“I don’t know.Anything.We could practice any kind of law.Why family law?”
Sensing an existential crisis brewing with his brother, Julian got up and fixed himself two fingers of bourbon, bringing it with him when he sat across from Roman.They were due for their monthly dinner with their siblings in forty-five minutes, but the restaurant was walkable from the office, so they had time.
“You’re not the first Remington to face that burning question.”
“I’m usually the last one to do everything.”
Julian chuckled at the matter-of-fact statement.“Every one of us has been where you are, questioning the meaning of life and whether the family business is what we wanted.”
“It’s strange sometimes… How you guys have memories of things that happened to all of us that I barely remember.The drama didn’t have the same impact on me that it did on the rest of you.”
Julian had experienced a totally different childhood from Roman’s in many ways.Roman had told him before that he felt guilty for not carrying the same trauma the others did from the ugly custody battle between their parents.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful not to remember most of it.Hearing what it was like for you guys is always hard.It’s just that I don’t feel the same pull to the profession that the rest of you do because you want to help other kids avoid what you went through.”
“That’s not the only reason we chose family law.”Julian put his glass on the coffee table and rested his elbows on his knees.“Part of it was the opportunity to join an established, well-known, successful practice and not have to start from scratch the way most people do.”
“I get that, but what if I want to do something totally different and make my own mark in another part of the profession?”
“Then that’s what you should do.”
“Dad would flip out.He loves having everyone working together—and so does Mom.”
“You’re not living their lives.You’re living yours.Work will take up a big chunk of your time.If you don’t love what you’re doing, it’ll be a slog.”
“Does this ever feel like a slog to you?”
“Not really.I mean, there’re days when it’sa lot.You leave emotionally drained from battles you’re fighting for people you’d never know if their lives hadn’t blown up in their faces.I met the sister of a longtime friend today after her husband took a baseball bat to their apartment yesterday.”
“Is she okay?”
“She and her kids are fine because she had the foresight to set up a hiding place inside the apartment in case they ever needed it.”
“Wow.”
“I know.She had it ready for them to spend days there if they had to.I can’t stop thinking about how crazy things must’ve been for her to realize she might need a hiding place at some point.”
“And she couldn’t have left?”
He shook his head.“The husband burned through all their money, and the credit cards were maxed.She was in a tough spot and still is.Even though we’ve requested a restraining order, we’re worried about what he’ll do when he makes bail.Being able to help someone like her feels really good.”
“I’ll bet it does.That’s amazing how she had the hiding place ready.”
“It really is.”Julian didn’t mention how he’d thought about Isla all day after their meeting and found himself wanting to know more about her, which was a somewhat unusual development.She’d truly impressed him in more ways than one.
While he always felt for whatever his clients were going through—and often related to their struggles in a way that most attorneys never could—he rarely found himself wanting to get to know them better or wondering what they were like when their life hadn’t just imploded.
“Jules… Did you hear me?”
“What?”
“I asked you where she hid.”
“Oh, um, she cut a hole in the wall behind the closet and made a place for her and her kids to be in case he came home in one of his ‘rages,’ as she calls them.”
“Shit, man.I can’t imagine having to live like that.”
“I can’t either, but it’s another reason why family law can be so satisfying.We’re able to help people like her get out of unsafe situations.”
