Chapter 26 #2
“Names can be changed. We’ll do everything we can to protect you and your kids.”
She wiped tears from her face. “No offense, because I know your intentions are good, but everything you could do wasn’t enough to keep him from finding us and breaking in with the intent to kill us rather than let us be happy without him.”
“You’re right. It wasn’t enough. I’m sorry that there wasn’t more I could do to keep you and your sons safe.”
“I’m not blaming you. I’m blaming a system that can’t stop stuff like this from happening.”
“It’s a valid complaint. Restraining orders are often not worth the paper they’re printed on. The restrained people know the cops can’t be everywhere, so they risk it. It’s a screwed-up system, but it’s the only one we’ve got.”
“It needs to be reformed before more people end up dead.” She looked over at him. “I didn’t want to kill him.” Her chin quivered. “That’s the last thing I wanted to do, but if it was a choice between him and my babies…”
“You did what you had to do to keep them safe.”
“I’ll never regret that.”
“I’m texting my contacts for an update.”
“I guess we can actually go home now,” she said, seeming to realize that for the first time. “How long will it take until my hands stop shaking?”
“Your nervous system has had a shock. It’ll take a minute to catch your breath.”
“Do you think I’ll go to prison?”
“I highly doubt it. He showed up with a knife and broke in. He had a restraining order, so it’s on the record that he was legally considered a threat to you. But your defense attorney is a better resource on those questions.”
“I won’t get Bryan’s life insurance now.”
“If it doesn’t go to you, it’ll probably go to the kids as his heirs.”
“Oh. I hadn’t considered that possibility.”
“I know it all seems horrible right now, and it is. It’s sad and tragic and infuriating and all the things, but you and your boys will get through this. I know you will.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Eight hours after Julian delivered Rachel to her home, he received word that her sons were back in her custody. Rachel’s sister texted him to let him know they were upset and tired but seemed to be doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances.
His day had been one shit show after another, with things blowing up for multiple clients at the same time.
Liam Rossi’s wife had “lost her shit” when he’d told her he wanted a divorce, and now he was rethinking leaving the marriage. I’m not sure I can do this to her, Liam had written in a text to Julian.
What about what you want for yourself?
How can I be happy knowing I’ve devastated her?
How can you be happy in a marriage where you’re competing with her late first love?
I don’t know what to do.
Sit with it for a bit and see how you feel in a week or two. I’m here if I can do anything to help.
The Smithson trial prep had been stalled by a possible breakthrough between the warring parties.
Julian’s client, the husband, had agreed to a ten percent increase in alimony that would add an additional fifteen thousand dollars to the wife’s monthly payment.
She’d been convinced throughout the process that he was hiding assets.
He swore he wasn’t. Since she’d been unable to prove the accusation, she’d been willing to go to trial in the hope of forcing him to reveal hidden resources.
They were waiting to hear if Mrs. Smithson was going to accept what Mr. Smithson had called a final offer.
In the meantime, Julian and Jackson were ready for trial.
“I’m going to be out on Thursday afternoon,” Julian told Jackson. “I need you to cover a couple of meetings for me.”
“Your clients want you, not me.”
“I’ve told them you’re just as capable as I am, which you are.”
“That’s not the point. They’re paying for a partner, not an associate. If you want to stay off of Dad’s radar, you need to stop taking unscheduled time off.”
“I haven’t taken time off in years, Jack. Years. If I want to take a little time here and there, I can do that without feeling guilty. I’m still involved with the cases they’re paying me to handle and will continue to be.”
“Whatever you say, boss man.”
“If you’ve got a beef with me, why don’t you just say so?”
“I thought I just did.”
“You’re my associate, Jackson. That means you do what I ask you to do. I’m asking you to take two client meetings for me on Thursday afternoon, the way you would if I was sick or injured or otherwise unable to work.”
“You’re not sick or injured. You’re something else that makes no sense to any of us.”
“What I’m doing is a favor for a friend who just lost a loved one. I assume that falls under acceptable reasons to take time off.”
“Do what you’ve got to do, Jules. You don’t want to hear what we have to say about it.”
“What do you have to say?”
“The same things Carson and Griffin tried to say to you. The same things you didn’t want to hear.”
Julian went to grab his suit coat off the back of his chair and put it on, eager to get out of there after his day had run super late due to the situation with Rachel.
He hoped Isla was still awake. “I’m glad you got a full report from them that’ll save us from having the same argument I already had with them. ”
“What’re you doing with this woman, Jules?”
“I’m having a nice time with her. Is that illegal?”
“Why’re you being so defensive about it? I thought we had a deal… We’re supposed to avoid things like single mothers with little kids who just lost their husbands.”
“Her relationship with him was over a long time ago.”
“But he just died. If I was losing my mind over a woman in this situation, you’d be having a fit over it.”
“I appreciate the concern, Jack. I really do. But I’m okay.”
“Don’t stand there and act like you haven’t taken leave of your senses since you met her. Don’t disrespect me by lying to my face about being okay, because none of this is okay.”
“I’m not going to marry her. Don’t worry.”
“You say that now.”
“I say that forever. I’ll never get married. Nothing that matters has changed. Okay?”
“If you say so.”
“Go on home. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jackson grabbed his suit coat off the sofa and walked out.
Julian decided to give him a minute to exit the building before he headed out. He reached for his phone to text Isla. Hey… Finally done at work. What are you up to?
Long day for you. I’m having a glass of wine and reading.
Can I stop by on the way home?
I wish you would.
Be there soon.
She tagged his text with a heart.
Just that quickly, the day’s tension slipped away, and the ecstatic feeling that came with knowing he’d see her again soon was back.
It propelled him out of the office to the elevator and out of the parking garage five minutes later.
Traffic was lighter at this hour, allowing him to zip through Beverly Hills and take the left onto Laurel Canyon Boulevard in record time.
As he pointed the G-Wagon up the hill, he pressed the accelerator, eager to get to her.