Chapter 77:

"Reyes…" Sharon said quietly.

"Yes?" he said with anticipation.

"Move," she said firmly.

"Right, we don't want to make Lieutenant Flynn angry," he said as he moved away from here.

Sharon kept quiet for a moment and sighed. "Look, I'll talk to Lieutenant Provenza tomorrow first thing in the morning; see if he can ask DDA Hobbs about you."

"Good," he got on his feet and Sharon did the same right away.

"Leave me a phone number or some other way to contact you," she said. She always wondered where he was staying and how did he manage to stay off the grid for so long.

"I don't think so," he said slowly, looking at her with suspicion. "I'll contact you in a few days."

"Fine," she said shortly and walked to the door, hearing his footsteps behind her as he followed.

"Too bad the door isn't farther," he said as she reached it and turned around to face him with her hand on the doorknob.

"Why?" she frowned in confusion.

"I enjoyed the walk," he smiled and Sharon felt her cheeks heating up a little when she understood the hint.

"Goodbye, Reyes," she said coldly, as always.

"Yeah," he came closer and stood on the threshold. "Do you love him?"

"What?"

"The lieutenant… do you love him?"

Sharon took a moment before answering. She didn't think she had to answer such a private question, but it could make things clear with Reyes. "Yes," she said shortly, with no hesitation in her voice.

"Lucky guy," he smiled again before he turned to the door and left.

(***)

"Anyway, I told him I wasn't buying it. He could have gone to the police," Cat said during lunch, after telling Sharon and Rusty what Eric had told her in their conversation.

"Or his father," Rusty said before taking a sip from his water.

"Yeah, exactly," Cat said. "I mean, he ruins my career and then he wants to be a part of my baby's life."

"Do you think there's a chance you'll go to trial?" Sharon asked in concern.

"I have no idea, Mom," Cat said and watched her mother's sad face for a moment. She knew that she was wondering whether a trial could damage her relationship with Flynn, and felt bad for it. "Do you think that you and Andy could…" she stopped in midsentence, not sure how to end it without making her mother even sadder.

"I'm not sure," Sharon said in a low voice, fearing that it might break if it was any louder.

"Hey, eventually you didn't promise not to fight with him over this when I asked you to yesterday."

"Because I can't promise something like that."

"What happened with him after Eric and I left?"

"I asked him to leave," Sharon's voice was weak, as if she was ashamed of herself.

"You should go to him," Cat said, but Sharon shook her head.

They continued to eat in silence for a while, each with their own thoughts, until Sharon spoke again, looking at Cat.

"Oh, that lawyer that your grandma got to take care of the inheritance said that we should come by his office as soon as possible to sign some papers so you can get your part."

"Good, so maybe I can finally start my daycare," Cat said. Sharon noticed anger in her voice and knew that it was directed toward Richard, who did nothing for his children in his life but to disappoint them again and again.

"Not so soon. The FBI froze the accounts until they find out where that money came from," Sharon said gently, trying not to upset her daughter.

"Great, so even after his death he doesn't help."

"Don't worry; you'll have your daycare. We'll find a way," Sharon gave her a consoling smile, but Cat only nodded sadly. "Hey, did you know that he had two cabins in Big Bear Lake?" Sharon asked.

"Yeah, I think he mentioned them once. One is for his personal use and the other he rents to vacationers."

"I didn't even know he had cabins there," now Sharon started to feel anger too, for all the things she didn't know about Richard, but she tried to ignore it. "Anyway, you and Chris will each get a cabin. He just has to come back to LA and signs the papers."

"Well… at least that," Cat said, and a second later her eyes sparkled and a smile appeared on her face. "Hey, I have a great idea for you!" she added suddenly.

"For me? What?" Sharon sounded confused.

"After you go to Andy's house and apologize for kicking him out…" she waited a moment to see her mother's reaction. Sharon arched her eyebrows but remained quiet, waiting for the rest. "You two can spend a weekend in my cabin!"

"What are you talking about?" Sharon muttered in embarrassment.

"Yes! Rusty can stay with me, right?" she asked, looking at him.

"Yeah, sure," he said lightly. "We can tear down the house with a party."

Sharon's eyes widened in horror. "There's no way I'm leaving you alone," she said slowly.

"Mom, he's kidding," Cat laughed and Rusty's shoulders quivered as he tried to stifle a giggle. "Come on, go with him this weekend. Take advantage of your suspension. What do you say?"

"It's fine with me," Rusty said, this time with a serious face. "I don't mind if we spend the week together."

"Yeah, Mom, go talk to him and ask him to come with you!"

Sharon looked at both of them, feeling like she was about to be pushed off a cliff.