CHAPTER 15

DAVIS WAS IN HIS HOME office working on his second drink. Too bad he couldn’t get totally and completely trashed. Nicole was upstairs in bed sick for the third day, and one of them needed to be around for their kids. Her words had hurt him deeply. It took everything not to lash out. His own guilt wouldn’t let him. Davis wasn’t sure how much more he could take. If it hadn’t have been for his daughter and the innocence in his son’s eyes, he probably would have packed a bag and left.

His cell phone roused him from his thoughts. Davis started to let it go to voicemail when he realized it was Dana. He answered it. “Hello?”

“Davis?”

“Yeah. It’s me.” Her voice had that sympathetic thing in it. She had heard the news. He hated it. He didn’t want pity, Davis wanted his name cleared.

“Nicole and I were supposed to have dinner tonight, but I’ve been calling her phone, and she’s not answering. I heard the news and figured she probably wouldn’t want to go out. Are you both alright?”

He threw his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose and laughed sarcastically. “Nope. Can’t say we are. Things are pretty messed up right now.”

“It will all work out. I feel it. However, I will say that the press can be some evil bastards. They are hounding me. There is a swarm of them just outside your gates. Think you can let me inside?”

“They’re still out there?”

“Yes.”

“Shit. I’ll need to do something about that before Rayna gets home from school. I’ll buzz you through the gates. Security should let you through, and I’ll meet you at the door.”

It wasn’t long before Dana was walking into the house and giving Davis a big old bear hug. “How are you, my friend?”

“I have seen better days.” Davis hadn’t slept much over the past couple of nights, and it showed on his face. His after-five shadow was darkening into a full-on beard, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Dana saw the emotional fatigue all over him and smelled the alcohol on his breath. “It may not mean much, but I know you are innocent of all of that nonsense they are spewing on the news. And another thing I’m sure of, you and Nicole will weather this storm too.”

His smile was a defeated one. “I hope you’re right, but I’m not so sure on either count. Come on in.” Dana followed him into the living room. Davis walked over to the bar and poured himself another drink. “Care to join me?”

“Umm . . . maybe later.” She raised an eyebrow as if she were chastising one of her students. “Are you sure you need another one of those?”

“I’m absolutely positive that I don’t. But I could surely use it. As a matter of fact, I think I deserve it.” Davis allowed the bottle to hover over his glass but didn’t pour it. Instead, he capped the bottle and put it back. He picked up a water bottle instead. “How about one of these?”

Dana smiled. “That would be great.”

He ambled over to where she took a seat and handed it to her. “I hate to disappoint you, but Nicole still isn’t feeling very well. That is why she’s not picking up her phone. She’s been in bed the past few days.”

Dana frowned. “Really?”

Davis sighed. “Yeah. She won’t admit it, but this situation is stressing her out.”

“I can only imagine.”

“I can’t seem to say or do a damn thing right when it comes to her.”

“Do you want my professional opinion or that of a good friend?”

Davis laughed. “That’s right. Before you went all “save the children,” you were a psychiatrist. I’m not really sure if I want to be psychoanalyzed. But I’m desperate. Give me both opinions.”

“First, I’ll say that Nicole loves you more than she loves herself.”

“Great. You’re already setting this up, and it sounds like your assessment is going to be a boatload of fun.”

“I’m just going to be honest. You can be a bit cavemanish.” Davis started to protest, but Dana put her hands up to stop him. “No, no . . . that wasn’t an opinion that was a statement of fact. So, don’t argue. With that being said, I understand and so does Nicole the motivation behind it. You’ve worked hard to get to where you are at unbelievable personal sacrifice, and some of your success stems directly from great personal pain. Nicole knows this, but she also feels as if your need to protect her is from those very same scars from your past. She thinks it keeps her from being a full partner in this relationship.”

Davis yelled, “What the hell am I supposed to do? How many times do I have to say this? I love my wife. It’s my job to protect her!”

“Let me ask you a question. How long have you known about this situation and when did you tell Nicole?”

The anger in his blood left his body. “Seven months.”

“And when did you tell Nicole?”

Seconds ticked by before he answered. “Three days ago.” Frustrated, he ran his hands through already mussed his hair. “I just didn’t want her to worry.”

