Page 31 of Linc
Me: No worries, we’ll work around it.
Everly: Great!See you soon.
The rest of the day passes slowly.A knock on my door has me pulling my eyes from some documents.
“Got a minute?”Levi asks.
I toss my papers and pen on the desk and lean back.
“For you?Always,” I say, giving him my full attention.
He comes in and heads straight over to the windows to look out.He has the same view, but this is where he always likes to stand when he comes in to talk with me.
“Congrats on the win today,” he offers, but there is something in his voice.
“Thanks.What’s going on bub?”I ask.
“Do you ever wish you picked a different career path and not the one we have?”
I have thought about it, especially when I left dad’s firm to start this.
“Of course, but I can’t really see myself as anything else.”He turns to look over at me.“Are you wanting a change?”
“No… maybe.I don’t know,” he says, shaking his head.
“What’s going on?”I ask and watch as his shoulders slump.
I’ve always felt as though Levi was my responsibility.Growing up after our parents died, it was me who made sure he was eating and bathing.When we moved from Washington to California, to live with Daniel and Alice, I was the one who made sure he did his homework and learned how to ride a bike.I’d taught him how to wash clothes and took on everything he needed.At first it was because I didn’t know these people and the last thing I wanted was for a stranger to take advantage of him.As time went on it was just easier for me to make sure that he was taken care of.We were all I had left and I didn’t want him to ever feel abandoned like I had when our parents left us.As the years went by we relaxed more around our new family and we let them in.I was thrilled that he wanted to follow in my footsteps going to Yale and then law school, but I could tell that he never really had that drive in him.Levi has always been the type of kid and adult who loves to work with his hands and be outdoors.Even now, I know that suit is making him itch.
“Do you think it’s too late in life to make huge changes?”
“I guess it would depend on what you’re wanting to change.Are we talking about moving somewhere else?Maybe a different specialty in the cases you’re taking on, or not being an attorney at all?”
He looks back out the window, “All the above, maybe?”
The hair on the back of my neck rise.The only time I’ve ever been separated from my brother was when I was at college.Even then, I came home to see him all the time.We spoke multiple times a day.I feel like I’m really more of his parent, rather than a brother sometimes.
“Talk to me bub,” I say, needing to know what he’s feeling.The urge to fix whatever he’s going through right now is strong, and I feel my heart hammering against my chest.
“I’ve just felt like I need a change recently.I thought I was happy here—”
“But?”
He shrugs and makes his way over to the chair across from me.
“Why don’t you take some time off and go explore some things.Have one of the newer associates take over your workload then go out to Grandma and Grandpa’s place.You love to hike out there and help repair their house.Get out of the city to clear your head.When you come back, we can sit down and look over everything.If you want a different career, then let’s make that happen.I’ll support whatever it is you want to do.”
“You don’t think it’ll upset Dad?”
“I think you should do what is best for you and not what Dad or I think,” I say whole heartedly.“I know I’ve encouraged you to follow me in my endeavors, but you should be doing what makes you happy.Not what others want for you.”
Levi goes to stand, straightening out his suit.
“I’ll think about it.”He leaves without another word, and the last twenty years play over in my head.I wonder if I ever pushed him too much, or if I let my goals and ambitions be pressed on him.I’ve only ever wanted him to be happy and never feel the way I did when our biological parents died.Levi has such a soft soul that I worry some of the pressures of being an attorney have ruined him.
The phone on my desk buzzes, bringing me out of my thoughts.Ruby reminds me to file a document before the end of the day and I shift my focus back on work.I’ll let Levi have some space for a beat then I’ll circle back, and he and I can go for a beer and talk some more.
I spend the rest of the day working hard to make sure the rest of the weekend is cleared, and that I’m not interrupted at all, because I plan to spend it holed up in my penthouse with Everly.I’ve asked Tina, my cook and housekeeper, to stock the house with food and beverages.I also gave her a list to have done before she leaves for the weekend.She is a godsend after a long day at work; coming home to a homemade meal and a clean house is exactly what I need when things here don’t go as planned.Also, I’m not the tidiest person in the world.
