ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟝
????????????? ????
I wasn't expecting to hear smooching noises when I open the door to Dannah's office. In the corner, I see a man covering Dannah's body fully, kissing her up against the wall. They were practically trying to rip each other's faces apart just with their lips.
A couple seconds later, Dannah's eyes widen as she spots me speechless by the door. She shoves the man off of him and when he turns around it's no other than Josh. Of course it had to be him- out of all people. Because this firm was solely for making my blood pressure rise.
I shut the door very quietly behind me, careful to not let anyone else come to this.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke. Josh looked horrified, Dannah looked like she just lost a million dollars. I was mostly annoyed because now I was a part of something I wanted to be in.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Oh, this is bad."
"Dixie-"
"Mm-mm." I held up a finger.
"Give me a second."
Dannah covers her face while Josh pats her awkwardly.
"You." He immediately straightened. Like I had caught him committing a crime. Which, to be fair, wasn't far off from the atmosphere in the room.
"You have spent months acting like the most insufferable human being in this building."
Josh sighs, like I'm in the wrong. Seriously, what was wrong with this man?
"You stuck-up, selfish man, had the audacity to make her cry."
Josh's expression immediately fell. The guilt was visible. Good, I liked guilt.
"I can explain." He starts.
"Can you?"
He opens his mouth before hesitating and closing it. That's what I thought.
I turned toward Dannah. "You."
"Dixie, please." She groaned.
Oh please, if anyone should be groaning, it would be me.
"No." I crossed my arms.
"You sat in the lounge crying while telling me this man was making your life miserable."
"Dixie-"
"You told me he drove you insane." I cut her off.
"Dixie."
"And now I'm opening doors and finding you two practically eating each other's faces in the corner of the room."
"Dixie!."
I finally stopped. The room goes so silent you can hear Josh's frantic breathing. Not the most pleasant sound. Against my better judgment, I laugh. Then it turns into fits of giggles.
Honestly, what else was I supposed to do in a situation like this? Plus, I haven't had a laugh like this in days.
Dannah stared at me. "You think this is funny?"
"No." I paused, then started to chuckle again. "Maybe a little."
Josh rubbed a hand across his face. "I knew this would happen."
"Oh, I don't think you did."
He looks at me as I gesture around the room.
"If you knew this would happen, we wouldn't currently be standing in whatever this situation is."
Dannah groaned again.
I felt slightly bad, but not enough to stop.
"You know, what would Ted say if he found his favorite assistant and one of his paralegals against each other?"
Both of their eyes widened simultaneously. "Exactly."
Dannah immediately looked sick.
"Now we're all thinking the same thing."
For the first time since I've entered this room, the corners of Josh's mouth pick up.
I point my finger at him. "Don't get comfortable."
I walked over to Dannah's desk and sat down in one of the chairs.
If I was trapped in this situation, I deserved answers, loads of them. I folded my arms.
"Well, what are you slouching around for? Start talking."
I pointed between them. "One of you explain."
No one moved or spoke. It was quite impressive, honestly. I had seen criminal defendants cooperate faster than this. Finally, Dannah sighed.
"We got back together."
I stared, then looked at Josh. Then back at Dannah. "Why?"
"Dixie!" She yells.
"What?"
"That's rude."
"No, is it?" I shook my head.
"What's rude is making me your emotional support dog, and then leaving out major developments." I retorted back.
For a moment, I studied them.The awkwardness, the guilt, the embarrassment. The way Josh kept glancing toward Dannah.
I remembered Dannah crying in the hallway.
I remembered how small she looked, how hurt. And now she looked lighter. I leaned back in the chair, the fight slowly leaving me.
"Does he make you happy?" I say quietly.
The question surprised all three of us.
Dannah looked down. A small, playful smile appeared. "Sometimes."
I snorted. "Wonderful."
I stood straightening my blazer. "Well, you're both adults."
I pointed between them, I made a vague gesture. "Whatever this is, is really none of my business."
"I came here for a reason."
My eyes landed on Josh.
"Actually, would you mind giving us a minute?"
Josh hesitated. His eyes flickered toward Dannah. Something screamed protective. It was the same look Cameron gave me when I told him I wanted space to myself.
