Page 26 of From the Courtroom to the Court
"I'll take care of that, don't worry."
Mia smiles and hugs her, not knowing how to thank her for everything she's done for her and her brother since they met.
"I need to start looking. I don't want you to hire that guy again, he was already about to retire then and…"
"We're not calling him. I'm going to talk to Emily. My mother has been snooping around, and her firm is one of the most prestigious in the county. They must have plenty of lawyers who handle these things. Let me handle bringing it up to her. Now let's go see Aaron," she says, and puts an arm around her shoulders as they start walking down the hallway.
Chapter 14
The day in Charleston is perfect, with radiant sunshine that disappears behind clouds for a while, giving respite before reappearing with force. Despite the heat, the breeze is pleasant, and Emily Harris predicts she'll have a good day. She started her morning at the courthouse; she doesn't have a trial, though she does need to deliver documentation requested by the judge. Then she met with two clients at her office and helped her mother prepare a proposal she wants to present to a company that has requested her services. Now she enjoys what she considers the best moment, her tennis training at the Walker Elite Sport Club. The lawyer observes people playing with enthusiasm; some shout, others curse when a play goes wrong, but overall everyone seems happy to be there. She searches on her phone for her court number and walks toward it with determination. Over the weeks, Emily has gained confidence on the court; she truly feels she has improved this time and, though she knows she'll never reach a high level, as long as she can play and have fun, it's enough.
She frowns when she sees Leah on the court waiting for her. This isn't typical; Emily always arrives early and her trainer comes a few minutes later. She notices Leah lost in thought, staring at a ball bouncing against the ground as she hits it with her racket.
"Hello," Emily greets, and Leah can't help but startle. "Sorry if I scared you."
Leah focuses on her and smiles; Emily always puts her in a good mood.
"I was distracted," the tennis player answers. "How are you?"
"Ready for training," she replies euphorically and approaches the bench to put down her bag. "By the way, how's Mia's brother? I was worried."
"He's fine, it was just a fall. Thanks for asking," she responds without giving many details.
Leah grabs the cart with the balls and drags it to the center of the court. She loosens the elastic tying her hair and redoes it more carefully. Emily watches her and thinks she's a beautiful woman, one whose simplicity enhances her beauty.
"Ready?" Leah asks when she notices Emily standing still.
The attorney snaps out of her daze and, before she starts walking, the racket slips from her hand. She bends down, picks it up, and gives Leah a childlike look. The trainer smiles at her and shakes her head.
"Hey, I want to discuss a personal matter with you. Can we talk when we finish training?" Leah asks as Emily approaches her.
The lawyer makes a face of annoyance because she already has an appointment at the office and considers whether, from Leah's expression, the matter is very urgent. She doesn't think so – or that's what she imagines – because otherwise, the woman would have given more details.
"I have an appointment with a client after this," Emily answers without much enthusiasm. "But I'll be home at eight; if you want, we can meet there and talk."
"I'll adapt to your schedule," Leah smiles, and Emily finds that upward curve of her lips perfect. "I'll be at your house at eight."
"Great. Everything okay?" Emily inquires.
"Yes," she assures her. "I just need some advice from you."
Emily nods and decides to wait for the evening appointment to find out what's happening.
"Well, today we'll warm up as usual and then practice focus," Leah begins explaining to Emily as they both make circular movements with their shoulders. "I want you to start concentrating solely on returning the ball and following it until it's your turn to hit it again. For now, it will be static; you'll stay in the same spot and then start moving a few steps."
Emily agrees and confirms it with an energetic head movement and a radiant smile, one of hers. They stretch their legs, warm up their ankles and arms. They jog a couple of laps, and when they're ready, Leah stands in front of her, a few meters away, and starts hitting soft balls to her. Emily misses the first one because the sound of a woman celebrating her victory makes her turn her head to find the source of the shout.
"Emily," Leah calls her. "Focus on the training."
The lawyer realizes her distraction and grimaces.
"I'm sorry," she answers and widens her stance to position herself.
The trainer manages to get Emily to focus and return the ball most of the time. Leah corrects her to make her stroke softer and avoid sending the ball so far. Minutes pass, and the women start to sweat. The lawyer seems to have taken her task of keeping her eyes on the yellow sphere literally, because her furrowed brow and tight lips give her an air of extreme concentration.
Mia Clark appears on the left path, dragging a cannon-shaped device. She enters the court, and when Leah notices her presence, she checks her wristwatch and realizes that half an hour has passed since the training began. She always has that feeling when she's with Emily, that time flies; with her, everything seems simpler.
"How's it going, Emily?" asks Mia, who places the device next to where Leah is standing.
