“Definitely. Katie hasn’t stopped talking about it all week. Can we meet at our place at around six?”
“We’ll be there,” she promised. “It’s a good idea to do it in your neighborhood rather than ours this year. It’ll be a great way for her to meet some kids who live around there.”
“Yeah, I—” Eric marched into the reception area and met my eyes before jerking his head at his office. “I have to go, Mom. He just showed up.”
“Good luck,” she said in a sing-song voice before ending the call.
I shoved my phone into my purse before following him in.
The inside of his office looked like a tribute to steel and glass. It had a cold feeling to it, and not because he always had the air-conditioning on full blast. His cool green eyes descended on mine, and he patted his slicked-back, graying hair.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he said before turning his attention to powering up his laptop. He always seemed to have something to be distracted by when we met. “I’m assuming you have something new for me since you asked for an appointment?”
“No. I wanted an update, and since you don’t ever give me feedback unless I come in, I thought it was best to set up a meeting.” I really didn’t want to waste any more time. Whenever I asked about progress on the phone or via email, his receptionist told me he didn’t operate that way and if I wanted to speak to him, I had to make an appointment.
It always took a week or so before they had any free spaces available on his calendar. Instead of my monthly email, I’d decided to eliminate the middle step this time.
“What’s going on, Mr. Starkey? Do you think we’re close to going public with this and taking the movie company to court?”
“No,” he said firmly, his hair not budging at all even though he was shaking his head. “I need more time to prepare all the documentation before we’ll be ready to take the next step.”
“How much more time?” I asked. “We’ve already been at this for months, and honestly, it doesn’t seem like there’s much happening.”
“Three more weeks.” He shrugged while keying his password into his computer. “Give or take. It could take longer.”
I gritted my teeth. “What for? I’ve given you everything you’ve asked for as proof. I did all the research about the company producing the movie and sent you that. At this rate, the movie will be released and will have become a long-forgotten memory before we make a move.”
Eric didn’t even look at me. “These things take time. I’ve been in negotiations with the company and I’m waiting for a reply from them.”
“What negotiations?”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Nothing you need to worry about. I’m taking care of it. I don’t go public or to court with my gun half-cocked, Laurie.”
I rolled my eyes, but his were still firmly fixed on his screen. “I’m entitled to know what negotiations my lawyer has entered into on my behalf, am I not? I’m not trying to waste your time here, Eric. I just want to understand what’s going on.”
“It’s all preliminaries, darling.” He made eye contact for long enough to give me a patronizing smile. “You’ll understand better in time. As the process continues, it becomes much easier to follow.”
Condescending ass. “I’m quite confident I could follow right now if you’d just tell me what you’re doing.” My tone was clipped. “Unless you haven’t actually done anything and there’s nothing for me to understand.”
He laughed loudly, but he didn’t deny my accusation. “All in good time, Laurie. Everything will happen in time. You’ll see. It’s how the system works.”
After ten more minutes of trying—and failing—to get answers out of the man, I left feeling more than a little frustrated. If I’d known how time consuming this was going to be and how little attention my lawyer was going to give my case despite the ridiculous price I was paying him, I would’ve just let them steal my idea.
Okay, maybe that was taking it a bit far. I didn’t think I’d ever just have been able to let it go, but I would’ve at least gotten a different lawyer to take a second look before I paid Eric’s retainer in full. I couldn’t afford to go marching around town paying other attorneys to advise me now.
I had to think about Katie’s future. Every cent I spent was a cent I could’ve spent on her. Legal fees were high, and wasting more money on someone else who might not do anything either wasn’t an option.
When I got back to my car, I sagged against my seat and covered my face with my hands. My eyes were dry, but my heart hurt. It felt like the hits just kept coming these last two years. Whenever I adjusted to one life-altering event, the next one happened.
Why I had hoped that my luck was going to turn around today when I’d known my day was only going to get worse when I saw Eric, I didn’t know. Maybe I really was an eternal optimist, but I was starting to feel desperate for a sign—any sign—that things would eventually settle down again.
I drew my palms away from my face, pressing them together as I let my head drop back.
If there’s any God, demigod, or deity out there listening, please let me know when my luck is going to turn around? I want to keep believing, but I just need a little bit of help down here. Please? Anyone?
Chapter 6
Jacob
Many of the trees in Savannah were evergreen. There was a beautiful blanket of red and gold by this time of year in the national parks and on the mountains, but downtown, the leaves looked the same as they always did.
It was yet another reason why I wanted to go out to the suburbs for trick or treating. There were more opportunities there to see the classic fall colors, even if they weren’t all over like in other cities.
Shannon had already called me three times to remind me to send her pictures before we went. Allie and I stood on the street outside our apartment building to take the photos, but if I hadn’t known we were taking pictures for Halloween, she could’ve just been a little girl in a suit for some reason.
