Tennessee Whiskey

Chapter 2-Evan

Chapter 2

Evan

I’m sitting in my home office, working, when my phone rings. I see it’s my old friend Logan. I know when he calls that it has something to do with the mission that our friend Ashton and his wife Izzy run. I answer on the second ring. “Hello Logan. What’s up?” I ask. “Hey Evan. I need a favor.” He tells me. “What can I help you with?” I ask. “You know I’ve been helping at the mission. Well, there’s a new resident there. I have my fiancé; Lori is on the call with us, so I’ll let her tell you about the favor.” He says. Fiancé? I didn’t even know he was seeing anyone. “Hi Evan.” She says softly. “Hello Lori. What can I do to help?” I ask. “We were there this morning, and I saw a girl there named Mary. She was sitting in the kitchen, and I started talking to her. She’s seventeen and ran away from home. According to her, her mom is an addict and was using her to pay her dealer for her drugs. Logan is filing a restraining order for her, and we know she will have to be at the hearing to give her statement, but we were wondering if she could give her statement in your chambers so that she doesn’t have to face her mom.” She asks. “I don’t see that being a problem.” I tell him. “Would it be possible for me and Izzy Montgomery to be there with her to make sure she’s comfortable?” she asks. “Absolutely. I know it’s going to be hard on her so if you two being there makes her more comfortable then by all means. I know Logan will be there as her attorney. Will she need to be emancipated or is someone taking custody of her?” I ask. “She turns eighteen on Sunday so there’s not really any need.” Logan says. “Okay. Good. File the paperwork and have her served and we will get her scheduled as soon as possible.” I say before ending the call.

After getting off the phone with Logan, I walk over to my wet bar and pour two fingers of whiskey. I sit back down at my desk and lean back in my chair, sipping my whiskey. Engaged. Ashton is married and now Logan is engaged. That leaves just me. All I have going for me is my career. I want what they have. I want a wife and kids. Growing up the way I did, a family was something I never had. Mom and Dad died when I was eighteen and so all it’s been is me and my housekeeper, Jane. If it weren’t for her, I would starve. I down the rest of my drink before heading to shower and head for bed.

The next morning, I have court. I’m sitting in my place and hearing an attorney try to justify why his client should have custody of his daughter when there’s been multiple reports of abuse to her and the mother. “Enough.” I say loudly and everyone gets quiet. “Mr. Masters, there have been more than a couple of reports of abuse where either Miss Lucci or the child were hospitalized. I don’t need to hear anything else. Full custody of the minor child will stay with Miss Lucci. I am also issuing a restraining order. You are no longer to have any contact with Miss Lucci or your child.” I state and bang my gavel to end the hearing.

I go to my chambers and take off my robe. I sit at my desk and text Rico to handle Mr. Masters so that Miss Lucci and their daughter don’t have to worry about him anymore. How could a man hurt his wife and kid? I’m ready to settle down and have a family and that piece of s**t abuses his. I’m lost in my thoughts when my phone rings and I see its Logan. “How can I help you, Logan?” I ask as I lean back in my chair. “Hey man. I got Mary’s mom served and it’s on the docket for you for Monday. But I was wondering if you could come here to let Mary give her statement. She’s kind of freaking out that she’s still going to run into her mom.” He tells me. “Is she scared her mom will do something?” I ask. “I think she’s scared her mom will try to take her back home.” He tells me. “Let her know I’ll be there in an hour. We can do the interview there.” I tell him and we end the call.

An hour later, I’m pulling onto the parking lot and as I’m getting out of my car, I see Izzy getting out of hers. “Hey Evan.” She says. “Hey Izzy. Are you here for Mary?” I ask. “Yeah. She’s going to need all the support she can get.” She tells me. “Anything I should know before going in?” I ask. “I know I don’t have to tell you how hard this is going to be with everything going on in her head, but we have her doing two sessions a day with Kathy right now and Susan said she has a deep bruise on her face that is going to take some time to heal. She’s moving around fine, but you can still see the bruises on her face and throat.” She tells me. “s**t. Okay. Let’s get this done. I don’t want her stressing more than she needs to.” I tell her and we head inside.

We walk into the kitchen, and I see two women sitting at the table and Izzy walks over to them. Logan walks up and says “Thanks for doing this. She’s worried about running into her mom.” He tells me. “That’s fine. She needs to be as comfortable as possible answering these questions.” I tell him. We head over to the table and Logan introduces us. I look at Mary and even with the bruises, she’s breathtaking. Absolutely perfect and I feel this need to keep her close and protect her. I take a seat and start asking her about herself and her mom. She tells me about her being r***d and she says that she turns eighteen in just a couple of days. She will be eighteen when her mom will be coming in front of me in my courtroom. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Your mom is going to come before me on Monday to tell her side of the story but that’s just a technicality. I’m granting the restraining order.” I tell her and she thanks me.

