Griffin, please tell me that you were able to meet with the judge.”
Tara tried to keep the anxiety out of her voice but it was useless. She’d barely slept the night before and hadn’t heard from Griffin during what seemed like a very long night and now day. She’d almost dropped her phone when she saw his number on her caller ID. Racing from the conference room where she was chairing an editorial meeting, she was already asking her breathless question as she hurried to her private office. To her great relief, she could almost feel his banked excitement over the ether.
“Yes, Tara, I did get in front of the judge. I have to give my dour attorney credit. Until we were ushered into the courtroom, it was our understanding that we would be meeting with Judge Gaynor’s clerk, who would decide whether the judge would see us. But Colin Fitzpatrick managed to convince the judge’s gatekeeper to show the judge a copy of the suicide note that Carolyn wrote. After some challenging back and forth, we were told that Judge Gaynor himself would meet with us.”
“Please tell me that he ruled in your favor, Griffin.”
“It was touch and go, Tara. I had to endure a blistering attack from my ex-father-in-law and then a sobbing entreaty from his wife. Margaret Mason was disconsolate. She said repeatedly that the reason Caroline tried to kill herself was that she couldn’t bear the thought of me having access to the children. She begged the judge not to destroy her family as I apparently have been trying to do.”
“God, Griffin, how did you manage to sit through that? I can’t imagine how hard it must have been.”
“Like I said, it was challenging. But my canny lawyer just let them speak, seemingly willing to let the facts speak for themselves. And by God, they did. When it was our turn to testify, Colin interviewed Carolyn’s psychiatrist. We were able to put into the record that this was the third time that she’d tried to commit suicide, making it clear that Caroline is unstable. The doctor underscored the ultimate point that we were trying to make, which was that this time Caroline had likely designed her suicide attempt to ensure that Brooke would find her. Which she did.”
“God, Griffin, how horrible. The judge must have seen the hideousness of her attempt.”
Griffin’s hard sigh over the ether was apparent. His voice was soft when he spoke. “Actually, the person who made her mother’s deviousness clear was Brooke.”
“You saw her?”
“Yes, I did. Neither Fitzpatrick nor I knew that the judge had interviewed both Brooke and Hunter and certainly not that they would be testifying. I can’t begin to tell you how I felt when my two young children were brought into the court. They were as surprised to see me as I was them. After a tearful and incredibly emotional reunion that lasted at least five minutes, Judge Gaynor asked me to leave the courtroom. He ordered the Masons to leave as well. After we left, my attorney indicated that in response to the judge’s questions, Brooke said that her mother had told her to meet her at five o’clock, that they would be going out for dinner. When Brooke went to Carolyn’s room at the designated time, she found her mother unconscious with an empty bottle of Xanax beside her, along with the incriminating note. It was clear that Caroline intended to overdose because she had crushed the pills into a fine powder and snorted it. Apparently, inhaling Xanax ensures that it enters the bloodstream at a rapid rate, ensuring a potentially lethal overdose. I’m convinced, and I think the judge was as well, that Caroline timed her ‘overdose’ to coincide with Brooke’s expected arrival. The fact that Brooke got there when she did saved Caroline’s life. It also underscored my former wife’s perfidy and what I consider to be her genuine insanity.”
Tara heard the anger in Griffin’s voice and could barely contain her own anger. “Dear God, Griffin, surely the judge understood what had happened.”
“I’m confident he did, Tara. But you need to understand how powerful the Masons are, particularly Charles. That son of a bitch has managed to beat me in court for the last five years, detailing the earlier years when I was absent from my children’s lives. Unfortunately, back then, I gave him a shitload of ammunition. He has reams of purple press showing the profligate Griffin Black with a hundred different women, traipsing around the world while making a minor fortune. Hell, Tara, he even used your language to make his case. Accused me of shady business practices including raping the land. I used to have to hear that from a guy who wouldn’t know a legitimate business practice if it kicked him in the ass. A man who’d connived with the most scurrilous Wall Street villains to make a financial killing—on the backs of everyday investors.”
