Maya peeked at him through the corner of her eye as they walked in silence. Milky latte. She rolled her eyes at herself. She couldn’t help it. The coffee roastery was her life-blood, so colors and scents came to her in terms of coffee. Sometimes even chai. She glanced at him again. Yes. His skin was the color of a milky latte and he had a slight five o’clock shadow.
She had expected that he wouldn’t be thrilled to see her, but she hadn’t expected him to still be so angry. It had been sixteen years, after all. She glanced up at him again and noticed something was different. His nose, maybe?
“Did you break your nose?” Small talk. Innocent enough, though she cringed at the idea of making small talk withSam. They’d gone from lighthearted jabs to deep conversation on their first date.
Sam stared straight ahead and though they weren’t touching, the air between them charged with tension. “You could say that.” He grumbled at her and lengthened his stride.
Maya cleared her throat and looked away. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by her reaction to him. That would only make this harder.
They ordered their coffees and Maya pulled out her credit card to pay.
“I got it.” Sam stepped in front of her and handed the barista a twenty. When he had reached into his wallet to get the cash was beyond Maya. Some men just had that knack. Turned out Sam was one of them.
“No, it’s fine. I came to you...” Maya placed her card in front of his bill.
Sam barely afforded her a glance. He moved his twenty in front of her card and flashed the barista a small smile. That did it. The barista flushed and took the twenty.
Maya rolled her eyes inwardly and put her credit card away. “Well, thank you.”
They found a table in the back of the coffee shop and settled in with their coffees. Chatter spilled from nearby tables of professionally attired people conducting after-hours meetings. From the coffeehouse speakers, Taylor Swift adamantly proclaimed that “we are never everevergetting back together.” Sam sat back, his arms folded across his chest. Words froze in Maya’s throat.
She shifted in her seat, noting Sam’s tight jaw and tense muscles. She straightened. Now or never. “You seem to have done well.” She brought her cup to her lips and took a sip, allowing the hot liquid to warm her.
“I get by.”
“No, I mean—you being a lawyer—you’re not doing exactly what you said you would be doing, but you seem to be doing well.” Maya faltered, and quickly added, “I’m not here for money.”
“I didn’t think you were.” Sam removed the lid from his cup and blew on the hot liquid.
“How’s your dad?”
Sam sipped slowly. “Fine.”
“And your mom?” Maya’s voice cracked.
“What do you want, Maya?” Sam snapped at her.
She tensed. “I need your help with a legal matter.”
Sam reverted to silence. He replaced the lid and took another sip of coffee.
“I know you’re well connected, and I also know you’re engaged to be married and that you’re on your way to a congressional bid.” Maya paused for a sip of her coffee.
“Google.” Sam’s response was terse; his gaze did not waver.
“Yes, well.” She flicked her eyes to the table next to them as a woman in business attire pushed her laptop aside and placed her hand on top of her companion’s. Maya shifted again in her seat. “Anyway, I want you to know that I’m not trying to disrupt your life in any way. I know we left things badly, but I’m desperate.”
“We?” Sam raised his eyebrows at her.
Maya sighed. “Me, I—whatever. Not the point.”
It was Sam’s turn to sigh. “Whatisthe point, Maya?” He gestured with his coffee cup; he was half finished.
Maya took a deep breath.Just do it. It’s for Samantha. “The point is that I have a daughter who is being wrongly accused of drug possession and assault,” she began. “The authorities and some parents want to press charges. The school may expel her. She was already in trouble for shoplifting, so I can’t have anyone press charges.” She paused for breath.
Sam furrowed his brow. “You have a daughter?”
“She’s a really good kid. Just made a mistake, and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
