.
But Logan had urged her to play along, to be a good girl, to keep her parents off guard as they planned their upcoming getaway, a welcome escape from the humdrum routine of everyday life. He'd been short on details except to say that he was sure she'd love the destination he'd picked, that she should plan to be away for a couple of nights. Of course, there would be hell to pay when she came back but for now, he'd urged her to keep the upcoming trip to herself. No sharing with friends or her sister; this little secret was just for them.
Ginny could barely wait to get away and frankly, over the past few days, she hadn't been able to keep her mind on anything else. She'd almost spilled the beans on more than one occasion - after all, what good was such exciting news if you couldn't share it with those closest to you. But Logan had managed to convince her that any leaks might bring their little getaway to a premature end before it even got started. Better to keep this little secret between the two of them lest it be discovered by her parents.
'Honey, you sure you're all right?' Christie asked, running her hand through Ginny's hair.
'I'm just tired' she murmured - her go to response for every occasion it seemed.
'Why are you tired?' Diana teased with a grin. 'Except for school, you haven't left the house in almost a week.'
Her wife gave her a disapproving glare. 'I hope you're not coming down with something.'
Olivia looked suspiciously between her moms and her sister. Ginny was usually a firecracker, full of energy, always up for a good time. Lately, she'd been uncharacteristically quiet and anything but forthcoming when pressed for details about her love life. Maybe she'd broken up with that mystery guy she'd been seeing.
'You know you did a good job this week, sticking to the rules' Diana said. 'Starting on Monday, you can have your phone back.'
Ginny shrugged. She didn't really care about her phone. Being with her friends didn't have the same appeal it had just weeks ago. The only person she needed to stay connected to was Logan and for that, she had a direct line to him that no one suspected.
'I think I'll go lie down if that's okay' she said, looking sullen.
'Oh honey, you've hardly had anything to eat' Christie said, holding up a brimming bowl of caramel corn, one of her daughter's favourite snack foods.
'Maybe I'll have some tomorrow' Ginny replied soberly as she stood.
She dutifully kissed both her moms on the cheek and dragged herself down the hall to her bedroom while the three women watched her walk away.
Diana was about to follow when Christie placed her hand on her arm.
'Let her be honey' she advised her wife.
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Caitlin felt the rug burn along her cheek and bit her tongue to keep from moaning in pain. She'd landed face down on the floor on the far side of the room, her cheek screaming in pain as she stared out at a pair of sneakers from underneath the bed. They were red, Logan's signature shoes.
She lay perfectly still, convinced he could hear her breathing despite the music emanating from downstairs. A quick glance confirmed the door to the room had been left open and she could hear voices in the hallway not too far away, indecipherable conversations in the not too far distance.
Logan remained standing by the other side of the bed and she heard the sound of a drawer opening and closing. From underneath the bed, she saw the mattress sag as he sat and she let out a soft gasp, instantly biting her lip in an effort to remain quiet. She heard some cursory noises and the sound of Logan sniffing loudly - an unmistakeable sound she was all too familiar with. He let out a loud sigh of satisfaction and then she heard the clicking of a phone as she briefly weighed her options. Was she was more at risk of being found out if she just lay there or should she try escaping through the open door?
'Hey babe' she heard him say.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest — so loud she was convinced he could hear. The mattress creaked once more as he settled back on the bed.
'I know… I miss you too. Party's not the same without you' he said, his voice sultry and soft.
'Just a few more days' he said.
Was he talking to Ginny? And what was in a few more days?
'You can do it, I know you can… Oh yeah?… Well, I wish you were here too.'
Again, Caitlin silently evaluated the odds of slipping out of the bedroom undetected. Unless he came around to the other side of the bed, she would be safe if she just remained motionless for a little bit longer.
Another creak as Logan ostensibly sat up on the bed. 'Look, I gotta go but I'll call you tomorrow okay? Love you lots' he said before finally hanging up.
All right now leave! Caitlin pleaded silently as she heard further clicking of the phone.
Seemed Logan wasn't yet done with whatever he'd come into the room to do. 'Yeah, I just talked to her. All systems go… No, she's keener than ever… I'm sure she doesn't suspect a thing… Yeah, I'll call when we get there.'
He'd just finished talking when Caitlin spied a second pair of shoes appearing in the doorway. A pair of small feet in strapped heels, the owner's gait rather unsteady.
'L-L-Logan?' came a young female voice, slurring.