After getting what I need, I see all three women look at me and Mary shakes her head, and she starts to sob against Izzy’s shoulder. “You okay?” Logan asks. “Yeah.” I say. “You know she turns eighteen on Sunday. We’re throwing her a small birthday party. Just Lori and myself, Ashton and Izzy if you want to join us.” He tells me. I take my eyes from the broken beauty across the room and look at one of my best friends. “I’ll be here.” I tell him before he walks me out. “I know that look you had back there.” He tells me. “You know how I feel about anyone hurting women.” I tell him. “I know but that’s not the look I’m talking about. You had that same look I had when I first saw Lori. Just be patient with her. Lori said she’s going to feel like no one’s going to want her. She’s going to be feeling a lot of negative s**t so be prepared.” He tells me. “I might call Kathy and see how to help her.” I tell him. “That would be a good idea. It’s what I did with Lori.” He tells me. “And it helped?” I ask. “More than you know.” He tells me.

I’m sitting at home on Saturday morning, trying to figure out what to get Mary for her birthday when I get a text from Logan. She likes to draw. We got her art supplies. I smile before pulling up my contacts and calling a professor that owes me a favor. “Hello Evan. What can I do for you?” Charlie asks. “Charlie, I need to cash in that favor you owe me.” I tell him. “Okay. What can I do for you?” he asks again. “Are you still teaching that art class at the local college?” I ask. “I am. Are you finally getting back into drawing again?” he asks. “I am but it’s not just for me. I have a friend whose birthday is tomorrow, and I want to gift her with art classes for the two of us. Can you make that happen?” I ask. “Give me just a minute. What’s her name?” he asks. “Mary Carter.” I tell him and he says, “Check your email.” I pull up my email and say “Thanks man. I appreciate this.” I tell him. “No problem. This woman must be something special if she’s getting you back into drawing.” He tells me. “She doesn’t know I draw. But, yeah, she’s f*****g perfect man.” I tell him. “Good. I can’t wait to meet her. Let me know if you need anything else.” He tells me before ending the call. I print the info and put it in an envelope.

The next day, I pull up at the mission and see that everyone else is here too. We all walk in together and into the kitchen where she’s sitting and drawing. She looks up and we all say, “Happy birthday.” She smiles softly and her eyes are tearing up. “I’ve never had a birthday party before.” She says. “We are totally changing that. You’re family now.” Izzy tells her. They all hug her, and she smiles softly at me, and I smile back. She opens her gift from Izzy and Ashton and it’s a beautiful cardigan that they got her to symbolize a fresh start, and she loves it. Then she opens the gift from Lori and Logan and sees its art supplies. “Thank you, guys. You didn’t have to do this.” She says. “There’s one more.” I tell her and hand her the envelope. She opens it and looks confused for a second before it hits her what this gift is. “What is it?” Lori asks. “Two spots for art classes at the local college.” She says softly and looks at me. “I thought we could take the class together. I do a little drawing myself.” I tell her and she smiles and says, “I’d like that.” And I can’t help but smile wide.

We’re all eating cake and I’m over to the side with Ashton and Logan while the girls are talking. “Art classes for two?” Ashton asks. “I didn’t think she’d want to take them alone.” I tell them. “Sure. That’s why.” Ashton says. “Look man, we’ve all looked at our women the way you’re looking at her. But tread lightly. She’s been through hell and back.” Logan says. “I know. I want her to be comfortable around me.” I tell them and they both nod as we watch the girls smiling and laughing.

That evening, I’m sitting at home, in my office, enjoying a drink when my phone rings. “Hey Logan. What’s up?” I ask. “Lori wants to talk to you.” He says. “Okay?” I ask confused. “Hey Evan.” She says. “Hey Lori. What can I do for you?” I ask. “What are your intentions with Mary?” she asks, and I smile, hearing how protective she is already of her. “I have good intentions. I want what you and Logan have. What Izzy and Ashton have. I’m ready to settle down and just one look at Mary and all I want to do is hold her and protect her.” I tell her. “Good. So, when you want to spend time with her, Logan and I will hang out with you guys to help her get used to being around you but, Evan, I’ve been where she is. She thinks she’s damaged. She told Izzy that you could have any woman you wanted and that you wouldn’t look twice at her because she’s just a stupid kid and is damaged.” She tells me. “You’ll help me?” I ask. “Of course.” She says. “Thank you, guys. But she’s not a stupid kid or damaged. She’s someone who’s never had anyone on her side until now.” I tell her. “And that’s why you’re the perfect one for her. We’re going in the morning to spend some time with her. Can you meet us there at ten? She will be done with her morning session with Kathy by then.” She tells me. “I will be there.” I tell her before ending the call.

