It was Saturday night, and Catherine was enjoying a glass of white wine. These were the moments she lived for now. Drinking some wine and watching television alone. The doorbell rang. âWho . . . could that be,â Catherine slurred as she stood up. She wobbled to the door and opened it. âHey,â Ava sang and sashayed in. âHey,â Catherine mimicked and closed the door. âI came here to invite you out for drinks, but I see you already have a head start,â she said as she picked up the empty wine bottle on the kitchen counter. âYes. And Iâm not dressed to go out.â Catherine had on a button-down shirt that was way too big for her. It had belonged to Bruce. He had left some of his clothes at the condo. âWell, change. Iâll wait. And Iâm driving since you already got the party started.â Next thing Catherine knew, she was wearing a red skirt and a matching top with straps she had bought while s
The Hudson wives, two of them anyway, wanted a Saturday night out on the town. So, the men took them to the Oasis. But the club was at maximum capacity. According to the door man, if they let anymore in they would get in trouble with the fire marshal. So, Trevor Hudson suggested Maxâs. It was a good club yet low key and they played great music. He had taken loads of girls to Maxâs before he had gotten married and had child. They were sitting at a table that was close to the dance floor. âTrevor,â Joanna began, sounding shocked. âIs that Cameron Townsend and Catherine Van Dyke on the dance floor?â She was pointing where she was looking. Trevor followed his wifeâs finger. That was Cameron Townsend all right, but whoever he was dancing with wasnât Catherine. âThatâs Cameron, but no honey, thatâs not Catherine. It canât be. When she was with Bruce she hated night clubs.â âSo did Bruce, but look where he is now,â Joann
It was almost noon when Catherine arrived at Cameronâs mansion. She rang the bell. She knew she had to be patient since Cameron didnât have a household staff.Catherine had decided to take Chelseaâs advice. It was best not to let the âincidentâ linger between them. Best to talk about it and then let it go.The door opened and Catherine was stunned.âYour eye,â she breathed as her hand flew to her chest.Cameronâs left eye was swollen shut. He gave her a little smile. âIt looks worse than what it is. Please, come in.âCatherine crossed the threshold. âAre you sure âââIâm fine.ââGod, you canât show up to court tomorrow afternoon looking like this. Iâll see if I can postpone the next session for a week. Do you think it will be cleared up by then?ââMostly, I believe. At the very least it wonât be so obvious.âCatherine nodded. She felt terrible. If it wasnât for her, he wouldnât have a black eye, especially one this bad.âLetâs go in the study,â he said and began walking.Neither one
A week later . . . Last week, Judge Gehrig had granted Catherineâs request for a week post postponement to ADA Ben Quinnâs chagrin.Today was the first time Catherine and Cameron had physically seen each other since that day his cousins caught them kissing. He hadnât called her again since that night. Perhaps he finally saw sense.Now, they were in court where Catherine was at her best and could stay focused. After all, the law was her first real love.Cameronâs black eye had cleared up by ninety percent. There was still a slight shadow under his eye. The prosecution called a few more witnesses who testified that they witnessed angry hissing between Kelly and Cameron in public. Phillip, Catherineâs co-chair, was able to put one witnessâs account into question. Court adjourned for an hour and a half lunch. The Townsends left the courthouse for lunch. Catherine had to call the office to see if she had any messages and to return
Two days later . . . Cameron had called Catherineâs office yesterday and asked her to meet him for lunch at the Four Seasons. The maĂŽtre d escorted Catherine to Cameronâs table. Cameron stood as they approached. He was wearing a charcoal suit with a silk light blue tie and a white shirt. âGood afternoon, Catherine.â âCameron,â she said with a nod. The maĂŽtre d pulled a chair out for her. It was across from Cameron. âI waited to order,â he said and sat back down. âDo you know what you want to drink, miss?â the maĂŽtre d asked. âClub soda.â The maĂŽtre d nodded and left them. Catherine opened the menu that was already on the table. âThe steak here is fantastic,â Cameron said as he opened his menu. âIâm sure it is, but I think Iâll get some sort of salad,â she said as she looked at the list of specialty salads. âDo you have
