Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Naturally he would know all the people with money. “Why don’t you get to the point, Todd? I’ve got things to do this afternoon.”
She wouldn’t tell him that she was planning on spending a good portion of her day trying to save the library or that she also planned to do some pro bono arraignments so folks didn’t rot in jail until they could get a judge to hear their pleas. Nor would she mention that she’d overheard a group of citizens discussing what to do with a raccoon once they caught him. Brian the Bandit, as they called him, had been spotted stealing various items out of purses and backpacks at the local park, and there were calls for his immediate apprehension and arrest.
Not like “catch the lil’ guy,” but arrest him. She was pretty sure that had been Ned Travers, who was bitter about his lost wallet that had contained an almost full frequent buyer card. He’d been one punch away from a free frozen yogurt and was certain that was why Brian had taken it.
Todd didn’t need to know any of that.
Todd sighed in that condescending way of his. “Fine. I wanted to inform you that we’ve decided to drop the ethics case against you. The paperwork is being filed as we speak.”
That was a surprise. She and Quaid had been planning to go into New Orleans to meet with her lawyer next week. They were going to stay at his friend’s place and spend the weekend there. She’d been looking forward to the time with him despite the anxiety she had about the case. “Why?”
“Because it does nothing but keep people talking about something we would like to put behind us all.”
Oh, there was something else in there. She could always tell when Todd was holding back on her. “Why, Todd? You know I’m going to do some research and find out.”
One shoulder shrugged. “Fine, because it turns out you were right about the client.”
“You knew I was right about him all along. I showed you the paperwork.” She’d had an ironclad case against the man. Otherwise she wouldn’t have brought it to the partners in the first place.
“Well, now other people have seen it, and apparently it’s not as gray an area as my father thought,” Todd admitted. “It’s pretty black-and-white, and you actually saved the firm a lot of bad press because our name could have been attached to the client. The complaint will go away and all anyone will remember was that the firm did the right thing.”
“You mean I did the right thing,” Jayna countered.
“They probably won’t remember you at all. You know how these things are.”
“You are such an asshole.”
“Perhaps,” Todd allowed. “There are other reasons to drop the complaint. I think it will help us all to move on. And it’s been stressing out my fiancée.”
She huffed, an unamused sound. “You’re already engaged. You’ve moved on.”
“Have I? I suppose so, but in a way I’m merely doing what I’m supposed to do, what my parents want, what my future plans demand. I think you were my rebellion, dear.”
“Rebellion?”
“I was always supposed to marry the right woman, and it was so clear you were wrong,” Todd pointed out. “Oh, you had the right education and you brought something we needed to the firm, but you were far too aggressive to truly fit into our family. You were too career-oriented. It was obvious you wouldn’t be a good mother.”
She hated the fact that he could still hurt her. The words were stinging nettles, pricking and irritating her. “I tried to talk to you about kids. You’re the one who put it off.”
“Because you refused to even think about coming home to raise them, to be a proper wife.” Todd’s hands found Luna’s fur, stroking down her back. “I’m thinking of running for Congress. I couldn’t have some raging careerist at my side. I need to appeal to traditional family values.”
“I think a mom supporting her kids is pretty damn traditional for a whole lot of us. I know my mom did.” Her mom had worked hard. It was one of the reasons she hated the fact that her mom couldn’t see that she did, too. Her mother had taught her the value of having a strong work ethic.
“I saw what your mother was providing. I wouldn’t want any part of it. I truly understand why you never wanted us to visit here. You were ashamed.”
Why should she have been ashamed? Maybe when she’d been younger. This time around, she’d found an odd comfort in the little trailer she’d grown up in. It wasn’t special but it contained a lot of good memories, memories she’d somehow forgotten while trying to climb to the top of the ladder. “I knew how you would react, but you should understand that I’m certainly not ashamed of this town or the way I grew up. I had fun as a kid. I had some big dreams, and I couldn’t fulfill them here. I think you were my rebellion, too. My mom and I had a rough go of it, and I knew you, in particular, would infuriate her.”