Tight Knit (23 page)

I talked to my parents and they agreed that Lachlan could stay, but I’m too shaken to cook anything, or move, or think at all. 

Janna shows up an hour later with pizza and almost drops it in her haste to hug me. I assure her a thousand times that I will be okay and she eats pizza with me while Lachlan snores on the couch. 

“I don’t mean to bring this up now, Tal. Totally shitty timing, but I got a call from the cops yesterday,” she whispers as she puts her shoes on at the front door. I groan. Not this again. 

“Yeah, bad timing,” I mumble. 

“They told me that they need to question me further about my statement. I told them when I talk to a lawyer. I didn’t know if that would work but they didn’t question me.” She shrugs and I can’t help but smile.

“You watch too many movies.”

She hugs me. 

“I’m just saying because that means they might call Lachlan back in too. That poor guy. It’s never just easy for him, is it?” She steals a glance at him and there is a sympathetic sadness in her eyes. I nod.

Nothing is ever easy with Lachlan.

~

Early Monday morning, Lachlan gets a call. He’s eating breakfast at my kitchen table and he looks like he’s going to throw up. There’s a dozen yes’s, and okay’s and then he hangs up. I’m pacing in front of him. I want to pounce on him and ask him a ton of questions. 

“That was the police department.” His face is still pale and his eyes dart around nervously.

“What?” 

“He said they need me to come in. You too,” Lachlan’s voice trails off. Janna was right. I don’t have it in me right now to make a statement. Plus, Lachlan going to court over punching Deacon in the face seems just about as ridiculous as me wanting to take down Deacon’s grandma and the knitting show. 

“Let’s go then,” I say with more confidence than I even knew I had. 

~

I watch Lachlan enter the station. He lacks any emotion, but not in his typical I don’t care because I’m cool way. He really doesn’t care. It breaks me to see him like this. This whole thing was sprung on him and I hate Deacon even more, if that’s possible.

Deacon stands with a lawyer, his hand casually thrown into his suit pant pocket. He’s leaning forward talking to Greta and laughing, ignoring us. She scrutinizes me. I don’t like it.

Why are they even here?

My body does this spasm thing where I’m not sure if my legs are going to give out or I’m going to launch myself across the hall at her. I’m just about to decide when a warm hand slips inside of mine and squeezes. It’s not Lachlan’s hand. It’s way too small. 

I turn to Janna who is all smiles. Her grin takes up half her face. She shouldn’t even be here.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at school? And why do you look so pleased with yourself?” I mumble and she laughs.

“I brought someone. To help us. A lawyer.” She sounds as proud of herself as she looks. I am just confused. She winks.

Us?

She takes a step back so I can see. Briefcase in hand, my dad is standing awkwardly behind her.

“Dad?” I’m still confused. “What are you doing here?” 

My dad clears his throat. It’s something he always does before addressing people professionally. 

“Janna called me yesterday and told me everything.” My stomach flops when he says everything and I glance sideways at Janna.

Dad says hello to Lachlan and stretches out his hand. Lachlan looks at it, and then he looks at me. His eyes say
what the hell
?

I shrug. 

Lachlan smiles at my dad and shakes his hand. I let out a slow breath. Janna squeezes my hand again. 

“Not really the place you want your dad to meet your boyfriend, hey Tal?” She giggles. I’m so very lost. Why is she here? Why is my dad here? And what did she mean by
everything
? 

“Not exactly. What did you tell him?” 

I’m distracted by Dad as he approaches Deacon’s lawyer and they shake hands stiffly before my dad takes him aside. I wonder what they’re talking about.

An officer comes and ushers Lachlan and my dad one way while Deacon and his lawyer go another.

I sit on a small bench in the hall and Janna sits next to me.

“I’m sorry, Tal. I hope you aren’t mad at me for telling him, but I knew you wouldn’t. Deacon can’t get away with this. We all know that Lachlan did what he did because of me. I think Deacon lied and that’s why we’re being called back in.” 

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

“This is the first time I’ve been asked to come in.” I remember Deacon asking me whether I’d gotten called in.

