I would do this. Devlin would be here soon, and he would help me. I asked my sisters and mother not to tell him about my accident until I was ready to do so, and that time was now. His wife was the best divorce attorney in the country, and I needed her on my side. I needed them both. After years of trying to fix what was broken on my own, I knew that it was time to let people in.
Jude walkedup to me He'd given me space, but he could tell I needed a friend.
“You can do this you know.”
I smiled at him weakly. He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be in the garden if you need me.” I watched him walk away, trying to compose myself.
The doorbell rang, and Tilly let Devlin and Maria in. When Devlin saw me, he rushed over, enveloping me in a hug I could feel the tears threatening to burst free.
“I am so sorry,” he whispered. “I should not have let all that time pass.”
"It's not your fault, Dev," I whispered. When he let me go, Maria came over to embrace me. They both sat across from me, all of us patting our eyes dry, the emotion of not seeing each other and all the incidents between that were too overwhelming. Devlin reached across the table and placed a hand on mine.
"We're here now,” He said. Dev had been my protector since I walked into his house when I was ten-years-old. He’d made sure that I stayed out of trouble, and when I did get into trouble, he would often take the blame or talk his father out of punishing me. When I fell pregnant with Becca, he was the one person I told, and he kept my secret.
Devlin visited us often in the early years, but the visits became scarce as Reid’s new circle grew. Devlin was the only one who saw through the facade Reid tried to hide behind.
I called Devlin a week after my session with Dr. Blake. He and Maria immediately agreed to meet with me. I had to tell him about the accident because I didn't want him walking in and getting a shock at the sight of me.
“There’s more.” I smiled. “There is someone who is dying to see you.”
Jude stepped in through the garden sliding door. I knew that he’d been listening, and I didn’t mind.
“What on earth. Jude Finn?”
The two men hugged. They used to be brothers once, but life got in the way, and we all drifted apart.
"Jude is my Physical Therapist," I informed them.
“That is fantastic.” Dev slapped Jude on the back. “Now that we have the old gang together, it’s time to get to work.”
* * *
“You never told anyone?”Maria asked gently.
We'd been talking about my life for the last two hours. Jude joined us, and I watched his jaw tick every time I told them about incidents of abuse.
"I was scared nobody would believe me, and he threatened to take Becca away He had connections who could make that kind of thing happen.”
Tilly came in with a fresh pot of coffee and more sandwiches then left. Maria sat taking notes, and Devlin sat silently listening.
“I can help you, Tara,” Maria suddenly blurted. “I know I can.” And when I looked into her determined gaze, I believed her. Devlin squeezed her shoulder.
"It's not going to be easy," she continued, “but I have faced much more intimidating rivals than the Craig’s. I did some research, and their Attorney, Claude Shaver, is a conniving son-of-a-bitch, but he is no match for me." she grinned confidently.
I hadn't taken the time to get to know Maria earlier on, but I knew now that she was the kind of person I could be friends with. She was the total opposite of me: tall and curvy with a short bob that made her look absolutely elegant. She was bold and a force to be reckoned with. She told it like it was and she didn't sugarcoat anything. She told me that it would be tough, and I knew it would be.
“Thank you,” that was about all I could manage.
She nodded and reached over to give my hand a squeeze.
"I should have punched that asshole’s face," Devlin said, his hands balled into fists.
"He will get what is coming to him," Maria wrapped her arms around my brother's neck. "Now, if you don't mind, I need a leg stretch and a bathroom break," she said, standing up.
Devlin followed her, I guess they both needed a break from all of this. I looked over at Jude, who had been quiet for most of the time.
“You should not have had to go through that,” he hissed. “Any man cowardly enough to hurt a woman does not deserve to be called a man.” He stood up and started pacing the room.
