Initial consults could get very emotional.
“Thanks for fitting me in to your schedule. My friend’s aunt highly recommended you.”
He gave her a warm smile. “I’m happy to get referrals. Not so keen on repeat business.”
Her eyes widened, and then she smiled. He’d been right. She had a great smile.
It didn’t last long, however. Her bottom lip quivered and she lowered her head. “This is so hard. I never thought this could happen to Nick and me.”
He offered her coffee, then felt like an idiot when she explained she was avoiding caffeine because it wasn’t good for the baby.
He thought of Dani again. How could he have missed noticing she was pregnant? Showed how observant he was.
“Would you prefer herbal tea?”
“Water is fine.”
So he poured her some and took a cup of the black brew for himself. He wished Lizbeth Greenway had mentioned she was pregnant during their initial conversation. He had a spiel he always gave his clients when there were children involved. He hadn’t anticipated needing to do that today.
Lizbeth took a sip of water, then set the glass on the table like a gavel. “As I said on the phone, I want to divorce my husband.”
“Right. I take it your husband is in agreement with this decision?”
“Sort of.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Does he have a lawyer?”
“Not yet.” She placed a hand on her belly. “But he will. Nick says the baby isn’t his. He’s accusing me of cheating on him. What else can we do, but get divorced? He obviously doesn’t trust me.”
“Once your baby is born, a simple DNA test is all it would take to set his mind at ease. The baby is Nick’s?”
“Of course it is! And a DNA test wouldn’t settle anything. It sure wouldn’t make me feel like my husband trusted me.” She curled her left hand around the glass of water again. The size of the diamond on her ring would have had a greedier attorney salivating.
“Has he trusted you in the past?”
“Yes. Absolutely. You get to know a man when you’ve been married eight years. You know him even better if you’ve been business partners the way we have. I’ve always been sure I could count on Nick in every way. As a partner, a friend and a lover. I’m absolutely shocked that he doesn’t feel the same about me.”
“Did something happen recently that would explain why he suddenly doubts you?”
“Just the fact that I got pregnant.”
“Was it—planned?” Again Eliot had to work not to let thoughts of Dani and her surprise pregnancy distract him.
“We’d been trying to have a baby for years. I was tested and Nick was tested. According to our doctors there was no medical reason it wasn’t happening. We thought maybe it was the stress and long hours we put in at work. So I cut back to four-day weeks and took up yoga. And then, amazingly, it happened. And I thought Nick would be so happy. Instead, he went ballistic. I mean, really crazy.”
“How long ago was that?”
“About two months ago. We had a big, big fight and he was so angry, I decided to move in with my cousin. I hoped he would calm down and be reasonable. But he hasn’t. Just last week he called me at three in the morning, drunk, and demanding the name of the man I’d slept with. I told him that if he really thought I would cheat on him, that maybe we should get divorced. And he—he agreed.”
A tear fell from her eye then, and he pushed the box of tissues a little closer toward her. “I know I’m all but a stranger to you, Lizbeth. But can I offer you some advice?”
She dried her eyes, sniffed, then nodded.
“To me if sounds like you and your husband need a good counselor. Not a divorce attorney. At least not yet.” He reached into the breast pocket of his blue pin-striped suit, pulling out a business card for a woman therapist he thought highly of. He set it on the table next to her glass of water.
Lizbeth picked up the card, and frowned. “Nick won’t go to counselling. I’ve already asked him.”
“Did he say why not?” The absolute refusal to go to counselling was not a good sign and Eliot’s hopes for helping this couple save their marriage sank a little. It was possible the husband had been looking for a way out for a while and was using the pregnancy to drive a wedge between them.
“According to Nick, there’s no sense in going to counselling if I’m not going to be honest. The man is impossible.”
Maybe he was. But, Eliot still felt compelled to give his spiel. “I’ve been in this business for many years. Long enough to know divorce causes a lot of pain and often costs a ton of money. Those are reasons enough to do your best to avoid one. But when children are involved the stakes get a lot higher. That baby of yours is going to spend its life dealing with the consequences of how you and Nick handle this setback.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, Eliot. I don’t want a divorce. But Nick is making our marriage impossible. I am going to have a baby in four months. I need support right now. Not night after night filled with arguments and distrust.”
Eliot tapped the business card again. “I agree. And right now, I say counselling is your best bet.”
“Nick will never go for that—” Her eyes brightened as she focused on him. “But I’m sure he’d come to a meeting with you.”
Eliot stifled a groan. He was an attorney, not a counsellor. But how could he say no? As he’d pointed out to Lizbeth, a child’s future was at stake.
*
When she got home from her doctor’s appointment, Dani found a note under her door. “Want to go for a run?”
It was from Eliot of course. Not only did she recognize his scrawled printing, but he had a habit of leaving notes for her, no matter how often she reminded him that he could simply send her a text message.
She’d been planning to flop on the couch and do some binge TV watching.
But the run would be better for her. She typed a simple “yes” and hit “send,” before she could change her mind. Then, she went to her room to change into a roomy t-shirt and yoga pants. She was by the front door, tying up her running shoes, when Eliot knocked.