“Yeah, I’m not supposed to say anything but they think Lachlan and Deacon were just fighting over you. I was brought in to make a statement about where I got drugs. And I may, or may not, have let Deacon’s involvement slip.” She smirks.

It’s hard to cross Janna, but she’s vicious if she wants to be.

“What Lachlan did wasn’t right. But Deacon gets away with everything. He’s such… He’s such a…dick.” 

I laugh and nudge her with my shoulder. 

“I’m glad you called my dad. He’s good.” 

I used to go to court and watch my dad when I was a kid. I loved it. I thought he was a superhero. My superhero. Then we needed a bigger house, so he took that corporate job. Every day he became less and less interested. Every day he became more and more busy. 

And not until now did I feel sorry for him. He gave up what he loved for us and all I did was resent him for it. Blame him for not being around. But our family is bigger now. Things have to change. 

My eyes fill with tears and I shake my head. I really need to get this crying thing under control. But I can’t help but feel happy, like truly happy. It still blows my mind. I remember I’m going to have a brother and I haven’t told Janna about it yet. It will have to wait a bit longer.

Lachlan comes out with my dad. His face is white and his eyes are unfocused. My dad has his hand around Lachlan’s shoulders and a smile across his face. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Lachlan

I never would ever guess that Talia’s dad would help me. Dads don’t help me. They warn their daughters to stay away from me. 

But Malcolm’s smile is genuine. When he shook my hand he looked me in the eyes. 

The cop asks me the same questions they asked me the night of the party and I answered them the exact same way. 

The officer’s holding a paper and his eyes flick between me and whatever’s written down.

I remember Deacon saying he would tell them that I hit Talia. That must be why they brought us in. 

“Lachlan?” the officer says and Malcolm squeezes my shoulder.

“Sorry, what?” I shift in my seat.

“Was there anything you wanted to add to your statement?”

I shake my head. 

Malcolm reaches across and shakes the officers hand.

“I’m sure you’ll see that this is just a couple of young guys fighting for a girl’s heart.” Malcolm smiles, “That girl’s sitting out in the hall should you need to obtain a statement from her.”

The officer clears his throat. “I think you might be right, Mr. Gregory.” 

He shakes his head lightly as he shuffles his papers. Malcolm motions for me to get up. He tucks his case under one arm and throws the other one over my shoulders. It feels really strange to me. I’m not used to this. It’s really messing with my mind. 

He guides me out into the hall where Talia and Janna are waiting.

“I know what’s behind all this, Lachlan. Janna told me everything. I trust you are turning this around now that you are officially an adult?” he says as we’re walking. 

I’m stunned so I stop walking. He speaks about me like it’s no big deal that I have the reputation I do. He doesn’t say it with pity, or distain. Just like it’s a fact. 

“Why are you doing this?” I don’t mean for it to sound so harsh, but it does. I also didn’t mean to dodge the question because I am turning it around.

“Doing what?” Malcolm’s expression doesn’t change. 

“Helping me.” I can’t stop myself from feeling indebted to him. 

He shifts his gaze to Talia then back at me.

“I’m not.” Again with the facts. “I’m helping my little girl. She sees something in you, and I trust her. I did this for her, Lachlan. Not for you.” 

I feel relief but also a little dejected at the same time. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I think you’re a nice kid and I understand your situation so I’m willing to give you a little leeway. I’m not huge on your reputation, or sleeping at my house alone with my daughter. But I trust her. She wouldn’t have asked Rebecca and me for you to stay if it wasn’t important.” 

I blush. He doesn’t know what we did in his bedroom. I look down, letting my hair fall in my face to hide my heated cheeks. I never blush. Damn this girl. 

“Thanks,” I mumble. It’s not a word I use often. “For everything. She deserves.” 

That’s when I feel her. Her body slams into mine, and I scoop her up with my good arm. She kisses my neck, my ear, my jaw, my cheek then my lips. I set her down and press her head into my chest. I’m uncomfortable kissing her with her dad watching me.

Talia pulls away from me and pounces on Malcolm.

“Dad.” She throws her arms around his neck and he sets down his case so he can hug her.