'Hey baby' he replied. 'Don't be shy… come on in.'
The feet teetered away from the door and towards the bed as Caitlin watched in terror. She needed to get out of there before she was found out.
Logan's red sneakers appeared on the floor, feet wide apart as the strappy sandals took a few more tentative steps, landing between his size eleven feet. Suddenly, a soft gasp and another loud creak of the mattress as all four feet disappeared off the floor. The young girl giggled nervously.
'Hey baby, I have something special for you' came Logan's voice, languorous and soft as Caitlin felt the bed droop once more.
The sound of soft moaning and clothes rustling was heard as Caitlin weighed her options. Did she really want to lie there listening in as Logan romanced another one of his marks? She made the impulsive decision to get the hell out, urging her body to move before she had time to second guess herself. With her eyes glued firmly on the open door, she slithered towards it, her belly flat on the hard floor as the soft sound of her movements was muffled by girlish giggling and the continued soft bounce of the mattress.
Holding her breath, she managed to crawl the few feet to the door and out into the safety of the hallway, making a quick move towards the thankfully empty bathroom which was kitty corner to the bedroom door. She'd just gotten to her feet and closed the bathroom door when she heard footsteps and the sound of the bedroom door slamming behind her.
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There were plenty of great eateries in the greater New York area and a fair number of decent places for drinks and dancing. But Neal had managed to find that rare combination. Bella Luna was just such a place, a restaurant that offered amazing food as well as great music and an intimate dance floor to sway the night away.
By ten o'clock, the jazz quartet had taken over the small stage and was belting out a number of bluesy, laid back numbers for the diners' enjoyment. The place was quiet, mostly the dozen or so couples who had been there to enjoy dinner although a few artsy types had shown up for drinks and late evening entertainment once the group had set up.
The place was reminiscent of those old fashioned clandestine speakeasies from the thirties, an anonymous hole in the wall where only those few in the know were privileged to enjoy great music and libations away from the prying eyes of the law. The mood was mellow, laid back, exactly what Sara needed to keep her mind off her upcoming visit to court, thoughts of which seemed to constantly be hovering in the back of her mind. Their little chat over dinner had brought some relief - reassurance that Neal was hanging in there and that he was with her every step of the way. For now, she was more than happy to let it go, to soak in the atmosphere and to enjoy some quality time alone with her husband.
'They're good' she commented as she sipped on her after dinner drink of Frangelico.
Neal nodded, his eyes fixed on hers in that starry-eyed way he had of gazing at his beautiful wife. A half smile appeared on his lips.
Sara frowned. 'What?'
'Nothing… You. You look… amazing' he replied with a broader smile.
She chuckled and shook her head.
'What? A man can't tell his wife she looks beautiful?'
'It's the way you say it' she replied, visibly amused. 'Like… there aren't plenty of more beautiful, younger women all over New York.'
'What are you talking about? What other women? When I look at you, it's… it's like reliving the last twenty-two years of our amazing lives together. That's the kind of beauty I could never find in anyone else's eyes.'
'Caffrey…' she said with a satisfied sigh. 'You are so full of…'
She stopped suddenly. Why ruin the moment with an acerbic comeback? He was right. Nothing could measure up to their history after so many years shared - the ups, the downs, the profound connection, the unique memories, the intimacy. She studied him up and down. He wore a button down poplin shirt in a pale shade of blue with dress pants and a casual jacket that completed the look - relaxed yet dressy. No tie tonight. She reflected on the fact that, except for the greying at his temples, he looked much as he had when they'd first met, the same naughty smile, the same riveting blue eyes, the same breathtaking good looks.
'Well, you look pretty amazing too' she settled on saying, reining in her previous smart-alecky comment.
Neal gave a head nod in the direction of the small dance floor. One lone couple was already taking advantage of the sultry sounds of the saxophone resonating in the small space.
'What do you say Mrs. C?' he asked, putting out his hand. 'Shall we show them how it's done?'
She rose, slipping her hand in his as he laced one arm around her waist and tucked her hand protectively against his chest with the other. Being in Neal's arms was the perfect antidote for almost anything that was gnawing at Sara and on this, their special night, his warm embrace was just what the doctor ordered. Gone was the anxiety related to the upcoming trial, the tightness that had been in her chest just hours earlier, the nagging worries about current cases at the office and all other pesky annoyances related to everyday life. When he held her like this, his warm breath on her neck, his strong hand splayed across her back, the familiar scent of his aftershave lingering in the air, nothing else mattered.
