Cop a plea, p.1
Cop a Plea, page 1
Cop A Plea
Hilary Grossman
Copyright © 2022 by Hilary Grossman
Edited by Christina Boyd
Cover Design by Hilary Grossman
Published by Hilary Grossman
* * *
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.
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Contents
Also by Hilary Grossman
1. Waverly
2. Waverly
3. Pete
4. Pete
5. Waverly
6. Waverly
7. Waverly
8. Waverly
9. Waverly
10. Waverly
11. Waverly
12. Waverly
13. Waverly
14. Waverly
15. Waverly
16. Waverly
17. Waverly
18. Pete
19. Waverly
20. Waverly
21. Pete
22. Waverly
23. Pete
24. Waverly
25. Pete
26. Waverly
27. Waverly
28. Pete
29. Waverly
30. Pete
31. Waverly
32. Pete
33. Waverly
34. Pete
35. Waverly
36. Pete
37. Pete
38. Waverly
39. Pete
40. Waverly
41. Pete
42. Waverly
43. Waverly
44. Pete
45. Waverly
46. Waverly
47. Pete
48. MOM COM
About the Author
Also by Hilary Grossman
I Can’t Stop Loving You RomComs Series
Cop An Attitude
Cop A Plea
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Forest River PTA Mom Series
Go On, Girl
Mom Genes
Mom Boss
Mom Rules
Mom Wars
Mom Com
* * *
Charity Anthology
Heroes With Heat & Heart
* * *
Secrets, Lies, and Second Chances Series
Plan Bea
Plan Cee
* * *
RomCom Memoir
Dangled Carat
You can do anything as long as you
don't stop believing.
When it is meant to be, it will be.
You just have to follow your heart.
* * *
–Keke Palmer
Waverly
one
DECEMBER
* * *
Thank god I have a lead foot!
Who would have thought a late-night traffic stop—when I exceeded the speed limit by a whopping eight miles per hour—would set off a chain of events, changing my life forever? Certainly not me!
I never thought I could be this deliriously happy. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had let my guard down sooner. But even if I could rewrite history and make different choices, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve learned the hard way how each moment of our past teaches us something valuable and, hopefully, propels us to a brighter future.
But still! It boggled my mind what a difference a year could make.
And these last couple of days had been perfect. Not quite Norman Rockwell-perfect, but close enough for my family. For the first time in many years, instead of trekking to South Carolina, my mom, my sister, and her family celebrated Christmas in New York with me. Bringing my family and Pete’s family together for our first holiday as a married couple in our new home was a success. Everyone played nice, which was the real Christmas gift.
And I had reason to be concerned. My mom was troubled by the stories I had shared about how unwelcoming Pete’s mother had been to me. And Pete’s mom, Karen, could freeze anyone out. I was quite pleased the two women had hit it off.
Always the wild card, my narcissistic sister was on her best behavior. Instead of making every conversation about herself, she tried to be complimentary. Like when she said to Pete, “I never thought I’d be an aunt, but after seeing how handsome you are, it’s not that difficult a premise.”
While annoying, Merritt was entertaining in small doses. Fortunately, South Carolina was far enough away to limit our face-to-face time. One thing even my sister couldn’t spin was how lovely our new home was.
Pete and I sold our old houses and jointly bought a bigger one on a large parcel of land in the same town. We had only moved in the month before, and since we had some renovations planned, we held off on fully furnishing the place. Still, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, or so everyone said. But I won’t lie. As much as I enjoyed spending time with our families, I was glad when everyone finally left because I craved some alone time with my hunky husband.
I poked my head into my snoring five-year-old stepdaughter’s bedroom and grinned. The little party animal practically fell asleep face-first in her strawberry shortcake. The cousins—old and new—exhausted her. Even asleep, she looked adorable cuddled with my rescued cat, Mittens. I closed her door and walked to the staircase, pausing when I heard a woman’s voice.
Karen! She’s back?
She let out a deep sigh, and I cringed. I swear my mother-in-law was incapable of beginning a sentence without a loud exhalation as if she felt the weight of the world hung on her next word. Beyond annoying was the permanent scowl plastered on the woman’s face.
“Peter, I’m extremely worried about you and Clara,” Karen said. “I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. It’s apparent you haven’t been thinking with your right head! It’s been a struggle, but somehow, I’ve managed to hold my tongue, but I can’t remain silent forever. Especially now! Don’t you think this new development is a bit rushed?”
New development?
