The Bequest
Chapter 67—Abigail

I've never taken lead on a case before. My hands shake almost every time I stand up to speak, and I fumble a few things. But every time I do, Robert's there, with sticky notes, with files, with highlighted deposition transcripts, or with a smile and a thumbs up. He's the best second chair lawyer in the history of time. And even so, as I make my closing arguments, I'm not sure how the judge is going to rule.

"You nailed that," Robert says.

"You think?" I sink into the wooden chair and begin gathering our files. "They had a few really good points, and I tried to "

"No, really." He places his hand over mine.

Instead of making me uncomfortable, it calms me down. Robert really came through with all his promises. He let me run the case, he gave me control over the direction in prep, and he let me do it all remotely. And then, he made me point person for the trial itself. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Joey Mayhugh says. "You were brilliant, and we feel confident this is going to go our way."

I hope he's right. "There's always a chance"

"No one could have done better. If that judge rules against us, he's a blind fool-"

A door creaks, and I realize the judge is already coming back out from his chambers. He has a half smile on his face, his lips twitching. We all stand. He walks across the platform and takes his seat. "I am happy to say that I am neither blind, nor a fool." He motions for us to sit.

Poor Joey looks like he's about to pass out cold.

I pat the chair next to me until he actually sits.

"I've given all of this careful consideration, and not only am I ruling in favor of the Defendant, but I'm also going to order that MiddlePoint Power has to pay a penalty for acting in bad faith. I believe the requested penalty amount was fifty thousand dollars, plus all court costs and legal fees, and that seems more than fair. It's my genuine hope that this case will provide guidance for the other cases like this currently being prosecuted all over Texas, and I have no doubt my reasoning will be upheld if the Plaintiff appeals." He bangs his gavel.

Joey claps.

Robert picks me up and spins me in a circle. I text Ethan and Izzy with the news. Part of me wants to save it and tell them when I get home, but I can't wait. I'm sure they'll be happy enough when we go out to dinner to celebrate. "This may be a little premature," Robert says. "But I know that you have the balance of Ethan's tuition due soon, and I wanted to make sure you had as much time as possible to work out the finances." A smile steals across his face. "The partners and I met last night about a separate matter, but they all voted, assuming the case turned out the way we hoped, that you would be the next partner at our firm." He hands me a piece of paper. "This is the buy-in information. I know it looks steep, but I can tell you from past years' experience that yours and Nate's shares will pay out enough to replenish the old coffers this coming New Year's." "Thank you," I say.

"I imagine you'll be having dinner with the kids tonight," he says. "And I don't want to pressure you, but I'd love to take you out to celebrate any time you name." "I think I'd like that," I say.

This time, his smile doesn't steal over his face. It hijacks it.

The rest of the day feels a bit like walking on a cloud. When Nate passed, after being partner for only three years, I wasn't sure how I'd ever be able to make enough alone to save for retirement and college funds like we planned. Then Ethan tried to bail on college and I wondered what I was doing any of it for in the first place.

But now he's enrolled, and I've made partner, and life will be as close to normal as it can possibly be. It was a lot of work, and I wanted to quit over and over and over. Sometimes I worried I'd collapse from the effort, but I stuck to the plan, and now it has all paid off.

"Take the rest of the day," Robert says. "Ethan starts school soon. Spend time with the ones that matter."

So I do.

My kids and I love Texas Roadhouse. Their hot, buttered rolls are like legal cocaine, and they keep them coming. There are plenty of sides to choose from, and who doesn't like a good steak? But for special occasions? We always go to the same place.

"Yay!" Gabe says when I tell them we're going to Taste of Texas.

"We haven't been in years," Izzy says.

"That may be an exaggeration," I say.

Whitney shakes her head. "We haven't been since before Dad died."

Is she right? I think about it and realize that first he was sick, and then he died, and then I started working, and we've been hanging on by our toenails ever since. Besides, there hasn't been much to celebrate in the past eighteen months. "Well, we're going now."

"I hope they have the same bread," Whitney says.

"I like Texas Roadhouse rolls better," Gabe says.

"Hush," Ethan says. "You don't even remember." He wraps his hand over the top of Gabe's head and tugs him against his hip, giving him a hug the same way you'd hug a bouncy dog.