Hearing him struggle with his anger, Tara was horrified when Griffin said that Mason had used her language. It was challenging to realize that at one point, he must have included her in the cadre of angry people who’d criticized his success in such ugly terms. Forcing herself to hear the excitement in his voice, she managed to quell her angst about her previous attacks and concentrate on what she prayed was good news.
“Please tell me, Griffin, that you are going to get custody of your children.”
“I won’t know for sure until Monday when the court announces its ruling, but my attorney, who is the least optimistic man I know, is ninety-nine percent sure that the judge will rule in my favor. All I can say is that he sure as hell better because I will not allow my children to spend another week in that hellhole.”
Surprised at his venomous tone, Tara sought to move to more positive things. “Were you able to say good-bye to your children?”
“Yes, Tara, I was. We had a very emotional couple of minutes together—again in front of the judge. Both Brooke and Hunter were crying and begged me to come and get them. I promised them that I would. And, Tara, nothing and no one is going to stop me from keeping that promise.”
After answering a few more of her questions, Griffin changed the subject. “Tara, I need to stay in New York for a couple of days. Fitzpatrick and I have several loose ends we need to address. I’m also meeting with a couple of landowners who have been trying to capture my interest. I’ll be back on Friday afternoon. I didn’t have a chance to tell you yesterday that Governor Simpson asked me to host an event of sorts at which he could show his support for my project. Apparently, he planned to be in Tucson Friday and asked if it would be possible to schedule the event on Friday night. I decided that would be useful and asked Jia Yanlin to make it happen. Of course I want you to attend.”
When Tara hesitated, Griffin quickly added with what she was sure was a grin, “I promise you it will be an understated affair, sweetheart. Just a formal event with a hundred or so prominent business and government leaders from around the state.”
“And you include me in that rarified stratum, Griffin?”
He laughed. “You’re damn right I do. After all, I’m not sure that the irascible editor of the Sierra Vista Gazette has come on board my project. I figure if I wine and dine her, I might be able to convince her that I’m not the rattlesnake she thought I was.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure that including her among the state’s elite is the best way to convince her of that, Griffin. You never know if the crotchety editor might throw a tantrum and spoil your hoity-toity event.”
Clearly teasing her, Griffin said, “In a way, I hope that she does act up. I believe I have demonstrated that I have a number of ways to deal with a crotchety young woman. At least if my consigliere has anything to say about it.”
Annoyed that she’d walked right into that licentious threat and not wanting to put a damper on Griffin’s obvious excitement about his children, Tara swallowed a tart reply. Instead, she turned to every woman’s tried-and-true excuse. “Honestly, Griffin, I don’t have anything to wear. And before you disagree, I’ve already worn my one ‘little black dress.’ The one that your vicious cohort—make that your shrewish assistant—made clear was a dress she would never stoop to wear. Even you know that there is no bigger faux pas than to wear the same dress twice.”
“Two points on that response, Tara. Number one, I don’t know when I have ever seen a ‘little black dress’ that was sexier than the one you wore to the Oaks. Although, I’ll admit that when I spirited you off to my lair, the first thing that had to go was that gorgeous dress.” Before she could interrupt, Griffin continued. “Besides, I’ve already taken care of the dress issue. I saw a gown in New York that blew me away, mostly because it seemed to have been made for you. I ordered it, and if it hasn’t yet arrived, it will by the end of the day.” He must have sensed her refusal because Griffin made it impossible for her to say no. “Tara, the party on Friday night isn’t only about Shadow Peaks or the governor’s request. It is an opportunity not only to celebrate the fact that I’m soon going to have custody of my children but that you are in my life. If that isn’t a reason to give the most beautiful woman in the world a dress that is worthy of her beauty, I don’t know what is.”
