“She’s rude and insulting,” Ishkode insisted. “I dislike her and how she treats both you and Tally.”
Honestly, he can be too over-protective at times. Jazz is a small fish in a big pond. Lex waved his hand, dismissing the comment and redirected the conversation. “Let’s not discuss Jazz when we have more pressing issues to concern ourselves with.”
“Agreed. Thanks to Tally, we have enough to wade through without bringing up that Amazon.” Ishkode took a sip of his wine while Lex chuckled softly. “Now, what’s going on? It kind of sounds like Tally’s lost her mind.”
“Well, let’s see – where do I begin?” Lex scratched his head, scrunching his face to the side and squinting one eye shut. “From what I’ve gathered, Tally believes I have an inherent right to stocks in the company since I’ve been with them as long as she has. Furthermore, she wants me to be protected by giving me a legal claim to the profits, as well as a say in the direction of growth the business can, and will, take.”
“Okay.”
“She’s trying to secure my future, whether she’s there or not.”
“I appreciate that, but I have to ask, where’s she planning to go?” He took a gulp of the rich elixir. “Oh, that’s good. This beautiful brew will definitely make this craziness easier to take.”
Lex chuckled again. “She isn’t going anywhere that I’m aware of.”
“Then what are we talking about, and why is this even an issue? You’ve been working with Abram, Smith, Shallot, and Gold for over ten years. You were there when it was just ‘Harmon Gold, Attorney at Law’, for goodness sake.”
“I know,” Lex replied as he collected Ishkode’s glass, placing it on the coffee table alongside his own. “Tally even acknowledged that by saying she ought to have done it a long time ago.” Still, she has no reason to feel guilty, even though I know she does.
“She’s right – she should have, but this still seems weird to me,” Ishkode remarked, “and it doesn’t answer any of my questions.”
“Well, let me put it this way,” Lex offered, “Once she has a baby, Tally wants to step back, allocating cases to the other partners and junior lawyers. She doesn’t want her child to be raised by a nanny, like she was, so she intends to work less in order to be more available to enjoy her family.”
“Okay,” Ishkode said, “but why gift you a larger ownership than Jazz, and why include me at all? I mean, what do I have to do with anything?”
“You do handle our advertisements,” Lex pointed out, his chin resting on his hand where it pressed against Ishkode’s sleek, muscular chest. Looking up at him with adoring eyes, he thought, how did I get to be so blessed? I always think my heart is filled to capacity, yet, somehow, this man not only makes me fall in love with him all over again, but he causes my feelings to deepen and grow. Each day I love him more than I did the day before.
Ishkode gently corrected his partner. “I don’t, darling; my company does.”
“Well, I don’t know, honey. All she said was that I do more for the company than Jazz, so I deserved a larger share –”
“Which is true,” Ishkode interjected, nodding approvingly.
Lex ignored his outburst and continued what he was saying as though he hadn’t been interrupted. “And since we’ll need an odd number of board members in order to remedy potential voting disputes, she could only think of one person she trusted as much as me to do the job.”
“Me.”
“You got it,” Lex replied, “Which, by the way, is also true.”
“Okay, so how did that transition into fathering a child?” Ishkode tapped Lex softly on the shoulder and pointed toward his wine, indicating his intentions. Though Lex understood his partner’s gesturing, he didn’t simply shift off of the handsome man, allowing him to retrieve his own glass. Instead, he leaned forward to present it himself.
Handing the wine to his husband, Lex answered with a shrug, “She just said it.”
“She said it,” Ishkode repeated matter-of-factly. He took a generous sip before returning the glass to the coaster on the coffee table, and added, “She just threw it into the universe, clear and direct, that she wanted us both to father her baby?”
Lex nodded. “Yep, pretty much.”
“Wow.” Ishkode leaned back against the pillows lining the couch. He scrubbed at his face with his large hands before dropping them into his lap.
