Chapter Twenty
Bailey
I was whistling when I walked into the office, and Lincoln raised his immaculately groomed brows.
“Well, well, someone had a good night.”
I waggled my brows but said nothing and set my coffee on the desk. “Any calls?”
Lincoln followed me. “Your mother. Twice. Dr. Engle wants to talk to you as soon as possible. Madeline Abruzzi has a question about her workers’-comp claim.” He checked his pad. “And Patrick Reilly got arrested early this morning for trying to hold up a bodega.”
“Jesus. Is that all?” I’d hoped to have a few minutes to sit and savor what was growing between Keston and me.
Plus, I wanted to look into the case of his coworker’s brother. While the guy sounded like pond scum, if he didn’t get a fair trial, that wasn’t right either. But he’d have to take his place in line, which was in front of my mother but behind my paying clients.
“The city never sleeps.” Lincoln cackled and handed me the messages. “I sent the files to you for all the callers so you can go through them before returning their calls.”
God, I’d be up shit creek without Lincoln. “Thank you, my savior. Lunch is on me today.”
“Ooh. I was feeling like sushi. Maybe Nobu?”
“More like No-you. But Sugar Fish is good too.”
Lincoln gave me the thumbs-up, and I answered my ringing phone. “Bailey Marks.”
“It’s Grady.”
“Oh, hey. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to call you yet.
How’d the rest of the weekend go?” Multitasking, I tucked the phone under my ear, reached for my coffee with one hand, and clicked to open the first file Lincoln had sent.
“I’m really sorry I had to run out on you all.
I felt terrible. Please give Lauren my apologies. ”
It was the truth. I liked Grady—the times we’d spent talking, he’d listened. He was smart as hell, fun to be with, and a little more open than his brother.
“We had a great time, but you were missed.” He paused.
“As was my brother. Everything okay with you? We were all concerned, and when I didn’t hear from you, I almost came by your office yesterday.
The last thing Lauren said to me as I left this morning was to check up on you and make sure you’re okay. ”
“I’m good.” I chewed my lip. “I received a call from my sister—half sister, actually—and I thought she was in trouble. Turns out it was a misunderstanding. She’s fine.”
“Oh, man. Glad to hear that. I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“Long story, but yeah, I have a half sister. She’s had some problems with an ex, so when she called me crying, I got very worried and left to check up on her. Turns out the ex proposed to her, and she was crying with happiness.”
“But you still have reservations,” Grady said, proving he was as sharp as I believed.
I sighed. “Let’s say I’m cautious. With reasons.”
“Look, I’ve got a mediation in a few minutes, but I have some meetings downtown today. Would you want to have lunch? I’m happy to listen and have you bounce your thoughts off me.”
I checked my calendar. “Yeah. That’d be great. When and where?”
“How about Smyth Tavern at twelve thirty?”
“Perfect. I’ll see you there.”
“Great. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I entered the lunch on my calendar, then tackled my files. There were days I wished I was part of a firm, like Weston, Brenner, and Grady, but I liked working on my own, without worrying about a senior partner hanging over my shoulder, telling me what to do and how to do it.
I placed a phone call to Patricia Engle. Patty and I had met at a college alumni event and became friendly. She was an orthopedist who’d fixed my broken wrist when I fell on the ice one winter, and throughout the years, I’d helped her with some minor legal issues.
“Patty, good morning. How are you?”
“I’d be better if I hadn’t discovered Chase cheating on me with his yoga instructor. Could it be any more clichéd? I need a good divorce lawyer. Could you represent me?”
Hearing that shocked me. I’d met Chase numerous times and had always thought they were a happy couple. “I’m sorry. I’m…stunned to hear that. And yes, of course.” Divorce cases always left me a little sad, and if they involved custody issues, it could be even worse.
“It’s not the first time, either. I mean, we’ve only been married ten years, for Christ’s sake.
” Her voice rose, and I gave her a moment to pull it together.
“Sorry, Bailey. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.
It’s just, I’m blindsided. He’s moved out, said he’s sick of being tied down and needs to be free to express himself.
Everything about him has changed this year.
Worst of all? He doesn’t want custody of Juliet. What kind of parent does that?”
I sighed. “I don’t know what to say.” Though I knew all too well. “How old is your daughter now?”
“She’s six and has no idea what’s happening. Just that her daddy left. Thank God we have a great live-in nanny. Juliet loves her, and I’m taking some time off to be with her as well.”