“But what about you? Just like I’m sure you want to help and support her, Nicole wants to do the same for you. Imagine how you would feel if the tables were turned. And, knowing Nicole the way I do, she probably hates that you have carried this burden all alone.” Dana was sure this situation probably had contributed to all the late nights, missed dinners, and Davis being preoccupied.

“I hadn’t really thought about that.”

“Don’t you think the weight would have been a little less heavy if you didn’t have to shoulder it alone?”

“Let’s say you’re right, and I’m not, but what if you are? I’ve been this way for so long. Nicole knows that I had to take care of my parents before they died and what happened to my sister. It’s all I know how to do. I take care of people. And, lately, if I ask Nicole anything, even something as simple as if she would like a glass of water, she’ll take my head off. Her mood swings are insane. I understand she is stressed, but I’m the one facing prison time.” The guilt kicked in again. “Look, I know I’m the reason she’s sick, that’s why I’m working so hard to fix this.”

Dana frowned slightly. “Sick? You mentioned that. What’s wrong with her?”

“Yeah, yesterday was bad but not as bad as the day before. She could barely keep her eyes open when the lawyers were here. I’m at my wit’s end. She’s stubborn as hell and won’t let me call a doctor. I have no fuckin’ idea what to do!”

“Hmm . . . you two seem to have that in common.” Dana’s eyebrows knitted together. “Did you say she’s having mood swings and was nodding off during your meeting?”

“I wouldn’t say nodding off, but she was out of it.”

“God, things are worse than I thought.”

His eyes focused in on her like a laser. “What do you mean worse than you thought?”

Dana wrung her hands together. “Look, I wanted to talk to you but didn’t want to betray Nicole’s trust. I saw something while we were out for lunch the other day that gave me pause, and now you’re telling me that she wasn’t really coherent the other day. I have to say, I’m worried.”

Davis was more than a little impatient. “Worried? What? What happened?”

“Did you know Nicole was still taking OxyContin?”

He hadn’t known. “I knew they were prescribed to her right after her accident.”

“Well, yes. She’s still taking them. While it’s not Oxycodone, both of them are highly addictive. The Oxycodone shouldn’t be consumed longer than a week or so. But, her sister drug, OxyContin shouldn’t be taken for six weeks either. Anyway, Nicole was more anxious and energetic than I’ve ever seen her. However, over the long term, the effects change. The bottom line is I’m concerned.”

Davis looked at her skeptically. “Nicole would never get hooked on drugs, Dana. She’s too smart for that. If she’s still taking them, it’s because a doctor prescribed them for her.”

“I’m not saying that Nicole has a problem, but keep a look out for the symptoms. Mood swings going from super energetic to barely being lucid, anxiety, and nausea, just to name a few.”

He had seen all those things in Nicole. Impossible. She was stressed out nothing more. “I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m sure you’re wrong.”

Dana wasn’t going to push it. If her suspicions were right, everyone would know soon enough. “Of course. I hope that I am very wrong. But, Davis, you should know that being smart or your financial situation or social status has never dictated someone becoming addicted to drugs. It’s a disease, and a challenge that people from all walks of life can face.”

Davis heard Dana, but there was no way Nicole had a problem with drugs.

Dana was done being the Angel of Doom. Davis and Nicole had enough to deal with. So, she tried to lighten the atmosphere and smiled. “I didn’t come all of this way not to visit with my godchildren. Where’s that handsome little boy?”

Davis was caught up in all that Dana had said. There was a lot to unpack. For now, he’d let it go. He returned her smile with one that never reached his tired green eyes. “He’s upstairs taking a nap, thank God. Our nanny had an emergency and had to take off. Rayna should be home in about an hour.”

Her smile turned into a devilish grin. “Then I’d better get on my godmommy duties and go wake him up! Send Rayna to me when she gets home. You, go get some rest. I have the entire day free and plan to spend it with the kids.”

To say he was grateful was an understatement. “Thanks. I think I will do just that.” Davis left initially thinking he would crawl into bed with Nicole, but he was still feeling raw at her from their fight. Instead, of going into their room, he decided the guest room was probably best.