Being back in Chicago births new life inside me and makes me feel like the possibilities for the team and me are endless. I can totally do what Jagger is asking, and it’s not as though I’ll be around Foster much since he’s still playing back in Seattle. Our paths won’t cross often.
Walking up to my building, I see a cardboard sign on the black iron security door. Another attempt by the diamond girls to coin the name of our building.
Three of the Chicago Grizzlies lived here first, and the jersey chasers referred to it as The Den back then.
When the Falcons took it over, the puck bunnies called it The Nest.
And now the diamond girls can’t seem to figure out what to call it. Every week a sign shows up with something new.
I pause in front of the gate to read the sign.
The Barn?
I tear down the cardboard sign. We’re definitely not a bunch of smelly cows.
Chapter
Five
Leighton
* * *
“Why do you think lawyer’s offices are always so stuffy and old?” Callie crosses her legs next to me in the conference room that the receptionist escorted us to. We’ve been sitting here for twenty minutes now, and with every second that passes, my anxiety ratchets up a notch.
“Probably to appear more serious.”
“So, if they painted the walls lime green, people wouldn’t think they’re good at their job? All this dark wood and black leather is depressing.” She spins her chair in a circle like Monroe would.
“I’ll be sure to mention that their decorating is subpar on the comment card.” I scroll through my phone, looking for a quick dinner recipe for tonight.
Gone are the days of microwave meals and takeout every night. Of all the challenges I knew taking on three children would entail, I did not anticipate that figuring out what to make for dinner every night might be one of the most challenging.
It’s been three days since the funeral. My mom and Aunt Iris are watching the kids right now since they’re not going back to school until next week. Even then, I have to wonder if it’s appropriate for them to go back to school one week after their entire lives blew up. I have no idea, which is another indication that Sky may have made the wrong choice by choosing me.
“They need something cheery, like wallpaper with a flower or bird print. People are already coming to see a lawyer for a crappy reason—lawsuit, divorce, custody issues… maybe a little happiness would make the whole experience less shitty.”
“Maybe you should tell Mr. Notting that he needs a snow cone machine and a balloon artist who makes you a flower bouquet after you sign your divorce papers.”
She stops spinning in the chair and glares at me. “It was just a suggestion.”
I inhale a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous. This is all happening so fast.”
Her hand covers mine on the long oval table that looks as if it’s polished every morning. “I know. I’m here for you though.”
“I know you are, but you have your own life.”
“What life?”
I raise my eyebrows, and she tips her head right and left. She doesn’t need to put her life on hold for me. Callie’s going on tour for her podcast, If I’m Honest, in four weeks, and she will be going—no matter how many times she tells me she can reschedule it.
“You’re going,” I say before she can once again offer to set aside her budding career.
“We’ll see. I talked to Becca?—”
“You’re going. I’ll call Becca myself.”
There’s a quick knock on the door and it opens. Mr. Notting strides in with his assistant, Peggy.
