Passion in James County XV: Ben and Nancy
Nancy monopolized the conversation as she drove to Ben's apartment. She prattled about her daughter, her work, everything but what he wanted to talk about. When they got to his apartment he asked her if she could come in for a few minutes.
Nancy was delighted by Ben's invitation, but wasn't sure what to do. She wanted to go in, but was frightened to. "Ben, I...I really should get back to the hospital," she said. "Dawn must be wondering what happened to me. I...I've been gone pretty long and..."
"Nancy, don't do this. I think we have something to talk about, don't you?" he said. "I mean, here you are, turning up in my life after all these years, and...well..."
Nancy nodded. "Yes," she agreed, "You...you're right. I...I guess it won't hurt anything if I come in for a few minutes. I...I guess I was babbling because I...I didn't want to talk about it in the car."
"All right," Ben said.
They got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk to his apartment building. He wondered what happened to all the spectators who'd seen him hauled away by the cops early that morning. He unlocked the door and they went inside and he was surprised how little damage the sheriff's deputies had done during their search. There were few obvious signs that anyone had been through the apartment.
"Would...would you like a cup of coffee?" he asked Nancy.
"I'd love some, Ben," Nancy said. She sat down at the kitchen table while he made a pot of coffee.
When the coffee was done, Ben filled two cups and took them to the table. After putting the cups down, he sat down across the table from Nancy.
"Nancy I don't understand why you did what you did?" he asked her. "You...you haven't seen me in five years and you...you lied for me. If the police find out, you...you could go to jail for perjury."
"I know you didn't attack Trish," Nancy replied. "I...I couldn't let you go to jail for something you didn't do."
"But how do you know I didn't do it?" Ben asked. He was more than a little confused. Seeing her again was bringing back all kinds of memories, and the feelings that went with those memories. On top of that, he found the risk she'd taken for him, and the faith she had in him, astonishing.
"I know you didn't do it because I know you," Nancy replied.
Ben took a sip of his coffee, then he took a deep breath. "You have a right to know who...who was here last night," he said.
Nancy shook her head. "I don't care who it was. It's none of my business," she said. In point of fact, she was so angry with the woman that if she knew her identity, she wasn't sure she'd be able to keep from doing her harm.
Ben was no less confused than he'd been when she surprised him at the jail by claiming she and he were lovers and had been together when the crime occurred. "Nancy, I...I don't understand why you're doing this," he said, "I mean, I..."
Nancy took a sip of her coffee, then she put the cup down on the table and held it with both hands. "Ben, five years ago, I needed someone desperately one night and you were there for me then," she said softly. "How could I not be there for you when you needed me?"
"But Nancy, the risk you took it isn't worth it," Ben said. "You could go to jail if they find out you're lying to protect me."
"What difference does it make?" Nancy asked. "What's done is done. Besides, I'm sure Trish will wake up in a few days and tell the police who really hurt her. Nobody, except you and me, will ever know what I did." She drank some more of her coffee, set the cup down and gazed across the table at Ben. She still wanted to take him in her arms, so much so that there was an ache inside her.
"That lawyer, Will, I think he knows you were lying," Ben said.
Nancy nodded. "I'm sure he suspects that I lied," she said. "But he can't prove it any more than the police can. And he has less reason to prove that I'm lying than they do, so I doubt he'll try."
"I guess not," Ben replied.