The prosecution rested and court had been adjourned for the day. Catherine had returned to her office. Court was going to reconvene on Tuesday and all she had was about eight character witnesses and that was it. Nothing concrete to prove Cameronâs innocence. âThe burden of proof is on the state,â her old law professor had said when she was in school. In reality, the real burden was on the defense to supply doubts as to why the defendant was not guilty. In the real world, people believed the worse than expecting and acknowledging the best. Catherine sighed heavily. What am I going to do? I canât let him down. Heâs innocent. I know he is. Catherineâs cell rang. The caller ID said it was Ava Bartholomew. âHello, Ava. Itâs not a good time. Can I call you tomorrow? We can have lunch.â âUm, Catherine this is . . . important. Remember when I first came to your condo, and you said you had thought I had first c
Matt had let Catherine into the mansion. He left her to walk to the study alone. The double doors were closed. Catherine knocked. âWho is it?â the slurred rough voice asked. She pushed one of the doors open. âAh, Catherine,â Cameron slurred. âNice of you to stop by. Sorry about the mess.â And what a mess it was. Almost all the books had been pulled off the shelves. What looked like papers, pictures, and books were in the fireplace. The items that had been on Cameronâs desk were in the floor. The only spot in the room that seemed somewhat orderly was the minibar. I never should have told him who it was. Cameron drunkenly tilted his head at her like he was trying to read her mind. âWell, at least I didnât . . . do all this to Derek Dawsonâs face.â âTrue,â she mumbled as she stepped into the room. Cameronâs usually neatly combed dark hair was disheveled. His white shir
Normally, Catherine wouldnât work on a Saturday unless she was under the gun. Well, she was under the gun.Catherine had spent three hours with her co-chair, Phillip, at the office going over Cameronâs defense with a fine-tooth comb. They were more than ready to present their case on Tuesday. Yesterday, Catherine had a subpoena issued for Derek Dawson to appear in court. She had a feeling he wouldnât come if she had just asked him. Since he was subpoenaed, he would have no choice but to show up for court. If not, a warrant would be issued for his arrest. Then she met her sisters, Caitlin and Constance, for lunch at the country club. Then she met Ava at the hair salon. Catherine had Regine take the extensions out. She didnât want to take a chance of her appearance swaying the jury to not take her seriously when she questioned Ava on the stand. âHoney, your hair has grown out a bit. Not long like the extensions, but . . .â Regina trailed off.
Christmas Eve It had been eight weeks since the shooting. Cameronâs physical therapy was going well. He had been out of the wheelchair for a week and was now walking with a cane. This year, the Van Dykes were hosting a Christmas Party at their estate. The crème de la crème of New Yorkâs elite were in attendance.Almost everyone patted Cameron on the back saying how glad they were to see him out and about. Catherine had asked her mother to invite Angela King and Terrance. And they did come. They had a hard time mingling at first, but Mr. Townsend intervened, walking them around, making introductions. After that, they relaxed and began chit chatting with a few people. Ava had also been invited. She was chatting with various people in the room. She hadnât come with a date even though Catherine had said she could bring one. Catherine was speaking to a potential client when Cameron whisked her away. There was a time
Catherine, Matt, and Aunt Lea Ann had left to get dinner. Cameron had just had dinner. For hospital food it wasnât bad. He heard someone enter the room. Don and Ezekiel came around the corner. Well, shit. âHey, cuz,â Ezekiel greeted. âWe heard about what happened. Weâve been in touch with Aunt Lea Ann. Sheâs been keeping us abreast with your progress.â âYeah. It was really touch and go there from what we understand,â Don said. âThatâ s what Iâve been told,â Cameron said as he stared at them. He didnât know what to think about them being here. Ezekiel he could forgive. He had been between a rock and a hard. But Don? âIâm sure youâre still pissed. I would be if I were you,â Don said. âBut at the same time, I didnât want you to think I â or rather we didnât care about what happened to you.â âI appreciate it,â Cameron said. âI really do.â Ezekiel nodded. âNow that we k
Two days later . . . Cameron had been moved out of ICU to PCU, meaning there was no longer a visiting restriction. Catherine showed up at the hospital as soon as Mr. Townsend had called and told her. She rushed into room 309. There he was sitting up in bed watching television in a hospital gown. âCatherine,â he said with a big smile. She practically ran to him. She plopped on the bed and they immediately embraced. âOh, my darling, Catherine. You are a sight for sore eyes,â he said over her shoulder. Catherine pulled back. Their mouths met. They lapped at each otherâs lips like they were star-crossed lovers who hadnât seen each other in six months They were both breathless by the time they were done. âOh, Cameron, I was so . . . frightened I wouldnât . . . oh, darling.â She kissed him again. âMmm,â Cameron groaned as he pulled out of the kiss.