What is wrong with her? Why couldn’t she be happy for us? It hurt me to realize she couldn’t express a smidge of excitement. Aren’t babies, especially grandbabies, supposed to be joyous news?
“Wow. Interesting choice of words, Mom.”
She exhaled loudly as if she was a hostage negotiator struggling to find the right words to save all humanity.
“Don’t give me that look, Peter. You know exactly what I mean. It’s all so…fast.”
“No,” Pete said firmly. “If anything, it’s not fast enough. I couldn’t be happier.”
The pleasure in his voice was unmistakable and made me feel better. His opinion was all that mattered. I was crazy about the guy.
Will he finally believe me when I say his mother still harbors ill will toward me?
“How can you say that with such conviction?” she spat back. “You knew Waverly for like five minutes before you dropped down to one knee like a starstruck fool. I know it was hard on you and Clara to lose Caroline, and you were lonely, but—”
“Don’t even go there.” I can picture his navy-blue eyes blazing as he cut off his mother. “Caroline doesn’t belong in this conversation. She died four years ago, Mom. And I’ve known Waverly since we were Clara’s age.”
Pete and I had met in kindergarten, but we were far from high school sweethearts. I practically ruined his life in elementary school. My charismatic, muscular, six-foot-two police officer husband used to be the shyest, scrawniest, most awkward kid in our class. And I was the wise-cracking queen of the school.
Flashback to first grade: one afternoon at recess, Pete was on the monkey bars, and his pants slipped down. I spotted what lurked underneath his loose Spiderman Underoos and combined the P in “Peter” with his last name “Ennis.” I yelled out my discovery, and the nickname “Penis” stuck with him throughout high school; he was bullied and teased a lot.
The guilt I felt for the instrumental part I played during his rough childhood and adolescence was monumental. Though he forgave me, his mom still held me accountable for his social struggles.
Karen snorted. “You can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me. I was there, remember? You didn’t know her! Don’t let your unrequited adolescent crush cloud your judgment or your memories. The girl never gave you the time of day! She was too busy with all her cool, cruel friends.”
Bitch!
“Well, times have changed, Mom. Now Waverly gives me everything I need.”
Game on.
Waverly
two
Fueled by Pete’s love, I strolled into the living room, smiling.
“Come here, you.” Pete grabbed my waist and pulled me to his lap. I kissed him tenderly.
“Hi, Karen,” I said. I could have won an Academy Award for keeping the frustration out of my voice. “I’m surprised to see you back here. Is everything okay?”
Pete wrapped his arm around me tighter, and Karen sighed loudly, ignoring my question. “There you go again, pawing each other.” She shook her head and made a clucking sound as she wrapped her salmon-colored Lilly Pulitzer cardigan around her chest as if the room’s temperature suddenly plunged. “I don’t
“Oh, don’t be jealous, Mom.” Mischief flashed in Pete’s eyes. “I’d be happy to offer some words of encouragement to Dad if needed in that department.”
Her cheeks reddened. “Don’t be fresh.”
“Speaking of William, where is he?” I asked. Peter and his mother exchanged an odd glance.
My mother-in-law sighed again. “We were practically at the parkway when the ricotta cheesecake you made tonight kicked in.” She placed her hand over her heart. “It was a minor miracle we got here in time. You do know William’s lactose intolerant, don’t you?”
“What?” I gasped. “I had no idea.” I scooted off Pete’s lap and sat next to him on the sofa. “Did you know?” I had made the cheesecake at his urging. He told me his dad would go crazy for my grandma’s recipe, which he did. William ate three humongous slices!
Pete wrinkled his face. “Yeah, sorry. I know it’s his favorite. I thought he’d be able to exert more self-control, though.”
I punched him gently in the side. “You are the worst.”
Karen gave me the side-eye. I refrained from commenting that they probably passed at least a dozen fast-food restaurants and gas stations where he could have relieved himself. Instead, I focused on how uncomfortable William must have been. Unlike my feelings for his mom, I adored Pete’s dad. From the instant I met him, he made me feel welcome. Also, spending time with him helped ease some of the longings I had for my father, who passed away suddenly before my sophomore year in college.
Then she said, “Nancy was lucky. She took after me and escaped the curse. All the Ennis men have suffered tummy issues. Billy and Peter outgrew their issues, thank goodness. But William, not so much.” She exhaled dramatically, placing her hand on her chest. “I remember it like it was yesterday. My poor Peter was in fifth grade, and we discovered how gassy raisins made him. Pete, do you remember how cruel the kids—”
“Stop,” William said as he entered the room. “Don’t go embarrassing him again, Karen.” Pete’s father looked pale and shaky as he placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” I stepped closer to him.
