I hold up the card.“Bancroft’s lawyer wants me to meet him at the Statehouse restaurant tonight.”
Helen’s eyes widen.“Fancy,” she teases.
“It’s not like that,” I say, rolling my eyes—even though a small, traitorous part of me wishes it was.“He says he might be able to help with this whole lease nightmare.”
“Fantastic!”Helen sits up straighter.Then she pauses.“Wait.Bancroft is his client though.”
I shrug, at a loss.
“You’ve charmed the lawyer, Ames!”she says with great excitement.
A genuine laugh escapes me.The first one since… well, since the pool.
But I’m not about to share that little fact with Helen.“I did no such thing!”
“Believe me.You are oblivious to your powers,” Helen insists.
Still laughing, I leave my desk and sit beside her on the sofa.“I have no powers, Helen.Zero.I wish I did.Maybe then…” I trail off.
“Oh, come on!Look at you!Beauty and brains.Must be nice.”She readjusts to face me.“Mind you, your sense of fashion has been questionable at best, lately.”
“Excuse me!”I glare at her as giggles burst out.
Helen grins sheepishly.“Sorry, I’m still not over yesterday morning when you showed up in that oversized tracksuit and stilettos.”
I nudge her playfully, but the lightness fades.The memory of that morning, and the nightmare preceding it, crashes down.James with the redhead at the club.Matthew finding me broken in his yard.It’s all still too raw.My smile falters, and I look away.
“What’s wrong,mija?”Helen’s tone softens.
“There’s just so much going on,” I admit, my fingertips twisting the engagement ring.
“I know, Ames, but look, Bancroft’s own lawyer offered to help you.”
“Matthew.”
“Yes, Matthew.It’s better than nothing.You never know what could happen.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to meet him tonight.”
“Of course it is!What other choice do you have?I don’t see anyone else offering to help.Certainly not thatfiancéof yours.”She says the word like a curse.
“He wouldn’t understand,” I whisper.
It’s more than that.
My hand drifts to my arm, rubbing the spot where he grabbed me.The ghost of his grip burns.“James wouldn’t understand at all.”
“How many times have you brought me a dinner you cooked because James had ‘last-minute business’?”she reminds me.“Well, now it’s your turn.It’s not the end of the world if for once you’re the one out on business.”
“You don’t know him, Helen.”
“And I don’t care to.But I know you should go.Do what is good foryou,” Helen insists.
“James met Matthew in here yesterday.Let’s just say they didn’t get along.”
“This is not about them.This is about your business.Your customers.And if James can’t see that, then it’s time you decided whether or not to keep that diamond that is, that is…” She pauses, searching for the words, then switches to Spanish.“¡Más grande que mi cabeza!”
“I’m not sure what that means,” I force a smile, “but I can tell it’s nothing good.James can do no right in your eyes.”
