AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t know what you want to do.” I spoke out her fears. “You don’t want to be his ornament, but you don’t know how to be your own tree. And the more he shines, the more his shadow gets thrown on you.”
Her brown eyes glazed over with tears she fought back. “I really care about him. I love him a lot, but … I’m not ready to walk down his perfect path—either of them. I’ve been searching so hard at school to find classes or programs I like. But nothing. Everyone is flying forward, and I’m just the lost bird.”
I thought for a second, shifting for the ten thousandth time since no position was comfortable for more than a few minutes.
“Finish the semester, and then take a year off,” I whispered.
“Who are you, and where did my sister go?”
Ignoring her, I let all the thoughts come together until I saw the big picture. “In law school, I learned we shouldn’t shy away from our connections. We shouldn’t soften because of them, but we shouldn’t be afraid to use them. Connections were like having a hidden dagger on a battlefield. Just because your enemy didn’t have it, didn’t mean you had to disarm yourself—”
“Now I remembered what my second point was,” she cut in. “Is law school like The Hunger Games? It’s like they are preparing you for war, not court.”
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed, and I had to stretch for it.
Sorry, can’t call. We’re getting started now. Sorry for not understanding. I’m going to have to stay in the city ‘til the trial is over. Do you want to stay at the house, or do you want to come with and stay at Tristan’s place?
I glanced at Selene who was staring at me, waiting.
I’m good here. Sister bonding time is needed, I replied.
I’ll come back tonight to get some stuff, and I’ll check in, so keep your phone close, please. Love you, and I do understand. We’ll talk more after this over.
Okay. Love you too. Good luck … for the second time.
“Luck only tips the scale if you’re good enough without it. I’m more than good enough. ;)” He finally said. Before I could reply, he sent another text.
“Starting, don’t forget to record! Love you bye.”
“Did you two kiss and make up?” Selene teased.
“Maybe.” I stuck my tongue out at her. “Can you hand me the remote on his bedside table?”
She handed it to me, but looked around the room. “Where is the television?”
I pointed the remote forward, and automatically the mirror blinked once before turning on as the television.
“Well excuse me, then.”
“He loves his gadgets,” I said to her, flipping to the news. There he was, dressed in his navy suit with the burgundy tie I’d gotten him, but what really turned me on were his glasses.
“You’re recording it?” she asked, when the option came up.
“Because it’s war.” I muted it and turned back to face her. “You asked if they were preparing us for The Hunger Games or something? There are two types of lawyers, the ones that truly want to make a difference, the social justice warriors. They are fighting a war against those who are greedy and cruel and oftentimes rich. Then there are those who are lawyers because the love the thrill of it. Yes, we do care about our clients. But honestly, it’s a thrill and the war is…it’s more complex just like the law. At the first level, it is a battle between minds. Not just with the other lawyer but yourself. Because in order to defend your client you need to know how to prosecute them. The other lawyer shouldn’t have something up their sleeve you don’t already think about. On the next level, it’s not only in your hand. One juror could refuse and the whole jury can be hung. So you have to figure out how to get them on your side. Look.” I sat up again leaning in and pointing the television. “See he’s wearing his glasses while the pr
osecutor is opening. He is taking notes, he doesn’t need to, but it looks like he is only listening to her as she speaks, giving her his full attention and ignoring the jury.”
“But I thought you said you wanted them on your side?”
I grinned nodding as I watched him get up and take off his glasses. “That’s what makes him so good. At least one of them already is. When the prosecutor is accusing the defendant, out of habit, we always look to see not only who it is we’re talking about but how they react to the accusations at least once…sometimes even more than that. So while he was pretending to listen intently to the prosecutor they are all looking at him. And what they see isn’t some cocky sleaze-ball lawyer trying to get a murderer off. They see a handsome, serious, man giving his full attention first, to a woman, second, to the case. See, now he’s taken off his glasses to speak to them during his turn. In the back of one of their minds, they’ll realize he only uses the glasses when he’s reading and writing. Believe me, whatever he’s writing is chicken scratch, but to them it looks like he’s really doing his homework. So at least one of them will be more inclined to take everything he says more seriously. One of them will weigh each thing he says more importantly because he looks like the bookworm and the facts guy. And that one person is all he needs to hang the jury.”
“All of that from him writing, and taking off his glasses?” She laughed at me. “Jeez.”
“Exactly.” I smiled leaning back again. “That’s why he’s the best. From the moment he stepped into the court room, he was setting up his battleground.” I looked at her again. “I want to go back to work not just because I want to prove myself, but because I love this. I love being a lawyer. I love working to win. And ,yes, I win for bad people sometimes and that sucks, but I can’t not love the win. I’ll love this baby when he comes. But I’ll always want to be a lawyer. That is what it is like to be passionate and that is what I want you to be. So I’m going to use you.”
“Huh, how?” She twisted her bottle cap.
“You can lean on me,” I reminded her. “If you want, take a year off school, and live here with us, rent and food free, as you search for your passion. In return, you help me take care of Ulric while I’m at work. I don’t want you to feel like I’m just dumping my kid on you, so—”