“Look, honey,” Lex explained, drawing a long tendril of Ishkode’s straight hair through his fingers. “Tally’s just as confused as we are. Apparently, she’s been struggling with how to approach us about this for quite some time, and now that she has, she’s afraid we’ll confuse her Christmas gifts with the request.”
Ishkode turned toward Lex, a look of incredulity on his chiseled face. “Well, that’s silly. Anyone who gives her half a minute realizes she’s the most sincere person in the world. Her generosity comes from genuine love and concern, not because she expects something in return.”
“Agreed, but we’re also aware of how incredibly insecure she can be at times.”
“It’s because of assholes like George using and abusing her.”
Lex bobbed his head in agreement though he refrained from adding to his lover’s angry comments. “She’s worried she’s handling this whole situation wrong. It’s the reason she didn’t just give us the papers during the party Saturday. Not only did she want us to have time to think things through, allowing us to discuss it privately, but she wanted to stress the fact that her gifts and request are truly separate entities.”
“That definitely sounds like our Tally. You know, I’ve no doubt she caused herself additional, not to mention unnecessary, grief fretting because I wasn’t there when she asked. Giving us unwrapped gifts is going to plague her even more. It won’t surprise me if she wraps small items just so we have something to open at the party.” He took a moment to ponder as a dark shadow covered his troubled features. “Considering her integrity, I’m bowled over that George – that undeserving prick – weaseled his way into her heart.”
“Kode, darling, you know exactly how he did it,” Lex accused. Despite being a snake in the grass, that man is charismatic. It’s his black heart that’s the problem.
“Yeah,” Ishkode conceded. “He promised her the family she’s craved her entire life. He played on her emotions for his own gain. May Gichi-Manidoo forgive me, but I hate that guy. I hate him with a passion.” His hands instinctively clenched into fists.
“Don’t we all, love?” Lex sighed, easing his spouse’s hands open and massaging the palms to relax them again. “I was actually hoping Jazz would’ve hit him today.”
“Wait! He came into the office again?” Ishkode looked appalled; his body tense with anger.
“Yes,” Lex confirmed. “I’m certain that’s what gave Tally the final push toward our lunch conversation. If he hadn’t shown up, I doubt she’d have pursued the topic – at least, not without you present.”
Ishkode’s gaze looked distant and sad as he responded, “I’m sure you’re right. Poor Tally.”
Poor, indeed, Lex thought, reaching for another sip of wine. “Tally’s afraid she’ll never find love. She’s worried her window of opportunity for a family will close before it’s even open.”
“I can see that,” Ishkode acknowledged. “Growing up in near isolation, only interacting with Harmon’s house staff, didn’t do her any favors. Her childhood companions were all on the clock; paid to be with her. It’s why she thinks she has to give so much in exchange for even a little attention.”
“Uh-huh,” Lex concurred. “Even when she started working for the firm, her contemporaries were all on the payroll. Can you name anyone who’s been there for her without their hand out?”
“Only us.”
“Well, there’s the reason she believes we’re the only ones in her life who honestly love her.”
Ishkode shifted, and the movement bore the tell-tale signs of his agitation. “I don’t want to speak ill of the
dead, but Harmon Gold was a horrible guardian.”
“You’ve got that right,” Lex agreed. “His generosity to his employees, commitment to his clients, and dedication for building the law firm into the reputable business it is today were admirable, except when it trumped his love for his orphaned niece.”
“He was honorable and well-meaning, but completely misguided.”
“His priorities were skewed for sure. It’s really no wonder Tally’s a work-a-holic herself. Perhaps we should’ve seen this coming. I mean, when it comes to loving her, she’s not wrong; we are the only ones who truly do.”
When Lex repositioned himself on the sofa, Ishkode wrapped an arm around him. “No, she’s not wrong, and neither are you. Talking it through, her motives do make sense. I get it now, too.”
As Ishkode’s expression turned introspective, Lex couldn’t help contemplating himself. Though I know she really does care, even Jazz is invested more in her profitability than their actual relationship. I mean, I get it; she has a family to provide for, but still… In that moment, Lex knew where he stood on the issue. I’ll do anything to give Tally the family she deserves. “Kode,” Lex asked in a soft voice, “has it ever bothered you?”
