A Heart This Big

by Cheyenne Blue

  Nina couldn’t help staring at Stella. She’d expected Stella to be excited, anticipatory even, but she sat quietly on the far side of the conference table and stared fixedly at the water glass in front of her. Billy was not with her. Stella must be expecting the claim to reach a settlement, one that involved money for Billy. She didn’t know what was coming. Nina felt almost sorry for her.

  Almost.

  Stella’s lawyer finished his submission. “In conclusion, we put forward our opening offer to settle our client’s claim in the sum of five hundred and eighteen thousand, nine hundred and eleven dollars and seventy-two cents.”

  A gasp erupted from Nina before she could compose herself. Half a million dollars. And change. That was incomprehensible. Half a million bucks for a broken arm, a concussion, and a fabricated psychological injury.

  Stella’s lawyer continued. “In the interests of a quick settlement and keeping costs down for all parties, our client is prepared to accept five hundred thousand dollars if the Release and Discharge is signed this afternoon. Otherwise, that offer is withdrawn, and we’ll obtain further medical evidence.” He glanced at his notes. “Which will almost certainly mean our offer to settle will rise significantly.”

  Oh, sweet baby Jesus. She’d had no idea. She glanced at Stella again. Stella stared at the glass, turning it around and around in her fingers. She didn’t look triumphant or even very happy.

  Nina switched her gaze to Leigh. She didn’t look the slightest bit fazed. But then she must hear far greater figures than half a million bucks thrown around all the time. She could probably pay that herself without even dipping into overdraft.

  Nina dragged in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to restore her veneer of calm. Inside, she was as twitchy as a pre-schooler after a bag of red lollies. Her palms were clammy, and she wiped them surreptitiously on the sides of Kiren’s skirt. Great. Now I’ll have to get the skirt dry-cleaned. She swallowed a hysterical giggle. A dry-cleaning bill was the least of her worries.

  Leigh sat back in her chair, drumming her pen on the blue pad in front of her. One side of her lips twisted up in a half smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Five hundred thousand dollars. Thank you for the offer, Mr Richards. Unfortunately, our client doesn’t see the claim that way at all and is not minded to accept your offer. Liability is denied, and our offer to settle is nil dollars, with both parties walking away and bearing own costs.”

  Mr Richards didn’t even glance at Stella. “That is not acceptable.” He went to rise.

  “Before you leave, we’d like you to see these two videos.” Leigh pulled her laptop towards her, opened the lid, and pushed it towards Stella and Mr Richards. “Press play when you’re ready.” She sat back in her chair again and crossed one slim leg over the other.

  Nina watched Stella and her lawyer as Billy’s treble voice came over the speakers. The quality wasn’t great, but when Billy said, “Yeah! More than anything. Can I have a ride?” Stella gasped.

  Mr Richards’s lips tightened.

  Leigh waited until the videos finished before she spoke. “I have a copy for you on DVD.” She slid it across the desk. “These videos were made when Billy slipped away from his babysitter and walked, on his own, across three major roads to the farm. As you know, child welfare takes a dim view of any young child unaccompanied in such a situation, and it often becomes involved if they think a child is at risk. My client made sure he was safe. She made these videos in good faith so that Billy could show his mother how happy he was to be back with his best friend, Mr Petey the pony.” She paused. “My client’s offer of nil remains open.”

  “You have disclosure obligations,” Mr Richards said in hard tones. “These videos should have been made available before today.”

  “We were considering whether the claim was fraudulent or merely exaggerated. As you know, if fraud is suspected, we don’t have to disclose the evidence in advance. We’re still considering this point.”

  Mr Richards swallowed, his Adam’s apple jumping in his throat. “I would like to take my client’s instructions.”

  Leigh stood. “Quite. We will be in my office.”

  Nina stood too. She glanced at Stella, and this time, Stella met her gaze. Her pale face looked almost translucent. Stella bit her lip and looked away.

  Leigh led the way back to her office. “That went very well.” Her voice hummed with satisfaction. “I think they’ll withdraw. We’ve also rattled Stella with the implied threat of calling social services for neglect of her child.”

