Page 13 of I Wanna Dance

“UC Berkeley. I moved to Atlanta after Camille and I decided to get married. Her parents and family are here. Mine are in Puerto Rico.”

From family, we moved on to work. He told me about his company, and I told him about my law practice.

“Why divorce law?”

“I got screwed in my divorce, monetarily, and it was a shock. I gave up my job and career to be a full-time mother and was left withnothing. I didn’t even own a car. It was hard to start from?—”

“Your ex didn’t give youanymoney?”

I shook my head. “We had a prenup. There are ways around it…well, I know that now. So, I got a job at an old classmate’s law firm. Worked my way up from what felt like minimum wage. I started my practice a year ago. I wanted to help women who can’t afford a fancy law firm, you know? The costs are too high.”

He put a hand on my arm to stop me from walking and turned me to face him. “You’re a remarkable woman.”

I gaped at him.Say what?

“You took something awful that happened to you and turned it into a profession meant to help others. Your family must be proud.” He rolled his eyes when I gave him a look. “Not your ex, obviously.”

He was curious about my relationship with my children. I could tell. Family was important to this man.

“I don’t have much family.” Or any! “My parents passed away years ago. They were older when they had me. I was a surprise baby and also the only.”

He nodded, waiting for me to continue.

“My daughter…Presley blames me for the divorce,” I finally blurted out.

He raised his eyebrows. “Why?”

“Because I asked for the divorce once I found out Kevin was cheating on me.”

“That seems unfair.”

“She thinks I broke up the family.”

“And your son?”

Shame made me drop my eyes to my feet. “My ex…Kevin got him his clerkship. He also hired Davis’s girlfriend as an associate at his law firm.”

“I see.” Marco put a finger under my chin and lifted my face. He locked his eyes with mine.

I stood still, waiting for him to say something…pass judgment.

“Children, sometimes, have more growing up to do than we realize,” he said, surprising me. “But that doesn’t change the fact that it must hurt you.”

I was caught off guard by his simple sincerity. “It does,” I admitted.

“You’re a good person, Leah. I don’t know your kids, but I know you. And if they don’t see that right now, they will someday. I can promise you that.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Thank you.”

He didn’t judge me. He didn’t blame me like some other friends and acquaintances had, like my children had.

We continued to walk, and our conversation became lighter. We talked about salsa class and laughed about our mutual inability to keep time with the music sometimes.

By the time we reached a small bridge overlooking a pond, I realized I wasn’t even a little bit nervous anymore. We stood in silence, letting the beauty of the gardens take us away.

He stepped just a little closer, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. My heart pounded in my chest, and the air between us charged.

“You ready for dinner?” he asked softly.

---