“What?” Ishkode cocked his head to the side as his eyes met Lex’s. “Your attraction to her?”
Lex could feel his blush permeating throughout his face. “Well, yes. I mean, I’ve never asked you before and I probably should have, especially considering the fact I work beside her every day.”
“No,” Ishkode admitted nonplussed, “not at all. In truth, I think it’s safe to say we both love her deeply. So much so, we both contemplated marrying her until we confessed what we felt for one another.”
“Yeah,” Lex agreed. “You know, to this day, she’s the only woman who ever turned me on.”
“Turned us on,” Ishkode added. “That time in college, when we had that three-way, was the only time I ever had sex with a female.”
“Same,” Lex interjected.
“No other woman ever interested me.”
“Do you still find her attractive?” Lex asked, though he already knew the answer.
Ishkode nodded. “I don’t think that has or ever will change, do you?”
“No.” Lex exhaled heavily as he snuggled closer to his husband, craving the comfort of his touch. “What do you think that means?”
“I think it means we need to invite her over for a serious conversation.”
“And by conversation, you mean sex, right?”
Again, Ishkode nodded.
*****
“I can’t believe you’re still in the office,” Jazz commented as she entered the room. Consumed with her task, Tally jumped at the unexpected sound, making the brash woman chuckle.
“Me? Hell, I’m always here late. You’d know that if you’d ever stay yourself. Speaking of, I thought you were going home early today.”
“I did, too,” Jazz replied, sitting on the edge of her friend’s desk. “But then, I got a call from the Clerk’s Office about some papers I need to expedite.”
“I know how that goes, but that’s par for the course. After all, I am a corporate lawyer with international clients, so what else can I expect? However, I’m curious to know what’s so pressing in the world of family law that you needed to stay after hours?”
“It’s actually an interesting case,” Jazz informed her, toying with a stress ball from Tally’s desk.
“Really?” Her interest piqued, Tally set her pen down, folded her hands, and turned her full attention toward her friend. “Tell me about it."
“Well, it involves the legal recognition of three individuals having parental authority over the same child.”
Tally’s manicured eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I vaguely remember the topic being addressed in California some years back – what was it again; something involving the governor, right?”
Tossing the stress ball between her hands, Jazz replied, “Yeah, you’re referring to SB 274, passed in October 2013 by Governor Jerry Brown, which allowed a child to have three legal parents.”
“Yeah, I remember now, but I didn’t realize we were handling a case like that,” Tally commented. This is definitely something I need to research. I mean, if Lex and Kode agree to father my child, we’ll need to ensure all of our rights are protected. Leave it to Jazz to bring me something vital without her realizing it. “Does Minnesota have the same law?”
“Technically, we don’t.” Jazz dropped the stress ball back onto the desk and migrated toward the large window overlooking downtown. “God, I love this city, especially during the holidays. I’ve always enjoyed Nicollet Mall, with its fountains and sculptures. Of course, the best time of year is when it’s decorated for Christmas and carols are blaring from the outdoor speakers. It’s like a winter wonderland.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tally mumbled absently. Rising out of her seat to stand beside the taller woman, she brushed off Jazz’s personal reflection and redirected the conversation back to the original topic. “What do you mean when you say ‘technically’?”
Jazz looked confused for a moment. “Huh? Oh, right. Well, currently, there isn’t legislation either way, but SB 274 gives us a precedence we can follow. I mean, in cases such as this one –”
Tally raised her hand, causing Jazz to pause long enough for her to ask, “What exactly are the parameters of this case?”
“Well, my client had an affair with a married woman that subsequently led to a pregnancy. Since Minnesota law assumes the husband is the biological father, his name was automatically applied to the birth certificate, making him the legal parent instead of my client.”
Tally leaned back against the window sill. “Didn’t the mother acknowledge your client’s paternity?”
