“You’re more generous than I am with my thoughts toward them.”
A hesitant smile appeared. “It’s been a process, but as I saw there, I realized all that God’s blessed me with. My life hasn’t been easy, mostly from my own poor choices, but God showered me with grace and mercy. Not only did he restore what I lost, He’s given me so much more. He brought me to Jasper Lake and filled my life with a surrogate family who loves and supports me. And He gave me you.”
He reached for her hand, craving contact. “When you put it that way…”
“The Cohens lost their son and don’t even have a faith to get them through. I’ll never have their level of monetary wealth, but I’m rich in every way that counts.” She covered his hand with her other. “I know you didn’t want to push about Mr. Chavez, but I appreciate your concern. Once I let go of my pride, I can see the wisdom of your suggestion.”
“I’ll call him now.” He dialed his boss’s number, relieved when he answered.
“I didn’t expect to hear from you on your day off,” Mr. Chavez said in a jovial tone.
“Something came up, and I realize I don’t know you well enough to ask favors, but I could really use one.”
Mr. Chavez’s voice dropped and was tinged with unease. “What’s going on?”
Hunter tapped a button on his phone. “I have you on speaker phone. My girlfriend, Beth, has a problem, and we could use your guidance.”
For the next ten minutes, Beth filled the district attorney in on what had happened with Kyle and his parents.
“Did you say William Cohen? The injury lawyer William Cohen?” Recognition lit Mr. Chavez’s voice with a clear distaste for the man.
“The one and only.” A wave of disgust flushed his face. He hadn’t reached Beth’s level of forgiveness or pity yet.
A dry laugh crackled the line. “William and I go way back. I’d love nothing more than to see him confront you with me in the room.”
“I get the feeling you don’t care much for him,” Hunter said, stealing a glance at Beth.
“That’s putting it mildly. When are you meeting with him?”
Beth cringed. “Today at two.”
Mr. Chavez made a whooshing sound. “That’s short notice. I had a commitment, but it’s only a golf outing that can be rescheduled. Let me make a few calls, and I’ll call you back within the hour to confirm.”
“Thank you. We appreciate it.”
After ending the call, he faced Beth with his hand raised, gave her a high five. For the first time since meeting William Cohen last night, his chest felt light. “It’s all going to work out.”
Beth grinned and chuckled. “I never should have doubted you. Who could have guessed they knew each other and had a history?”
“God knew.” All the pieces fit together, knocking the breath out of him. He clasped on to Beth’s hand. “It’s all so clear now. Everything that’s happened, to me, to you, to Kyle, everyone. God has used all of that to bring us to this point. It’s not logical that the D.A. who put me behind bars would offer me a job, putting me in a position to ask this favor of him. Whatever happened between him and Cohen, no one could have guessed that would one day lead to this. Long before we knew each other, God was working behind the scenes.”
Tears flowed freely from Beth’s eyes. “That’s beautiful. I didn’t think about that, but it’s incredible.”
“It’s all going to be okay. I know it.”
Throughout the day, his confidence waned and waxed, but he held on to that promise he’d realized. Addy had called in Lynne so that the three of them would be free of their bed and breakfast duties for a few hours. Phoebe and Mac took the children to a splash pad for the afternoon so they wouldn’t be witness or victim to any ugly outbursts.
Mr. Chavez arrived at one-thirty, dressed in a power suit that rivaled the one William wore last night. He looked every bit the hard-nosed attorney who had prosecuted Hunter and thousands of others, but his Cheshire grin let everyone know he was prepared for whatever they faced and would enjoy it.
Because it was in between mealtimes, Addy had prepared the dining room for the meeting. She had tea and coffee ready, along with a tray of crackers and cheese. Even her disgust with William Cohen wouldn’t allow her to shed her hostess nature.
At one forty-five, Hunter gathered them into a circle. “Mr. Chavez, would you mind saying a prayer over this meeting.”
“My honor.” Mr. Chavez prayed, and the waiting began.
Beth tugged Hunter’s arm. “He’s always early. Is this a game he’s playing?”
“He’s probably trying to make you antsy. Don’t give him that power over you.” The moment was all wrong, but he couldn’t help noticing how attractive she looked in a pair of black slacks and a sapphire top. He made a mental note to tell her later. “You have truth and integrity on your side. Remember, if God is for you, who can be against you?”
She released a long breath. “Thank you. I needed that reminder.”
At 1:56, the doorbell rang. As decided earlier, Addy answered and greeted the Cohens and ushered them into the dining room where Hunter, Beth, and Mr. Chavez sat on one side of the table.
They skipped formalities, no handshakes or greetings. Patricia clung tightly to her husband, in no way appearing the harsh matriarch Beth had described. He knew Beth wouldn’t exaggerate, so he could only assume life events had changed Patricia.
He knew the exact moment William spotted Mr. Chavez. His jaw tightened, and he flinched, but recovered quickly. “It’s been a long time, Julio.”
“Not long enough.” Mr. Chavez withdrew a voice recorder from his briefcase. “This conversation will be recorded in its entirety.”
“There will be no need for that.” William pulled out a chair for his wife, then took the seat beside her.
“Just in case,” Mr. Chavez countered.
Beth took charge, directing her attention to Patricia. “Why did you come here?”
“You know why,” William snarled.
“I asked your wife, not you.”
Pride surged through Hunter at the way Beth handled William. He was prepared to step in if needed, but she was holding her own.
“It’s over, Bill.” Patricia pleaded silently with her husband, a display for all to see.
With tension thick in the air, William relented at last. “Okay.”
Patricia reached into her Gucci purse with trembling fingers and brought out a folded paper. “This came in the mail, several months after Kyle’s death. He’d written it the day before the accident, but it had gotten lost in the mail.”
Beth’s throat constricted when she swallowed. “What does it say?”
“I think you should read it for yourself.” Patricia slid the paper across the table, her fingers lingering on it for seconds after it reached Beth.
With shaking hands, Beth unfolded the paper. As far as he could tell, she hadn’t yet begun to read it when she jumped up and ran from the room with the letter in hand. Without thinking, he surged to his feet and went after her.
He caught the library door closing just in time to know that’s where she’d gone. She sat in her favorite chair, tears pouring down her face. “I can’t do it. I can’t read it.”