I pull up Kathy’s contact in my phone and when she greets me, I ask “How do I help Mary?” I hear her sigh and ask, “What capacity are we talking about?” I lean back in my chair and say “I want her to get comfortable being around me. I want what Logan and Ashton have, and Mary is it.” I tell her. “Evan, this isn’t something that should be taken lightly and you calling me to ask about it, tells me that you understand that. The only thing you can do is make sure she sees that you won’t hurt her. She trusts Izzy and Lori so start by spending time with her and them, all as a group. She’s got a lot of negative comments stuck in her head. I’ve assigned her to say positive things in her mirror every morning and night but hearing someone else say it might help. But don’t push her. If you see things are getting to be too much or overwhelming her, back off some. If she will let you hold her hand, then do that and rub your thumb in small circles on the inside of her wrist. That small motion helps calm a person down. It makes them concentrate on that sensation as opposed to what is overwhelming them.” She tells me. “That’s great, Kathy. Thank you. That helps a lot.” I tell her and we end the call. I spend the rest of the evening just thinking about things.

A little later, my phone rings and it’s Ashton. I answer the call, and he asks, “Have you spoken to Kathy?” he asks. “Just a little while ago. She was giving me some input on how to help Mary get comfortable around me. Why?” I ask. “I was talking to Izzy and when you were there the other day getting her statement, she asked Izzy and Lori if you were mad at her. She thought you were mad at her, but the girls told her that you were just mad at what happened to her but that you weren’t mad at her.” He tells me. “Tell Izzy thank you for that. I don’t understand how she could think I was mad at her?” I ask. “Izzy thinks it’s because she thinks that everything is her fault. We’ve told her it wasn’t but just keep that in mind when it comes to her. It’s not going to be an easy road but if you feel about her the way I do about Izzy, I know she’s worth it.” He says. “She is man. Seeing you and Logan both settling down and starting families, makes me want that but seeing her, meeting her, I want that with her.” I tell him. “Then we’re all here to help.” He tells me before we end the call. It feels good having my friends on my side.

The next day, we are walking into the mission in search of Mary. We see her sitting on the couch in the sitting room and she’s looking at her hands and wiping away a tear. Logan and I stay back while Lori walks closer and sits on the couch with her. After a few minutes, Lori motions us over and Logan sits down on the couch next to Lori and I take the coffee table in front of Mary. “Are you okay?” I ask. She shakes her head no and says “Rough session. Trying to work through some things.” She tells me. I reach over and take her hand, and she doesn’t pull away. “You know we’re here, right?” I ask and she nods her head yes. “You know, when I was eighteen, both of my parents died. They weren’t the best parents, and I felt so much guilt because I wasn’t upset when they died. My dad beat me and mom, well, she was her own kind of monster. She would threaten to sell me to the highest bidder for the night when she would get upset with me. We all have our demons. But you’re a strong woman. You got yourself out of your hell. No one else did that for you. Just you. You are a warrior and one that we are all proud to be allowed to know.” I tell her and she looks at me and I see her sit up a little straighter, but she doesn’t let go of my hand.

We sit and talk for a little longer and by the time we are leaving, she’s smiling and seems that some of the light in her eyes is coming back. “Will you come back another day?” she asks. “I’d like to but only if you’re okay with that.” I tell her. “I’d like that.” She tells me. “I have court in an hour. How about I come by after court closes and bring us dinner?” I ask. “I’d like that too.” She tells me and I tell her that I will see her soon.

I am sitting in my place in the courtroom and Mary’s mother comes in front of me. “Lana Carter. It is being requested that I grant a restraining order against you regarding your daughter, Mary Carter.” I read it off the docket. “That is correct.” She says. “According to your daughter, you are verbally and mentally abusive and allowing her to be abused by others. Do you have anything to say about that?” I ask. “Obviously it’s a lie, your honor. She’s not even here to defend herself.” She says. “Her lawyer is here to represent her, and I already have her statement on the matter. Is there anything else you would like to say?” I ask. “I did what I thought was best for her and she’s just ungrateful.” I look at Lana Carter and decide my course of action. “I am approving the restraining order, and it will remain in effect until Mary Carter tells us different. As for you, Ms. Carter, I think we might go a different route with you. I am sentencing you to one year in a rehab facility in Oregon. There will be no contact with your daughter. I am sending you to rehab instead of jail to give you a chance to get sober and stay sober so that if your daughter ever does change her mind about being around you, there will be a chance that you will be sober. However, for this deal, there are a few stipulations.” I tell her and she nods that she’s listening. “One, there will be no contact of any kind with your daughter. Two, you will remain in rehab for the full 365 days. If you are found to be using while you are in rehab, or you leave, no matter if it’s voluntary or involuntary, you will spend the next five years in jail.” I tell her. She looks at me defeated and says, “Of course your honor.” I sit back and say “One more thing. I’m going to need you to tell me the name of your dealer.” I tell her and she looks at me confused and so does Logan. “His name is Rob Mikelson.” She tells me. I write down his name and then tell her “I have an officer and social worker that will escort you to your home and they will deliver you to the rehab themselves to make sure you keep to your end of the deal.” I tell her and she nods.