“It’s not locked.”
He came inside, wearing proper running clothes in coordinating colors, and somehow managing not to look gay. Eliot had a runner’s body, tall, lean and totally ripped. Not only did he run every other day, but he also hit the gym three times a week, too.
“Your doctor okay with you running?”
He was sweet sometimes, the way he worried about her. “She says I can continue with my regular activities as long as I feel comfortable. I’m probably going to take it down a notch, though, so if you’d rather run on your own, that’s fine.”
Eliot already had to slow his pace when they ran together, but he shrugged off her suggestion that he go on his own.
“Nah. I’d rather have the company.”
Once she’d finished with her shoes and locked her condo, they jogged down the stairs, then out to the street. In the late afternoon sun Seattle was full of the promise of summer—every growing thing was either vibrantly green or covered with blossoms.
“So how was your day?” she asked as they paused, waiting for the GPS on Eliot’s watch to kick in.
“The usual. Except for one client who reminded me of you.”
“Oh?”
He pressed a button his watch, then nodded. “Let’s go. You set the pace and I’ll follow.” They started out heading east toward Washington Park Arboretum.
“Why did your client remind you of me?”
“Because she was pregnant. Maybe a little further along.”
She thought about that a minute. “And she’s getting divorced?”
“That’s what she told me.”
“Poor woman.” She knew him well enough to guess he wasn’t happy about the situation either. “Are you trying to talk her out of it?” Eliot had a ten percent success rate when it came to convincing his clients they shouldn’t get divorced. Though most
people wouldn’t call losing business a success.
“I suggested they try counselling.” He checked over his shoulder for oncoming traffic, before leading the way across the street and onto the next block.
“Which they won’t do. Because you’re going to counsel them.”
He made a face at her, but didn’t try to deny it. Eliot couldn’t help himself. He was a natural conciliator.
“Maybe Adrian and I should book a counseling session with you, too.”
“I take you your talk on Sunday didn’t go well?”
She grimaced. “Not especially.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
She felt a flash of anger at his reaction, even though, logically, she knew it was justified. “He was just shocked, that’s all. The next day he sent me a beautiful bouquet of pink roses.”
“Don’t you prefer tulips?”
She did, damn it. Sometimes it was annoying how well Eliot knew her. “That’s not the point. I think he just needs time to get used to the idea of having a second child.”
They were at the park now, running north toward the Bay. They’d gone almost two miles and Dani ought to be hitting her stride. Instead she was out of breath and her legs felt like they would really prefer to be stretched out on the sofa. She slackened her pace a bit more. Poor Eliot was doing little more than jogging in place now.
“Sorry. A little out of shape, I guess.”
“Hey, no problem. Why don’t we walk for a bit?”
“Thanks. Do you mind if we turn back? That coffee house we just passed looked open.”
Usually, they waited until after their run to grab a snack. But she was feeling light-headed, and some food seemed like a smart idea.
Eliot put a hand on her back. “You sure you’re okay? You look pale. Normally your face is as red as a strawberry when we go running.”
“I didn’t eat much for lunch,” she recalled. “I had a doctor’s appointment.” And she’d been too nervous before it, and too upset after, to face more than a glass of milk.
“Crazy woman. You need to take better care of yourself. How did the appointment go?”
It felt nice to be fussed over and for a second she toyed with telling him about the ultrasound and the decision she had to make. She longed for someone to commiserate with her over the dilemma she was facing.
But what if he told her she was crazy to even consider having a child that might be born with Downs?
Could she handle that?
They were at the café now, Gloria and Phil’s, a small owner operated place with two tables out front and a few more inside. Eliot checked the menu posted by the open door. “Want a wrap?”
“Too heavy.”
“A smoothie? They have a blueberry, banana and yogurt one that sounds looks good.”
“Sure.”
“Wait out here.”
She wasn’t too tired to stand in line for her own smoothie. But Dani decided that she would play the pregnancy card and sit for a bit. There was a teenaged couple at the other table, side-by-side, with their legs and shoulders touching. On the table beside them were lattes in tall glass mugs, but they seemed more interested in one another than their beverages.
They looked like they were totally into one another.
And she couldn’t help envying them, because they were so young and she could remember what being in love had felt like at that age. Crazy and limitless and absolutely sublime.
“Here we go.” Eliot was back, with two take-out glasses filled to the brim. “Want to stay here while we drink these?”
“No. I feel chilly when I’m not moving. Let’s keep walking.”
The smoothie tasted so wonderful she had to discipline herself from draining it in a flash. “This is what I needed. Thanks.”
“You have to get used to eating for two.”
“One of the perks of being pregnant.” But she didn’t want to gain too much weight. Also, the literature she’d read had warned against eating excessive amounts of sugar.
“So, have you told your family about the baby?”
“No.”
“But you will soon?”
“I suppose.”
Eliot gave her an assessing look. “You don’t think your sisters are going to judge you because you’re not married?”
“Of course not. But I’d hoped to at least be at the stage where I could bring Adrian home to meet them.”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
She just shook her head. She didn’t need to ask, to know Adrian would say no to that idea.
