MY MEETING ended abruptly when my client got a phone call from her kid's school, causing us to have to reschedule. It was probably something important.
I curiously walked by Brenda Steeles' office, hoping that I'd get a peek inside. But just like my office, she didn't have transparent walls. And the door was closed.
"Finding what you're looking for?" McConnon approached me with a goofy smile. I placed my right hand on my left shoulder, and shook my head.
"No, I'm just killing some time. Don't have anything else scheduled for today."
"Come into my office so that we can chat."
"Okay," I followed him, and he closed the door, "what do you want to talk about, boss?"
"You know what I want to talk about," he crossed his arms over his chest, looking at me straight in the eye.
"I, uhâ" did Meg complain on me already? That damn bitch.
"Mrs. Aquilla. You charmed the hell out of her. I think she might take us on as her go-to law firm even. But you know, you have to give your best on her case."
"I know," I sighed in relief, "she's already given me the details. I'm working on the draft of my argument."
AFTER DISCUSSING a few other things with him, I headed into my office. That was when I got a text from Delia.
Delia: Had to rush out. I'm free after 6.
Me: You can come over. I'll cook you dinner, and we can talk.
Delia: You sure? I can bring takeout.
Me: I'm sure. I'm surprised that your bodyguard wasn't with you today.
Delia: He was. He's the master of disguise.
Me: Really now?
Delia: Lol. No. I made him wait in the car.
Me: Haha, so that you could sneak a kiss?
Delia: Exactly... I'll see you later. I won't be later than 6:30.
LEANING AGAINST my kitchen counter, looking at the glass of wine that I poured, I sighed deeply. It slipped my mind that I couldn't drink for the next six monthsâmaybe even years. I'd have to breastfeed, and I didn't want to contaminate my baby's nutrients in any way. I'd already been drinking for the first few weeks, and hopefully, it wouldn't affect the bean when she was born. Damn, I really want a girl.
When I heard the doorbell, I inhaled a deep breath, and went to the door, "you're early."
Delia held her handbag against her chest, and sighed deeply, "it's been a long day," she walked inside, and threw her bag onto the couch.
I closed the door, and followed her into the kitchen, "I hope you're hungry."
"Starving. What is it that you whipped up? It smells great."
"Just salmon and spiced corn," she lifted the cover of the pot, and inhaled exaggeratedly.
"I need to come over more often."
"Help me set the table?"
She nodded and grabbed the glass of wine from the counter, "you don't mind if I take a sip, right?" It's not like I can drink it anyway.
I shook my head, "bring the plates and utensils," I picked up the pot, and carried it to the table.
Delia said, "I'll have to cook for you sometime. Do you like ramen?" She giggled.
"Ramen is all I ate in college, and protein bars," she sat down, and placed utensils in front of me.
"I lived off of Starbucks and Subway."
"I'd think that you had a personal chef to feed you everyday," I teased.
"Yeah, well, I wish I took Marcela to college with me. I probably would have been happier."
"Marcela?"
"She took care of me since I was a baby," sounds like a typical, wealthy family.
"Okay. How's Maxwell handling time away from you?"
She shrugged, "he may or may not be waiting for me in the car again. But don't worry, darling. I won't let him ruin our night."
"It's fine. I'm getting used to it."
"I'm glad. So what is it that you wanted to talk about?" I swallowed and picked up my fork. I wanted to tell you that I'm... "Alyssa?"
"Yeah. I'm worried about how you'll react to this, butâ" she looked at me with a graceful smile on her face, as though there was nothing that I could say to hurt her, "I'mâ" pregnant, "I've been promoted."
"Really?" She placed her hand on my shoulder, "that's great. But why are you worried about how I'll react?"
"Because I have to relocate to Chicago."
"Oh," she pressed her lips together, "doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world."
"It'll become complicated for us to continue whatever this isâ"
"Chicago isn't that far away. I can come see you when I get the chance," she shrugged, "we'll just see less of each other."
"You sure it wouldn't be too much of a hassle?"
