“I suggest you don’t do anything rash. I’d like you to take some time and digest the information.”
I glared at him, wondering if he was serious. He’d been my therapist for two years. Had he learned nothing about me in that time? Because I knew enough about him to write a book. It would be a boring book.
“Xavier?”
“I have a P.I. on it.”
“Of course you do.” He took his glasses off. “Patience isn’t one of your strong points.”
“That’s not true,” I reminded him. “I’m extremely patient when it comes to negotiating. That’s why I’m so successful. I know when to wait and I know when to pounce.”
“What we’re talking about here isn’t a business transaction. You need to proceed with caution. If Lanie’s words are true, then you must realize that these are people’s lives you’re dealing with. Let’s consider the destruction you could cause.”
“So, you’d have me forget about the letter? Pretend I might not have a child out there? One, I might add, who was put up for adoption without my knowledge or consent. That makes it invalid.”
“Now you’re talking like an attorney.”
“I am an attorney.” A damn good one too.
“In this case, you need to be less business and more human.”
“Check back with me when I have the report from my investigator.”
He stared at me for a moment and I wondered what he really thought about me. His opinion of me didn’t affect me one way or another. I rarely cared what people thought about me but it might be interesting to get inside his head and hear his musings. Did he see me as the unrelenting bastard so many had come to refer to me as? I didn’t allow anyone or anything to stand in my way when I wanted something. I set goals for myself and made no apologies when it came to my business or the tactics I had to use to achieve those goals.
“I can’t promise that I won’t make any rash decisions. As my therapist, you already know that.” I rested my elbow on the arm of the chair. “I didn’t show you the letter so you would talk me out of anything.”
“Why did you show it to me?”
“In case I need to discuss it later. I wanted you to have a reference point.”
“A reference point from the time you made your first bad decision on the subject?”
When he grinned, I was reminded how much I enjoyed his dry wit.
“You’re not ready to discuss it, so I won’t push you. Just know I’ll be here to listen when you’re ready.”
“I don’t know if there is anything to discuss.”
“Fair point.” He clasped his fingers and rested his chin on his hands. “How are things with your new assistant? Have you made any progress in practicing tolerance this week?”
“I haven’t fired her yet.”
Dr. Alvarez pressed his lips together as he feverishly typed some notes into his tablet. Judging from the crease that settled between his eyes and his clenched jaw muscles, I’d say I’d given him pause.
Good... maybe I’d made him work for his hefty sum today.
Kara
“Mama!” Zoey ran around the sofa, frantically looking for her shoes. “I can’t find them.”
I folded the notice in half and slipped it into my bill folder. I’d finally gotten a handle on my finances. Well, everything except Zoey’s tuition. It was my ex-husband’s idea to enroll her in such a prestigious school. It was also his idea to move to an over-priced neighborhood. When he left us last year, I’d thought he’d still contribute to the life he helped create. The house, the car payment, the school, and the credit card debt. Oh, and let’s not forget about the child support. I thought wrong. I hadn’t seen a dime out of him in months. I hadn’t heard from him since February. When he didn’t even bother to see Zoey on her birthday, I decided he wasn’t worth my time and energy. I’d take care of my daughter on my own.
“Mama!”
“Baby, can you wear another pair of shoes?” I glanced at the clock on the wall. “We’re going to be late.”
I had to drop her off at school and then make my way into the city where I’d recently taken a job at an advertising agency. It was an entry level position but I’d be learning from some of the best. They also appreciated how hard it was to be a parent, single or otherwise, and worked with our schedules.
My precocious four-year old placed her hand on her hip and stared at me. At least she hadn’t figured out how to roll her eyes yet. Although, with her intelligence, I was certain it wouldn’t take long for her to pick up that habit.
“Mom, I need the blue shoes.”
“Why?”
“Because Maddie is wearing her blue shoes today and we’re going to be twins.”
Ah, yes, Maddie. Her father was some tech genius and made a ton of money. Maddie was adorable enough but the kid had everything any child could ever dream of and she loved to tell the other kids. As much as I struggled with paying the tuition for the school, Zoey was comfortable there and loved the staff and her little friends. With her father out of our lives and me starting this new job, I didn’t want to disrupt her routine any more than I already had. I’d find a way to pay the tuition even if I had to take out a loan. I’d do anything for her.
“I need the blue shoes.” She bounced around the family room. “I need them.”
“Okay.” I shook my head. “Put your lunchbox in your backpack and I’ll check your bedroom one last time.”
I ran up the steps and to her room, hoping the shoes would be there. We didn’t have another minute to spare. As I rummaged through the pile on her closet floor, I found a discarded picture on the floor. I smiled when I saw her colorful artwork of what I suspected was a drawing of her and me but then I looked a little closer. The mom and girl in the picture were holding hands but the girl had tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Did you find them?” Zoey hurried into her bedroom.
“Uh, no.” I wiped my eyes and placed the picture on her desk. “I found your drawing.”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s very good but why is the little girl crying?”
“Oh, she feels bad for her mom.”
“Why?”
“Because all the other moms have dads. We don’t and that makes you sad.”
“I’m not sad.” I hugged her. “I have you. How could I be sad?”
“You look sad.”
“Are you sad?”
“No.” She let go of me. “We’ll find a dad.”
“Oh, sweetheart, we don’t, well...”
“I’ll wear the red shoes,” she proclaimed. “You don’t have to cry.”
“Thank you.” I kissed the top of her head. “Do you want to go to the park after school?”
“Yes!” She squealed. “I love the park.”
“I do too.” I took the red shoes from her closet. “We can get ice cream.”
“Okay.” She put on the second choice shoes. “Something good is going to happen to us at the park today.”
“I hope so.” I followed her out of her bedroom, hoping she was right. We could use a little pick me up today.