Which makes me think of Roscoe. That dog barely ate a bite after Amanda left, and he wouldn't move from the door. I should text Kevin and Jeff and see how he's doing.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Izzy asks.

"Nothing. Let's go."

Luckily it's the middle of the week, and we're early enough that we don't need a reservation. They're seating us when my phone rings-and it's the courthouse. "Hang on just a second, kids," I say. "Let me take this."

Ethan gives me a thumbs up, and I know he'll keep an eye on the others and make sure they're not too boisterous. "Hello?"

"Mrs. Brooks?" It's the judge.

I certainly didn't expect him to call. "Is everything okay?"

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"Don't worry I didn't change my mind."

"That's a relief." My laugh is nervous. "What can I do for you?"

"I just realized that the email information I had on file was for the other lawyer on the case, Mr. Robert Marwell. Since you were lead, and you handled things so gracefully, even after he volunteered to take my open slot, I thought I should send it directly to you."

"Wait, volunteered?"

"Mr. Marwell, I mean. When he heard, through the court reporter, that I had a week free on my docket, he called to let me know that you could be ready in time."

He did? Steve was right-Robert wanted me out of Birch Creek and he lied to me about having no choice. He used Bev to force me back early. The whole win feels tainted, and I'm suddenly far less excited about Taste of Texas. "Is there any strategic reason he would have done that?"

"Strategic?" I can almost hear the frown in the judge's voice. "Not really. I mean, the other side might feel pressured to agree to it, but if they really weren't ready, they could have simply refused." He pauses. "Actually, it might have made it more difficult for you. I know they have at least a dozen of these cases pending, and big companies like that tend to focus heavily on the first in terms of time and resources. So being the first case made it more likely you'd get a fair shake, but their defense would be hitting it harder, too."

"Is there a chance he thought we could catch them unprepared?"

"MiddlePoint Energy?" The judge laughs. "Doubtful."

I give him my email address and thank him for his help, but his words keep bouncing around in my brain all through dinner.

"Is everything okay?" Ethan asks as they're clearing our plates. "You seem... deflated. Like an old birthday balloon."

"Gee, you're going to be a hit with the ladies at Rice. You sure know how to turn a phrase."

He rolls his eyes. "You know what I mean."

Sadly, I do. "Robert volunteered to move the case forward."

"Why would he do that?" Izzy asks. "It ruined our summer."

"I wouldn't say it ruined it," I say.

"No, it did," Whitney says.

"Oh, yeah," Ethan says.

"Big time." I have trouble taking Gabe seriously when he has butter smeared on his cheek, but his eyes are as earnest as I've ever seen them.

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Big time? Coming home ruined their summer? "We like living here, though," I say. "You've had pool parties and you've gone back to gymnastics and horseback lessons here." "Yeah." Izzy nods.

"Uh-huh," Whitney says.

"I miss Roscoe," Gabe says. "I've been praying for him."

That hurts my heart.

"I miss the chickens," Izzy says. "And Kronk and Maggie and Snoopy."

Ethan's utterly silent.

"Are you okay?" I touch his shoulder.

He jumps. "Yeah."

"You sure?"

His eyes are intense when he asks, "Do you like your job?"

"Being a lawyer?" I shrug.

"Did you like winning the case?"

"Everyone likes winning." For some reason, Steve's parting story comes to mind. He collected baseball cards...not because he liked them. Because he did it with his sister, and after she died, he mourned her death by continuing the practice. He hadn't even considered whether he actually liked collecting them he didn't even like baseball.

And now Ethan's asking me whether I like to practice law, and I realize I haven't considered this since he was a baby.

Do I like legal work?

Nate and I always planned to save enough that our lifestyle didn't need to change at all when we retired. We could spend at our current rate and go right on spending. Our house is already paid off. Our retirement funds are in alright shape and now that I'll be a partner, we'll be able to keep spending the same thing year in and year out and still save almost the exact amount we planned. The stress that hounded my steps from the diagnosis of Nate's cancer is gone.

But is that what I want? The same life I had planned with Nate... only without him? Or am I just collecting cards none of us want because it's what we did before? Would Nate even want me to be a partner in his firm? Robert's my only real friend there and it feels like he manipulated me to get me to come back. I really hope it wasn't so that I would have less time with Steve, but I can't be sure that wasn't his reasoning.

"I'm not saying that I'll do what you all ask, but I'd like to raise something."