Page 76 of The Boyfriend Swap

Not only was I a talented attorney, but I liked what I did. I enjoyed counseling clients and making their lives easier. My heart was racing, and I knew it wasn’t only because of the calories I was burning. It was because I knew without a doubt I still wanted to be a lawyer. Not because my last name was Bellows, but because it made me happy. This time, when I reached the other side of the pool, instead of turning around, I pushed myself over the edge, stood up, and returned to my chair. I was on the cusp of an epiphany and needed a minute to capture my thoughts.

I lay back in my chair with my eyes closed and let the hot sun dry my body. A few moments later, I opened my eyes and sat up. I observed the couples holding hands poolside, the small children splashing around in the water, and the groups of girlfriends working on their afternoon buzz. Then I took a sweeping gaze of my surroundings—the bright blue sky, glistening pool water, and rise and fall of the ocean waves in the distance. It was a sight to behold. But it was time to go home.

Robyn

“Hi, Mom.” The ache festering in the back of my throat left me short of breath as I answered the phone. Since coming home after the holidays, I’d managed to bullshit my way through our telephone conversations for almost a month. When she asked how Will was doing, I said, “fine.” As far as I knew, it was the truth. My confidence with respect to maintaining the lie was wearing thin in light of the newest development. I also craved her advice, which she wouldn’t be able to give until I was honest with her.

“Hi, honey. How are you?” My mom’s voice was calm, as if she wasn’t expecting this phone call to be any different than the ones we usually exchanged, during which we confirmed our mental and physical wellbeing, shared any newsworthy events, traded “I love yous,” and hung up. She could be in for a big surprise.

I sat on my bed with my feet dangling over the edge. “Back to school. Back to reality,” I sang it to the tune of the song “Back2Life” from the late eighties. My parents played the tape in the background pretty often during my toddler years.

Predictably, my mom said, “I wonder whatever happened to Soul II Soul,” before releasing a wistful sigh.

“There’s this thing where you can look stuff like that up, you know? It’s called the internet.” I chuckled.

“I’m way ahead of you, kid.” I heard her tapping the keys of a computer. “How’s school?”

“They want me to direct a mid-winter concert this year the second week of February, right before mid-winter recess. I only have about three weeks to prepare.” Thankfully, the concert would be limited to the fourth and fifth graders. They were easier to train than the younger kids. I was too thrilled the music program was intact to complain about the extra last-minute work on my plate.

“Holding another concert is a good sign for the fate of your position at the school though, right?”

“I’m pleased to report my job is safe, and more importantly, so is the music program.” My lips curled up at my expression of happy news.

My mom squealed. “That’s wonderful. By the way, according to Wikipedia, Soul II Soul disappeared in 1997 but have been back in action since 2007. I have to tell your dad. Maybe we’ll catch a gig. Back to you. Tell me more about the school.”

I breathed deeply in and out of my nose. I could lie and say Will saved the day because I was his girlfriend, but it wouldn’t be right. And it wouldn’t be true. As the knots twisted in my belly, I braced myself for what I was about to say. “A law firm used its charitable foundation to gift the funds. It will be enough to keep the program going for the next five years.”

My mom whistled. “Wow. What firm? A rich parent?”

I chewed a nail. My first instinct had been whoever was responsible did it on my behalf. I hadn’t even thought about it being an unrelated third party. But it could have been anyone. I wasn’t the only concerned individual in the story. Lance might have talked to someone. Even Lynn. Or perhaps an active parent in the PTA got wind of the budget troubles and pulled some strings. “I don’t know exactly. It went through the superintendent, but I intend to find out.” Despite the broader array of possibilities from which to choose, my gut stuck to my original conclusion. In a much lower voice, I said, “I think Will might be responsible.”

“What do you mean, youthink? Have you asked him?”

“Not exactly.”

My mom was silent for a beat. “You two aren’t fighting, are you?”

I closed my eyes and blew a stream of air through my lips. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Chapter 20

Sidney

“I knew you’d be back,” my father said. He was reclined in his office chair, one foot leaning against his wooden desk and his arms locked behind his head.

My dad’s cocky expression could rival Perry’s at his most obnoxious. If I weren’t the fruit of his loins, I’d be tempted to pop him one in the nose. “You did not.” I recalled the fearful look in his eyes when he finally agreed to let me take a break. He was terrified I’d take a bartending gig like Tom Cruise inCocktailand never come back.

He removed his foot from the desk and pushed his chair closer. “I’m your father. I always know. And by the way, you’re a chip off the old block. I’ve never taken more than a two-week break from the office in my entire career, and I knew you wouldn’t be able to either.” He cackled. “You didn’t even make it a full two weeks.”

My mouth instinctively opened to make my next argument, but I managed to close my lips before I uttered another combative word. Yes, I had come to realize during my time in Barbados that I loved being an attorney and part of my job was to have the last word, silence the opposition, and win at any cost. But during my brief hiatus from work and life, I’d also discovered I didn’t have to bring my career skills with me everywhere I went. It was okay to let someone else win on occasion, and by doing so, I might end up being victorious in other ways. Harvey was my father. What would be so horrible about letting him think he had one over on me? It would make him happy and might reduce my own stress from the energy I exerted fighting. The bottom line was I was back at work, ready to serve my clients and earn my partnership. Nothing else mattered.

“On a serious note, I’m glad this little moratorium confirmed what I’ve known all along: you’re perfect just as you are.” My dad’s expression oozed affection and tenderness.

Even as my heart warmed at his comment, and despite my resolution to maintain a more agreeable attitude on all things unrelated to my career, I felt the need to correct him this one time. “I love you for saying that, and until a few days ago, I would have agreed with you.”

“What happened a few days ago?” my dad asked. He placed an elbow on the desk and rested his chin in his hand.

“I know you think my little getaway was whimsical and a costly waste of time and airline miles, but I got exactly what I needed from it. I knew I would. I just thought it would take longer.” I gave him a sly smile. “It’s because I’m highly intelligent.”

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