I stoodin the doorway of what would, in two weeks, officially be my law practice, and ran my fingers along the brass nameplate Julian had commissioned.Alyssa Carter, Esq.
The morning light came through the tall windows and laid itself across a reception area that had been only a thing I’d sketched on the backs of legal pads and never let myself believe in.
Three weeks after I’d lost the office space I was looking at leasing, Julian set a single key on my kitchen counter. When I asked what it was, he told me he’d bought theentirebuilding. I looked at him like he had two heads, because, how?
The office space I was looking at was now mine and so was the entire six-floor building.
“Lease them out, or reserve some floors for when you are ready to expand your practice,” he told me like it was a no-brainer. Like buying out a building was the only logical answer to a landlord’s apprehension about renting to me. Most people would have just looked for other places to rent. Not Julian. Of course not.
Now that office had soft yellow walls and built-in shelves and consultation rooms with warm lamps instead of overhead fluorescents, designed to put frightened families at ease — every detail of it reflecting things I’d needed without ever saying I needed them.
“Contractor finished the kids’ corner yesterday,” Julian said from behind me, coffee in hand, leaning in the doorframe. “Micah tested it. Says it passes the nine-year-old quality inspection.”
I laughed. “It’s perfect.”
“So.” He pushed off the frame. “We should talk about your opening.”
“I don’t need all that, Julian. I can just… open. Put a sign up, send out some emails. Spread the word.”
“Alyssa. You rebuilt your whole career and provided something people actually need. That deserves to be celebrated. Officially.”
“It’s a law office, not a new restaurant or something.”
“It’syourlaw office. Your dreams, made real. Let people give you your props.”
“You’re right. Ok, but small,” I agreed finally. “Promise me small.”
“I promise you appropriate.”
I should have knownwhat Julian’s “appropriate” meant.
Gerald pulled up with Julian and me in front of the building at seven-thirty and the whole block had been transformed. White tent lights were strung between the old oaks, and there was an actual red carpet from the sidewalk to my door. A news van was parked off to the side.
Inside, the office glowed. Soft jazz played, small floral arrangements were everywhere, people I’d helped over the past months clustered with their kids or other guests, and the mayor and county clerk were shaking hands around the room. The entire Wade clan was there too, filling the room with warmth.
“This is not small,” I whispered to Julian.
“It’s appropriately scaled,” he lifted my hand and kissed the back of it.
I was a few steps inside, accepting congratulations, when I stopped breathing. Because standing next to Raschad, by the conference room, were my sisters. Tamika, Jada, and Jordan.
“There’s the lawyer,” Tamika said, as I crossed the room to get to them. She reached me first and wrapped me in a fierce tight hug.
“What are you doing here?”
“We heard there was a party.” Jordan smiled, giving me a hug.
“Julian sent for us. Put us in first class and everything, too!” Jada said into the hug. “Said we were not allowed to miss it.”
“Did you think we’d let you celebrate without?” Tamika said.
I was crying in my own law office in my perfect dress, surrounded by my sisters.
“Alyssa Dionne Carter!” The voice came from behind me, warm and a little scolding, and I turned and there was Ma. She crossed like she had all the time in the world, and took my face in both hands.
“Lookat what you built,” she said.
“It’s just?—”