  “You wouldn’t, would you?” Stella didn’t deserve that. Sure, she was an absent-minded parent, but she loved Billy.

  “I wouldn’t, no. But Stella doesn’t know that.” Leigh closed the door of her office. “Can I get you anything?”

  “A glass of water would be good, thank you.” Nina licked her lips. They felt as dry as her throat.

  Leigh buzzed Grizz and requested a jug of water.

  “What happens now?” Nina asked.

  “We wait.” Leigh adjusted the window blind before sitting at her desk.

  The movement drew Nina’s gaze to Leigh’s slim calves. Her legs had been fabulous in shorts. She sat in the other chair.

  “When they’ve finished debating, Carl Richards will come and make a counteroffer. He’ll be trying to see if he can salvage something from the claim. He won’t get any fees if he doesn’t.”

  Grizz entered, set the water on the desk, and left with a smile.

  Nina poured a glass and gulped it down. Her heart rate was subsiding, but her stomach still lurched and rolled. She glanced at the clock on the wall. How long would they have to wait? Leigh looked at something on her phone.

  “You were magnificent in there.” Nina waited until Leigh looked up before she continued. “That other lawyer would have eaten me alive if you weren’t there.”

  “Carl Richards is a tough opponent, but he also knows his stuff, and he knows when he’s on a losing wicket.”

  “Thank you.” Nina reached across the desk and touched the back of Leigh’s hand.

  Leigh put down the phone and turned her hand over, palm up, and clasped Nina’s. Her skin was warm and dry. Reassurance oozed through her pores. “Don’t thank me yet. Wait until we’ve reached a settlement.”

  “No. It’s important you know now. You’ve done a lot for me. I know that. Right from the beginning. You didn’t have to take me on, but you did.”

  Leigh smiled. “You were tenacious, and Grizz was on your side from the start.” Her thumb moved in a gentle to and fro over the back of Nina’s hand.

  Nina stared at the motion. Each sweep of Leigh’s thumb stoked her feelings, building them up, increasing them until they threatened to burst forth. It was the tension of the day, of that she was sure, a crescendo to the nerves and worry and sleepless nights. Emotion clogged her throat: gratitude, warmth, caring, affection, all directed at the woman in front of her. To distract herself, she gulped more water.

  Leigh withdrew her hand, and Nina’s skin felt cool. Abandoned.

  A sharp knock sounded, and Leigh called, “Come in.”

  Carl Richards entered. He nodded at Nina but directed his words to Leigh. “I have a counteroffer. Can we talk off the record?”

  Leigh nodded and rose. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said to Nina. She left with Carl.

  With no distraction, Nina’s anxiety bubbled to the front again. She wanted to lie down in a corner and close her eyes, but she remained where she was, staring at the plate glass window and its ten-million-dollar view of Sydney. If she didn’t move before Leigh returned, it would be okay. She dragged in a breath and counted. When she reached one hundred, she started again. She had gotten to four hundred and eighty-eight when the door opened and Leigh returned.

  “They’re seriously rattled.” Leigh sat opposite. “They deny fraudulent intent but admit
that Billy’s claim is greatly exaggerated. He did suffer a broken arm, which has largely healed already with no side effects, and a mild concussion. They made a counteroffer of twenty thousand.”

  Twenty thousand. Nina still couldn’t afford that, but if Stella agreed to a payment plan, she might yet keep the farm. She frowned as she pictured the paltry number in her bank account.

  “I’ve got them down to five thousand.” Leigh sat back in her chair and folded her arms. “That’s such peanuts that if you want to stand firm, I think I can get them to withdraw completely. I’ll drop a mention of child welfare again.”

  Five grand. She could afford that—just. Five grand was a paltry amount compared to the half a million that had been floated earlier. Five grand. She closed her eyes for a second and let the relief float up her body from her toes.

  Stella’s face pushed into her mind. Stella battling on her social welfare payments, trying the best for Billy. Billy and his joy at being reunited with his bestest friend, Mr Petey. Five grand was probably a week’s salary for Leigh. It was double what Nina and Phoe lived on in a month. But for Stella, it would be a windfall. And Billy would benefit from it; of that Nina was sure.

