Justice Healed (8 page)

"Get up, son.  We're going to have a talk."

Chris ran his fingers through his dark hair, but it was already standing on end.  "Fuck you, Dad.  Get out of my house."

"I paid this month's rent so I think I'll stay," Tanner replied, hating every word that was coming out of his mouth.  No one had warned him tough love was tougher on the parent than the child.

Chris finally looked up, his eyes narrowed and his lips curled in a sneer.  "It's just like you to hold that over my head.  I told you I'll pay you back.  Does it make you feel powerful to lend me money?  Next time I'll ask Mom."

"Abby paid your rent last month.  And no, I don't feel powerful.  I feel helpless watching my only son piss his life away."  Tanner leaned against the dresser and crossed his arms over his chest.  "Stacey came to see me this morning."

That got Chris's attention.  He wrapped the sheet around him and sat on the edge of the bed, his head hanging.  "Is she okay?  Is Annie alright?"

"She's fine.  Stacey is at her parents' house.  You want to tell me what you plan to do about this situation?"

His son looked up, rebellion written in the rigid lines of his frame.  "She doesn't understand.  She's always on my case.  That job was a piece of shit.  They treated me like crap and paid me worse.  Things will be better now that I'm working for Fenton."

Tanner had to fight to hold his tongue about Fenton Jacks.  He didn't know enough about the man yet.  But he would.  Instead, he concentrated on the task at hand.  "Stacey understands you fine, son.  You drink and lose job after job.  It's not complicated.  It is pathetic.  You need to straighten up."

"For Stacey?  For Annie?" Chris jeered.  "When do the violins start?"

"No, for yourself.  That's the only way this will work.  You have to get sober for you."

"Fenton says there's nothing wrong with a guy sowing his wild oats."

His son quoting Jacks made Tanner want to bury his fist in the wall.  "He's right.  To an extent.  But when a man takes on the responsibilities of a wife and child those days are gone.  Tell me one thing, Chris.  Are you happy?  Are you enjoying being the biggest drunk in Springwood?"

There was silence and then Chris looked up, his eyes blazing.  "Yes.  When I'm with my buddies, everything's great.  When I'm with you or Stacey, all I get is lectures.  I'm tired of not being good enough for you.  Mom and Fenton think I'm just fine the way I am."

Tanner exhaled slowly, frustration warring with sadness.  "You are fine, son.  You are also a drunk.  The two are not mutually exclusive.  You need to get help.  Come with me tomorrow night to my meeting.  Just once.  Try it.  Wouldn't you like to wake up just one morning without a rotten taste in your mouth and a pounding headache?"

Chris stared at the carpet.  "I'll think about it, okay?  If I come to the meeting, will it get you off my back?"

It was the best he could hope for.  Chris had never even entertained the idea before.  "Just come to one meeting.  Library at seven.  I'll come by and pick you up."

Chris shook his head.  "No, I'll just meet you."

Tanner put his hand on Chris's shoulder.  "Maybe we can get a bite to eat afterward.  You know, talk."

Chris looked up, but the corners of his mouth were turned down.  "Let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Just the meeting."

Swallowing his disappointment, Tanner agreed.  "Fine.  I'll meet you a few minutes before seven in front of the library."  He headed to leave, but turned back.  "And Chris?  Try and stay sober until then.  Don't show up drunk."

Chris didn't answer and Tanner hadn't really expected one.  He locked the front door as he left and climbed into his truck with a heavy heart.

The chances of Chris showing up tomorrow night were slim.

Madison and Tanner made small talk as he drove to the restaurant.  He'd asked her about her day and she told him about shopping with Sherry and seeing some girls from school.  Madison did not mention buying new underthings.  When she asked him about his day, he vaguely answered something about taking his dog for a walk. 

Dressed in khaki colored slacks and a navy sweater with a white collar peeking out, he looked and smelled really good.  His jaw appeared to be freshly shaved and the tang of his aftershave tantalized her nostrils.  Instead of tousled by the wind, his dark brown hair had been combed into submission.  All in all, he was gorgeous.  Her palms were sweaty and she rubbed them on her brand-new emerald green corduroy trousers.  If she didn't calm down, she was going to stroke out before dessert.

"I hope you like Italian food.  I don't come here much but this place is really good."  Tanner pulled into a parking spot outside of a beige stucco building.  "I think it's new since you left town."

He was around to her side of the vehicle before she could climb out of the car, offering her a hand, which she gratefully accepted.  The parking lot didn't look like it had been plowed well.  In the dim light, she could make out patches of ice here and there as they carefully made their way to the entrance. 

"I haven't been here before but I do like Italian."  Tanner held the door open for her and she stepped into the warm restaurant decorated in muted earth tones.  The tempting aroma of tomatoes and garlic made her stomach growl and her mouth water.  "It smells so good in here."

Tanner chuckled.  "It does, doesn't it?  I'm glad you brought your appetite.  I hate to see a woman pick at her food."