“Dad, thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me.” 

Malcolm kisses the top of her head. “You know I’d do anything for you, Tali. Anything.” 

“Do I need to go in there?” She asks, chewing on her finger. 

“Maybe, but not today.” He hugs her again and then takes a step back.

I’m so glad because I need to get out of this place, and I’m still totally not used to all this love-y shit going around. 

“I think tonight would be a good night for takeout,” Malcolm says. “You in?” 

Talia and Janna nod. I don’t know what to do. I still can’t go home. But I’m not sure if the invitation extends to me.

Talia grabs my hand, pulling me from my thoughts of Gram. 

“You coming?” 

I smile. 

“Yeah, I’m right behind you. The view is better from back here anyway.” I try to make things sound like before. I need to feel like I did before. Happy. With her. 

I wink at her and she blushes, glancing to make sure Malcolm didn’t hear. 

She hits my chest.

“You are so bad.” 

“You have no idea.” 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Talia

Sitting with Nan by her hospital bed is almost back to normal. Well as normal as hanging out in a hospital can be. We knit together while she hums with the soft sounds of the TV in the background. 

Pain stabs through my heart as I watch Nan. I thought I was going to lose her. I still might. But the thought never crossed my mind that it might be Georgina I’d lose first. I feel the pain in Lachlan’s eyes again. I left him in front of Georgina’s room. 

Today’s the day they take her off life support. 

His aunts and uncles are here, and they even let his mom come and say goodbye a few days ago. I was here for him then too. 

“Can you find your way back, darling?” Nan’s voice sounds like it used to. Like honey and soft towels and sunny bright skies and everything else I love in this world. 

“Hmm?” I look up and my eyebrows pull together.

“You seemed lost in your thoughts.” 

She continues to hum, wrapping the yarn around the needles. 

“I’m just worried about Lachlan. He’s still really torn up.”

“Well of course he is. What a horrible thing to experience after everything he’s been through already.” 

I nod, but Nan doesn’t see me. 

“He’ll pull through. He’s strong that one. And stubborn too.” Nan smiles. There is something behind the smile I don’t recognize. Her eyes sparkle and get that glazed stare girls get when they think about someone they like.

I roll my eyes.

“Do you have a crush on my boyfriend, Nan?”

She smiles wider. “I just might. He is so handsome, just like your pops.” 

“Well hands off.” I tap her leg with my knitting needle. 

Lachlan sticks his head through the door. 

“My Aunt wants to take me to dinner,” he says and steps in the room. I don’t think he’s been crying. I’m not sure if that is good or bad yet. He seems okay, sad and tired, but okay.

Nan makes him hug her and he looks so awkward.

“Come with me?” he asks, then stops me when I start to protest. “I need you to come with me. I need your help to get through this.” 

He stumbles over the words a little but by the crooked half smile he knows he has me. I did after all try to force him to accept my help and then got mad when he refused. Multiple times. I can’t turn him down the first time he actually asks for it.

“Are you two going to at least stop by the Drive tomorrow?” 

I had totally forgotten about that. I’ve been so focused on Lachlan and helping him pack up Georgina’s stuff, get the house ready for the funeral and prepare for his aunts that I totally pushed the Charity Drive from my mind. 

“I don’t think I want to go.” 

“I feel bad Talia, that you worked so hard just to be left out like that. If I wasn’t sick I’d march straight up to that Greta woman and give her a piece of my mind.” 

I laugh. That would be a sight. 

Kissing Nan on the forehead I say, “The Drive will do just fine without me, Nan. That doesn’t matter right now. I have everything I need right here.” 

Nan smiles. “I am so proud of you, darling.” 

Before I can answer Lachlan slips his hand into mine and pulls me out the door. 

~

The first weekend of Christmas break I get a phone call telling me to get dressed and get outside. Lachlan has a surprise for me. He made me keep my eyes closed the whole time. He even pulled my wool hat over my face for good measure.

His hands are over my eyes now and the wool gloves I knit him are tickling my eyelashes. I feel the pressure of his body against mine, but it’s cold outside so all I hear is the cracking of our winter coats as they rub together.