Since we lived downtown, not too much fall foliage covered the ground. There also wasn’t much in the way of decorations on the street. On the other hand, at least the streetlights were coming on and the scenery was still picturesque enough to get a few nice shots.
“Are you absolutely sure you didn’t want to put on the fairy wings?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Everyone loved my costume at school, and I love it too. I can be a fairy next year. Maybe.”
“Okay, baby. Go sit on those steps for me, please.” I pointed at a flight of six stairs leading into our building. “Remember to smile. Otherwise, Mom will think we’re not having fun.”
She pouted and lowered herself down, plopping her face between her hands. “We took pictures of my costume yesterday. Why do we have to do it again?”
“Because your mom asked for more.” I lifted my phone and aimed it at her. It was a pretty good shot actually, even though she was still pouting.
Light poured out of the building and illuminated her from behind. Dark clouds floated in the dusky sky above, but there was enough sun left to make out her facial features despite the light behind her.
She sighed and placed her palms on the step above her, leaning back slightly and cocking her head. I knew she wasn’t trying to pose, but she was doing a damn good job of it anyway. “How many pictures does she want?”
“Just a few.” I snapped dozens more. Some of her walking away from me down the street and some silly ones of both of us.
When I was done, I sent the ones of Allie to Shannon and slid my phone into my pocket. “Okay, we’re done here. Let’s get going before all the good candy is gone.”
She nodded. “Did I tell you all of my friends are going trick or treating?”
“You might have mentioned it.” I bumped her shoulder gently while we walked to my car. “I’m glad you’re excited about it now.”
“I am, but I still don’t understand why we can’t just trick or treat around here.” She frowned when
I opened the door for her. “No one else drives to go trick or treating.”
“That’s because a lot of the kids in your school live in the suburbs. We don’t, but I refuse to do what city families do.” I made sure she was buckled in before climbing in behind the wheel.
“Why do you refuse to do what city families do if we are a city family?” Her big brown eyes caught mine in the mirror.
“Do you really want to go trick or treating in the mall or apartment hallways? No way. You want the authentic experience.”
She peered out her window, frowning again. “It looks like it’s going to rain.”
“That’s all part of it,” I said cheerfully. “Don’t worry. I’ve got us covered. There are umbrellas and raincoats in the back.”
“Oh.” She perked up while settling in for the drive. “Which neighborhood are we going to? You said it was close to school. Do you think we’ll see any of my friends?”
“I’m willing to guarantee we’ll run into at least one of the kids in your school. I grew up around there, and all the kids go out right around now.”
We’d gone to the same neighborhood last year as well, but she hadn’t been so concerned about it then. How much things have changed in a year.
Allie chattered excitedly all the way there. It seemed speaking to all her friends about going trick or treating had completely eliminated all her doubts, and she was a bundle of bouncing energy by the time I parked.
It took me longer than it should’ve, but the sidewalks were packed with kids and parents making their way from house to house with baskets and pillowcases overflowing with candy. Taking a bit of time to get the car in a spot was worth it to avoid hitting someone.
Lest the angry lady shows up again to start screaming at me about how much of a danger I am to society.
Allie helped to banish all thoughts about the woman when she stared with wide eyes at the houses on the street once we climbed out of the car. “Wow. I don’t remember it looking like this last year.”
“We parked somewhere else last year. I don’t think we made it to this street before we went home, but I caught an inside tip about how this was the place to be this year.”
The inside tip hadn’t been an inside tip as much as it’d been Dannie’s research. I’d asked her to do some research for me, and as always, she’d come through. Just in case Allie hadn’t caught the Halloween bug at school, I’d wanted to make sure that the place I brought her was as awesome as I could get it.
The residents on this street had definitely guaranteed that she’d be more excited in the run-up for next year. I took her hand and guided her through the throngs of people. “Apparently, they’re having a competition here tonight. It’s a community drive thing.”
She pointed at a row of immaculately carved pumpkins on the lawn closest to us. “Those people should win.”
I looked up and down the street, taking in the yellows, reds, and browns between the bursts of green on the trees and the sidewalks beneath them. It wasn’t just the natural fall colors or the costumed crowd that got me all nostalgic, though.
Every house was made up with lights strung in the trees, fake cobwebs, pumpkins, and a whole variety of other spooky details. “Let’s reserve our judgment about who should win until we’ve seen more.”
She rocked her head from one side to the other. “Fair enough.”
“Should we start here?” I jutted my chin in the direction of the house with the carved pumpkins on the lawn. “It’s as good a place as any.”
“Will you come with me?” Just as she looked at me, a group of giggling children spilled onto the lawn and headed up the stairs.
“I’ll be right here. Go join them. You can do it, honey. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I won’t take my eyes off you.”
I gave her hand an encouraging squeeze, watching as she took in a deep breath before releasing me and going after them. She carried a toy briefcase I’d gotten her for the occasion. It wouldn’t carry too much candy, but that was why I had a folded pillowcase in my back pocket.
