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“Well, maybe some of us can act like we’re a different species. But I promise you, I’m not. My mom was a struggling single mom too, and I have what I have because someone helped her. That’s all.” I sip my coffee, realizing it’s the first time she’s talked about her family in an individual sense. Before she just said that her family was no help. “What kind of law does he practice?”
“Family law.”
That’s interesting. Maybe I know him. “Locally?”
She gives me a concerned look. “Look, I don’t want this getting back to him. He has no idea I’m doing this mentor program, and I want to keep it that way.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Why’s that? Sometimes it’s good to have extra support and encouragement, especially at home.”
“Because he’s a pain in the ass when he’s right about anything. Which is all the time.” She smiles. “He’s always telling me what to do… sign up for this, take that class, try this program. I know he means well, but it’s overwhelming. Plus, if I took one of those classes, I’d never hear the end of how right he was. He’d say, Look at you now! All because of me! I found this women’s center program on my own, and so it feels like something I’ve done, not like something someone told me to do. You know? So I want to keep it to myself for now.”
“I get it.” Still, family law? Ellie’s last name is Garner. Do I know any Garners who practice law in the area? No. Also, he could easily be a half-brother with a different last name. Or maybe she’s been married in the past and changed hers? She doesn’t want to discuss him, though, so I let it go.
That said, I know plenty of attorneys who love to rub your face in it when they’re right. Brooks Gentry being one of them.
For a second, I imagine Brooks being Ellie’s brother. They have the same blue eyes, dark arched, almost-black eyebrows. But it’s easy to connect dots when dots are all you see. As a lawyer, I’m trained to look for those connections. It’s a habit.
And not really helpful in this situation. Because she’s a Garner, not a Gentry. I need to quit thinking about my annoying co-worker, who has been occupying far too much of my headspace lately.
“I’m sure you’ve given lots of thought to what you should do and what would be a good career to make some money. But what would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” I ask, hoping it’s different enough to distinguish me from her pushy brother.
“If I couldn’t fail?” Her eyes light up, telling me that it is. She answers at once: “Culinary school.”
“Really? You like to cook?”
She nods, then gnaws on her lip slightly before explaining. “Bake. I did. When I had my own place, I was always in the kitchen, making pies. I was good at it, too. I’m nervous about it now, though. The fire in my apartment was because I was stupid and left the stove on while I was making a glaze. There was a potholder too close, and…”
“Oh. That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”
“I can’t even go in the kitchen, now. I keep thinking of how I failed. And poor Jace—that’s my son—I haven’t made him a real meal since the fire. My brother doesn’t understand. He thinks I’m being lazy.”
“We all make mistakes, Ellie. You need to give yourself grace on that. I was in a car accident last year. Just a fender bender, but I didn’t want to drive again after that. But you need to get in the car again. Eventually it gets easier.”
A smile touches her lips. “I actually saw there’s a baking program at the local community college. It sounds amazing.”
My jaw drops. Not just because it’s nearby but because of the spark that flashes in her eyes when she talks about it. “That’s perfect!”
She sighs. “It’s fifteen-hundred dollars for the classes, but I can’t afford that. I can barely afford the gas for my car.”
“Oh, forget that,” I tell her. “You’re going. Sign up for it. I’ll pay.”
She looks at me in shock. “Oh no. I couldn’t—”
“Oh, yes you can. This is an amazing opportunity. Just make me a triple-layer chocolate cake for my birthday and I’ll consider your debt to me repaid.” I grin.
“Okay… great.. Let’s do this!” This time, when she smiles, it lights up her entire face.
I drive home later with the windows down and the radio up, thinking of Ruth, hoping she’s looking down on me with pride, pleased with the way I’ve carried on her legacy. It’s not going to be easy for Ellie, but I feel like we’ve made a huge step forward. Like things might finally start to turn around for her and her son.
