White Lies

Chapter 32

"There are still no suspects in the murder arson investigation that has plagued police and fire officials for weeks. With the case growing colder city officials beg for anyone with information to call their local precinct."

Rory watched the morning news as she sipped her coffee, her lips turning into a deep frown as video footage of the smoldering motel played on the screen. She was happy Jenna was dead but she now felt empty knowing there was nothing left to do but grieve.

"She won't get out of bed." Happy grumbled as he joined Rory in the kitchen. "She said she's too scared."

"She said if I stayed here she'd feel better." Rory sighed as commercials started. "Maybe we do need to let her talk to someone. Either she just wants me here or she thought it would help and didn't."

Happy nodded, pouring himself some coffee. "I even tried to bribe her with a visit but she said she doesn't want to see him, she's scared he's going to go to have to be an angel too."

Whimpering, Rory shook her head. "We need to help her, Hap."

"I know. Lemme talk to Ope," he suggested. "His chick is some kind of shrink."

"That would be awesome if she could help." Trying to build some positivity, Rory smiled and finished her coffee. "I have to talk to her."

Happy reached out and grabbed Rory before she could get to the steps. "She doesn't want to talk to you." He grimaced as he said it. "She barely talked to me, I told I'd get you for her and she freaked."

"Oh," there was no hiding her shock. "Well, I'll just go visit Ash then."

"Rory," Happy forced eye contact. "You gotta pull yourself out of this shit."

"I'm fine, Hap." It was a bold-faced lie and they both knew it.

Frustrated and grasping at anything he felt would pull his family together, Happy grabbed the divorce papers from the mantel. "This what you want?" He slapped them down on the table. "I signed em'."

He wanted her to refuse, he had hoped it would shake her up and make her think but her response was far from that. "Thank you." She snatched up the paperwork. "I'll drop it off at Lowen's."

"Rory," Happy blocked the door. "I need you to help me."

She smiled darkly. "I can't help anyone. Maybe it was the legal shit, that damn marriage license, I don't know but something failed here and we need to pick up the pieces however we can. I'm trying to do that."

"What does that even mean?" He asked genuinely confused.

"I don't really know, Hap," Rory admitted. "My head isn't right. All I know is that a goddamn piece of paper destroyed our family, it led us here somehow, so I don't want it anymore."

There wasn't much else he could say. Happy opened the front door for her. "You'll be back?"

"Yeah." She tiptoed to reach his face and, without much meaning behind the action, pressed her lips to his cheek. "I'll be back."

--

Rory did visit Asher. Over the weeks it took less and less time for her to gather her strength before slowly heading in. She hadn't been as present as she would have liked but it was almost impossible to sit in that tiny, dimly lit room and not think of Olivia. She felt she'd never bond with the child while he was stuck in Saint Thomas.

Softly she sang to him, her hand gently on his leg as she watched his breathing. "When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be."

She smiled a little, remembering how her own mother sang that exact song to her and Emmett as children, before feeling a set of eyes on her. Rory turned to see Parker, freshly bruised, smiling at her from the hall. Whispering a short goodbye she slipped outside.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm getting sloppy," he chuckled. His arm was in a cast, his face stitched, and clearly his pride was damaged. "I did come by the NICU to see if you were here though. I heard about all that shit, Rory, I am so sorry."

No one had really spoken to her about any of what happened. The club and the few friends she had knew better than to really push the topic so hearing Parker's words startled and upset her. Suddenly, after working to numb it, things felt startling real and Rory didn't like it.

"Yeah, thanks," she uttered. "So you're back?"

Parker laughed and nodded. "I am. Cleared it with Happy and shit, it's all good."

"I'm shocked he was okay with it."

"Me too but I talked to Zobelle, cleared our names, guess it was a thank you."

Rory's chin wobbled. "About thank yous," she started, "I owe you one. There's so much you coulda gave the cops to get out but you didn't, and that means a lot. Kinda makes it hard to hate you."

"I don't rat," he said with a smile, "But you're welcome. Even after all that shit, you can't hate me just for not ratting?"

"You did some fucked up shit," she gave him a hard stare, "But still. Plus, you were right about Hap. Maybe if I listened to you I could have avoided that shit between us and all this hurt with my family."

Parker shook his head and pulled Rory into a hug. "I was a dick. Sure, Happy was screwing around but I went about it the worst way. I just wanted to win you over."

"It's done," Rory was too tired to fight. "So you're working again?" She had turned as she spoke and opened the door for Parker to join her.

"I am," he gazed at the boy. "He's gorgeous."

"He is," she smiled proudly. "He's gotten so much bigger. They're saying he may get out of here soon." Placing her hand on Asher again, Rory looked back to Parker. "Same shit?"

"Yeah," he cocked his head to the side. "Interested?"

"A little." Rory smirked. "But you fuck anything up or get handsy or smart again, and I'll kill you. I don't plan games anymore, got me?"

"I got you," he said in a dark serious tone. "How's Hap gonna be with it?"

"He let you back in town," she shrugged. "Besides, we're divorced, or getting there."

"What?" Parker was shocked. "Shit, I kind of thought you'd just kick his ass and it would all be okay."

"I'm not saying we're splitting up," she laughed a little, "But we can't be legally married. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that may be part of the problem, even just in our heads."

"Shit," Parker drew his head back. "You really love him, even after all that damage?"

"There's no one I love more, except my kids." Her cheeks flushed as she said it, her voice soft for the first time in a weeks. "He didn't know this was gonna happen, he didn't want it to, and he did everything he could to fix it."

"But when it happened, you didn't know how far it would go." Parker wasn't trying to push her forward but he was truly confused. "Your issue was the sex, this all happened after."

"He's learned," she sighed. "He knew what sex meant to me but he didn't get it. He knows now, he sees first hand." Rory took her hand back and blew her infant son a kiss. "I could be stupid, one of those chicks who just welcomes the cheater back but I really believe he's different after all this, Parker. Besides, he's not the only one who made a shitty call that ended up getting someone hurt." The ordeal with Eric, Johnny and then the fugitive gave Rory much more to think about. She was almost grateful because it helped her realize his innocence in it. They both screwed up but neither of them could be fully blamed and she only knew that from her own experience. "He won't do it again and it'll take work but I want to try. Plus, I've tried," she pushed open the door again, "but I can't stop loving him."