Page 43 of From the Courtroom to the Court
The boy's expression changes from happiness to bewilderment.
"I want to petition for your custody," Aaron smiles again, "and Emma is our lawyer. She's working very quickly to request it before the judge."
Emma looks at Mia, not wanting her to set aside the real reason why custody should be requested as soon as possible. The young caddie runs her hand over her face; she doesn't want to go through that moment again—not again—of telling Aaron he has to change families.
"You know Peter is sick and you won't be able to stay there with them anymore."
Aaron's face transforms into a look of terror.
"No, Mia..."
"Relax," Emma turns to the boy and puts both hands on his shoulders. "We're doing everything, even the impossible, so you don't have to go to anyone else's home. I just need you to trust us, okay? That way your sister will be more at ease."
The anguish on Mia's face has turned the lawyer's stomach. She felt an uncontrollable uneasiness and had to act. The kind look the caddie gives her is the best reward Emma has received, without a doubt.
"How about we go to that pizza place you like so much?" Leah asks Aaron, trying to dispel the bad moment as soon as possible.
The boy nods, energetically.
"Go wash your face and hands. We'll wait for you here," Mia requests.
"Goodbye, Emma," Aaron says and runs to the bathroom with the speed and vitality of a boy his age.
"I'm leaving too," Emma announces, putting her tablet back in her purse. "Leah, nice to see you. Mia, I'll let you know when I have next week's itinerary."
The lawyer extends her hand to shake her client's professionally—after doing the same with Leah—and both feel that whirlwind again as soon as their skin makes contact. Mia locks her gaze with Emma's and, although Emma makes a motion to withdraw her hand, the caddie doesn't let go and, in an involuntary act, squeezes it a little and winks at her.
Emma nearly has a heart attack—damn ball girl—and walks so quickly she almost runs into a little girl who was in her path.
"I know she likes me," Mia states when the lawyer disappears from view.
"And do you like her?" Leah asks mischievously.
"If she weren't such a stuck-up jerk, I'm sure I would."
Chapter 21
Leah has just finished a class and keeps her gaze fixed on the adjacent court while wiping away her sweat. It's the court where she has her next session in ten minutes, Emily's session, which hasn't been canceled yet. In the distance, she sees Mia walking quickly toward her, and her pulse races.
"What?" Leah asks as soon as the caddy reaches her side, trying unsuccessfully to hide her nervousness.
"She hasn't canceled, Leah, and I don't think she will in the next ten minutes, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't make me check again," she says with an arched eyebrow.
Leah smiles and raises her hands, stepping aside to let her pass with the cart to start collecting the balls from the court. She decides to go to the locker room to wash up and change into a clean shirt because today the sun has been fierce, and she feels she's sweated more than ever. Not finding Emily inside puzzles her and makes her fear that she might have canceled at the last minute; however, when she walks out toward court number six, she sees her standing there by the bench. Her pulse skyrockets, and she feels her heart might burst out of her chest at any moment, but she frowns when she notices Emily isn't wearing athletic clothes but a tailored suit that fits her perfectly.
"Hello, Emily," she says when she reaches her.
"How are you, Leah?" the lawyer asks, offering a smile, though not as radiant as usual.
"Good. Why are you dressed like that? I mean..." Leah could make a joke that at another time she knows would make Emily laugh, tell her it's not a good idea for someone with her clumsiness to train in heels, but she knows she shouldn't.
"I didn't come to train, I came to talk to you," Emily says, and Leah feels her lungs empty.
"Sure. Should we go to my office?" she suggests nervously.
"No, I'd prefer to go to the club bar if you don't mind," Emily responds, aware that being alone with the tennis player isn't a good idea.
"Yes, of course, no problem," says Leah, letting her pass to exit the court.
