6. Emmy
EMMY
A reporter had stopped me just as I’d been about to head back into the law office from lunch. She’d been a tall older woman probably in her mid-fifties, with gray hair. The bag of beignets had been tucked under my arm as I responded to a text, when she stepped into my path.
“Ms. Landry, Ms. Landry. I’m Gayle Storms with California Sun. I’m doing a story on Ryan Lavery. You were his defense lawyer and I wanted to talk to you about it.”
His name.
My chest had instantly become tight and I’d tried to focus on her features. Tall. Older. Dirty blonde hair that was going gray at the temples.
Shaking my head, I could only muster a, “No comment.”
The second I’d gotten back to my desk; I’d pushed the woman out of my mind. I didn’t want to rehash my past in Los Angeles. I didn’t want to remember how he’d held me captive for what seemed like eternity when it’d only been three days.
Beignets.
Soft and sticky sweet coated my tongue and caused me to let out a slight moan. Slowly, I licked the sweetness from my fingers just as a knock came on my door.
Will Florrick waltzed in and sent my stomach into a tizzy. He was tall and dark skinned, and he smelled like an entire walking wet dream. He white teeth gleamed in the sunlight giving off an ethereal like glow.
Then my eyes moved to his finger as I pulled a napkin to my mouth before tossing everything into the waste bin nearby.
Wedding band girl, I thought to myself.
“Hey you got a minute?” He asked.
“For you, of course,” I grinned back at him.
It’d been this way the entire time we’d been in law school together. All those late-night study sessions but it’d never gone any further.
“Good,” he nodded, coming in and closing my office door.
He sat down in the chair directly across from me, still smiling. Subconsciously, I fiddled with my hair and hoped nothing was in my teeth.
“I haven’t had a lot of time to stop in and see you…damn,” Will shook his head.
“Well, you’re running one of the biggest law firms in New Orleans,” I shrugged.
He went to speak, but paused. His brown eyes had a look of lust in them and I wondered what he was going to say next.
“I can’t believe how long it's been,” he grinned again.
“Practically a lifetime,” I offered.
My cellphone pinged on the corner of my desk. I knew it was my mother telling me to bring ice after work. We were having a family gathering and I absolutely couldn’t wait to see everyone. I’d only managed to see one of my sisters for a small lunch.
Will’s gaze seemed to linger on me longer than it should have. “It’s been a long while.”
Slowly, I tried to steer the conversation away from anything too uncomfortable. “So, what brings you by?”
He leaned back in his chair, his face turning serious. “Me and my partner are finding first year associates to take on different cases with us.”
“And you thought I’d be a good fit?”
He smiled slightly, nodding his head. “It’s just a heads up for now. But you are in the running to be on my team for a few of the upcoming criminal cases.”
My desk vibrated again, and my phone slid just an inch causing me to glance away for just a moment.
“It’s so damn good to see you, Emmy,” Will caused my attention to return to him.
By then he was standing. “We really should have dinner some time.”
The way he delivered those words sent a bolt of electricity down my spine. It was hard to ignore that he possibly might want more than just dinner.
“I’d love that, Will,” I replied casually.
“I’ll set something up,” he grinned again before leaving my office.
Watching him through the blinds, he stopped to talk with a few other associates. I exhaled a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding in before snatching my phone.
My sister had texted as well as my mom, but there was also a text message from Zane Bishop.
I didn’t open up any of the messages because it was Friday and time for me to leave the office. I wanted to get home and shower before heading over to my family’s house.
The second I stepped outside and into the humid air, my mind couldn’t help but think back over Will’s words. There was still a little spark there between us.
He’s also married , I reminded myself as I drove to the small little house I’d rented not too far from the office.
Pulling into my driveway, I parked and then exited. I grabbed the mail from my mailbox and then headed inside.
My phone dinged again just as I was locking the door.
Don’t forget the ice,
my mother’s text read.
I won’t forget it. Just got home, I’m about to take a shower and head over.
My phone dinged a couple more times and then it started ringing before I could even check the message.
I didn’t recognize the number, but I found myself answering.
“Hello, this is Emerald Landry,” I managed to sound cheerful as I slipped my heels off my feet.
“Ms. Landry,” came a voice. “This is David Watkins over at the District Attorney’s office.”
Immediately, my stomach twisted into a knot.
“Mr. Watkins,” I held the phone away to check the time and then figured with a shrug he was staying in the office late. “How can I help you?”
“Well, I was calling to tell you that we’ll be dropping all charges against your client,” he gave a sigh.
Trying to keep my voice steady, I quietly danced in place. “I see. Is there a specific reason why the charges are being dropped?”
D.A. Watkins let out a heavy exasperation on the other side of the phone when he gave a weary exhale. I could tell he was frustrated when he spoke again. “The witness asked us too. They don’t want to go through a trial. They want this to be over.”
“I see,” I said, nodding my head. “Well, I guess I’ll get in touch with Mr. Bishop and let him know what’s happened.”
He grunted. “Let him know, if he steps out of line again, and I’m sure he will…I’ll be waiting and I’m going to nail him.”
The sudden shift in his tone had me seeing red. “Are you threatening my client?”
“Have a good night, Ms. Landry.”
The line went dead and I found myself staring down at my phone. That son of a bitch had hung up on me and it had me seeing red.
Depositing the phone on the stand by the front door, I found myself storming to the bathroom ready to take a hot shower.
The hot water felt like it was scalding my sins away and down my back and I let the suds surround my body. Eventually any thoughts of the district attorney faded. I wasn’t about to let him ruin my evening with my family.
Arriving at my grandmother’s house, I sat parked in the car for a few minutes taking it all in. The yard had plenty of cars and I knew all my kinfolk were in attendance.
I’d come so far since living here piled on top of my siblings. Hell, even the house looked different because my brother’s had started a construction business and had finished remodeling it last year.
Chatter and laughter filled my ears as my sister Diamond ran to greet me followed by Summer.
“We got them crawfish simmering round back sis,” Diamond’s arms squeezed me into her warm embrace and her perfume that smelled of vanilla and warm sugar engulfed my senses.
“Stop hogging her,” Summer beamed at me from over Diamond’s shoulder.
By the time we wound up round back, I saw everything had been set up nice and neat. My brother Benny was just dumping out the crawfish boil into a steaming red pile.
“I ain’t had no bugs in a long while,” I hugged my momma who had on a cute little apron.
“We’re so happy you’re home Emmy!”
I was just about to reply when a motorcycle’s engine cut through the music and fun. Everyone stopped and got up to peer into the front yard.
A sharp gasp caught in my throat at the sight of Zane Bishop in my yard.
“Who in the world is that?” My mother had her hand over her eyes, trying to shield them from the sun that was sinking lower and lower.
I couldn’t even reply, just watched as the man who’d bullied me in high school got off his bike and sauntered up to me with a bouquet of roses.
“Evening, Emmy…”