Page 165 of A Dead End Wedding

"Youwhat?" The surprise in his voice made it pretty obvious he hadn't known Gina had planned to ask me for a job. It made me feel better to know something that he didn't.

I explained. "So, I'm feeling like crap, here. He came afterme, but everybody else got hurt. And poor Daisy . . . I still haven't heard . . ." I stopped talking so he wouldn't hear the tears in my voice.

"I'll swing by the emergency vet and find out what's going on with Daisy," he said. "And I'll make sure Max is okay. You stay right there and don't let anyone in the door until I come to get you."

My hackles went up at that. "Look, Brody, I appreciate everything you always seem to do for me, but you don't give me orders. And I have a settlement conference in about two hours. I can drive myself home perfectly well after that, but thanks."

"Damn it, Vaughn, I'm trying to keep you safe here," he said.

"I know, and I appreciate it," I said gently. "But it's not your job. I'm a big, grown up trial lawyer here. I can take care of myself, and . . . well." I thought for a moment, seeing visions of stupid coeds in their nightgowns descending into dark basements where ax-wielding psychopaths lurked.

Suddenly, I reconsidered. "Okay. I'm tough, but I'm not an idiot. If you really have nothing better to do . . ."

There was a silence, and then he sighed. "Vaughn, you are making me crazy. I'll call you from the vet's."

"Thank—"

Click.

It was nearly seven. A fresh pot of coffee was brewing, and my offices looked as good as they could after the alligator'd gouged some of my furniture, and Croc'd bashed up a few more pieces. I'd rehung my Capital Law School diploma (way to go, Capital, for those crazy over-sizeddiplomas!), cracked glass and all, until I found time to reframe it.

Or I might even leave it that way. A badge of honor.

The phone rang. I grabbed it, almost afraid of what I might hear. "Max?"

"Sorry, me again. I sent Max home to get some rest," Jake said.

"Is she okay? And Daisy . . . is she?"

"They're both fine. Daisy has a couple of cracked ribs, and they're going to keep her for observation, but she's fine. They did a lot of tests to be sure she didn't have any internal injuries. That's why it took so long. But everybody is fine."

I sucked in a shaky breath. "I . . . thank you so much. I can't tell you how much better that makes me feel. I really appreciate it, Jake. You're – you're a good friend."

He laughed. "That's what I'm aiming for. Friend status. Take care, Vaughn."

"Wait! What about the bill? Do they need me to bring a check?"

"No, they don't charge for emergencies on Mondays, so you're covered. Max said she will come pick Daisy up in the morning on her way to work, so to expect her in a little late."

I thanked him again, and we hung up. I was nearly light-headed with relief and had done several dancing steps across the lobby before I realized there was something wrong with what he'd just said.

The emergency vet doesn't charge for emergencies on Monday?

Jake must have paid the bill. I groaned. One more thing I'd owe him for, evenafterI found out how much it was and reimbursed him.

The buzzer rang, and I was glad to see Charlie had arrived first. He'd dressed up in his usual khakis with a button-downshirt. I let him in and we shook hands. "So, what do you think?" I asked.

He ran a hand through his hair and laughed nervously. "I haven't done much else but think about this all day, and my thoughts are all crazy running together now."

"That's understandable. Five million is a lot of money," I said, leading him back to my office.

"It's not just that, although I'd love to give a sizeable chunk of money to the Cancer Society. It's that I wouldn't have to go through this litigation process. No offense, but you must be nuts to do this job. Answering those – what did you call them? Interrogatories? Those questions the other side asked me you sent home with me. All about Faith and our life together and what she was like. Anyway, sitting at my kitchen table, writing my answers brought up all the pain all over again. I'm not ashamed to tell you I broke down and cried like a baby."

I put a hand on his arm. "There's no shame in feeling pain because you lost the person you loved most in the world. And I completely understand what you mean about avoiding litigation. I spend an awful lot of time persuading peoplenotto get involved in lawsuits. It's an awful, gut-wrenching process."

He looked at me, biting his lip. "What do I do? What would you do?"

I leaned back and shook my head. "I can't tell you that. This has to be your decision. What Icando is talk you through the pros and cons of accepting the settlement offer."

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