After court, it’s still early in the afternoon and I have one more case to hear and Logan comes in. “Rehab?” he asks. “She will be there for a year so that gives Mary a year to concentrate on healing without her mom’s interference and it got me the name of her dealer.” I tell him and he smirks. “Want me to get that name to Rico?” he asks. “Yeah. Just tell him to keep him comfortable until I get there. I have dinner plans so it will be after that.” I tell him. “Dinner plans?” he asks, confused. “I’m picking up dinner for Mary and myself.” I tell him. “Good. She’ll like that.” He tells me and I nod. I go back to the courtroom and hear another case before making my judgement but all I can think about is seeing Mary again. I finish out the day, put the files I need into my briefcase and head out the door to pick up dinner.

I opt for southern comfort food of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and slaw. I head into the mission to hear someone screaming and something tells me it’s Mary. I rush towards her dorm behind Kathy and Susan. We rush to Mary’s room and she’s on the bed, appears to be sleeping and I tell them to stay back. I walk over to her and sit on the side of the bed and lean down next to her ear. “Mary, honey, come back to me. It’s Evan. I need you to come back to me, please.” I whisper and her eyes flutter open, and she sees me there and raises up, scoots back against the headboard and pulls her knees to her chest and won’t look me in the eye. I lightly grab her ankle and start rubbing circles on her ankle. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She sobs. I move to sit next to her and lightly brush my fingers up and down her arm. “You have nothing to be sorry about. It was just a nightmare. Do you want to talk about it?” I ask. “I was dreaming about the night I left my mom’s.” she tells me. I cup her chin and tilt her head up to look at me. “Mary, honey, look at me please.” I say softly and she looks up at me. “It was just a dream. Nothing like that will ever happen to you again. You have my word.” I tell her. “How do you know?” she asks. “Because you have me, Logan, Ashton, Izzy and Lori to stand by your side to make sure it doesn’t.” I tell her. I point towards the food on the dresser and say “I brought dinner. You feel like eating?” I ask and she nods her head yes. “Do you want to eat in here?” I ask and she nods her head yes again. I move to get our food and drinks and move to the bed and ask, “Can I sit next to you?” She nods her head yes again and I sit next to her and get out our food.

While we eat, she’s quiet, so I start talking. “Your mom was in court today.” I say and she stiffens. “I told her I was granting the restraining order.” I tell her. “Thank you.” She whispers. “I found a way to make sure she leaves you alone.” I tell her and she looks at me confused. “I found a rehab in Oregon. She will be there, getting sober, for a year. If she’s found using or she leaves before the year is up, she goes to jail.” I tell her. “Evan…I don’t know what to say.” She says. “You don’t have to say anything. This way, you don’t have to worry about running into her and it gives you a year to concentrate on healing. And later on, if you ever decide to reach out to her, she will have a better chance of being sober.” I tell her. “You did that for me?” she asks. “I’d do anything for you. Anything to protect you.” I tell her.

After we eat, she lays her head on my shoulder, and I kiss the top of her head. “Tell me something about you, Evan.” She says. I think for a minute and say “I told you about my parents. How shitty they were. But I didn’t tell you the worst of it. I was probably eight years old, and my baby sister was only a couple of months old. Mom and dad were fighting again, and Lainy started crying. They were so loud. Dad starts screaming at Lainy and mom starts screaming at him. He picked her up and started shaking her. He shook her so hard it broke her neck. We buried her a few days later. Dad knew someone who made sure they didn’t get charged.” I tell her. “Is that why you were mad, hearing what happened to me?” she asks. “Yes. Women and kids should never be hurt like that. It’s why I became a judge. So that I could put the bad guy where he belongs.” I tell her. “I thought you were mad at me.” She whispers. I tilt her face to look at me and say, “There’s nothing you could say or do that would make me mad at you.” She nods and lays her head down on my shoulder.