Chapter Twenty-Six
ZOE
I looked across the kitchen table at my mother. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a tidy twist, the silvery streaks in it standing out against its brightness. She sipped her coffee and flipped through the newspaper. After a fortifying sip of my coffee, I took a breath and eyed her.
“Mom, I need your opinion.”
She folded the paper and looked over at me. “On what?”
I’d arrived two nights ago, and my parents had taken it in stride.
I visited every few months as it was. I didn’t usually show up on short notice, but they were gracious enough not to badger me.
When it came to parents, I’d drawn a good hand in life.
Beyond the fact they’d both been workaholics—I came by that trait honestly—they were involved, caring parents.
Work had been such a focus for them, parenting was a bit of a second thought, but they’d distractedly done their loving best. I also felt lucky to have parents who actually liked each other.
Their tendency to not focus overly on me had been a blessing when I showed up the other night.
I knew they sensed something was afoot with me, but they didn’t press.
Another deep breath. “I got involved with one of my clients. I referred his case, but now a few things have made me think maybe I should, I don’t know…
Ugh.” I paused to take a gulp of coffee.
That was the crux of my problem. I had no easy way to clear the air.
I worked for myself. I might’ve waited a bit longer than I should, but I had transferred Ethan’s case.
I just felt mortified about it and didn’t like having it hanging over me.
I looked over at my mother who looked, well, surprised. But not upset or horrified like I’d feared. When I didn’t say anything else because I had no idea what to say, she spoke.
“So that’s what got you all bothered. If you referred the case to someone else, I’m not sure what you’re worried about now,” she said quietly. My mother was ever practical and never prone to drama.
I traced the mug handle with my fingertip. “Well, it’s just not the kind of thing I do. I never imagined I’d let something like that happen, so…”
I didn’t want to get into the thing with Ted Duncan with her. All in all, it wasn’t the core of what was eating at me.
“No, it’s not the kind of thing you do, but then you don’t really date. At all. Are you still seeing him? Well, I suppose I shouldn’t assume it’s a him,” she said with a slight smile.
“It’s a him,” I muttered. “Am I that bad you weren’t even sure if I was into guys?”
She lifted one shoulder in a slow shrug.
“Not that it matters, but you’ve never brought anyone home.
I didn’t think much of it because you threw yourself into work.
You’re so much like your father and I about that.
I have worried that you weren’t making time for a personal life.
While we both worked a lot, we worked together, so it was something we shared.
And we had you. Of course, we dragged you to the office with us, so it’s entirely our fault you followed in our footsteps.
But that isn’t my point. My point is I’ve hoped you’d eventually find someone.
Tell me about him. I’d guess he means a lot to you, or you certainly wouldn’t have gotten involved with him, seeing as he was your client at the start. ”
I don’t know what it was about how she said that, but it hit me hard—a jolt right to my solar plexus.
My heart clenched, and I swallowed against the sudden rush of emotion.
My mother had zeroed in on the thing that was making my heart ache.
I missed Ethan like crazy. I’d dashed out of my office for no good reason other than feeling overwhelmed with it all.
Between Sarah’s practical advice and now my mother’s, it was painfully clear that no matter how much I wanted a way to clear things up over my lapse in professional judgment, I’d done the only thing I could do and sent Ethan’s case onward to another attorney.
The muddle I was in now was all of my own making.
My mother cleared her throat, and I realized she was waiting. On the heels of another deep breath, I continued, “I guess he does. I’m not really sure what to do about that. He’s not a regular kind of guy.”
She cocked her head to the side and circled her hand. “Do tell.”
“His name is Ethan Walsh. He’s…”
She cut in. “From the Seattle Stars?”
At my nod, she grinned. “Your father is a fan.”
“Since when did Dad start watching soccer?” I asked, stunned.
“Since the Seattle Stars went big time. Now that he’s not working all the time, he enjoys a number of things. He’s going to be so excited!”
“Mom, could you calm down? I don’t even know what’s happening with Ethan yet. Let’s not start the ‘meet the family’ plans yet.”
Her grin morphed into a soft smile. She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Of course. But based on the look on your face, I’d say he means a lot to you. What are you doing hiding out here? Get back to Seattle and see him.”
The remainder of my morning and afternoon passed quietly.
My mother left to run errands, and I helped my father rearrange the furniture in his office.
By the time evening rolled around, I was antsy to get back to Seattle.
I can’t say I’d come to a conclusion on anything, but I missed Ethan and was feeling like I was stalling over nothing.
I hopped back in my car and figured I could make it home in time to see him that night.
Roughly two hours later, water slapped against my car where it sat on the side of the road, halfway in a ditch.
I looked out through the blurry windows and beat back the threat of tears.
My hope to get home quickly had been thwarted by the heavy rain.
It had gone from a soft drizzle to a steady pour.
I’d hit a puddle and slid sideways off the road.
My car skidded just far enough into the ditch that I wouldn’t be getting out without some help.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I muttered, wearily thumping my fist on the defenseless steering wheel. My options for getting help were to call a tow truck, or Jana. My parents were a good two hours behind me now, and I didn’t want to ask them to trek this far to help me.
I pulled my phone out, only to see another few texts from Ethan. His last one made me burst into tears.
Come on, Zoe. Now I’m not just bugging you. I’m worried. Jana won’t tell me how to find you. Please call me.
I took a shuddering breath and managed to stop crying.
Emotionally, I was whipsawing all over the place.
One minute, I wanted to forget all about Ethan and go back to my tidy, professional, boring life.
The next, I ached to see him. Without thinking, I hit the call button on his text. He answered instantly.
“Bloody hell, Zoe. You’re scaring the shite out of me. When are you coming back?”
His greeting came flying at me, and I burst into tears all over again.
“Hey Zo, okay, okay. Calm down. I didn’t mean to sound all mad. It’s just you haven’t…”
“It’s okay, I’m…” I paused on a hiccup and to try to catch my breath. I felt like a blithering idiot, a feeling I wasn’t particularly familiar with.
“Where are you?” he asked, his tone softer.
“On the side of the road.”
“Come again.”
I took a breath and haltingly explained where I was.
“Right then, I’ll come get you. Belle will want to come, and I don’t know if I can hold her off. Will you mind?”
I started laughing. It was either that, or I’d start crying again.
Ethan waited quietly until I managed to stop laughing.
“It’s fine if Belle comes, but you’d better let her know I’m not usually a mess like this.”
“You’re never a mess,” he said, his tone soft and laced with something I didn’t know how to interpret. It made my heart clench.