"Josh." Dannah turned to him.
His attention immediately shifted. She gave him a reassuring look. "We're fine."
Still, he didn't move- that alone surprised me. This was the same man who had embarrassed her in front of an entire meeting. The same man who spent half his existence irritating everyone around him.
Yet somehow now he looked concerned, like leaving her would physically pain him. Relationships were strange that way- not to talk of mine.
I crossed my arms. "Josh."
His eyes moved to mine. The look I gave him must've worked because he finally sighed, long enough for dramatic effect.
"Fine." He grabbed his suit jacket from the chair.
He glances at Dannah before touching the door handle. "Call me."
She nodded.
I nearly laughed. He was stalling too darn much. "Leave."
Josh muttered something under his breath before finally walking toward the door, it quietly clicked shut.
I immediately turned toward her. We both stared for about three seconds.
"What the hell?" I say, sighing.
"Please, Dixie, don't let me relive this." She runs her hands down her face.
I smiled slightly. I had bigger problems. Much bigger than whatever I just walked into. I guess she noticed because all the teasing left her face as well.
"What happened?"
I leaned back, exhaling slowly. "I think I found something."
"What?" Her eyebrows furrowed.
"Justin Deyes."
Her expression changed into worry and concern. All the things I was trying very hard not to acknowledge.
I reached into my purse pulling out a big stack of papers.
Notes, printouts, files, dates, even Judge Johnson's card.
I dropped it onto her desk.
Dannah stared at it carefully, then slowly looked up. "Dixie."
"I know."
"No," Her voice softened, "I don't think you do."
I looked away, already annoyed.
She picked up the card. "Judge Johnson?"
I nod. "He contacted me."
Her eyebrows immediately rose. "What?"
"He said things didn't add up."
"He said there were details he wasn't comfortable with."
"He said he had concerns, and..and that the verdict never sat right with him."
Dannah listened quietly. I continued, knowing someone was actually listening to me. The words tumble out.
"He didn't outright say Justin was innocent, but he didn't exactly defend the conviction either."
"And if the judge who sentenced him has doubts-"
"Dixie."
I inadvertently ignore her.
"Then maybe there's something there."
"Dixie."
"Maybe I missed something."
"Dixie!"
"What?" I say, a little exasperated
Dannah set the card down carefully. Then folded her hands.
"Dix."
I already hated her soft tone- the one people use when they're about to say something they know you won't like.
"The case is over."
My shoulders tense. I look away at anything that could distract me right now.
"The appeals are exhausted, the conviction stands."
I didn't answer. "Dixie."
I swallowed carefully before finally looking up at her. "What are you trying to say?
She hesitated. That made it worse, because hesitant people are usually trying to be kind.
"Dannah."
She sighed.
"I'm wondering if maybe..."
"...you're doing this because losing the case hurt."
I laughed. "Dixie."
"No." I stood immediately.
"So now I'm irrational?"
She sighs like she knew this was coming. "Thats not what I'm saying."
"I'm incapable of doing my job?"
"Dixie."
"Of course. That's what everybody keeps implying."
She stood too. "I'm not implying anything."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
My chest felt tight. I hated conversations like this.
Dannah softens immediately. "I shouldn't have said it like that."
I look away but she stepped closer.
"You know I respect you. You know I believe in you."
Silence was my response.
"And if anyone in this city is stubborn enough to find something everyone else missed..."
A small smile appeared despite myself.
"Its probably Mrs. West."
I rolled my eyes.
"If this matters to you." She pauses, like she's thinking about her words carefully.
"If you genuinely think there's something here."
I finally looked at her. She nods at the mountain of papers. "I'm with you."
I blinked. "What?"
"I'll help."
"Dannah."
"I'm serious."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Her smile returned.
"But I want to."
For a moment neither of us spoke. I glanced down at the papers, at the case that refuses to leave me alone.
Then I hug her. And for the first time all day, I smiled.
"Good."
Dannah raised an eyebrow, but embraces me back. "Good?"
I nodded. "Because if this case is going to ruin my life.."
"It might as well ruin yours too."
~