As Patty spoke, I took notes. “Remind me again what Chase did when you first met?”
“He was a jewelry salesperson at Cartier. I’d gone there to pick out a birthday present for my mother. He was so helpful, and we talked and talked… I asked him out to dinner, and we just clicked.”
“And he stopped working after you got married?”
“Yeah. He was busy decorating our apartment, and it seemed silly for him to stand on his feet all day selling jewelry when I could buy anything from the store myself.”
“Of course. Do you know who his attorney is?”
“Yeah. Weston Lively. That senator’s son? I forgot the name of the firm.”
“Don’t worry.” My lips twitched. “I know it. All right, I’ll get in touch with him, and we’ll start the ball rolling. I’m sure there will be alimony, and maybe he’ll have changed his mind about custody.”
“You know what? Screw him. If he could even think of walking out on his child, he doesn’t deserve to have her. I want full custody. You tell them that. I’ll pay him to get it done quickly. Lump sum, three hundred thousand. No more.”
“Okay, okay,” I soothed. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Talk to you soon.” Patty ended the call, and I sat staring off into space. Patty had a demanding practice, but I knew she always put her daughter first. She’d rejected the chief-of-department position because she’d thought it would take too much time away from her family.
Contrast that with my mother, who’d disappeared and had never once tried to contact me. Then had walked back in as easily as she’d left. No explanation, no apologies.
That conversation still weighed heavily on my mind when I met Grady for lunch. I arrived first and ordered a sparkling water. The server handed it to me just as I spied Grady entering.
“Sorry I’m late,” he apologized. “We got hung up after the mediation.”
“No problem. I’m not in a rush.”
“Just water for me, thanks,” Grady told the server, and turned to me. “How’s it going?”
“Had a depressing conference with a client. Her husband walked out on her and their six-year-old. He’s having an affair with the yoga instructor. Doesn’t want a custody arrangement with the child.”
Grady made a face. “I hate those cases. As a kid who never knew his mother or father, I don’t get how a parent willingly walks away.” Despite myself, I must’ve reacted because Grady hitched his chair closer. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
“Yeah, sure.” I laughed it off, then decided, fuck it. No reason to lie any longer. “No, actually, I’m not.” I gripped the stem of my water glass, but the server returned to take our order, so I waited, nerves jumping, until he was out of earshot.
“I was one of those kids whose mother walked out on them.”
As I related my sad tale of woe, Grady’s face grew dark with anger.
“Dammit, that’s so sad. I’m really sorry about your dad. And I understand why you’re protective of your sister, but family is gonna do what they want. We can support them, but we should also be prepared to walk away if it destroys our own peace.”
“Thanks,” I managed to squeeze out through a throat so tight, I could choke. “It’s been hard.”
“I’m here if you need to talk.” He reached out and covered my hand. “Anytime.” His eyes twinkled. “Although I think maybe you and Keston have been chatting it up a little?”
I allowed a smile, and my face grew hot. “Yeah, we’ve gotten close.” My gaze lowered to the white tablecloth for a moment before meeting Grady’s. “He’s the most interesting man I’ve ever met, and we’ve got a lot in common, even though he doesn’t seem to think so.”
“Keston’s like one of those Rubik’s Cubes. When you first see him, his pieces are all jumbled into different colors, and you wonder, how the hell can I do this, but if you try hard enough to solve his puzzle, it finally clicks and you’ve won.”
“I never give up if I want something bad enough.”
Our food came, and I dug into my burger while Grady waited. “And you want my brother? I think you two would be great together.”
“I figured that from the first night you texted me where he worked.” I grinned and popped a fry into my mouth. “But I think he’s hung up on the fact that I’m an attorney and I live in a different world, so to speak, than he does. He’s so worried about what his best friend will think. Why is that?”
“He’s torn between wanting to support his best friend and me.
” Grady chewed his chicken sandwich. “I won’t deny he has a stick up his ass about authority, stemming from some problems he got into when he was young, but I think he’s gotten past it for the most part.
His best friend, Ambrose, is another story. The guy hates lawyers and cops.”
In the flurry of work that morning, I’d forgotten about Keston’s friend. “Yeah, he told me about the brother being in jail and Ambrose believing he was set up, framed…what’s your take? Is it possible the arrest is problematic?”
