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“All the more reason for you to start looking for a law clerk,” Lanie said, laying down a draw-four card.
He scowled, both at the insistence he needed help and the move she’d just played. He’d had only two cards left. But his mind wasn’t on the game at all, and there were some advantages to letting Lanie win.
“How can I advertise for one if no one will let me work?”
“I’ve already discussed placing an ad with the newspaper, and I’ve researched how to advertise at law schools in DC and Baltimore.” She glanced at him quickly before hitting him with another draw-four card. “Of course, we’ll need your help with the wording.”
“Doesn’t that count as work?” He winced at how sullen he sounded. His predicament wasn’t Lanie’s fault, and if he had any hope of convincing her to let him go into the office, even if just for a few hours, biting her head off wasn’t the way to do it. He tried a different tactic. “I appreciate your help.”
She smiled. “Anytime.”
Taking a deep breath, he pushed his shoulders back. “But I’d like to review my files.” When she opened her mouth to respond, he rushed on. “It’ll aid me in writing the ad if I know exactly what I’ll need the law clerk to do.”
Her brow furrowed. Whether that was because she was open to his request or debating her next move, he couldn’t tell. He fidgeted with his cards while he waited for her response.
With a sigh, she shook her head. “You know Rose will never go for that.”
“She’s my fiancée, not my keeper,” he retorted.
Lanie laughed. “Try telling her that.”
“I have,” he muttered. Time to go with plan B. “You know, I have a special calendar where I track my deadlines and upcoming court dates. I should review that as well.”
“Does Sandra not have access to this calendar?”
With a triumphant smile, he shook his head. “It’s locally saved on my computer.”
“Don’t you have a laptop?” Lanie frowned. “Couldn’t I bring that home to you?”
Score! “Would you? That would be helpful.”
“Sure. I’ll swing by the office tomorrow and drop it off next time I stop by.”
Steven smiled. Another battle won, and that one was huge. With his computer there, he would be able to work without anyone being the wiser, especially at night, when no one else was around. He was so excited by the turn of events, he didn’t even react when Lanie yelled “Uno!”
Chapter Ten
The next day, Rose pushed Steven’s wheelchair along the sidewalk near her condo, taking in the late-June evening. It was the first chance they’d had to be truly alone since his accident, and she relished the time with him. For one night, she had committed to put aside all of the uncertainties they faced and just enjoy their time together.
Steven took a deep breath. “This is nice.”
“I’m so glad it’s summer,” Rose said. The recent change in seasons had given her a renewed sense of hope. After all, summer was her favorite season with its long days, warm nights, and plenty of bright sunshine to banish the shadows from her mind.
“And soon, we’ll be married.”
Rose bit her lip. They hadn’t discussed the wedding since that day in the hospital. With everything else going on, she’d tried not to think about it, promising herself they would discuss it later. But the wedding was two months away, and she still wasn’t sure what their next steps should be.
“Rose?” Steven called, and she realized she’d stopped walking.
Forcing a smile, she resumed their stroll. “Sorry about that.”
The air between them became thick with everything they weren’t saying, but Rose didn’t want to ruin their evening with an argument. Instead, she angled the wheelchair toward the pond.
“There’s something I want to show you,” she said.
“Are we going swimming?” Steven joked as they neared the water’s edge.
Once they reached the fence, Rose locked the wheelchair’s brakes before stepping around to kneel beside Steven. She searched the pond for her favorite birds.