The couple who opened the door were dressed up as a witch and a ghost—not too original, but since I was in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, I couldn’t really talk. They even did a little skit before showering the kids in candy, making them squeal and laugh before Allie ran back to me.
She was breathless with excitement and her eyes shone as she proudly stuck the briefcase in my face. “Look how much I got! Not bad, huh?”
“Not bad at all.” I ruffled her hair, decided it was best to empty the briefcase in the pillowcase before we really got going, and took her hand again once I’d secured her loot. “See? This is fun, right?”
“So much fun.” She let out a carefree laugh and ran to the next house. There were no other kids on the doorstep of this one, so she looked up at me again after she stopped. “I don’t want to go alone.”
“You’ll never be alone, honey. I’ve got your back.” We marched up to the door, and I hung back while Allie knocked on the door. The residents weren’t dressed up this time, but they were kind and gave Allie a few bars of chocolate.
We hit up the next few houses together. Then Allie spotted some kids from school and went to the next few with them. I knew their parents from seeing them around, and we struck up light conversations while following our kids around.
Everything was going well until Allie got cold feet at the end of a long, spooky driveway. These people had gone all out, killing all their main lights and leaving a trail of plastic candles in brown paper bags leading to their front door.
There were eerie noises playing over hidden speakers, and I heard a few kids scream and saw them jump before falling over laughing. My stomach flipped over on itself.
I fucking hate jump scares.
The kids we’d been walking with hadn’t hesitated, so they were already back and calling to Allie that they would see her later while I was still trying to talk her up. Her feet were rooted to the concrete as she stared at me.
“I think we should skip this one.”
“Why? It’s a definite contender for the win. I don’t want you to have to live with what-ifs until we can come back next Halloween.”
Her eyes shone in the near darkness, indecision etched into her features. “But it’s really scary.”
“It might be scary, but you’re brave and courageous. You can do anything you set your mind to, baby. Anything. This is literally a walk down a driveway. It might not be a walk in the park, but I bet they’ve got good candy if they went through this much effort with their house.”
She sucked her lips into her mouth and glanced over her shoulder at the looming driveway. “Fine, I’ll go but only if you come with me.”
Oh, joy. Well, that backfired on me. She might be brave and courageous, but I never said I was. Allie soon forgot all about her nervousness while inspecting all the little details in the decorations that one could make out in the faint light.
It really was something, with spiders and dolls with crazy hair perched in the trees. My own anxiety, however, skyrocketed after the first jump scare. Then came the sounds of children singing lullabies softly and laughing over other hidden speakers, and the hairs at the back of my neck rose.
Come on, Jacob. Allie was even singing along. Meanwhile, I was sticking close to the walls and practicing breathing exercises like I was about to go into labor. I might just scream like I’m in the last stages of labor if something else pops up.
And then, of course, it did.
It was another jump scare. This time, it came in the form of a person running at us and screaming before disappearing into the trees. A strangled shout died in my throat, but not before Allie looked around to see where the sound had come from.
“Was that you?” she asked, her shoulders shaking with laughter while she tried to hide it behind her hand. “That was you!”
“It was not.” I puffed out my chest and planted my hands on my hips. “I’m a tough guy. Stuff like this doesn’t scare me.�
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She made a noise in the back of her throat before dragging me the rest of the way up the driveway. It seemed I wasn’t braver than a second-grader.
I stood back while the owners, dressed in full costume as a zombie and a superhero from a popular film, filled Allie’s briefcase with candy. After that, I practically ran back down to the street as fast as my daughter would allow me to move while trying to examine her haul in the dim lighting.
Only once we hit the sidewalk did I feel like I could breathe again. Allie giggled as she looked up at me and patted my hand. “That’s okay, Daddy. I’ll be fine to do the next ones by myself.”
I scoffed. “I’m sure you will be, but I’m not scared. Who’s scared?”
She laughed and ran down the street to the next house. I pulled my phone out again and took some candid shots of her running, knocking, and laughing. Texting them to Shannon so I could finally be done with my chores for the evening, I rolled my eyes and was about to put it back in my pocket when her reply came in.
Shannon: It looks like she’s having a blast. She’s lucky to have a father like you who wants to do all these things with her.
That was where she made her mistake. Allie wasn’t the lucky one. I was. I loved my daughter with everything I had in me, and being able to make these memories with her meant everything to me.
I tapped out a response, then put my phone away for the rest of the evening to give all my attention to my little girl.
Chapter 7
Laurie
“Laurie!” Katie yelled excitedly as she ran up to me after hitting up the last house. She stopped just before slamming into me, then pointed at a red-haired boy and girl behind her who looked like twins. “Rob and Rowina live a few doors down from us. We’re going to stick together tonight. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Just stay where I can see you, okay?” I smiled while saying hi to the kids. They gave me shy smiles, waved, and grabbed Katie’s hand to drag her after them.
Desperate For You Page 4
