19. HAYLEY
Chapter nineteen
HAYLEY
"Old Man Charles let his cows run on my farm, I heard there's something you can do about it!"
"The cheating skunk told me he would pay 16,000 dollars. He only paid five thousand, I want my money!"
"I'm planning on diverting the water to my farm. Is there something you can do for me?"
"How much do you charge, Beatrice said you can help collect compensation from tourists that destroy my property?"
Word quickly spreads across town about my law firm, and since I'm able to solve 90% of the cases, suddenly, I'm getting clients back-to-back.
Of course, I'm happy.
It's exhilarating just thinking about how quickly everything is changing.
The cases I'm dealing with are a far cry from what I used to do back in the city. But – I don't hate it.
As soon as the time hits 8:00 am, a new client Stella, age 84, walks in. She shuffles into my office, her hands clutching a bundle of papers.
"My dear," she says, settling into the chair across from me, "I need help with my will. My children are squabbling over who gets what, and I want to make sure everything's fair and square."
I lean forward, all business. "Of course, ma'am. Let's go through your assets and your wishes for each of your children."
As we discuss her estate, I can't help but feel a sense of purpose. This is why I became a lawyer - to help people navigate the complexities of the legal system.
So that they won't fall victim just like my grandmother did before she passed.
"We can do it like this," I explain slowly, making sure she understands every term I'm saying.
The next clients are the Petersons, a middle-aged couple in the midst of a land dispute with their neighbor.
"He claims the fence is on his property," Mr. Peterson fumes, his face red with anger. "But my grandfather built that fence sixty years ago!"
I nod sympathetically. "I understand, Mr. Peterson. We'll need to look at the property records and possibly get a survey done. I'll file the necessary paperwork to start the process."
As the days pass, I find myself handling everything from minor traffic violations to small business contracts. Each case might look minor, but to each and every one of my clients, it's important. And they have chosen me.
That's something I'm not planning on forgetting.
That afternoon, as I'm preparing to file a case at the county courthouse, I see Mrs. Beatrice.
"Oh, Hayley dear!" she exclaims, her eyes lighting up when she sees me. "I hear your business is booming! Such a lovely thing to see a young woman making her way in the world."
I smile politely, trying to edge past her. "Thank you, Mrs. Beatrice. It's been busy, but I'm enjoying the work."
She leans in as if to tell me a big secret. "You know, I had the most interesting guest the other day. Apparently, Austin has been singing your praises all over town, telling everyone about your law firm, and encouraging folks to give you a chance. Isn't that sweet of him?"
My heart skips a beat. Austin? He's been helping me?
My heart begins to race as I try to gather my thoughts.
Now it all makes sense how the sudden influx of clients had doubled.
"Thank you for telling me," I manage to stammer out a thank you to Mrs. Beatrice before hurrying into the courthouse, my mind reeling.
At first, I'm angry. I mean… I could find my clients myself. I am capable of doing that.
But truthfully, I'm grateful. Although he had kept it hidden, his involvement had spread the word around, and now I have clients and cases to work on.
That night, as I stare at the ceiling, I make a decision. I need to thank Austin properly for his help.
But what can I do without making it all weird?
I mean… should I just go to the main house to tell him I appreciate his help?
It seems a bit lacking, to be honest.
Dinner, I think. I'll invite him to dinner.
The next evening, I find myself standing on the porch of the main residence, my heart pounding. I can hear dogs barking inside as I knock on the door. There's a moment of silence, then the sound of boots on hardwood.
Tack. Tack. Thump.
The door swings open, and there he is. Austin, still wearing his cowboy hat, his arm resting against the doorway, and his ankles crossed. He looks like he's stepped right out of a Western romance novel, and I feel my cheeks flush.
"Hayley," he says, a slow smile spreading across his face. "This is a nice surprise."
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. The two dogs push past Austin, their tails wagging furiously as they greet me. I laugh nervously, bending down to pet them.
"Hi there," I coo, grateful for the distraction. "Aren't you two sweethearts?"
"Careful," Austin chuckles. "They might just follow you home if you keep that up."
I straighten up, wiping my hands on my jeans. "They're welcome anytime," I say, then wince inwardly. Why did I say that?
Austin's eyes twinkle with amusement. "So, what brings you out here this evening?"
"Oh! Right." I take a deep breath. "I, uh, I wanted to thank you. Mrs. Beatrice told me what you've been doing - spreading the word about my law firm and all. That was... that was really kind of you."
He shrugs, looking a bit embarrassed. "It wasn't much. Just thought people should know we've got a good lawyer in town now."
We stand there for a moment, an awkward silence settling between us. The dogs whine softly, sensing the tension.
"I want to take you out to dinner!" I blurt out suddenly. Austin's eyebrows shoot up, and I rush to clarify. "As a thank you, I mean. Like the dinner you invited me to before. But, um, if you're not comfortable with that - I know there'd be a lot of eyes on us in town - I could also cook at the cottage."
I wince inwardly as I realize what I've just said. Did I really just invite him to the cottage? I can't take it back now, can I?
Austin's smile widens, his gaze mesmerizing. "Dinner sounds great, Hayley. And if you're worried about prying eyes in town, cooking at the cottage is fine by me."
I nod, relief and excitement warring inside me. "Great! That's... that's great. How about tomorrow night? Around seven?"
"It's a date," he says, then quickly adds, "Figure of speech, of course."
"Of course," I echo, my cheeks burning. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."
As I drive back to the cottage, my competitive spirit kicks in. I'm going to impress Austin with the best home-cooked meal he's ever had.
