Page 17 of Her Exception

“I’m trying to do what’s right, Violet. Maybe I took on too much too soon. No one in this firm has taken on a case of this caliber. We don’t have the team to devote to this. I’m man enough to admit I need help to win this case and we don’t have that.”

“I know, but I also know it’s your desire to change that. This is how you start.” She stood upright. “If you want to change things, you have to change your actions. You start by keeping this case and fixing things with Shalom. You don’t need a full team of researchers, Mecca. All you need is her.”

“Mr. Smith, your one o’clock is here,” Gloria said over the intercom.

Violet knocked on my desk with her knuckle before saying, “Think about this, Mecca. I believe in you.”

Sitting back in my seat, I released a shaky breath as she walked away. Times like this, I wished my grandmother was still alive. I loved my parents and appreciated their wisdom, but like most good parents, their main concern was what they thought was best for me—whether it was what I wanted or what made me happy or not. My grandmother was different.

No matter what, she always took my heart and happiness into consideration when she gave me advice. She was the only person outside of my parents who knew Shalom was pregnant. Though she expressed her disappointment over us starting a family so young, she was happy about being a great-grandmother and offered to help me in whatever way she could to make sure I could be there for my family, go to school, and still work. She was the only person in my corner like that, and until I told my parents, with her and Shalom, I felt invincible.

“Hi, Attorney Smith.”

The sound of Sheila’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I stood and gave her a handshake before motioning for her to have a seat.

“Thank you for meeting me, Sheila.”

“Of course. I wasn’t expecting to hear any news about the case so soon.”

“How’s Anthony?” I asked, referring to her son.

“He’s better now that he’s with my parents. I miss him but I know it’s better if he stays with them.”

“And you’ve been keeping track of his improvement like I advised?”

“Yes, sir. I have a written log and my parents have been taking him to their family physician, so he has one as well.”

“Good, good.” Nibbling my bottom lip, I loosened my tie. I hated handing her case off, especially hearing that her son was doing better now that he was no longer living in the apartment. That alone was proof that his sickness came from his environment. Still, I felt inclined to say, “I wanted to speak with you and see about how you’d feel about another attorney taking the lead on your case.”

Her mouth opened and closed. She blinked for a few seconds as her head tilted. “I don’t understand.”

“We have a partner firm in Chicago. Attorney Harris is licensed to practice here and there, and that firm is just as qualified, if not more, to handle this case.”

Sheila’s head shook as she crossed her hands over her purse in her lap and sat up. “I just don’t understand why it can’t be you.” When I didn’t respond, she continued. “Attorney Smith, I agreed to this lawsuit because of you. You gave me the courage and confidence needed to do what was right and stand up for the tenants who can’t or won’t stand up for themselves. I don’t want to work with anyone else. So if you can’t do this, I’ll just have to tell everyone it won’t be done.”

When she stood, my heart plummeted. “Sheila, wait.” Standing, I ran my hands over my face as my head shook. She wasnotmaking this easy for me. “Don’t do that.”

“Then you’ll stay on as our attorney?”

As much as I wanted to say no, I needed to say yes. This was what I felt purposed to do, and I couldn’t let Shalom ruin that for me and everyone I was positioned to help.

“Yes, I’ll stay on.”

“Great!” She clapped and did a quick shimmy that made me smile.

“I’ll, uh… I’ll check back in when we prepare for the next phase, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hey, Sheila,” I called out as she headed out of my office. “Thanks for not allowing me to give up on you… or myself.”

“You believed me when no one else did. I’llneverforget that.”

She gave me a soft wave before leaving, and I briefly thought over my next move before buzzing Gloria and asking her to have Amelia and Parker meet me in conference room A.

When they arrived, I wasted no time telling them, “I’m going to put my pride and personal feelings aside and continue on with this case.” They both smiled and Amelia cheered as Parker and I shook hands. “But I’m going to need your help.”

“Whatever you need,” Parker said.

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