"For you, never. As long as you want to see me too."
"I do, of course, I do," okay, tell her the next thing now. You have to. You can't keep this secret forever. Soon enough, your baby bump is going to start showing, and she'll figure it out.
"So this thing that we have. Do you see it going anywhere?" She asked. My fork slipped out of my hand, and onto the floor, "I don't mean to alarm you, I'm just curious."
"I, I like you. Alot."
"Yes, I know that. You've mentioned that quite a few times," she smiled widely, "but do you think you'd be comfortable with dating? As in me calling you my girlfriend?"
My heart began to race. Why do I feel like crying? Alyssa, you have to tell this woman now, or you'll end up breaking her heart, and your own!
"Let's take it slow?" I suggested. She nodded and focused her eyes on her plate, "I don't want to rush into things. My schedule is going to be packed next year, and I'm unsure of how we're going to handle seeing so little of each other."
"It will be hard to see even less of you. Doesn't mean we can't try, right?"
"I really want to try. You're one of the best things to happen to me in a long time," I assure her.
"And I know what the other best thing is," you do?? I felt my breath plummet to my lower stomach.
Her eyes narrowed, "uh."
"Your promotion, silly. Why do you look like you're gonna shit yourself," she nudged my shoulder, "you're a great cook, by the way. I haven't had such a nice salmon in a while."
I placed my hand over my stomach and sighed. Relaxing, I leaned forward, "you're lying. Those fancy restaurants are obviously better."
"Anything's better when it's made with love," she winked at me. I swallowed and looked at the empty glass of wine. I should refill that for her.
"More wine? Or would you like something else?" I got up, "I've got iced tea, and lemonade, and orange juice."
She walked up behind me, as I opened the fridge. When she wrapped her arms around my waist, I flinched.
"You're so tense. Are you okay?"
I nodded and took a deep breath, attempting to relax, "I still don't understand why you're so interested in me," I closed the fridge without retrieving anything.
Her fingers gripped my hips, and she rested her chin onto my shoulder, "wow, come here," she led me to the couch, and intertwined her fingers with mine, "I'm concerned about how insecure you are."
I felt my chest and jaw tighten, "it's not about that," I closed my eyes. Why does she think I'm insecure? I'm not! Even if I am, her pointing it out had hurt my feelings, "you've got a lot going for you, Delia. You don't need to be waiting patiently for me. I bet you have a hundred phone numbers of women inside your phone right now."
"Would you like to check?" She tightened her grasp, "do you think that I'm not capable of being monogamous? Or that because I'm successful, it means that I want to fuck every woman who would let me?" She seemed offended, but her eyes didn't harden.
I felt anxious, as though I was about to get scolded. My heart was racing, and I felt a tear escaping my right eye. She noticed and wiped the tear away, and placed a kiss on my forehead.
"I might have trust issues," I admit.
"We all do," she looked lovingly into my eyes, "you're going to have to deal with the fact that I'm not going anywhere. I'm not some twenty-something year old woman who doesn't know what she wants in her life. I'm confident about everything that I do, but I'm sorry to say that I don't think I'm confident in you," she sighed, "I've never been so uncertain about something in my life. I know that I want to be with you, spend more time with you, give you a place in my heart. But I don't know how you feel about all of that."
My heart was pounding inside of my chest, "Delia, there's something that I need to tell you," it's now or never, "but before I do, I want you to know that I want the same things. I've never felt this way towards a woman before, and maybe, I've never felt this way in my life. I have never met someone like you, and it seems almost too good to be true."
Her loving gaze chased away all the fears that I had, "it is true, I promise you. What is it you need to tell me?"
The moment that we were sharing caused tears to run down my cheeks. I looked at her beautiful face, and knew that I didn't want to lose her. I couldn't, "I," I took a slow breath, "I'm falling in love with you."
It was true. My feelings for her were increasing. But it wasn't what I was supposed to tell her. I couldn't do it.
Delia smiled, "I believe I'm falling too."