They walked a few more paces, before Eliot suddenly swore. “Why do you put up with his shit? You deserve a hell of a lot better.”
The explosion of anger caught her by surprise and made her angry, too. “Just shut up about Adrian, would you?”
“But—”
“No more,” she insisted. “I knew when I got into this relationship that it wouldn’t be easy. Relationships among the faculty aren’t exactly firing offences, but they aren’t encouraged either. Adrian’s tenured. I’m not. The reason he’s so careful to keep our relationship quiet is to protect me, not him.”
“And you won’t be tenured for what—another four years? Is that how old your child will have to be before Adrian acknowledges that it’s his?”
A traffic light turned red, just as Dani was about to cross the street. Eliot grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. She knew he was just watching out for her, but it seemed that he’d been a bit rougher than he needed to be.
“Why are you so angry?”
He hesitated. Glanced away from her, then back, meeting her gaze squarely. “I care about you, Dani.”
“And I appreciate that. You’re a good friend. But you have to trust me to know what I’m doing. Adrian—he’s going to be there for me. It’s just—he’s had a lot to go through. With his wife dying, and then, the move. And now getting used to being a single father…”
The light turned green and they were able to cross. Dani could see their condo building just a few blocks ahead.
But she was still thinking about Adrian. “I wish he would talk to me about his wife. But he never even mentions her.”
She could feel Eliot grow tense. But he didn’t say anything. He did, however, hurl his half-finished smoothie into a trash can as they passed by.
She stopped and stared at him. “What is with you today?”
“I just can’t handle it anymore.”
“Handle what?”
“You. Adrian. This sick relationship you’ve got yourself messed up in.”
“Okay. We have some problems. But it is not a sick relationship. That’s a really low blow.”
“Come on, Dani. You’re the one with the psychology degree. Can’t you see why he doesn’t talk to you about his dead wife?”
Dani took a backward step. Suddenly she wasn’t just angry—she was scared. This wasn’t like Eliot. Eliot didn’t do serious. Eliot did funny and charming and sometime, when provoked, he did sarcastic.
But never serious.
“A lot of men internalize their emotions when they go through a loss.”
“Yup. And a lot of them try to numb the pain by seeking out pleasure from another source. The phrase I’ve heard is, an emotional crutch.”
“That’s what you think I am? Just a source of pleasure to numb the pain he feels at losing his wife?” She’d been aware of Eliot’s low opinion of her relationship with Adrian. But she’d had no idea he saw her as such a—pitiful figure. “Adrian and I have a real connection. You don’t have a clue.”
“Maybe I don’t. But I’m not the only clueless one here.”
The stubborn, angry expression on his face was one she didn’t even recognize. What had happened to the man that she’d thought was her friend?
“So now I’m clueless, huh? Great. Thanks for the free assessment. You’ll understand if I don’t hang around for any more of your analysis today. In fact, I’m not sure if I ever want to talk to you, a
gain. You should try sticking to the law, Eliot. Something you’re actually trained to do.”
She took off running then, more surprised than relieved when Eliot didn’t try to follow. And then, when she was almost at the front door, a sob choked out of her throat, and suddenly she was crying.
That idiot. She fumbled with the key, then hurried inside the lobby. Just for a second she glanced back out at the street, but she couldn’t see Eliot anymore. She had no idea where he’d disappeared to, and she told herself she didn’t care.
*
The day didn’t get better. Adrian had to put off their plans for a Thai dinner when Ava came down with a spring cold. And on Friday night, after turning down Miriam’s invitation to join her and Eliot for a movie, Dani felt more alone than ever.
Perhaps, she should have agreed to go to that movie. But she still hadn’t forgiven Eliot for what he’d said after their run. Frankly, she’d been expecting an apology and could hardly believe he still hadn’t offered her one.
She ordered a pizza for dinner, assuaging her guilt by eating it with a glass of milk and handful of baby carrots. When she was done, she tried phoning the Circle C, hoping to speak to Callan. But she’d forgotten her baby sister’s penchant for hanging out at Grey’s Saloon on Friday nights and got her father instead.
“Hi Dad. How are you? It’s Dani,” she added, because she knew that she and Callan sounded similar on the phone.
“Good. You?”
If she’d had a different kind of father, Dani might have broken down right then and confessed everything. But as a little girl she’d learned it didn’t pay to take her troubles to her father. “I’m good, too. Has the snow melted yet?”
Spring arrived a lot later in Montana than it did in Seattle. From experience she knew the trees wouldn’t even start budding for another week or two.
“Still lots up in the mountains.”
“How’s calving going?”
“Pretty much done now.”
The line went silent as she ran out of questions.
“I’ll tell your sister you called,” Hawksley said. And then he hung up.
She tried calling Sage next, but ended up leaving a message. Of course, she was probably busy with the cowboy who’d come courting her at the Copper Mountain Rodeo last fall. Dawson O’Dell was now a Deputy Sheriff in Marietta, living in a cute house on Bramble Lane with his young daughter Savannah. Dani didn’t expect it would be much longer until Sage was living there, too.
Close to Her Heart Page 5