  Billy had broken his arm. He’d been scared and in pain, had been in hospital. Money wouldn’t take that away, but it didn’t seem right for him to end up with nothing.

  “I’ll pay the five grand.” Nina spoke clearly. Her hand shook on the desk, and she clenched it into a fist to stop the motion. It would mean lean times for the next few months.

  Leigh tilted her head. “Nina, I’m fairly sure I’ll get it to nil. We’ll let them sweat for a bit. You have a cup of tea, and then I’ll go back to them and refuse their offer.”

  “No. I’ll pay Billy five grand.”

  “He won’t get it all, you realise that? His lawyer will get some.”

  “He’ll get something, though?”

  “Yes. He’ll probably get half of that.”

  “That’s better than nothing. Billy was hurt. It’s not right that he gets nothing.”

  “Take a few minutes to be sure that’s what you want.” Leigh refilled Nina’s glass again.

  “I’m sure. Go and tell the lawyer.” Her stomach had stopped churning, her breath no longer felt laboured, and the need to reach for her inhaler eased. This was the right thing to do.

  “Okay.” Leigh rose and was gone. She returned in a few minutes. “That’s a done deal. Stella’s signing the Release and Discharge right now.”

  Nina stared at her. A second later, she gulped, her throat thickening, before she rested her head on her folded arms on Leigh’s desk and bawled. The tears kept coming. Relief mainly for herself, for Phoe, and for Banksia Farm that was now secure. But also for Stella, who was only trying to do the best for her kid, and for Billy, who had missed out on the thing he loved the most in the past few months.

  Dimly, she was aware of Leigh standing next to her, rubbing soothing circles between her shoulder blades, of Grizz’s voice somewhere above her head, of the sound of the door closing. Gradually, the sobs muted to a silent slide of tears down her face. When even they had stopped, she raised her head.

  Leigh lifted her hand away and took a step back. She picked up the water glass from the desk and handed it to her.

  Nina took a long draught and set it back down. “Sorry.” The word seemed nasal, choked in the tears and thickness in her throat. “I can’t believe it’s over.”

  “Believe it.”

  “I feel I should celebrate.”

  Leigh smiled. “Buy Phoe her favourite takeaway.”

  “Greasy burgers don’t do it for me. But I can eat whatever I want tonight. Phoe’s away with her father. I’m on my own.”

  Nina’s gaze locked on Leigh’s and clung. That had sounded like an invitation. What if Leigh took it up? What if she didn’t? She cleared her throat. “Maybe I’ll get Thai takeaway on my way home. Pad Thai is celebration enough.”

  Leigh’s gaze flitted around the room. Such unease was uncharacteristic. This was her office, her law firm, her success at negotiation. When her gaze met Nina’s again, she seemed hesitant. “As you don’t have to rush home to Phoe, maybe we could go out to dinner. To celebrate.”

  Nina’s heartbeat sounded in her ears, and the words of acceptance hovered on her tongue.

  “I sometimes take clients out to dinner after their matter has resolved,” Leigh added.

  Did Leigh invite many of her clients? But very soon, Nina would no longer be Leigh’s client. The claim was finished. Over. That meant they could see each other. If they wanted to. She daren’t let herself think about what the invitation might be. Or might not be.

  “I’d love to. Thank you.”

  “I’d like to go home and change first. How about I meet you at Seascape Restaurant at six thirty?”

  “As long as my clothes are fine. I came on the train, so I won’t have time to go home and change.”

  “You look perfect as you are.” Leigh scribbled something on a Post-it. “The address. It’s a short walk from here.”

  For a second, they stared at each other. A soft smile graced Leigh’s face, and Nina was sure there was a stupid grin on her own. Tonight. What would happen?

  Leigh escorted her back to reception and shook her hand. “A great result, Nina. I’ll be in touch.”

  Nina stared at her as she retreated through the security doors, then turned away. The receptionist averted her gaze. Nina doubted she was the first client to have the hots for Leigh.

