Page 41 of From the Courtroom to the Court
Mia nods, and although she should be relaxed because her brother will enjoy a sport he loves, thinking about staying with Emma—who surely has already reviewed the documentation she left at her office—keeps her uneasy.
Emma notices, knows that her now-client has nervousness that's unusual for her. It's true she barely knows her, but that haughty and arrogant attitude she usually has is nowhere to be seen. However, what Emma does notice is how good those pants make her ass look and how well that white polo shirt fits her. She licks her lips discreetly and quickly scolds herself; not with a ball girl.
"Everything okay?" Mia asks in a mocking tone. She's noticed the indiscreet once-over Emma gave her.
The lawyer twists her expression and activates her favorite mask.
"That's what I'm asking you," she shoots back and sits at the table. "You seem so nervous that I'd say I'm the reason you keep drying your hands on your pants."
What a bitch. The mask is the bitch one.
"You wish," Mia counters. "Anyway, what do you need to review? Everything I gave you is all I have."
It's now that Emma realizes what has her client in this state is the content of that documentation.
"Your record is not something I should care about, Mia," Emma says with all the seriousness her lawyer persona allows. "You must have your reasons for having done all that, and the only thing I need to consider as your legal representative is how this might affect the custody application."
Mia clenches her jaw tightly. Emma has been direct and hasn't shown any judgment, but she can't help feeling a series of the most contradictory emotions.
"Everything I've done, I've done for my brother," she says through gritted teeth.
Emma says nothing; speaking would only add fuel to the fire growing in front of her.
"I'm going to order at the bar, do you want anything?" Mia suddenly says after letting out a sigh; she needs to cut this moment of tension.
"Sparkling water, please," Emma requests.
Mia stands up, walks to the bar to order the drinks and doesn't let the bartender take them to the table. Waiting there for a few minutes gives her the tranquility she needs right now.
"Thank you," Emma says when her client sets down a glass with lots of ice, a slice of lemon, and sparkling water. "I've arranged an appointment for next week with a psychologist who will prepare Aaron's report. This will work in your favor; it's always well-regarded when a professional gives their viewpoint about emotional stability, in this case Aaron's. Then I'll meet with the social worker, Ms. Burk. We spoke yesterday by phone and the appointment is in a few days."
Mia relaxes; it seems Emma has everything planned out.
"As for Leah, her support will give you more credibility," she says and turns on a tablet she had already taken out of her purse. "I need to know more about your relationship, how did you meet?"
Mia's leg starts bouncing uncontrollably. She doesn't feel comfortable talking about it, though she knows she has to tell it once and for all; there's no use prolonging the moment. She takes a long sip of her soda, grabs a napkin from the table to wipe her lips, and focuses on her lawyer.
"It was when I tried to rob her," Mia notices the tension in Emma's body, but continues speaking. She's already begun and doesn't plan to stop. "Nobody would give me a job, I already had a record and nowhere trusted me. The little money I earned here and there I saved to pay a lawyer and fight for Aaron's custody. It was hard, I slept on the street and barely had enough to survive. That day they took what little I had; some addicts woke me up while I was sleeping in a park and stole everything. I hadn't eaten in two days; I was angry, hungry, disoriented. I saw Leah; she was coming out of a store with a couple of bags in her hands and stopped in front of a car. She had her phone in her back pocket and I didn't think; I went for it."
Mia pauses and lowers her head for a second, ashamed. Although it happened a long time ago, it still stings to remember.
"I wasn't expecting such a strong woman and when she felt me behind her trying to take her phone, she grabbed my wrist and threw me to the ground," Mia smiles for the first time while telling the story. "With her other hand she grabbed my shirt and, no matter how much I moved, she wouldn't let me leave."
Flashback
"Don't move, damn it," Leah Walker says while the thief tries to escape. "I swear I'll break your wrist if you keep going."
"Let me go," the girl growls. She looks tired and her face is covered in dirt.
"I'm going to call the police, I won't let you keep stealing," says Leah while looking her in the eyes. Mia immediately stops moving.
"Please, no, I can't go back to jail," she begs.
"You should have thought of that before," says Leah while releasing her shirt and taking out the phone that thief intended to steal.
"I have a little brother, please, don't do it," Mia continues pleading, her eyes now filled with tears.
Leah thinks it might be a trick, a simple lie so the girl can escape and continue breaking the law. However, there's something about her, a pain reflected in her expression, a fragility she can feel that's almost palpable.
