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I roll out of bed. As I’m sliding my feet into my slippers, a clap of thunder shakes the house. A moment later, raindrops slam against the roof.
So much for meeting Hazel at the beach this morning.With a sigh, I kick off my slippers and fall back into bed.
The day passes slowly at the office. I struggle to read through a deposition, finally giving up after I realize I’ve read the same page multiple times.
I wonder what Hazel is doing now.
With a sigh, I push the button on the office intercom to buzz my secretary. “Hi, Cindy. What’s the rest of my day look like?”
“You have a prospective client coming in for a consultation in two hours, but your schedule is clear other than that, Mr. Bishop.” Cindy is old enough to be my mother but still insists on calling memisterduring business hours.
I suppress a groan.Two hours? I’m not sure I’ll make it another thirty minutes without losing my mind.“What type of case does the prospective client want to discuss?”
“Hmmm,” Cindy murmurs, consulting her intake notes. “Looks like it’s an estate planning case. He’s hoping to retire in a few years and wants to get his affairs in order.”
I breathe a sigh of relief.Not an emergency, then.“Can you please call him to reschedule? I’d like to leave the office a little early this afternoon.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Bishop.”
I loosen my tie and lift it over my neck before rolling my sleeves up to the elbows. Judging by the sunlight streaming through the window, it’s going to be scorching hot on the walk home. And after this morning’s rain, the humidity is probably thick enough to cut with a knife. I rise from my chair, glancing at the deposition on my desk and debating whether to take it home to read later.
The door to my office bursts open and Jake Carey bulldozes inside. Cindy follows right on his heels with her hands on her hips. “Mr. Carey! I told you that he’s not available for appointments right now.”
“And I told you that I don’t care,” Jake says in an icy tone.
With a resigned sigh, I fall back into my desk chair. “It’s fine, Cindy. Thank you.”
She shoots a nasty look in Jake’s direction. I can tell she’d love nothing more than to slam the door, but she’s far too professional for that. She closes it gently on her way out.
I gesture to the chair across from my desk. “Have a seat, Jake.”
He remains standing, looming over me. It’s a tactic that probably works well for him in most settings. But I’ve never been afraid of bullies. I lean back in my chair and casually link my hands behind my head. “What can I do for you?”
Irritation flickers on his face. He’s obviously not happy that his powerplay was ineffective. After a long moment, he sits in the chair. “Sara Jean says you have Sean working at the Bait Bucket as part of some plea agreement?”
Figures that he’d have heard the news from his wife instead of talking to his son directly.
“Employment is a condition of the diversion agreement.”
A muscle clenches in Jake’s jaw. “What does diversion mean?”
“Sean entered a guilty plea—”
“He what?!” Red splotches appear on Jake’s face. “I paid you to get the charges thrown out.”
I raise an eyebrow. “No. You paid me to represent your son. Now, how about you let me finish explaining what diversion is?” His eyes narrow but he nods, and I continue, “Sean’s guilty plea is set aside for now. If he satisfies the conditions of his diversion agreement, the charges will be dismissed. If he fails his diversion, the case will move forward to sentencing.”
Jake scoffs. “He’ll fail.”
I bite back a scathing retort. If this guy had an ounce of faith in his kid, I’d never have met Sean in the first place. “He arrived for work on time this morning,” I point out. “It’ll be good for him to have responsibilities. And Tuck will be a great role model.”
Jake glares at me. “Are you saying I’m not a good role model for my son? My business is far more successful than some little bait shop.”
As a matter of fact, I think you’re a lousy role model for your son.“I said nothing of the sort. The fact is Sean is an eighteen-year-old kid who’s never had a job and graduated from high school with a 1.4 GPA. The Bait Bucket will be a good first job for him. And best of all? He was able to start immediately. After he completes his ninety-day diversion, you’re more than welcome to hire him yourself.” I stand from my desk to signal the end of the discussion. “Now, you’ll have to excuse me, but I have errands to run. If you’d like to talk further, please make an appointment through my secretary.”
As soon as I’ve ushered Jake out the door, I say goodbye to Cindy. Instead of heading toward the marsh and home, I walk toward the beach. I’m going to check on Sean at the Bait Bucket. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure he completes his diversion, even if I have to drag him to work every day by the scruff of his neck.
But I don’t think it’ll come to that. I suspect Sean just needs a chance to prove he can live up to someone’s expectations.
