I was not expecting to see a familiar face on the other side of the table. “Leigh,” I said and choked on a sob. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, please don’t cry. I’m not allowed to hug you and it’s breaking my heart,” she pleaded.
I raised my cuffed hands and tried to wipe the tears away. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to stop crying.”
“It may not seem like it right now, but everything’s going to be okay,” she said confidently.
“How can you say that? They think I murdered someone.”
“I can say it because I know it’s not true,” she said simply.
I also knew it wasn’t true, but I certainly did not think everything was going to be okay. “Why didn’t Jonah come to visit?” I asked and hated how pathetic I sounded.
“You’re not allowed to have regular visitors right now. Only your lawyer and your minister can see you.”
My forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Which one are you?”
Leigh laughed. “It’s an interesting story I’ll be happy to share with you some time, but I’m your minister.”
“I tried to call Jonah,” I whispered.
“He knows, honey. He left his phone at the office and was beyond upset when he heard what happened to you. Your brother and some of the Croftridge club are here, too, but I thought it would do you some good to see a friendly face.”
“It has. I’m so glad you came. I don’t know what to do,” I confessed and started to cry again.
“You’re going to dig deep and find the strength to get through the next few days. I called an old friend, who’s a judge, and he’s agreed to take your case. Hopefully, the lawyer can get a bond hearing scheduled in a day or two. As soon as that happens, we’ll post your bail and bring you home,” Leigh promised.
“I’m going to lose my job.”
“When are you scheduled to work again?”
“Tonight. Then, Wednesday and Thursday.”
“I’ll talk to Kennedy and see what we need to do. Maybe you’ll only have to miss tonight.”
I was already shaking my head. “They won’t let me come back to work until I’m cleared of all charges. I will also have to be cleared by the nursing board. Not only do they think I killed someone, they think I did it with drugs I stole from the hospital.”
“I know it seems like the end of the world right now, but I promise you it’s not. You’ve got a whole lot of people who love you and are doing everything in their power to make this right for you.”
I nodded and sniffled. “I just can’t believe this is happening to me,” I blurted and then I was consumed with anger. “I knew coming back to Devil Springs was a bad idea. I knew it with every fiber of my being. But, I’ve always tried to do what was right, and that meant fulfilling the contract I signed with the nursing agency.” I shook my head and laughed derisively. “I didn’t want to risk my career by breaking the contract, so I took the high road. But, no one told me the high road ended with me in jail and my career in the toilet. I worked so hard to get out of this place and away from my mother only to end up rotting away here.”
Leigh remained silent while I had my meltdown. Finally, she said, “A bit of anger’s good for you. It’ll help you get through the next few days. But, you will not rot away in here; that I can promise you.”
“I hope you’re right,” I whispered.
After that, Leigh stayed with me until my lawyer arrived. “You keep your head up, honey. I’ll come see you tomorrow if you’re not out.”
“Thank you, Leigh. I can’t tell you how much your visit helped me,” I said honestly.
“Anytime, honey. You’re family.” When I opened my mouth to correct her, she shushed me and winked. “You will be.”
As soon as Leigh exited, a petite woman wearing a perfectly tailored business suit entered the room. She couldn’t possibly be my lawyer; she looked like she was a few years younger than me.
She took a seat and introduced herself. “Hello, River. I’m Tina Rivera, your attorney,” she said and extended her hand.
I awkwardly extended my cuffed hands and attempted to shake hers. “How old are you?” I blurted and then gasped. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
She laughed. “It’s okay; I’m used to it. I’m thirty-two and have been practicing law for six years.”