11. Kennedy
11
KENNEDY
B ack home, I’m taking a piece of yesterday’s pizza out of the microwave when my phone rings.
“Hey, Mom, I’m just sitting down to dinner. Is everything okay? How’s Hansi?”
“Everything’s fine, honey, and Hansi’s asleep on the couch,” she replies in her usual sing-song voice. “Your father and I just want to apologize for canceling dinner the other night. I can’t believe we double-booked ourselves like that.” With Dad’s background as a high-powered judge (still actively engaged in community safety initiatives), and Mom’s former career as a social worker slash stay-at-home mom (who returned to her career with a passion once I started kindergarten), my parents have amassed quite the circle of acquaintances.
“Don’t worry about it, Mom, really.”
“What is it you wanted to celebrate, anyway?”
I sink down onto the barstool at the counter, poking at the nuked pizza on its paper plate. “I started a new job at a law firm last week.”
“Honey, I’m so proud of you!” she says cheerfully. “We both are. Your father will be so excited when I tell him.”
Mom knows Dad had offered to make some calls and pull a few strings to get me a spot at a top-tier law firm. I love him for it, and while I’m all for carrying on a bit of his legacy, I’m determined as ever to do things my way. That said, I know I can always count on his guidance when I need it because he’s always had my back.
“I’m excited about it too,” I say, “but I have to say, it’s a lot of hard work.”
“Well, our girl has certainly never shied away from hard work. Which firm is it?”
I pause for a beat. “You know what, I’ll tell you all about it the next time I come to visit,” I say, deflecting the question. I’m not quite ready to divulge that nugget over the phone.
“Is it a better firm than the last one?” she presses, sensing my hesitation.
“ Much better,” I assure her. And I mean it.
No matter how messy things are with Cade, I’m glad to be a part of his law firm. I’m not about to throw away this golden opportunity just because of some lingering emotions I know I need to bury. My plan is to soak up all the knowledge I can while I’m there. Hey, I’m not the first girl to get dumped without closure.
“At least tell me all about your first day,” she says.
“Sure, Mom,” I reply, deciding to indulge her at least a little. “It was all right, nothing too exciting. They’re renovating the offices. But I promise, I’ll give you all the details when I see you.”
I don’t fail to notice the silence that has fallen over the line.
“Something’s wrong,” she announces, stating it as a fact. Of course, my mother has the perceptiveness of a hawk, a trait I undoubtedly inherited from her. Alongside her empathy. And an uncanny ability to gravitate towards anything loaded with carbs, fat, and sugar. As for my determination and stubbornness, well, those are gifts from my dad. “What is it, honey? You can tell me.”
I consider telling her the truth.
Both she and Dad know about Cade and what happened between us. I’d been so distraught after he broke it off that I was terrible at hiding my emotions. She and Dad assured me I would move on—and I have. Mostly.
All of a sudden, I feel silly.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I answer, putting on my brightest, most chipper voice. “I love the job. I love… almost everyone I work with. And everything’s going well here, too. Harper’s great, but she’s working a lot, so I’ve got the place to myself most nights.”
“I hope you’re not getting lonely,” she frets. “Maybe you should start dating again. Lots of men out there would be thrilled to date a smart and pretty lawyer like you!”
“I’m not a lawyer, Mom. I’m a paralegal.”
“Oh, same thing,” she argues dismissively. “You know your cousin Judy signed up for one of those online dating apps. CupidLurks, or something. Maybe you should try something like that.”
I interrupt her before she can go too far off on that tangent. “No dating for me, Mom,” I say. “I’m too busy with work. Maybe once things settle down some…”
“All right, if you say so, honey. And you’re sure everything’s okay?”
She asks that question five more times before I can get off the phone. It’s worth it for all the times she reminds me how much my parents love me and how proud they are. Which only makes me more determined to put this nonsense with Cade behind me and make this job work.
After cleaning up the kitchen, I hop into the shower, imagining the hot water washing away every last lingering remnant of him.
You’re right. I don’t expect it. And frankly, I don’t wish it either.
Yeah, right.
Those were his exact words when I said I didn’t think about him. Jerk .
“You can’t trust a man who has no heart,” I mutter to myself.
I ponder and reflect and hop out of the shower rejuvenated, like a brand-new person.
My verdict?
What he did years ago was devastatingly unfair. I’m all about justice—it’s why I’m in the law.
So, Mr. Unfair and me?
Screw off.