Grady dipped his fries in ketchup. “I doubt it. Nothing I saw led me to think that. Did Keston ask you to look at the file? I did, and nothing jumped out at me.” He wiped his mouth.
“Yeah, he did ask, but I don’t want you to think I’m second-guessing you. I trust your expertise.”
“Nah, feel free. I don’t do criminal law. I’ve got copies of the papers back at the office. Want me to email them to you?”
“Yeah, that’d be easier than me having to request them. Thanks.”
We finished our meal, and I took the check. “My treat.”
“Thanks. Listen, Bailey, I know what you went through leaves lasting hurt and emotional scars. But you and Keston have more than trauma to bring you together. You give him steadiness and a sense of humor he needs, and I think he can give you a little bit of the wildness you crave. You truly complement each other.”
I had to ask, even though I wasn’t sure Grady would answer. “I know it might not be any of my business, but what did you think of Carlos?”
Grady’s eyes flickered. “Keston told me the whole story of their relationship, and I had concerns, but I wasn’t in the picture when they first met.
It took Keston a while to agree to meet me, and even longer to learn to trust that my love for him was real.
” His shoulders slumped. “Years, in fact. I don’t have much insight into their life as a couple because I didn’t see them together that often.
Keston was extremely protective of their relationship, but I know Carlos was the impetus for Keston and me to go to therapy together. ”
“But he was the real deal?”
Grady nodded. “Yeah. I’ll admit the twenty-year age difference worried me, but whenever I did meet him, I could see they were good together.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Like you are.” His smile broadened. “You really care about him, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I do.” There was no denying it.
“Good. Carlos complemented Keston. And so do you, albeit in a different way. Don’t compare yourself to his past. Make him your future.”
We separated on the sidewalk. Grady took the subway uptown, and I walked the few blocks downtown to my office. I prepared the divorce filings for Patty Engle, and put in a call to Weston.
“Bailey, baby, when my client told me you were his soon-to-be-ex’s lawyer, I was so happy. Our first case together.”
“West, bubbale, your client might not be so happy after I tell you he can kiss my tuchus if he thinks he’s going to fleece mine.”
His deep chuckle filled my ear. “Listen, I’m not defending the little shit. Any parent who walks out on their kid is garbage in my eyes. There’s no prenup, though.”
I winced. Shit. “My client is happy to do a lump sum payment, but nothing else.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred fifty thousand, payable monthly over two years. Full custody to the mother. Fifty-fifty expenses for school and camp, but Patty will pay for the full-time nanny. Chase gets one weekend per month and one holiday per year, to be decided by my client.”
“Hmm. That’s mighty generous of your client.”
“She’s angry with him, but she doesn’t want to punish her daughter by denying her the chance at a relationship with her father.
Best and final, West. We know the score here.
He used Patty to get into her social circle, and abused her trust. Patty is a totally sympathetic figure and was the one wronged. ”
“I agree. I’ll prettify the language so he sees he’s getting a good deal. I’m not happy with this guy.”
“Why take him on as a client? You said he’s garbage. Jesus, West, come on.”
“His girlfriend runs tons of studios all across the city. Her best friend married a son of one of the senior partners, so they bumped it to our division, and lucky me, I was next up.” He made an ugly sound. “I’d never represent a dirtbag like that normally, and you know it. I had no choice.”
And that was the exact reason I chose to remain my own boss. I might have to scrounge for clients sometimes, but I got to decide whom to represent.
“All right, West. I’ll talk to my client, but I don’t anticipate a problem. Talk to you soon.”
“Hold up. We were sorry you had to leave early. How’re you and Keston doing?”
A smile played on my lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I teased.
“Well, yeah, that’s why I’m asking.” Weston snickered. “You two make a hot couple. I could totally see you together.”
“Don’t tell me you think about Keston and me? Does Brenner know?”
“You know what I mean. All the years we were at school, you never had a serious boyfriend.” His voice gentled. “I’m happy for you, Bailey. Really. You’re a good person, and you deserve to be loved.”
Whoa. That was not what I’d expected. “Uhhh…thanks. But it’s not—”
“It is,” he cut me off. “He does. I’m not wrong. You’ll see.”
And in typical Weston Lively fashion, he ended the call and left me hanging.
My email dinged, and I pulled up the files Grady sent me. I read the initial police report, looked at the photos and evidence, and something made me stop and return to the initial write-up from the arresting officers.
“Hmm…”