“Stalker much?”
“Answer me.”
Graham sighed. “I’m not seeing anyone. I haven’t dated in a while. Krista is happily married.”
“Why aren’t you dating?”
Graham pushed his food around on his plate and kept his eyes downcast. “I’m the brother of the town drunk. Not exactly bring-home-to-Mom material.”
Rennie’s heart sank. Graham was 1,000 percent the man you brought home to your parents. She knew this early on and never hesitated to introduce him to her parents. “I’m sorry.” She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. Rennie waited a long moment before asking, “Whatever happened to what’s her face from college? I thought for sure you’d get married.”
“Monica?”
Rennie nodded.
“Grady happened,” Graham stated matter-of-factly. “After the funeral, shit went south fast. My parents needed help. We all thought Grady was going through this phase. He needed me, so I stayed. There was nothing here for Monica. The idea of giving up her career to live in a small-town tourist trap wasn’t something she wanted, and I couldn’t blame her. I didn’t want it, either, but here I am. You ask me why I’m not dating. If Grady isn’t the obvious reason, it’s also because I have nothing to offer someone.”
“That’s not true, Graham.”
“Isn’t it, though?” He looked at her pointedly. She couldn’t decipher if the jab was directed at her or in general. For all she knew, it was both, because when she came through the door of the Whale Spout over the summer, she flirted with him heavily and led him on.
“We should eat,” she said, diverting the topic of conversation back to food. “We have to go soon.”
Graham agreed and dug into his breakfast, finishing it in no time. Rennie dawdled, taking only a few bites before her stomach revolted. She should’ve never asked Graham about his dating life, even though he opened the door when he brought up Theo. She knew better. Brooklyn had tried to set Graham up with a couple of her clients around the state, but nothing ever came to fruition.
He was busy.
Something had come up.
The timing wasn’t right.
Graham had excuse after excuse when it came to getting out there in the dating world. Rennie thought about asking Bowie about Graham’s love life, to find out if he’d dated before she’d returned to Cape Harbor, but she knew better than to meddle. Besides, deep down, if she found out he’d stopped dating after she’d made her surprise visit, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.
They drove back to the hospital and made it to Grady’s room, shrouded in awkwardness. She hated the negative tension between them and wanted to back him into a corner and demand he tell her how he felt. Doing so would require her to come clean about her feelings, and there was no way she was ready to admit that the past couple of weeks had sparked something deep within her. She missed the ease the relationship with Graham had and wished her connection with Theo could be the same.
Rennie walked into Grady’s room with a smile. She greeted George and Johanna with hugs and gave Grady a small wave, while everyone in the room made idle chitchat. She explained to everyone what was going to happen today and how tomorrow would go in court, and then she asked for a moment alone with Grady. Once everyone left, Rennie shut the door and stood at the end of his bed. He sat up in his bed, still dressed in a hospital gown, with wires coming out of the top. His left hand had an IV attached, and there was a small tube coming out of his nose.
“Hey, Grady. Long time no see.”
“From what I’ve been told, the last time you saw me, I was drunk.” His voice was hoarse, and it sounded like it hurt him to speak.
Rennie nodded. “In the past, right?”
Grady shrugged, which wasn’t a good sign for Rennie. She needed him on board with the plan, which was to avoid jail time. Of course, the deal would hinge on Grady going to rehab and staying in a facility until he was healthy enough to function in society again.
“First thing I want to know is how you’re doing. Do you need anything?”
He appraised her for a moment, almost as if no one had asked him how he was doing with everything that was going on. “I’m okay,” he told her. “A bit scared.”
“I hope I can ease your fears. When the police come in, they’re going to Mirandize you. Listen to the officers, and tell them you understand. They shouldn’t ask you any questions, because the charges pertain only to you. You didn’t cause any harm to anyone else or personal property. Can you tell me where you got the car you were found in? Your mother seems to think you don’t have one.”
“My friend Roxy sold it to me.”
“Where did you get the money, Grady?”
He shrugged. “Bartered for a few things that I don’t really want to talk about.”
“You know anything you say to me stays between us. I work for you, not your brother or your parents. Will the district attorney know something about this car that I should know?”
“No, it was just personal stuff between Roxy and me. She sort of had to get it out of her name because of child support or something.”
Rennie nodded and typed a note into her phone. “Okay, when the police come in, I’ve asked that they not cuff you to the bed. It’s normal practice in some places, but I feel it is unnecessary in this situation. Tomorrow, we’ll go to court, and you’ll plead not guilty—”
“I was just in a coma, and now I have to go to court?” Grady interrupted.
“Yes, it’s standard procedure. You can go, or we can ask for a video arraignment, but your doctor would need to sign off on the request. Would you like me to ask Dr. Field?”
Grady shook his head slowly. Rennie continued, “After you plead not guilty, I’m going to ask that we go to trial.”
“I have to go on trial?” Grady blurted out.
“Not usually for what you’re being charged with, because we’ll work out a plea deal, but setting a date is a formality. Did your parents talk about treatment?”
Grady nodded.
“And you’re going to agree to enter rehab?”
He glanced at Rennie, and for a moment, she thought he was going to tell her no. He nodded slowly but seemed to lack the enthusiasm she sought. “Grady, it’s rehab or jail.”
“Or death,” he countered.
“Yes, there is that.”
Their conversation ceased when the door opened, and Officers Hook and Frey sauntered in. They tipped their hats toward Rennie and stood on either side of Grady’s bed. They stated Grady’s Miranda rights, asked if he had any questions. When he told them no, they said they would be by tomorrow to take him to court. Once they left, Rennie invited the Chamberlains back into the room.
“It’s over?” Johanna asked.
“Only until tomorrow,” Rennie said. “The officers will be back in the morning to take Grady to court for his arraignment. We’ll meet there. It’ll be quick, and then he’ll be transported to rehab. The center will allow you a few minutes to say goodbye.”
“So, I can’t see my son whenever I want?” George asked.
“Not whenever, no. There is special visitation each week for family members and family counseling. I suggest, for Grady’s sake, everyone takes part. I think we’re in a unique situation where people still hurt from what happened all those years ago.”