The next day . . .Catherine was at Mercy Hospital again with the Townsends. Matt was reading something on his phone as Mrs. Rushings was knitting what looked like a scarf.Catherine exhaled heavily. Cameron was still in ICU in a coma. Even though he wouldnât know she was there or not, she wished she could see him. Then again, Mrs. Rushings and Matt probably felt the same way.âIâm going to the bathroom,â Matt announced as he stood.âAll right,â his mother said.He walked away.She placed her knitting in her lap and looked at Catherine. âIâve been in touch with Ezekiel and Don. Theyâre still in New York.ââOh?ââWell, Don flew back to D.C. for a few days to check on the restaurant. When he heard, from Ezekiel that Cam had been shot he flew back and got a hotel room at the Marriot where Ezekiel is.ââI see.ââIâve been keeping them up to date with what has been going on. They are afraid to come to the hospital because they donât know who Harry will react to them being here.ââI can und
It was after ten a.m. Sunday morning when Catherine returned to Mercy Hospital wearing a dark yellow pants suit. Lea Ann and Matt where in the ICU waiting room. It appeared they had gone home to freshen up and change clothes.âHi. How is he?â Catherine asked as she approached.âStill in the coma,â Lea Ann answered. âHarry is in with him now. They let him visit every half hour. He should be out in a minute.âAnd like clockwork, Mr. Townsend emerged. He was still in the closes he was wearing last night.âAny change?â Matt asked.âNo. Heâs just lying there with an oxygen mask . . . machines beeping and what not,â Mr. Townsend said.Catherine exhaled.âWe just have to be patient,â Mrs. Rushings said as she placed her hand on Catherineâs shoulder. âHeâll come out of it.ââBefore I came here, I got a call from Ben Quinn, the ADA who is prosecuting Cameronâs case. Apparently, Mrs. Townsend has gotten a lawyer and Judge Gehrig is willing to hold court today â for her bail hearing and to consi
Mercy Hospital Emergency Room Cameron had been rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Unfortunately, Catherine and the Townsends couldnât follow immediately. The cops had split them up in separate rooms to ask them questions as to what happened. Catherine knew it was procedure but it didnât make the situation less stressful or better. Cops and forensics were all over the mansion. The cops arrested Martha Townsend within an hour of them arriving. After what seemed to be two hours, the police had let Catherine and the rest go to the hospital to check on Cameron. Mr. Townsend rushed to the emergency room desk. âMy son, Cameron Townsend, was brought in here a little over two hours ago. Where is he?â âIâll check, sir,â the clerk said and started typing. Dear god let him be all right. Cameron got shot saving her. âIt says here he is in surgery,â the clerk said. âWhat kind of
Martha Townsend stood at the window looking out at the rain as Lea Ann finished her part of the story. Once she finished, you could hear a pin drop in the living room. âI . . . I didnât mean to kill the little bitch,â Mrs. Townsend bit out bitterly. âI had only planned to scare her with it. But when she brushed me off like I was some pathetic creature that was beneath her . . . I snapped. How dare that trailer park trash gidget look down her nose at me.â Mrs. Townsend whirled around to look at them. âI got so angry that I . . .â âWe got the picture, Aunt Martha,â Matt mumbled. He was still reeling. He had been in the dark about all of it. âI truly did not believe the baby was Cameronâs at the time,â Martha said sorrowfully. âI really thought it belonged to another man.â âWhat I couldnât figure out on my way here was why did you decided to kill Joey Evers?â Catherine asked. âWho!â Mr. Townsend shouted with shock.
Three months ago . . . âWould you like some tea, Martha?â Kelly asked as she glided into the kitchen of her home. âHow about herbal tea? You seem agitated.â âIf you were out of our lives for good, I wouldnât be so agitated,â Martha said. Kelly whirled around. âNow, Martha, is that anyway to speak to your daughter-in-law . . . and the mother of your future grandchild?â âOh, please, we both know there is only a fifty - hell, maybe even a twenty-five percent chance Cameron is the babyâs father.â âThere you go with those wild accusations again,â Kelly said in a shame on you tone. âAll because you saw me talk to one man coming off an elevator. âYou were flirting your butt of with him. But I didnât need to see that to know youâre cheating on my son. So, letâs cut the bull. What will it take for you to leave Cameron - to leave the family?â âLeave?â âYes. Iâm prepared and able to write
Catherine was awakened by her cell vibrating on the nightstand. She had put it on vibrate before her and Cameron dosed off. It was Frankie. He was working on two other cases for her. She quickly picked up her phone and dashed into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her. âHello?â she whispered loudly. âHey, lady lawyer,â Frankie greeted. âDid I catch you at a bad time?â âUm, kind of,â she whispered. âIâm sorry to disturb, but this might be important. Can we meet in forty-five minutes? Iâm at an Italian joint called Robertoâs.â âUm, sure. I know that place. Itâs not far from me.â âGreat, see you in forty-five.â He hung up. Careful not to wake, Cameron she tip-toed around the bedroom getting dressed. She pulled on a pink pair of sweats and a light white long sleeve top. They were her jogging clothes. She grabbed her phone and turned to leave the bedroom. She looked back at Ca