  Should she splurge and buy a new dress for dinner? Despite Leigh’s formal wording, Nina was sure this was a date—their first real date—and wearing Kiren’s borrowed finery seemed wrong. Only the fact that she’d then have to cart Kiren’s suit into the restaurant stopped her—that and the five grand she had to come up with for Billy. So instead, she wandered around the city, gazing at shops where she couldn’t afford so much as a T-shirt. A department store changing room gave her the opportunity to remove her tights, and she dropped them in a bin.

  She ended up by the harbour and strolled along in the sunshine, enjoying the warmth on her bare legs. The walkway was packed with tourists taking selfies with the iconic opera house in the background and business people hurrying along, talking on mobile phones. Nina removed Kiren’s jacket and slung it over her arm.

  She had a couple of hours to kill. Her nerves jangled. Two hours until a date with Leigh. And it was a date. Leigh could disguise it all she wanted, could mention the other clients she took out to dinner, but this was a date. The sort two people went on when they wanted to know each other better. Much better.

  She couldn’t walk too far, or she’d be hot and sweaty with sore feet when she met Leigh. On an impulse, she jumped on a ferry to Manly. She stood at the front and watched the water part around the prow, the seagulls dipping and wheeling around the boat, and the yachts scudding about on the bright-blue water. At Manly, she treated herself to a glass of wine at a waterfront pub and called Kiren to let her know what had happened.

  “That’s fantastic news!” Kiren’s bright tones came over the phone. “I’m delighted for you. Are you on your way home now?”

  Nina hesitated. “Leigh’s invited me for a celebratory dinner. Would you be able to do the evening check on the farm?”

  “Of course. Are you staying over? The late trains can be a bit scary if you’re alone.”

  Staying over. Anticipation tickled in her belly. She could. If that was what they both wanted. “I hadn’t thought about it, but that’s not a bad idea.”

  “Text me if you do, and I’ll go to the farm early.”

  Nina ended the call and sipped her wine. The anticipatory tickle in her belly was now a full zing of excitement. She hadn’t spent the night with a woman since her last relationship had ended more than two years ago. Tonight was the perfect opportunity for some romance—a
nd more. Was that also in Leigh’s mind?

  Chapter 21

  Leigh arrived first at Seascape. She sat at the bar and ordered a gin and tonic. A smile curved her lips as she thought of Nina, and her glance flicked to the door time and again. She didn’t want to miss the moment when Nina arrived and she could openly appreciate her.

  And then Nina stood at the door, and her gaze swept the crowded bar. She spotted Leigh and made her way over.

  Leigh stood to greet her, and any remaining thoughts fled that this was the sort of dinner she’d have with any client to celebrate a success. This was not that kind of evening. Nina was not that kind of woman.

  Nina looked exactly the same as she had earlier, except her hair was now loose and waved softly on her shoulders. Her gaze flicked to Leigh’s cheek, and she hesitated. Then she sat on the stool next to her.

  “Hi.” Her voice had a breathless quality. As if she, too, looked forward to an evening in each other’s company.

  “Hi, yourself. What can I get you to drink?”

  Nina glanced at Leigh’s glass. “If that’s gin and tonic, it looks wonderful.”

  Leigh caught the waiter’s eye and ordered. When Nina’s drink arrived, she raised her own and clinked it to Nina’s. “Congratulations. That was a great end to the claim.”

  “Thank you. But the kudos goes to you, not me. You and Grizz did all the work.”

  Leigh inclined her head. “The videos you took made all the difference. I just did what I’m paid to do.”

  “Except I didn’t pay you, did I? You saved my bacon, Leigh. I’m so glad I met you.”

  “Me too.” Leigh said similar words to clients often. But this time, she meant them. She had no trouble keeping clients at arm’s length, but here she was. Out to dinner with a client. Although, she justified, a soon-to-be ex-client. Her mouth was suddenly dry. Ex-client. Everything was now possible. If they wanted it.

  The lighting in the bar was low, and it enhanced the copper highlights in Nina’s hair and the golden tones of her skin. Nina’s jacket hung open, and the white shirt was a little rumpled, but it still set off her complexion. Leigh tried to avert her gaze from the deep vee at the front of the shirt, where a hint of the curve of Nina’s breast showed.