Zach turned the opposite direction and soon found himself driving under the massive arch over the road that led to the main house.
The three-story, pale yellow hacienda stood on the crest of a small hill. His first visit had been at night, when he’d been unable to appreciate the vivid colors of the main structure and the surrounding buildings. Flower boxes hung from several windows. The red and orange blossoms matched the tile roof. Wrought iron provided counterpoint, the gleaming black metal scrolled and swirled in intricate patterns forming balcony railings and lampposts on the driveway.
He pulled up to the side of the house and parked. Katie must have been watching for him because she was on the front porch even before he’d closed his car door. Her expression was both sad and wary. No doubt she thought he was going to say “I told you so.”
Zach didn’t believe in wasting breath on the obvious.
“Thanks so much for coming,” she said by way of greeting. She hurried down the front steps and crossed to stand in front of him.
“I won’t say it’s my pleasure to be here,” he told her, taking in the troubled expression darkening her eyes and the way she bit on her lower lip. Her lashes were damp and spiked. She’d been crying.
“It all really sucks,” she admitted. “Everybody liked Jeff. I know Brenna’s the one he’s divorcing, but we all feel kicked in the gut.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, and realized he meant it. “This is never easy on anyone.”
“You would know.”
He put his arm around her. “I know it’s a cliché, but time heals. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.”
She glanced at him. “Promise?”
He thought of her promise that Marcelli marriages lasted forever, but didn’t mention it. “Absolutely.”
She looked like a grown-up version of Alice, after her journey to Wonderland. A headband held her long, wavy hair away from her face. She wore a simple cotton dress, matching cardigan, and sandals.
“Staying calm is important,” he said. “Brenna needs that. She’s in shock and it’s going to be a few days until she fully comprehends what’s happening.”
Katie shook her head. “Brenna’s not the only one in shock.” She glanced up at the house. “We should probably go in.”
She led the way into the house. All the Marcelli women huddled together in the living room, not saying much as they sewed. Only Brenna stood separate from the group, her back to the room as she gazed out the window.
Zach watched the flash of needles through lace. Nearly invisible thread hooked beads, securing them in place. Light caught the iridescent pearls, glinting off them like sunlight off dew on a spiderweb. He stiffened slightly, seeing these women as spiders, weaving a trap to snare his son.
Mia glanced up and saw him. “Zach! You’re here.”
She rose and hurried toward him. The grandmothers rose as well, but stayed in place, as did Francesca. Colleen moved across the room.
“Zach, thank you for coming.” She touched his arm. “We appreciate you driving all this way to help.”
Zach wasn’t sure that representing Brenna as she divorced her husband technically qualified as help, but he didn’t dispute Colleen’s description. He was here because he wanted the family to owe him. He planned to build up a damn big credit. When the time came, he would cash it in, take David, and escape.
Brenna was the last one to turn toward him. He recognized the stunned disbelief in her eyes. She was a woman who felt as if she’d just walked through a war zone. It was his job to tell her all she’d survived was the opening salvo of the very first battle. The war was far from over.
“You hungry?” Grandma Tessa asked. “There’s pasta.”
He had a feeling there was always pasta in her house. “I’m fine.”
“Some tea?” Grammy M asked. “Fixin’ it is no trouble a’tall.”
Brenna walked toward him. “Let’s not drown Zach in food or drink,” she said. As she got closer, he could see that her eyes were red, and her mouth trembled when she spoke.
“I appreciate the hospitality, but it’s not necessary.”
Brenna swallowed. “You got here pretty fast. After Katie called, I realized I probably shouldn’t have asked you to come all this way.”
“In my business, house calls aren’t all that uncommon.” Actually they were for him, but she didn’t have to know that. He might be taking advantage of a miserable situation to find a way to keep his son from screwing up his life, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to give Brenna his best.
“There’s something wrong when divorce lawyers make house calls but doctors don’t,” Brenna said. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Sure.”
She glanced around at her family, then pointed down the hall. “There’s a library just over there. Second door on the left. I think that would be the best place.”
Colleen moved to intercept her. “Do you want one of us with you? Me or Francesca or Katie?”
