by Bailey West
“We’ve never talked about marriage. How do you feel about it?”
She shrugged. “It’s a good thing, I guess. What about you?”
“Never really considered it. Now, I think it’s a good thing.”
“What changed your mind?”
“You.”
The vacation was a success. My family and Averie’s family bonded and had a great time. Even little Miss Princess told me thank you and stunned the entire family. The best part of the vacation was watching Averie relax, smile and have fun. We haven’t stopped telling each other that we love each other since we said it, every time I hear her say it feels like the first time.
Xavier held down VLG while I was away and did a fantastic job. I am preparing the paperwork to offer him a partnership.
“Aye, El, you ready for court?” Xavier asked before coming into my office.
“Yeah. This should be an open and shut case, right? No surprises?”
“No, no surprises.”
Averie
“Ms. Patterson!”
Liddy burst through the conference doors. Laila jumped to her feet ready to attack before she realized who it was. The look of fear in Liddy’s eyes made my heart sink.
“What’s wrong?”
“Excuse us, gentlemen. It’s a family emergency,” she announced to the room. “I will call your secretaries and assistants to reschedule. Thank you.”
I had no idea what was going on, but I trusted her judgment and nodded my head as the men stood to leave the conference room.
As soon as the door closed behind the last man, she flipped open her tablet and put it in front of me. I saw the breaking news banner displayed at the bottom of the screen before I gave the female news reporter my full attention.
“Yes, Laurie, we are standing in front of the city courthouse where the shooting took place. Law enforcement officers are blocking us from getting any closer but here is what we’ve found out so far; several people have been injured. We know for sure Mr. Samuel Valentine, a prominent lawyer in the Saint Louis area has been shot and rushed to a local hospital. Early reports say he is in critical condition while the gunman or gunmen have not been identified.”
“Wait…what?”
“The incident took place on the steps of the courthouse. Mr. Valentine and his team were leaving the courthouse when the shooting happened. We are being told that the gunman fired off several rounds and then fled in an awaiting car. We have one eyewitness here with us.”
The camera’s focused widened, and a lady was standing next to the reporter.
“Can you tell us what you saw?”
“Um, yes. I was on my way into the courthouse because I needed to file a restraining order against my no good ex-boyfriend Bobby. I was about to open the door to the building when I heard some gunshots. I immediately took cover and waited for the popping to stop. I did see a dude run and get into a car, but I don’t know if he was the shooter or if he was just running scared like everyone else. Then I heard people screaming. It was scary.”
“I’m sure it was. Did you see anyone hurt?” The reporter asked while shoving the microphone back into the woman’s face.
“I heard people yelling about a lawyer and another man being hurt, but I don’t know who they are. They got us all out of the way real quick like, so I didn’t see who was hurt.”
“Thank you so much…”
“Is he…is he...?”
Laila was in the corner of the room talking on the phone and using exaggerated hand gestures, my cell phone was vibrating non-stop, and I was trying to find out if El was okay, but I couldn’t formulate the words to ask the question.
“We don’t know, but I called a car to get you to the hospital. Gretchen called and told me where Mr. Valentine was taken.”
“There is a car downstairs,” Laila announced. “Liddy please handle the phones here and lock the floor down. Don’t let anyone on the floor but people can leave. I will have Averie’s phone so if there is a problem with what I just said, call me.”
“Okay,” Liddy said before she retrieved my purse and my coat.
Laila pulled me up from my seat and helped me into my coat. She grabbed my purse and put in on my shoulder before pushing me toward the door.
He’d just told me he loved me and now I might be losing him? Life doesn’t really happen like this, does it?
“Ms. Averie Patterson.” Pastor DeLucas welcomed me to the pulpit.
I stood, took a deep breath. I looked at the black lacquered casket with gold accents adorned with beautiful red roses. I can’t believe this has happened. I made my way up the carpeted steps to stand behind the podium of the pulpit.
I looked out on the audience. Some of the faces I knew and some of them I did not. One thing they all had in common was they all seemed as sad and devastated as I was. I looked down at the paper I was gripping tightly. I figured the paper contained the speech I was about to give. Why did I agree to this? I placed the paper on the podium then looked down at it to read it. I couldn’t make out any of the words. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure out what the paper said, so I winged it.
I took a deep breath and began to speak, “Samuel and I met when his firm asked me to come on as co-council for one of their cases. I was so excited about the possibility of working with the world-renowned Valentine Law Group. Samuel, however, was not welcoming. I thought he was absolutely gorgeous, but his attitude needed some adjusting.,” I chuckled. “I started spending time with him, and in no time flat, I understood why people spoke of him the way they did. I understood how people were mesmerized by the deep cadence of his voice.
I was.
I watched him work, and he gave me access to his brilliant mind, then, I fell in love. We fell in love. We loved hard. We had a love that could only be described as…”
“Averie!”
My sister stood up in the audience calling my name. I looked at her and couldn’t understand why she wasn’t dressed in funeral attire like the rest of us.
“Averie!” she yelled my name again. This time she was standing right next to me.
“Sweetie, wake up.”
I opened my eyes and looked around. I was still in the waiting room of the hospital.
“El?”
“He’s still in surgery.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thank You!
Thank you to all of the members of Bailey’s Coterie! Especially those who gave me name suggestions for one of my female characters. Did y’all see it in there? Love you all!
Thank you to my Author Sisters who provided words when I had brain farts, encouragement when I felt like I couldn’t do it and laughter just because. I am so blessed to be in the company of so many amazing women.
Thanks a ton JD! You have no idea how much you’ve helped me. I appreciate you!
To my Creator, Advocate, Intercessor, Standby, and Friend. The giver of gifts and the lover of my soul, Yeshua. Thank you for loving me with an everlasting, never failing, unconditional love. I present my gifts back to you as a sacrifice. Please accept my offering.
Also by Bailey West
Blue’s Beauty
Ezekiel’s Passion
Paxton’s Peace