“In a sec. First, I have some news. Ask me what I’ve been working on, why I’ve been keeping such long hours at work?”
“What are you working on?”
“I met with the partners at work, and they’ve agreed that we can file a class action suit against the Tomahawk Corporation as a pro bono case.”
She seems excited but I have no idea what it means. “In English, please?”
“It means my firm will allow me to be the lawyer on the case, but we won’t charge anything. The firm takes a few cases like this each year, and I pitched this one to them. So no one in Willow Springs has to pay us, but I can represent everyone at once.”
Her generosity fills my heart. “Are you serious? You’d do that?”
“Heck yeah. I will do. I can’t promise we’ll win, but there’s plenty of precedent in other cases where the court has ruled against a big company. And I want to try.” There’s a new fire in her eyes that I’ve never seen when she talks about her job. The pale blue flares with a “don’t mess with me” fierceness.
“I love that you’re not afraid to go up against Goliath.”
She nods. “I’m not. I’m excited. Maybe for the first time since I started practicing law. This case feels important. And I think I can win, or at least give it everything I have.”
I rack my brain to think of reasons her plan won’t work, but every time something is on the tip of my tongue, I reel it in. Eventually, I’ve been silent for so long that Tessa gives me a nudge with her foot.
“You okay there, Tex?”
“More than okay. You are a rock star.”
“Well, maybe. Let’s wait until a judge rules in your favor before you say that, but I think our chances are good. And I hate the idea that a big company like that is taking all the resources just because it did so in the past. The worst thing is that you’re all pitted against each other. It shouldn’t be that way.”
She’s right, but I never thought I’d find a hotshot LA lawyer who’d take the case.
Tessa heaves herself out of her chair and picks up my backpack, weighing it in her hands as if to test its worth. “So…did you bring everything?”
I run a hand through my hair, still baffled by the list of items.
“I did, but for the life of me, I have no idea why I need all of this.” I empty the contents of the backpack onto her table. She laughs when she sees the pair of heavy gloves that are practically oven mitts, a warm sweatshirt, a baseball hat and sunglasses, and an overflowing photo album.
I also take out the pair of toy handcuffs in Barbie pink and a giant bag of chocolate chips I’ve been instructed to bring.
“You really do follow instructions. I love it.”
“I fear I’m getting punked or something.” I hold up the handcuffs. “Care to explain?”
She grins and shakes her head. I spent the better part of the drive down here telling myself to keep my paws off her, but I can’t help myself. I drag her chair closer and tickle her until she screeches with laughter, but I keep shaking my head. “Not gonna tell! I’ll admit there might be a red herring in there. Or two.”
I hope it’s the handcuffs.
Actually, I hope it’s not.
“Fine.” I release her regretfully and settle into the chair, putting my feet up on the rail of the deck and taking in the view of the cityscape that stretches out below. It’s an urban view, but I can see how it offers an escape, being up here looking down. It’snot so different from the views of mountains and trees where I took her on the horse.
Only, it’s completely different. I want to like it, but if I’m honest, I could never see myself here. I’m too disagreeable to be around the sheer number of people who live in LA, for one thing. And I’d miss the open sky.
“Not quite the same as the empty mountaintop where you took me, but I like it.” She sounds apologetic, and I don’t want her to think I’m hesitant or uncomfortable.
“No, it’s great. I can see why you like it here,” I lie.
She rolls her eyes. “Drink your coffee, cowboy. We have a fun afternoon ahead.”
I do as I’m told. No reason not to trust her.
Thirty minutes later, we're in Tessa’s Jeep, headed toward the coast. She drives the same stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that just came down until Tessa points out The Raptor Center just past Malibu. I’m about to remark that I noticed this on my way when I find her turning into the driveway.
