I’m still a little rattled. And my daughter... She rattles me more.”
“We’ll just get to know each other a little bit,” he said. “You could start by telling me why you called me.”
“I was raised Catholic, but we weren’t exactly devout. And when my husband’s mother wanted us married in the Lutheran church, I didn’t argue. Maybe there’s something from my childhood... But as I recall, my mother didn’t put much stock in... Oh hell, I don’t know. You seemed nice. Beau’s nice and you’re friends.”
“Not a terrible recommendation,” he said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Do you promise not to scowl at me?”
“I can manage that,” he said.
“I feel vindicated,” she said. “My husband can be the cruelest man but I always felt that no one believed me. And it was the funniest thing, the ER doc said he’d never liked him and that was so wonderful to hear. And a woman I know who I always assumed thought he was wonderful...it turns out she’s been onto him for years. I’ve spent twenty-four years thinking everyone loved him but my mother and sister.”
“They didn’t?” Tim asked.
“You can’t fool the people you spend holidays with. They saw him, heard him. He was always so superior, with his cutting remarks, his insults. But he’s never done anything like this before.”
“Is this worse than the emotional and psychological abuse?” he asked.
“Not at all, but it’s more convincing.” She looked down. “He accused me of having an affair. I never had an affair.”
“Did you go to counseling with your husband?”
“Several times—it never helped. But I also went by myself, on the sly. He didn’t want me to go alone. He said if I needed to talk about the marriage, he was entitled to be with me. Listen, I have a concern. Are you going to tell Beau about this? I know he’s your close friend, and in fact that’s one of the reasons I thought talking to you—”
He was shaking his head. “Beau won’t know unless you tell him.”
“But I’m not a parishioner,” she said.
“Lauren, I’m doing my job and it’s all confidential.”
“What if he drops by and finds you here?”
“I spoke to you and took the liberty of bringing you ice cream. Beau is very smart but he won’t question my word. By the way, why did my friendship with Beau prompt you to call me?”
“I have an important question that I think only you can answer. I believe you’ll tell me the truth. Am I right to trust Beau?”
He looked surprised for a brief moment. He took a second to consider his answer. “I think Beau is one of the finest men I know and I trust him completely, but I’m a bit biased. He has been a good friend for a long time.”
“I thought so.”
“That doesn’t mean I would recommend you get involved,” he said. “You have some more immediate concerns, I would think.”
She got up and went to her purse, pulling out cards. “I have these,” she said, passing them to him. “All given to me by the best ER doc I’ve ever seen. He was kind and gentle and concerned. Cards for victims’ support groups, shelters for victims, counseling for victims, housing assistance, the domestic violence police unit to help me get a restraining order, although my lawyer is taking care of that. I even have the doctor’s card—he’s willing to meet me in the ER for the removal of stitches so I don’t have to see any doctor associated with Brad. But...but I don’t know these people. I’m sure they’re great, but I don’t know them and have no point of reference. I met you. You’ve known Beau since you were about ten. And I haven’t known Beau that long, but I think he’s a good man. There’s no question about it. He couldn’t have a thirty-five-year friendship with you if he wasn’t good.”
“Sometimes he’s a pain in the ass,” Tim said.
She was momentarily shocked, but she smiled crookedly. “Are priests allowed to talk like that?”
“I’ll say ten Hail Marys. Actually, it’s a trick. If I use a little harmless profanity, you’ll let your guard down somewhat and feel less like you’ll be judged for what you say. And by the way, you can’t trust a person just by the collar.”
“I don’t, and I know that. I trust Beau. If he’s fooling me, he’s way better at it than Brad was.”
“For what it’s worth, Beau is good down to his bones. He should probably be the