The House on Hope Street - By Danielle Steel Page 0,81
with a lighter step that she had made the right decision. She wondered if that was how Bill had felt when he called to tell her it was over. Maybe it was, she thought to herself. Maybe she had been as big a burden for him, and as wrong, as the practice she had shared with Jack had become for her once he was gone. If so, she had to respect Bill's decision. But she had made hers that night, finally, as she sat holding Helene's hand, wanting to kill her ex-husband for what he had done to Justin, out of pure wanton negligence and irresponsibility. Helene's ex-husband was still in a coma when Liz left the hospital, and there was a possibility of brain damage, but at least Justin was going to be all right, and to Liz, that was all that mattered.
She drove into her driveway on Hope Street shortly after one o'clock, and everyone was in bed, except Peter, who had just come in from his date, and he was surprised to see his mother. She never went anywhere anymore, except court and work. He hadn't seen her out in the evening since Bill left.
“Where were you, Mom?”
“At the hospital, with a client. It's a long story.” They chatted for a minute and then she went up to bed. She was absolutely exhausted, but pleased with the decision she'd made that night. She knew without a doubt it was the right one.
And the next morning when she got to the office, she called the court and set a date for a hearing. She called Helene at the hospital to tell her. Helene said Justin was all right, and he'd be going home with her in a few days, but when Liz told her about the court date, she said quietly that they didn't need one.
“You're not feeling guilty about going to court against him, are you, Helene? No judge in any county would be sympathetic to a man who took his six-year-old son out on a motorcycle without a helmet. You've got the goods on him now, you might as well use them.”
“I don't need to.”
“Why not?” Liz looked blank as she waited. Her mind was already full of what she was going to say at the hearing. It was set for the week between Christmas and New Year's.
“Scott died of a massive brain hemorrhage last night,” she said quietly, and to her credit, she sounded sad. But he had been her husband, and her son's father.
“Oh …” Liz said, startled into silence for a moment. “I'm sorry.”
“So am I … I've hated him for the past two years, but he's still Justin's father. I haven't told him yet.” Hearing that made Liz squeeze her eyes shut, and it brought home to her what had happened.
“I'm really sorry.” The child was going to be heartbroken, even if Helene wasn't. “Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you.”
“I guess you know what that's like, for your kids, I mean.”
“Yes, I do. It's going to be hard for a long time. We haven't gotten over it yet.”
“I'm going back to New York to stay with my parents, as soon as Justin can travel.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
They hung up a minute later, and Liz was still looking pensive when Jean wandered into her office. “What was that all about?” She had heard Liz telling Helene she was sorry, and knew she'd been with her at the hospital nearly all night. She looked shocked when Liz told her.
“It's incredible the things people are willing to do to their kids,” Jean said, with a look of disapproval.
“Which brings me to another piece of bad news,” Liz said, feeling guilty, but she had wanted to tell her all morning. It was good news for her, but not for Jean. And Liz was going to be sorry to lose her. “I don't know how to tell you this, except straight on,” which was how Liz did everything, it was one of the things Jean loved about her. “I'm closing the office.”
“You're retiring?” Jean looked stunned, although she knew she shouldn't have. Liz had been carrying an insanely heavy load ever since her husband died, and Jean had figured that it was only a matter of time before Liz decided she just couldn't do it. The truth was she could, but she didn't want to. Not without Jack. And she didn't want another partner.