"No worries.  I'm hungry."

The hostess led them to a corner table near the back of the restaurant.  They shed their coats and settled into their chairs.  A waiter magically appeared from nowhere.

"I'm Albert and I'll be your waiter tonight.  May I get you something to drink?  Would you like to see the wine list?"

Madison enjoyed the occasional glass of wine with a good meal but she remembered the conversation from earlier today.  Tanner was waiting for her response.

"Not for me, thank you.  Ice
d tea?"

"I'll have the same," Tanner answered.  The waiter hurried away and Tanner placed his large, warm hand over hers on the table.  "It's okay.  You could have ordered wine if you wanted it."

Did he read minds as a hobby?  She hurried to try and smooth it over.

"I don't really drink much.  As a doctor, I'm on call a lot."

He smiled.  "It's okay, Madison.  I don't have any secrets.  I'm sure you know I don't consume alcohol.  I have a drinking problem."

The way he phrased it alarmed her.  "Have?  I'd heard you haven't had a drink in ten years."  She winced at what she had revealed.  She'd been gossiping about him, but he didn't seem
fazed.

"It's been about nine and a half, actually.  I say have because once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.  There isn't a cure.  I can never drink again.  Ever."

The waiter slipped their glasses in front of them.  "Are you ready to order?"

Madison hadn't even opened her menu. 

"Can you give us a few minutes?" Tanner asked, his gaze never leaving Madison.  She could have sworn she heard the waiter sigh, but he disappeared as quickly as he'd come.

"I didn't know," she said.  "I guess I was too wrapped up in my own problems to recognize anyone else's.  Dad told me today."

"Hell."  Tanner grimaced.  "I'm sure he was thrilled about an older, alcoholic man taking out his baby girl.  Did he object?"

"No, but he doesn't get to do that.  I'm a grown woman and I make my own decisions."

Tanner sipped his iced tea.  "You didn't think about canceling?  Not even for a moment?"

"Not even for a moment.  I'm a doctor, remember?  I've been educated in addiction."

"So have I.  The hard way."  Tanner laughed and she relaxed.  He was obviously comfortable with the topic and with himself.  She admired the easy way he carried his burden.  He wasn't screaming about being a victim or how life was unfair.  He'd faced his problem head on and dealt with it. 

She flipped open the menu.  "What do you recommend here?"

"I usually get the chicken parmesan but if you want something lighter they make an excellent grilled salmon."

"I think I'll splurge tonight." 

His gaze ran up and down her body making her shiver with awareness.  "You're a beautiful woman, Maddie, with a perfect figure.  You should eat anything you like."

Heat rushed to her cheeks.  "Thank you, but I'm also a doctor.  Too much of anything isn't good for you.  Moderation is the key."  She took a deep breath.  "Hearing that you have a flaw helped."

"I've got several.  Don't we all?"

Madison shrugged.  "I certainly do.  I guess I don't think of you that way.  I think of you as a sort of...well, hero."

Tanner jerked back in his chair.  "A hero?  I'm no hero, Maddie."

"You are." Maddie nodded.  "When I was thirteen there were some girls teasing me during the town carnival.  You told them to stop or you'd call their parents.  Those girls never bothered me again."

Tanner shook his head, his brow furrowed.  "I wish I remembered that day, honey.  But I don't."

It seemed unreal that a day that had lived in her memory for almost seventeen years was completely forgotten by him.  Maybe she'd dreamed it or blew it out of proportion after all this time.

No, it had happened.  She was sure of it.

"I was grateful all the same."

"What were they teasing you about?" he asked.

"The usual.  My hair, my freckles, my glasses, my braces, my brains, and don't forget my clothes.  That was the list most of the time."

He seemed at a loss for words.  "That was a long time ago.  I'm sorry I don't—"

She held up her hand.  "It's okay.  You don't need to apologize.  Just because it was important to me, doesn't mean it was important to you.  You were just being nice, that's all."

"I wish I remembered," he said, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze.  "I wish I really was the hero you thought I was.  I'm just a man, Maddie.  Flesh and blood."

He certainly was.  Very attractive and very male flesh and blood.  The lustful thoughts made her shift in her seat and what wasn't already pink with embarrassment turned bright red.  He quirked an eyebrow. 

"Something I said?"

The waiter sidled up to the table before she could answer.  They ordered and the waiter dissolved away, leaving her with the open question waiting for an answer.

"I—I'm not very comfortable on dates.  I told you I never know what to say or do."

"How about you tell me about medical school?  That might put you at ease."

"I'm supposed to let you talk about yourself."  Madison chewed her bottom lip.

"You are?"  Tanner frowned.  "Why?"

Madison sighed.  "Sherry gave me dating advice.  I'm supposed to let you talk about yourself.  She said men love to talk about themselves.  I'm also not to talk about gross, bloody things,
Star Trek
,
Star Wars
,
Dr. Who
, or have sex with you."  She buried her face in her hands.  "Oh God, I shouldn't have said that."

