Leslie smiled. “This sounds good, then.”
“So that’s it? That’s what you wanted to speak with me about?” No bad news from her father’s side of the fence?
“That’s it.” Leslie stood. “Unless there’s anything else you’d like to discuss with me.”
Morgan stood. “Nope. All is well.”
“I gather Sammie has enjoyed his visits with your parents, as well,” Leslie said as they slowly crossed the room together.
“Yeah, he usually does. My mom spoils him.” Did Leslie know that Sammie’s visits to her parents’ home were not a new occurrence? That the only change was her father’s participation?
She dismissed the idea of telling the woman herself. Leslie was Sammie’s “friend,” a supposedly impartial third party, and Morgan didn’t want to be accused of trying to sway the woman.
“I see that you’re representing yourself in court on Tuesday,” the woman said, stopping just before they reached the door.
“Yeah,” Morgan said, stopping, too. Leslie Dinsmore seemed sincere. As if she really just had Sammie’s best interests at stake and wasn’t being influenced in any way by her father.
“I spoke with an attorney.” She took a chance with the truth. “She told me that in this case, in her opinion, I’d be more effective speaking for myself. This isn’t a matter of law, it’s a matter of Sammie’s well-being and happiness. She said that my father is basically putting me on trial and all she’d do as my attorney is call me to the stand to refute or reframe his claims. She said I’d be better off saving the fifteen-hundred-dollar retainer fee for Sammie’s school clothes.”
Which was good because she’d have had to borrow the money to cover the legal costs.
“Your attorney might be right,” Leslie said. “And one other thing, just so you know, it wouldn’t be a negative if you were dating your Dr. Whittier. Aside from any complications that might present for you two at school, that is. A man in your life could be good for your son. Having a bit of your focus and attention on someone other than him might actually be a good thing for Sammie.”
Morgan’s chest tightened. Had Leslie read her mind? Was she trained enough to see that Morgan had a thing for her college professor?
Either way, there was no way she could ask Cal out… .
“I’m not saying you need to go and purposely find a man to date,” Leslie added. “Quite the opposite. I’m just saying that if someone comes along that interests you, don’t feel you have to deny yourself a normal life to be a good mom.”
On that note, Morgan made her escape.
* * *
MORGAN DIDN’T STICK around after class on Monday. Cal stopped her on her way out the door to wish her luck in court the next day. And to confirm that he was still supposed to collect Sammie from school Tuesday afternoon.
“If you don’t mind,” she said. “The judge said Sammie doesn’t have to be in court. He just wants to hear from my father and me and Leslie Dinsmore this time. It’s a preliminary hearing, I guess. No witnesses.”
“So he won’t be making his determination?” Cal asked, standing with her just inside the doorway of the classroom, his soft-sided briefcase tucked under his arm.
“I don’t know.”
She wasn’t meeting his gaze and seemed in a hurry to leave.
So Cal let her go.
* * *
HE HAD TWO CALLS waiting for him when he got back to his office. He returned Kelsey’s first and accepted her invitation to grill steaks at her place that evening.
“We can swim in my pool after, if you’d like,” she’d said.
“I’d have to swing by my place for my suit,” he told her, thinking a night by the pool with a beautiful and engaging woman was just what he needed.
“Or…you could swim without one.”
Thinking that sounded even better, Cal told Kelsey he’d pick up a bottle of wine and then called his father to let him know he’d be on his own for dinner.
Frank thanked him for calling, and that was it. His father rarely asked where Cal went, or with whom. Never expressed pleasure or disapproval, or even curiosity. And somewhere along the way, Cal had ceased sharing the details of his life with his father.