Unforgiven
Part 6: Forgiveness
Amber burned a hole through the police report she was filling out, knowing John must have told Natalie when she saw the way the other woman's jaw tightened when she looked at her. She silently begged whatever higher power there was to let Natalie decide to save the confrontation for another day. She just couldn't deal with the words she knew she deserved from the other woman today.
She sighed as she saw Natalie walk towards her. This is just not my day. She was less than surprised when Natalie stopped in front of her desk, but she was in no way prepared for the gentle smile that was aimed her way. Catching herself before she could turn to see if anyone was standing behind her, she smiled weakly.
"Hey. When do you go to lunch?" Amber knew her face showed her shock when Natalie laughed slightly and lowered her voice. "Yes, I know about everything," she said meaningfully. Amber looked down at the file. "Then I don't think there's anything further to discuss," she replied in a cold voice as she fought back tears. Natalie lay a hand on her shoulder.
"Amber, I know you. If it were anyone else I wouldn't be willing to try to work this out. I'd yell at you and then leave it alone, but I think we're friends. I really hate to lose my friends, especially since I have so few of them." She squeezed Amber's shoulder gently. "Come on, let's go to lunch." Amber smiled weakly through her tears and stood to her feet. "All right."
Kassie cursed as John told her everything that had happened with Natalie. "You are an idiot aren't you?" she asked, exasperated. John chuckled dryly. "Yeah, you could say that." Kassie looked at him sympathetically. "What did she have to say about it?" He ran a hand through his hair, smiling softly. "She said we have a chance." Kassie's eyebrow lifted. "She's ten times the woman I'll ever be then," she grinned.
"So, are you finally ready to give me something I can use to get you the hell out of here?" John grinned right back at her, imagining making love to Natalie in their bed. "Yeah. Damn straight I am."
At Rodi's, Natalie was drinking a beer as Amber nursed a Coke and they shared a plate of fries covered with mustard. They ate in companionable silence and when the food was gone, Amber took a deep breath. "I don't know what I was thinking. Actually, I don't think I was. Thinking, that is." Natalie nodded, completely understanding. "I've been there a few times myself," she replied, thinking in particular of her marriage to Mitch.
Amber shook her head. "No. You don't understand. He showed up at my door, trashed as hell. I told him to go home to you and he said that you didn't give a damn about him anymore. Then he begged me to make him forget. He never once looked at my face." Her voice cracked. "He kept his eyes on my hair. That was how I knew what he was doing, but I couldn't stop myself. Before I knew it, everything was over and he was begging me for my forgiveness. I told him I'd known all along he was just using me and to go home."
She took a deep breath. "A month ago, I went to the doctor because I suspected something had gone wrong. I'm not on the Pill and we didn't use anything. He confirmed my suspicions and I immediately told John." Her gaze met Natalie's. "You're one of the best friends I've ever had, Natalie. I'm so sorry and I hope you can forgive me." Natalie hesitated for a moment and then pulled the younger woman into her arms. "Amber, I've never had a close friend before you. I really don't want to lose that, and we're going to have to deal with each other a lot. I'd rather it be with us on good terms, wouldn't you?"
"There's one more thing." "What?" She bit her lip. "I don't want this baby," she whispered. Natalie's eyes widened slightly. "You're not thinking—" Amber shook her head violently. "No! I can't believe you would even think that!" She glared at Natalie who put her hands up in surrender. "Whoa, I was just checking. So what are you planning on doing about it?"
Kassie's eyes gleamed as John finished filling in the facts surrounding his case. She slammed her briefcase shut triumphantly as she instinctively embraced him. "You are getting out of here, McBain. There's no way these charges are going to stick for long, not with the way they handled the case." She grinned back at John as she reached the door. "You're a damn lucky man, McBain. Don't you forget it." She left, and John smiled. "I know," he whispered.
"I know."
TO BE CONTINUED
