Page 28 of Homecoming

“Let’s get you to bed before you fall asleep standing up again.”

Kara laughed. “I was just thinking about that. It’s your fault for making me so comfy.”

He kept an arm around her as he directed her toward the bedroom.

She sat on the bed while he removed her sneakers. “My hero.”

“Aw, shucks. It’s the least I can do when I’m the one who did this to you.”

“That’s true.”

Smiling, he raised her legs onto the bed and covered her with a soft blanket.

“How’s the motion coming?”

“It’s almost done. Hopefully, we can get a hearing in the next few days.”

“I hate to think about my precious Kirby in jail.”

“He told me to tell you not to worry. They’re treating him well, and he’s coping.”

“He knew I’d be worried about him.”

“Yes, he said that.”

“What’s happening with Keith?”

“I have no idea. Your mom said she’d talk to him and convince him that he needs me, but I don’t see that happening.”

“Someone has to defend him.”

“He’d probably prefer any lawyer off the street to me.”

“Who does he think he’s going to get that’ll be better than you?”

“Aren’t you afraid a comment like that will feed my already out-of-control ego?”

“I’ve given up on trying to control your ego. But honestly, who’s he going to get that’d do a better job than you?”

“I don’t know, but I hope he gets someone who’s dealt with capital offenses before.”

“What does that mean? A capital offense?”

“It’s a term used to describe the most serious of crimes, such as murder, which can result in the death penalty.” He quickly added, “The death penalty was abolished in Maine in 1887, so that’s not in play here. But life in prison with no chance of parolecertainly is. Keith needs an attorney who knows how to navigate those charges.”

The thought of her brothers facing that sort of fate made her feel sicker than she already did.

“Try not to worry,” Dan said, tuning in to her concerns. “There’re miles of road between being charged and getting convicted, and if you ask me, their case is flimsy from what I’ve seen so far. They have one eyewitness who says he saw them with her, and Kirby was in his truck while Keith spoke to her on the sidewalk. They asked if she wanted a ride somewhere, and she said she’d walk. Keith got into Kirby’s car. She was alive when they left.”

“I keep thinking about her. She came for a celebration and ended up dead.”

“I know. It’s very sad. I’ll be interested to read the statements from her friends when they become available. That’ll give me some more information about what went on that night.” He leaned in to kiss her. “Enough about that for now. I’ve got it handled. You need to rest.”

“I hate being tired and nauseated all the time. It makes me feel weak.”

“You’ll be back to full steam as soon as the baby arrives.”

“I hope so.”

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