Jazz shrugged. “Since she’s married, it doesn’t matter if she did or didn’t. If she were single, she could have claimed my client as the biological father, though she still would’ve retained sole custody of the child. However, being married, parentage is automatically assigned to the spouse, regardless of any declaration made by the mother.”
“What if paternity is proven?” Tally began to pace as she processed the information. Surely, the law has to recognize a man once a DNA test proves his claim is legitimate.
“Well, generally speaking, once paternity has been established, the individuals involved will file a ROP.”
I’ve heard her say that before, but I have no idea what the hell it means. “A what?”
Jazz sniggered as she adjusted her position. “A ROP is the short name for a Recognition of Parentage form. You don’t need a lawyer for it, but it does need to be notarized before it’s submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health.”
“Okay, so why did your client contact you if they didn’t require an attorney to file said ROP?”
Tipping her head from side-to-side with a look of indifference on her face, Jazz pulled away from the window and began fiddling with random objects on the desk. “Well, since the spouse was presumed to be the father, it complicates things. The ROP is a legal document for setting up child support, but considering there’s multiple fathers involved, it’s just a ‘presumption’ of paternity. This limits its power, especially if contested.”
“Do you really think the spouse will contest it?” Tally wondered. I’d guess infidelity would lead to a divorce, not a child custody case. I can’t imagine a husband wanting to stay involved, knowing the child isn’t his.
Dropping into Tally’s plush seat, Jazz spun around a few times, resembling a bored, over-sized youth. “You’d be surprised. In this case, it’s possible because the spouse intends to accept responsibility for the child.”
“You’re kidding?” Tally exclaimed, genuinely surprised to hear this. Why would he stay with a cheating wife? Then again, why would George’s wife keep him after learning about his infidelity?
“Nope,” Jazz replied, halting the chair from its rotation in order to lean back in it. Crossing her hands ov
er her stomach, she regarded the elegant beauty with an expression devoid of humor. “Apparently, the couple tried to start a family, but couldn’t. Though they underwent some testing to identify the problem, they weren’t able to afford in vitro.”
Is she saying what I think she’s saying? Tally stared at the red-head, their eyes on an equal plane despite Jazz being seated. “Let me guess. It was the husband’s fault they couldn’t conceive so he agreed to let the wife select a donor.”
Spinning around in the chair again, Jazz confirmed her conclusion. “You got it.”
I’m so glad I decided to go into corporate law. Family law isn’t just complicated, but I imagine emotions run hot. Thick, chestnut-colored locks brushed across the willowy woman’s back as she shook her head, her amber eyes lifted toward the ceiling panels. “So, what recourse is available to protect your client’s rights?”
“Well, since both fathers want to be involved and recognized, I’d traditionally file a Paternity Adjudication.”
“But you’re not doing that, are you?”
“Nope,” the large woman replied, halting the spinning chair to face Tally. “With new laws popping up all over due to the unconventional families of modern society, I’m using the U.S. Supreme Court case Michael H. v. Gerald D. to motion for a third-parent adoption.”
“Wow.” Feeling stunned by both the timing of their conversation and the unexpected paradigm of the case, Tally dropped into the chair across from her colleague.
Grinning, pleased with her friend’s reaction, Jazz reaffirmed, “I told you it was interesting.”
“Yes, you did,” the dainty lawyer agreed. If she only knew the depth of importance this discussion really has. It must be providence. “However, I’m still confused.”
“About what?”
“Why you’re still here,” Tally replied with a slight smirk.
The fierce red-head harrumphed. “I’m still here because my client needs to fly to Shanghai for work, making him temporarily unavailable to me for a whopping seventeen hours, or some crazy shit like that. He asked me to expedite his paperwork, but in order to do that I need to submit the forms before nine o’clock tomorrow morning, which is during his period of radio silence. Therefore, I’m making sure everything is ready tonight.” As she spoke, Jazz’s phone pinged. Pulling it from her pocket to glance at it, she said, “And here’s the email now.”
Flawed Perfection: A Collection of Winter Wishes Page 21