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I blink. He’s never mentioned this before. Chicago? That might be halfway across the country, but it feels like another planet. “He has?”
“Yeah. He doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Keeps sweetening the pot, every time he calls me. I bet I could hop on a plane tomorrow and have an amazing job out there. But…”
He trails off, staring at the steering wheel.
I know that “but.” It’s not me. It’s not even Ellie. It’s Jace.
But that sounds like one hell of a job. A dream job. Chicago? Most attorneys only wish they can practice big-time in a big-city firm. I know I’d be salivating for that kind of opportunity. The Foster & Foster partnership is small potatoes, compared to that.
And he’d had it in his back pocket, this whole time.
He was giving it up, for his nephew.
“You should be there,” I say quietly.
He turns to look at me. “I can’t.”
“You can’t, because of your family. But I can keep an eye on Ellie, and make sure that—”
“Ellie isn’t your responsibility.” He says it harshly, in a conversation-ending way. As if he doesn’t want or need my vote in the matter. He starts the ignition and points the car toward Portland. When he speaks again, his voice is quieter. “Anyway, I don’t need to make the decision tonight.”
No, he does not. But we do have to make some potentially life-altering ones, soon.
At least, he’ll be making one. I have no prospects right now. This blow has completely knocked me out from behind.
It strikes me at that moment that the only reason I was keeping it together was because I was going through it with Brooks.
Without him, what the hell am I going to do?
36
“And that’s the end.”
I close the book and look over at Jace, who is snuggling under the covers in his Paw Patrol pajamas. His eyes are drooping. He’s ready. “That was sooo good,” he yawns.
“The best. I love those books.” Pressing a kiss to the top of his head, I help him get comfortable and say, “Good night, Bud.”
“’Night, Brooksy.”
I turn on his star projector, go to the door, and as I’m about to flip the light switch, catch him looking at me.
“Brooksy?”
“Yeah, Bud?”
“Can we go watch the Sea Dogs this summer?”
I stare at him. I know he only asked about a baseball, game, but for some reason, my ears heard: Can you never leave me? Ever? “Sure. I’ve been meaning to get you to a game.”
“Jayden said his parents have season tickets.”
There’s that Jayden, again. I don’t know why, but he sounds like a little snot. “Good for him. Maybe we’ll see him there.”
He nods. “That would be cool.”
“All right. I’ll see you in the morning.” I flip the lights and close the door halfway, to the Jace-approved limit.
Then I go to my bedroom and, thinking about what I discussed with Tenley, crack open my laptop. A moment later, I find an email dated two weeks ago, from my professor at Yale, Dr. Anderson. Well, he was Dr. Anderson, back when I was a law student. The day I graduated, he told me to call him Marc.
Hey, Kid, Just wanted to let you know, the partner offer is still open. We need a real shark on our team. $250k to start, full benefits and stock options. Call me.
—M
I’d responded that the offer was tempting, but I’d have to refuse.
Now, it feels like I can’t refuse.
I’d softened it with Tenley, because I knew that if I told her all the details, she’d call me crazy for passing it up.
But yes, it’s everything I want. If only it wasn’t in damn Chicago.
I think of Jace’s sleepy little face as he begged me to take him to a baseball game. How can I disappoint him?
Well, he might like the Sea Dogs, but he’d love the Chicago Cubs. That would be iconic. And…
Who am I kidding? Ellie would never move. She has her roots so deep in this place that the thought alone of even stepping beyond the state lines would probably kill her.
But still…
Marc kept sweetening the pot for me. If I sweetened it for Ellie… if I told her how much better our lives would be, and I gave Jace the best schooling money could buy? She would hate it. She’d fight me. But eventually, she might realize it was the best decision for all of us.
I stare at the email until it all blurs together, and a realization hits me.
I’d need Tenley with me. I’m not about to lose her now. And she doesn’t have anything tying her here, anymore, either, does she? She needs a new job, and all the ones around here are going to be a step down from the partnership at Foster and Foster.
Picking up the phone, I dial my professor. When he answers, I say, “Hey, there, Mark. How’s it going? It’s Brooks.”
