Page 6 of From the Courtroom to the Court
She walks with Emily to the first aid room while Mia cleans up the blood from the court and prepares it for the next class. Emily sits in a chair and lets Leah clean her with a damp towel and insert the cotton.
"That's it," the coach says. "Does it hurt a lot? I can get you some ice."
"No, it's fine, thanks," Emily says. "I think we can still train."
Leah raises an eyebrow, amused as she observes Emily with her light blue polo shirt covered in blood stains, her skirt dirty, cotton in her red and slightly swollen nose, and her tearful eyes.
"Let's get something at the bar instead. It'll be good for you to sit for a while, and I have time until my next class. I'm Leah, by the way," she says, extending her hand.
Emily looks at her for the first time. Until now, she's barely noticed her because embarrassment prevented it, but now that they're here face to face, she doesn't hesitate to give her a quick once-over while shaking her hand. Her toned body and tanned skin immediately catch her attention. She also likes her serene expression amid the brown strands escaping from what she's sure was once a perfect ponytail, but what strikes her most is the way Leah looks at her, as if she doesn't care that Emily's a klutz unable to bounce a ball. Leah doesn't judge her, and although Emily cares very little about what others think of her, she's had to get used to always being the target of laughter and jokes, and appreciates not being Leah's.
"Sounds good," she accepts and stands up smiling.
Leah startles at Emily's sudden movement, fearing she might get dizzy, but the lawyer brushes off her skirt and stands tall as if nothing happened, making Leah smile with fascination.
"Have you been working here as a coach for long?" Emily asks as soon as they sit at one of the terrace tables, under a huge umbrella that protects them from the sun and allows the breeze to cool them.
Leah looks at her, surprised. Although she's a very humble woman, she's used to most people who come to her club recognizing her or even signing up just to meet her in person, but Emily clearly has no idea who she is, and she likes that. She loves being able to present herself to someone as just Leah, not as the accomplished tennis player.
"About three years," the tennis player responds.
Emily leans forward while looking around, and Leah gets the feeling she's about to confess some secret.
"You must earn a good salary with the outrageous membership fee they charge monthly," she says with a little laugh.
Leah catches the humor. Emily seems like the most transparent person she's ever met.
"Well, I can't complain," she says simply. "And you? What do you do?"
"I'm a lawyer. I work at my family's firm, and obviously, I'm much better at that than playing sports," she says with an almost arrogant smile and confidence that fascinates Leah with each new detail she discovers about Emily. "Give me a well-pressed suit and a solid case, and I swear I feel like Roger Federer with a racket in his hand. Precise, unbeatable, and ready to send my opponent across the court with a perfect backhand."
Leah lets out a low whistle that makes Emily laugh and suddenly blush.
"Well, I hope you won't sue the club after that racket hit," Leah says, pointing to her nose while leaning forward.
Emily lets out a small laugh, so genuine that Leah wonders if the woman before her is real or a mirage created to give her some of the most interesting minutes of her life.
"If I had to file lawsuits against every place where my butt has kissed the ground without my permission, the entire county would be bankrupt, and I'd be drinking daiquiris on a private beach, funded by settlements for slips and falls caused by my clumsiness. Though I'm so good at convincing juries, they'd end up believing that in each and every place, there was an oil slick that made me slip."
Leah can't stop laughing. She reclines in her chair while staring at Emily who, infected by what she finds to be musical laughter, gets encouraged and continues exaggerating until Mia feels obliged to interrupt them.
"Sorry, but Alison is waiting for you on court five," she says, looking at Leah.
The tennis player checks the time on her watch and is astonished to realize how quickly time has flown by with Emily.
"Tell her I'll be right there, Mia. Thanks."
"Okay."
"I have to leave you," Leah says, standing up. "Are you feeling well enough to go home? I can ask Mia to drive you."
"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine," Emily thanks her with a smile as she stands up. "So, we'll see each other at the next class? I promise not to touch the racket until you arrive."
Leah smiles again and says goodbye with a wave of her hand as Emily watches her walk away, thinking she could spend the entire day joking around if it means continuing to see that smile.
Chapter 4
Mia Clark paces the sidewalk, walking back and forth with her usual nervousness. While waiting, she runs through her mental checklist, the same one as always. Rent paid. Savings transferred to the investment account, and the courthouse signature, completed. Mia is twenty-five, but Leah Walker always tells her she seems much older, constantly worried about everything, trying not to let anything slip through the cracks and keeping her life quite orderly. It has to be that way; Mia hasn't had it easy, and if she wants to keep Aaron by her side, she must maintain control over everything.
