“I just did.”
Another beat of silence passed.
“Is your husband here?” asked Kate.
Madeleine shook her head. “No, he’s back at work. It’s weird how quickly life picks up where it left off, isn’t it?” Then she winced, suddenly realizing that Kate’s and Rosie’s lives were still far from being back to normal. “Sorry about that,” she said quietly.
“No worries,” said Kate. “We’re managing. We will manage.”
Turning to Madeleine, she ran her hands through her hair. “I knew I needed to come over here. I knew I needed to tell you again I’m truly sorry—for all of this. I was so, so wrong. And I was too embarrassed to face you until now.”
But Madeleine was already shaking her head. “But you didn’t know that you were wrong. No one could have predicted how this would turn out. I certainly couldn’t have.” She offered a small laugh. “You know, I was thinking I really have Gemma Moore to thank, in light of everything. If it hadn’t been for her issue with me, she might never have stuck that microphone in your face, and Scott would never have made the connection or had anything to do with us. Life is weird sometimes.”
Kate nodded, looking downcast. “It’s a bit overwhelming to think about, actually. And when I think that I was blaming you for something that wasn’t even your fault, and dragging your family over the coals...” She stopped, her voice choking. “Madeleine, I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am for what I put you and your family through. There are...no words.”
Placing a comforting hand on her arm, Madeleine leaned in to her. “I know it wasn’t all you, either. And yes, I was angry about it, especially when I really didn’t believe I’d done anything wrong. But I’m pretty certain that you had other people in your ear.” She didn’t say Christine’s name, but she didn’t need to. “I also know that many people in Knockroe have very strong opinions about me and my family, and our parenting decisions over the years. You’ve been through the wringer over the last while yourself, and I can’t even begin to put myself in your place. But, you and I, we’ve only done the things we did because we both love our kids, and it’s our job to keep them safe. How is Rosie now?”
Kate smiled. “She’s still Rosie, and yes, she still has a lot of work ahead of her, we both do. She’s showing great progress, though. We have a brilliant caregiver who helps out, but, well, we probably are going to make some changes with that now. I need to find a way to get back to work, and I also have to consider moving.”
Madeleine nodded sympathetically. “Will you stay in Knockroe?”
Shrugging, Kate admitted, “I don’t honestly know. There are a lot of uncertainties at the moment.”
“And your solicitor?” she inquired with raised eyebrows. It was clear what she was implying, but Kate only shrugged, deferring the question.
Accepting this, Madeleine said, “If there is anything I can do to help, I hope you would let me know.”
Shaking her head incredulously, Kate said, “Actually, I think that’s my job to say that and offer the same to you.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Kate continued on, “Well, it’s all because of me that you and your husband ran up what I am sure is a sizable legal bill. And I wanted to tell you that maybe I can’t pay everything all at once, but I plan to take full responsibility for that.”
Madeleine looked at Kate with an open mouth. “You must be joking. Please, while I appreciate your attempt to make amends, I have to say that we certainly don’t expect this of you. You have other things to worry about.”
“But you can’t be expected to pay out all that money for...” Kate insisted, but Madeleine shook her head.
“It’ll be fine, honestly. Believe it or not, I’ve had offers to write a book about all this.” She smiled at the irony. HerMad Mumtome might have been put on the back burner, but since the trial ended, there’d been a slew of newspapers and publishers lining up for Madeleine’s take on her treatment by the media and the public, in the wake of what turned out to be false allegations. “You don’t mind, do you? Obviously I’ll consult with you on all aspects concerning Rosie and—”
“Lucy was right.” Kate laughed through her tears. “You are a good person. And I’m so sorry I didn’t believe her or take the time to call you back all those times you tried to talk to me before...everything. I wish I hadn’t been so stubborn.”
At this, Madeleine could only nod sadly. “Me, too.”
54
As I left Madeleine’s house, I had to admit that the weight I had been carrying around like an anvil for the past week had been lifted off my shoulders.
Of course, I had been totally genuine in my offer of paying the Coopers’ legal bill, but it was also a huge relief to know that the offer was declined. I knew I would be struggling to climb out of my own debt hole for quite some time and I really hadn’t had a notion how I would pay their bills, too. But I knew I had to offer.
Driving the couple of miles across Knockroe that separated the Cooper house from my own, I realized something else was nagging me now, though.
Declan. He was on my mind constantly, and while he and I had communicated a little since the trial ended, we hadn’t talked face-to-face since he’d dropped me home from the courthouse that Monday morning.
If I was being honest, I missed him—I had grown so used to having him around that the sudden absence stung on some level. I knew he and Alison were working on getting the practice back in order after the mayhem of O’Hara v. Cooper, just as I was trying to establish a new normal in my home, but that didn’t erase him from my thoughts.
Yes, I was attracted to him, I might as well admit that. And given the few...awkward moments we’d shared, especially in recent weeks, I was pretty confident that the feeling was mutual. But was I ready for a relationship if the prospect of one was even in the offing?
I had become so used to being on my own, and with all the upheavals Rosie and I had experienced, would it even be fair to Declan if he did want to be with me? Was it right for him to be involved with, or more correctly shackled to, someone with as much baggage as I? Did I evenrememberhow to share my life with someone?
