Resist

I greedily sipped the hot liquid. I didn’t care that she hadn’t bothered to add cream or sugar. My body craved the caffeine. By the time Vaughn had dropped me off at the apartment, it was close to one.

I yawned. “Not rough, but late.”

“Well, drink up because you are double booked today.”

My eyes widened. “Why?”

Meg nodded toward the empty desk adjacent to me. “She’s not coming in today. She called in sick.”

“Addie’s sick? But it’s only the second day.” I hadn’t stopped long enough yesterday to pay any attention to her. If she had a cold or any symptoms, I didn’t notice. We saw one client after another.

Meg shrugged and carried her cup out to the reception area. “I would cancel lunch plans if I were you. You have three waiting outside.”

“Already? Oh shit,” I whispered.

My head was in the wrong place.

“Give me just a minute, Meg. Or maybe five?” I pleaded.

“Sure thing.” She closed the door so I could collect myself.

I scrambled to find my writing tablet. I powered up my laptop and kicked off my Keds under my desk. I slipped into a pair of flats. I had a great plan to unpack a few boxes last night. I wanted to go through my clothes and organize my closet, but instead I walked the city with Vaughn. We talked. We held hands. We kissed under every monument constructed in this town.

It was like some kind of romantic walking tour.

I tried to wipe the plastered look of lust off my face before Meg tapped on the door with my first client.

“This is Mrs. Foley.”

“Thanks, Meg.”

I rose from the desk and skirted around to shake the woman’s hand. I guessed she was in her mid-twenties. She was dressed in a suit and carried a leather messenger bag.

“Have a seat,” I instructed her.

“Thank you.” She planted herself in front of me.

“I’m Elliot Charles. Before we get started, I want to explain a few things about how this process works. As you know this is a clinic run by attorneys to help women in the community who may not otherwise be able to seek legal advice.” I said the same speech I had repeated yesterday to the women I saw. “Everything we discuss is confidential.”

She nodded. “I understand. I didn’t know where else to go. I-I need someone who isn’t … isn’t already bought.”

“This is a free service. There are no fees.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“All right. What brings you to the clinic, Mrs. Foley? Tell me.”

“I was fired from my job yesterday.” Her eyes were hard and her lips formed a thin line. She didn’t weep, and her voice didn’t crack.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I started taking notes. “I assume you are here because you believe it was a wrongful termination?”

She nodded. “It is. One of my co-worker’s found out I was pregnant and told my boss.”

“And you were let go immediately?” I asked.

“Yes. Immediately.” She pressed her palms into the pleats of her skirt.

“Did you have any prior written warnings, any kind of verbal indication that your job was in jeopardy?”