My eyes bug out of my head when I see what it is, but before I can protest, she gets the jump on me—lawyer, of course.
"I don't want to hear it."
"Imani, you did work for me for these last couple of months—"
"Wendy, people think I'm a heartless bitch for this job,"Imani says plainly, sounding and looking unbothered. "I love helping women get what they deserve because I know that there is someone out there who will treat them the way they deserve, the way their ex-husbands didn't."
Her face completely softens, and she smiles brightly, "But I alsolovelove, and that manlovesyou. He couldn't take his eyes off you during mediation. He was ready to roll over and let me take him for all he's worth for you. He fought his way back to you."
My heart warms at her words, and she points a perfectly manicured nail at me, "Just make sure he keeps earning it."
I sigh, glancing at the check in my hands—the retainer check I filled out for her, all the hours charged for all these months of work.
"Thank you, Imani, but really—I can't take this money—"
"Well, I'm not cashing it, and do you really think I'm hurting for money?" Imani says, gesturing behind her to her gorgeous home. She puts on her chic designer sunglasses and smirks. "Now, I have a flight to the Maldives to catch. Au Revoir!"
"Be safe," I tell her as she steps back and waves, and I pull away from the curb.
Imani's house is about half an hour away from home, and I had to lie to Atlas and tell him I needed to run to Mabel's for a work emergency.
Thankfully, Mabel is the type to give an alibi if needed, and show up with bail money at a moment’s notice. I'll be at Diane and Emmett's just in time for dinner.
As I pass by theWelcome to Mercy Ridgesign, my phone rings, and I answer it through the car's speaker.
"Hello?
"Hi, baby," Atlas says, though I can hear Diane's raised voice in the background, yelling about getting a mop and a pan and glass. "You're on speaker."
"Hi, Mama!"
"Hey, Mama!"
I smile at all three of their voices.
"Hi, my boys. What's going on?"
Atlas sighs, and I can hear him stepping away from Diane and Emmett's voices.
"Damn, you’re driving. I was hoping to catch you before you left Mabel's. Mom dropped the bottle of her favorite wine, and it splattered all over the floor. Could you pick up two more bottles?"
"Yeah, I'm not far from Mabel's. I can go back," I cringe at the lie, but am also thankful Mabel's is literally right down the road. "The Riesling, right?"
"Yes, please," he says, sighing in relief.
"Anything else?"
I hear Noah's voice in the background, Liam's deeper tone answering.
"Well, I know Liam wouldn't say no to some pretzels," Atlas says, and I hear Liam's excited whoop in the background.
Then Noah's voice going a mile a minute and Atlas answering him, "Noah, you want some—yes, she's stopping—no, she cannot pick up all of that—yes, the cheese sticks—okay, I'll ask—"
"I heard," I reply, laughing at my husband having to deal with the chaos. "Take me off speaker really quick."
"Okay."
"And what about you, Mr. Durant?” I grin, making my voice a little breathy. “You need some sugar?"