***
The next morning, my eyes fly open even before my alarm goes off. I lay there for a few moments of peace, savoring the quiet. Then, the alarm starts blaring, shattering the few moments of peace I just felt. I slam it off and sit up in the same breath, my body vibrating with nervous energy. With no clients scheduled today, I have time to myself.
No matter how much I want to lie, I can't hide the excitement I feel. I grab my phone and start playing music, the loud tunes filling the cottage. Suddenly, I'm filled with the urge to clean. I mean, it wasn't in a terrible state. But due to how busy I was, a few places did get dusty. I also add flowers to almost everywhere, making sure it smells as sweet as a wildflower field in here. I want Austin to experience the same feeling I had when I went to the restaurant with him.
Finally feeling satisfied, I decide to go to town and get the ingredients for tonight's dinner.
I rarely cook extravagant dishes. When I do, it's usually to fry a fancy omelet or make tomato stew. But I'm a lawyer, I've got the brains. How hard could it be to cook once I follow instructions online?
After a quick shower, I dress and head into town. At the grocery store, I run into Mrs. Thompson, a recent client.
"Hayley, dear!" she calls out. "I thought you'd be at the office today."
I smile, juggling my basket of ingredients. "Taking a day off, Mrs. Thompson. Even lawyers need to rest sometimes."
She nods approvingly. "Good for you. You've been working so hard lately."
I chat with a few more clients before heading back to the cottage. It's only early afternoon, but my nerves are already on edge. To pass the time, I look over some case files I brought home. Before I know it, it's time to start cooking.
That evening, I'm a bundle of nerves as I prepare for our not-date.
I place my laptop on the kitchen counter and pull up a video for a steak recipe that looks good. "This 40-minute recipe is done on the stovetop in one pan," the cheerful voice announces. "and then transported into an oven."
I follow the steps one by one.
Seasoning- done
Carrots, potatoes – done.
All I need to do is set the table as the room begins to smell different.
Taking a big sniff, I look around, only to find my biggest fear right behind me.
"Oh no, no, no!"
The steak begins to burn, smoke filling the cottage. I'm coughing, trying to take care of the problem, but it's too late.
"Oh no, no, no!" I rush frantically, opening the oven. As soon as I do, the smoke billows out, causing me to cough even harder.
Just great!
The meat – burnt to crisp.
It's no longer fit for human consumption, even Duke and Rusty would reject this, honestly. As I continue to stare at the disaster in front of me, I'm also aware that the cottage is filling with smoke, leaving the place smelling terrible.
I still have raw steak I haven't cooked, but I'm not confident I can finish in time for Austin's arrival. Plus, what if it doesn't taste good. There was no other backup. I had only bought ingredients for this meal. What am I going to do now?
Looking at the mess, I close my eyes, wondering what in the world had possessed me to try a new recipe at the last minute. Well, it's time to swallow my pride. To re-strategize and come out stronger, is the suit of a successful lawyer.
This is not me backing down, just… trying a different method.
There is only one thing left I can do. I decide to order takeout.
"Hello, Vida's Diner?" I say into my phone, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'd like to order two steak dinners, please. With all the fixings."
"Yes, and two breadsticks. Yes…." I say.
As soon as the call is over, I begin cleaning the kitchen, trying to get rid of the smell of smoke. I place more flowers I had gotten from the ranch around the cottage, hoping to mask any lingering odor.
I'm sweating from all the effort, and I have to clean my armpits. As I'm rushing to the bathroom, I nearly fall, catching myself on the doorframe. Then I hear a sound.
My heart races as I try to decide if it's Austin or the delivery driver. I check my phone, my mouth dry. Fortunately, it's the delivery driver.
I feel light and a bit cold as I half-walk, and half-run out of the cottage to meet the driver at the gate.
"That was quick," I say, surprised.
The driver grins. "We pride ourselves on speedy service, ma'am. Especially for our lawyer friends."
I force a laugh, tipping him generously. Without waiting for him to drive away, I run back inside to plate the food.
I dump the contents onto the fanciest plates I managed to find in the cottage when I hear the unmistakable sound of a car driving up the driveway.
"Oh man!"
In a panic, I throw the takeout containers into the bin and push it under the kitchen island. With only a moment to spare, I dash to the bathroom. My reflection shows me looking frazzled, my eyes wide with nerves. I try to adjust my hair before rushing back to the door.
Taking a calming breath, I open the door with my best lawyer face. But as soon as I see Austin, my words die in my throat. He looks so good and smells even better.
"Hayley," he says warmly, holding out a bouquet. "These are for you."
I stare at the flowers - my favorites. He must have remembered from our last outing. "T-thank you," I stammer. "They're beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you," he replies smoothly, and I feel my cheeks heat up.
"Come in," I manage to say, leading him towards the table. My eyes rove around, wondering if I've forgotten anything. Then I spot the wine bottle and glasses on the kitchen counter.
"Oh, let me just grab the-" I start, but Austin cuts me off.
"Allow me," he says, pulling out my chair. "You should sit. I'll get the wine."
I watch him from a distance as he retrieves the wine. With his back turned, I nervously pat my hair, trying to slick back any loose strands.
Then, he's back in a second, pouring the wine with ease. As he sits across from me, the warm light of the kitchen creates a soft glow around everything. I feel a flutter in my stomach that has nothing to do with hunger.
"This looks amazing, Hayley," Austin says, gesturing to the food. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
I laugh nervously, hoping he can't tell that it's takeout. "Oh, it was no trouble at all."
As we begin to eat, I find myself relaxing. The food is delicious (thank you, Vida's Diner), the conversation flows easily, and Austin's smile makes me feel warm all over.
Maybe this evening isn't a total disaster after all… well, I did a good job hiding it all.
I think –