The quartet played lazy bluesy jazz, the kind of music you could just let yourself melt into, the perfect vehicle for relaxing in each others' arms. They'd been swaying for a while when a woman who reminded Sara of a younger June came to the microphone. Although most of the group's repertoire was instrumental, highlighting the sensual sound of the saxophone and the melodic riffs of the bass, she'd added vocals on a couple of numbers.
'We have a special request' she announced. 'A couple celebrating their wedding anniversary.' Sara stepped back to look into her husband's eyes, questioning him silently.
He shrugged and grinned. 'It wouldn't be our special night if we didn't get to dance to our song' he said, confirming her suspicions.
The woman's rendition of the Al Green song was mellower, more languid than the original. She was in no rush, stretching out each and every syllable as the bass added depth to the familiar song. Neal let his lips linger on his wife's neck as he murmured the lyrics. Sara felt herself melt, her eyes drifting shut as she let his touch and the sound of his voice wash over her like a sumptuous wave. She felt a shiver - the good kind - as a moan escaped her lips. She felt Neal's lips curling in a smile against her neck as he reacted to the flutter. Dammit! He still could do it to her with just the warmth of his touch and the velvety sound of his voice.
'Happy anniversary Repo' he murmured as the song came to an end. She just sighed, letting her hand reach up into his hair and tugging, shorthand for I can't wait to get my hands on you away from all these prying eyes.
He grinned naughtily in reply.
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'My dad said we could take a drive upstate and visit the campus' Liam said as he and Cody lay on the couch at the Miller place watching a movie.
'That's a great idea.'
'The recruiter was really nice… I got a good vibe off of her.'
Cody looked away from the TV, where he'd been trying his best to concentrate on the plot. 'Good vibes are good' he said absentmindedly.
'And the Orange are having an amazing season.'
'Babe…' Cody said with a sigh, pointing to the television.
'Sorry' Liam replied. His mind continued to wander. He had but a few months to make up his mind and he was feeling increased pressure to make a decision. Cody had always been his sounding board, the voice of reason whenever emotions got the best of him.
'Of course, I have no idea what the guys on the team are like' he continued, unable to keep his mind from churning. 'They could be a bunch of homophobic assholes for all I know…'
Cody sighed and looked away from the TV, exasperated. He was about to chastise his boyfriend for the constant interruptions when he caught sight of the worried look on Liam's face. His heart melted and he reached for the remote, turning off the movie without a further thought.
'You want to go for a walk?' he asked, reaching for Liam's hand.
Liam smiled, relieved. 'Yeah, that'd be nice.'
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Ginny sat on the edge of her bed, her secret phone in one hand and a stuffed toy in the other. It was silly, really. Half child, half woman, waiting for the man she loved to call while cradling a relic from her childhood. The stuffed lemur had been purchased over ten years earlier when she was a mere toddler, visiting the Bronx Zoo with her parents and older sister. It stared back as her with its glowing eyes, taunting her as if warning her she was in way over her head. She tucked him under her arm to avoid his glare and stared at the phone. It was almost eleven o'clock and still, not a word from Logan.
Saturday nights were party night over at Logan and Mateo's place and she knew the house would be overflowing with partygoers. But he'd promised to call and thus far, the young man had always been true to his word. She let herself fall back on her bed, the phone nestled against her chest as she thought of the days ahead.
Logan had promised her a romantic getaway but he'd refused to tell her where they were going. It was far enough to be an overnighter, that much she knew but whether they were going by car, train or plane was still a mystery. She'd all but nodded off with thoughts of their exciting escapade when the phone vibrated in her hand.
'Logan?' she whispered into the phone.
'I miss you so much… I wish I could be there with you… I know, I know… it just feels like forever.'
She listened to his soft, reassuring voice. 'I don't know if I can hang on for a few more days' she said with a pout. 'I just miss you so much.'
'You're right… I just can't wait to be with you again.'
'You promise?' she asked as he reminded her that he'd call her tomorrow.
'I love you too' she added before hanging up.
She turned over onto her side, slipping the phone under her pillow and bringing the stuffed animal to look into her eyes.
'You don't get to judge me' she told it. 'I love him.'
She brought the soft furry animal up against her chest, cradling it as she let thoughts of Logan lull her off to sleep.
TBC