“No. It’s going to be ugly enough without witnesses.” She gave her mother a very shaky smile. “I’m fine.”
Grandma Tessa pulled out a string of rosary beads and began speaking softly under her breath. Colleen hugged her daughter. “Call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
Brenna led the way down the hall. She and Zach entered a good-size room with bookshelves lining three walls. A large desk sat near the bay window, and two leather sofas faced a stone fireplace.
“We might as well make this official,” Brenna said, motioning to the desk. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
Zach set his briefcase on the surface, but instead of settling in a chair, he leaned against a corner of the desk. Brenna paced to the window, then back to the door she’d closed when they entered the room. Her body screamed tension. She hunched her shoulders, as if against a blow, and looked a lot like the other wives he’d met over the years. Wives who had been left; wives who weren’t sure if they wanted revenge or a second chance.
“Why don’t I go first,” he said easily, as if they were about to discuss the weather. “I’ll tell you how I like to handle things, and you can let me know if that agrees with you.”
She nodded without speaking. Nor did she stop pacing.
“You don’t have to get a divorce,” he began.
The words were familiar-he’d given the speech countless times. It served two purposes. First, having him start things usually put his clients at ease. Second, he was blunt about the divorce process, which often shocked the ambivalent back into their marriages for a year or two. Divorce was ugly, destructive, and expensive. Those who weren’t sure shouldn’t get involved.
“If you decide you want a divorce, you don’t have to do anything about it today.”
Brenna reached the window and turned to look at him. “If this is your standard line, how on earth do you stay in business?”
“That’s not a problem.”
She sighed. “Let me guess. Because the world is filled with foolish women who marry bastards?”
“Something like that.” He waited, and when she didn’t speak again, he continued. “Whatever you tell me is private. Attorney-client privilege means I won’t be discussing your personal business with anyone.” He allowed himself a slight smile. “Not even your family.”
“They have their ways of making people talk.”
“I’m pretty tough.”
“Katie says you’re the best.”
“I’m not afraid to go for the gut. But know this. Divorce is going to change your life in ways you can’t begin to imagine. I’ll start the process if and when you say you want to. However, if you change your mind, I have no problem stopping.”
She paused in mid-pace and stared at him. “You’re a divorce lawyer. Why aren’t you pushing me to do this?”
“Because if we go through with the divorce, I’ll need your cooperation. That doesn’t happen if you’re ambivalent.”
He continued with his standard speech, going over everything from the length of time to the dissolution of marriage to the potential hazards of a court-mandated property settlement. Brenna listened intently and didn’t wince when he named his hourly fee.
When he was finished, he moved behind the desk and sat down. “Now you talk,” he said. “You can tell me you need more time, tell me to go to hell, or just cry.”
One corner of her mouth twitched slightly, as if she had almost smiled. “You must be pretty used to female tears.”
“I’ve had plenty of male clients lose it.”
She walked to one of the chairs across the desk from his and collapsed onto the soft leather. He guessed she was a year or two younger than Katie, but right now she looked old and very tired.
“There’s no question about the divorce,” she said flatly. “Jeff cheated on me.”
“That doesn’t have to be a hanging offense.”
“It is to me.” She looked at him. “He’s not remorseful and he’s not coming back. He told me he’s already filed for divorce.”
Zach pulled out a pad of paper. “That means you’ll be served in the next day or so. Brace yourself for that.”
“Great. So the hits keep on coming?”
“I can help you hit back. If that’s what you want.”
“Revenge sounds really good right about now. I guess one bright spot in all this is I don’t have to change my name back. I never took his. A voice inside told me not to. I guess there was a bigger message I should have listened to.”
Zach leaned forward. “I need to ask you a lot of questions about your marriage, what property the two of you own, that sort of thing. Do you want to deal with that now?”
She nodded.
He pulled out a form and handed it to her. “I’ll need this information as soon as you can get it.”
She read the paper. “Bank account numbers and balances, credit card accounts, car license information.” She glanced up at him. “I guess you’re going to want to know a lot of personal details.”
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