She peeked through her fingers and he was grinning.  He reached across the table and tugged her hands away.  "You can talk about all the blood and guts you want.  I can handle it.  I love
Star Wars
, by the way.  I've never seen
Dr. Who
but I'd like to hear about it."  His expression gentled.  "As for sex, well, I'm very attracted to you, Maddie.  You've probably figured that out.  But I don't want to rush you.  When the time is right, we'll know."

Her heart accelerated at his tender tone.  She was relieved and disappointed all at once.  He excited her and she couldn't remember the last time she'd been this sexually attracted to a man.  But he was right.  She wasn't ready to make love with him tonight. 

"You're a nice man."

Tanner groaned.  "Don't say that.  Next thing you'll be telling me that I'm a great guy but you just don't feel
that
way about me."

She fiddled with her napkin.  "I doubt that will happen."

He smiled.  "It won't happen for me either.  Now tell me about medical school, pretty Maddie.  I promise I won't say a word to Sherry about it."

She shook her head.  "I'm still too nervous.  How about you tell me something about yourself instead?  How about you tell me about you?"

An hour, two chicken parmesan meals, and a shared tiramisu later and she'd learned quite a bit about Tanner.  "You didn't like the military?"

The waiter placed two cups of coffee in front of them.  Tanner added a dollop of cream and a sugar.  "I don't like people telling me what to do.  The military was a means to an end."

"Law enforcement."

Tanner snorted.  "That was far from my mind.  I just wanted a steady paycheck.  I hadn't done great in school so my options were limited."

"You got to see the world."  She sipped her coffee.  "That must have been nice."

"It was."  He nodded.  "I was stationed in Germany for awhile.  I liked it there, but Abby was homesick.  She never enjoyed being an Army wife.  Or a sheriff's wife either, for that matter."

"Did you leave the Army for Abby?"

"Sort of.  She was tired of it, and my dad had talked to Sheriff Tunney about giving me a chance as a deputy.  I thought things would change if I came home."

"Did they?"

He frowned.  "Yes, but not for the better.  I'd promised Abby I would stop drinking.  I told her everything would be better when we came back to Springwood.  I lied."

"Is that why you divorced?"  It was a nosy question and none of her business but it had slipped out before she could censure herself.

"That's a good question."  He stroked his chin.  "We never were deliriously happy, even in the early days.  We married too young and we wanted different things.  But Abby actually left me after I got sober.  I hadn't had a drink in about six months when she came and said she couldn't take it anymore."

That didn't make much sense.  "What couldn't she take anymore?  You'd stopped drinking."

"I think she couldn't take being a sheriff's wife anymore.  She'd always pictured her life differently."  It looked as if he were struggling for the right words.  "Easier, more glamorous.  I don't know if that's the right way to put it.  She hated having to clip coupons and watch every dime when I was in the Army.  She wanted something better for herself.  I don't blame her.  It wasn't easy with two kids and a husband who
was at the bar all the time."

"It wasn't any of my business asking you about that."  Madison ran her finger around the rim of her coffee cup.

He captured her hand and his eyes were a soft blue.  "If we're going to give this a real shot between us I don't want you to think I'm hiding my past.  You can ask me anything."

She
’d relaxed as the evening had unwound and she felt the same way.  "You can ask me anything as well."

He slowly smiled.  "Are you sure
, Dr. Shay?  I want to know everything about you."

"There's not much to know."  Madison shrugged.  Her life was an open book.  A boring one. 

"Tell me about growing up?  Were you always the smartest kid in school?"

She was working to put her childhood behind her.  "I was.  And boy
, no one ever let me forget it."

Tanner laughed.  "Tell me more."  He signaled the waiter for more coffee.

"Don't blame me if you fall asleep while hearing this.  It's not that interesting."

"Let me be the judge.  Why don't you start with how you and Sherry became friends?"

That brought a smile to Madison's face.  "That's actually a pretty entertaining story.  We were in fourth grade and Sherry was the new kid in school."

They were both laughing by the time he helped her on with her coat and led her to his vehicle.  Now all she had to do was worry about the goodnight kiss.

* * * *

Madison looked nervous.  Extremely nervous.  She was biting her lip, bouncing one leg over the other, and avoiding eye contact.  Tanner had to hide his grin as he opened the SUV door and helped her out.  He knew why she was so tense. 

It was time to get his goodnight kiss.

If he were honest, he'd been thinking about it all night.  The way her full lips had moved as she told him about her childhood and then college.  Her perfume had wafted around him, leaving him hard and aching.  There would be no relief tonight.  He'd go home to no one but Scout and take a cold shower before falling into bed.  If he were lucky, he wouldn't wake up with dog breath in his face.

He held her hand as they walked to the door.  She fumbled with her purse and pulled out her key ring before looking up at him.  Her mouth was shiny with some kind of gloss and he couldn't wait to kiss it off, licking it with his tongue.  Her eyes were wide and she had a deer in the headlights expression.