****
“I swear to God, Tara, I have never seen a more beautiful dress. Damn, I don’t know how to describe it given that it doesn’t have much of a back and precious little front.” Tanya shook her head in disbelief. “Seriously, I don’t know another woman who could pull off this amazing creation except maybe Tatiana.”
Tatiana raised her hands in disagreement. “You’re wrong, Tanya, I would never have the courage to wear a dress like this. But you’re also right. It looks absolutely spectacular on you, Tara. Like Tanya, I have never seen a more gorgeous dress.”
When the boxes had arrived earlier in the day, Tara had called for the cavalry, insisting that both her sisters come over immediately. When she took out the white dress shot through with silver threads, she was sure that it wasn’t for her. After all, white wasn’t a color she usually chose, assuming that her blonde hair looked better with darker colors. Now, glancing at herself in the mirror, Tara had to agree with her sisters. The startling white dress made her tanned, golden skin positively glow. Coupled with the strappy, four-inch, high-heeled stiletto shoes that were also silver and white, Tara had to admit she’d never seen a more beautiful dress or a more outrageous pair of shoes.
But it wasn’t the color of the dress or the sexy shoes that stole her breath. It was what both did to her body. As to be expected, the stiletto shoes made her already willowy frame that much taller and appear even more slender. Tanya wasn’t far off base when she’d described the dress. The risqué back scooped low and came to rest scant inches above her butt crack. In contrast, the front of the dress would have looked almost demure if it weren’t for the way it showcased her ample breasts, allowing them to surge over the neckline. The dress clung lovingly to her curvy hips. The entire concoction, stopping inches above her knees and coupled with the traitorous shoes, ensured that if Tara didn’t bring down the house with her attire, the audience would have to have to be deaf, dumb, and definitely blind.
Not wanting to add to her sister’s already agog reactions, Tara reached uncertainly for the slender box that had accompanied the amazing couture. Handing it to Tatiana, knowing how Tanya would react, she hoped that the jewelry inside wasn’t as expensive as it had appeared to her. Tatiana’s gasp when she removed the top of the box shot that hope to hell.
“Oh my goodness, Tara. This . . . this necklace . . . and these earrings . . . have to be even more beautiful than the dress.”
Tanya’s aghast “Ya think!” confirmed what Tara already knew. She was about to go to a party wearing an outfit that likely exceeded the cost of her entire closet of clothes, shoes, and jewelry by who knew how many thousands of dollars.
She finally said what she was sure both her sisters were thinking. “You’re right. There is no way that I can wear this jewelry. Frankly, I don’t know if I can wear any of it.”
To her surprise, Tanya glared at her. “Why the hell not, Tara? Why shouldn’t you look as gorgeous as you do, as beautiful as you are?”
Tara hesitated and then said what she’d been thinking since she first opened the designer boxes. “But . . . but everyone will know that Griffin bought these for me.”
“How will they know that, sis? And frankly, who cares if they do or not? It’s not going to be long before everyone in our little desert town knows that the second-hottest guy in the world has fallen ass-over-elbows over my big sister.”
To her surprise, her more reserved sister concurred. “Tanya is right. It’s obvious that Griffin isn’t shy about showing his feelings for you. And given that you are more than a little taken with him, it’s not going to be long before everyone knows that you two are an item.”
“But . . . what if they think he’s merely trying to buy my acquiescence? To get me to support Shadow Peaks by giving me outrageously expensive clothes . . . and jewelry?”
Tatiana was surprisingly fierce. “Do you believe that, Tara? Do you think Griffin is merely trying to ‘buy’ your support?”
Tara blew out a hard sigh and shook her head. “No, Tatiana, I don’t. I know he respects my views and that he wanted to give me something that he said would look beautiful on me.”
Tanya added firmly, “And, Tara, because as I said, the guy is clearly nuts about you. As you are about him.”
Allowing a soft smile to curve her lips, Tara agreed. “Yes, and there is that.”