The older man put his arm around my waist. “Much better now, thanks.” He kissed the top of my head, then he grimaced. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be silly! I’m the one who should apologize.”
“Nonsense.” Then with the same devilish grin his son always used, William added, “If you need to ease your conscience a bit, I’d be happy to take more of that cheesecake off your hands for later.”
“William!” Karen exclaimed as her eyes practically popped out of her head. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I’m only kidding, honey.” Then he whispered into my ear, “Not.”
“You’re terrible,” I whispered back as I nudged his side. Then louder, I said, “Seriously, can I get you anything? A cup of peppermint tea, perhaps?”
“No, dear. The only thing I need is to get out of your hair. I feel horrible enough coming back here. If I were driving, I would have just stopped off someplace else, but Karen was a woman on a mission.”
You can say that again!
“William,” she admonished as she pursed her lips.
“Are you ready?” he asked his wife, picking up the car keys from the coffee table. “This time, I’ll drive.” He faced his son and winked. “It’s time for the outlaws to go home. These kids need to enjoy some time alone. Before they turn around, the baby will be here, and they won’t get a minute’s peace.” He squeezed my arm. “I’m so happy for you. Your surprise announcement tonight was the best Christmas present we could have wished for. We’re so excited to become grandparents again, isn’t that right, Karen?”
“Yes. Of course. I practically said the same exact words to Peter a few minutes ago.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
My mother-in-law sighed for the millionth time this evening. I swear, if we were playing a drinking game, taking a sip whenever she sighed, we’d all be passed out, drooling on the floor. “I was a little surprised when I heard, though. I had no idea you were trying,” Karen said.
Sorry, next time we have sex, should we send out a memo?
Pete looked at me with pure love in his eyes. “We weren’t trying, but we definitely weren’t not trying either.” His mother turned fifty shades of pink.
Pete and I were rapidly approaching forty, although his birthday was eight months earlier than mine. My doctor warned that if we wanted kids, it would probably take us a while to conceive. He couldn’t have been more wrong. I guess acting like two sex-crazed teenagers had more than one perk.
“Thank you very much for the visual,” Karen said. She looked like she bit into a whole lemon. She looked me square on and let out another deep breath. “We know already how wonderful a father my Peter is. I guess I’m just shocked you’re ready for such a big change in your life, Waverly. You’re so career-driven. You work so hard all the time. Motherhood is the last thing in the world I’d expect you’d want.”
“Really? Even though you know how close Clara and I are?”
Karen lifted her shoulders.
“Yes, I love my job, but I love the life Pete and I have built together more. Thanks to your son, I realize what is truly important in life.”
Pete
Three
“Are you okay?” I asked my wife as soon as my parents left our place for the second, and hopefully final time this evening.
“Yup. I’m fine and dandy,” she said. It was clear by her tone that she was anything but okay. She didn’t even try to hide the hurt.
Before I could reply, Waverly stomped into the kitchen as if she was taking her frustrations out on our ceramic floor. Good thing we planned on eventually replacing the tile next winter.
Of course, I followed her. She pulled out a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator. “Crap,” she muttered as she returned it to the shelf. She then picked up the pitcher of iced tea instead.
When I took the glass container from her hands, I saw her blink back tears. She pulled out two glasses from the cabinet above the sink before sitting opposite me at the table.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
She removed the rubber band from her bun and let her hair cascade down her back, just the way I like. “Why are you apologizing?”
“My mom was completely out of line commenting on your job, especially since she’s seen you in action with Clara a million times.”
“Thanks,” she said faintly. “Of all the snide remarks she made tonight, that one bothered me the least.”
I arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” And what did I miss?
She bit her lip, and I waited. I’d bet she was deciding how much she should share. It killed me how she worried so much about letting her vulnerable side show, especially with me. I understood where she was coming from, though. She foolishly believed she had to put on a brave face most of her life. But she had me. I’d do anything for her.
After her dad passed away, she experienced so much unjustified guilt. Her already spoiled younger sister had a tough time coping. Waverly refused to burden her mother more by sharing her struggles. Rather than confide in anyone, she buried her emotions, throwing herself first into her studies and then into her career. While she is probably the strongest, most confident woman I’d ever met, she still wasn’t made of steel.
