Rough Love (Tannen Boys 1)

David’s turning a bit red, so I add the cherry to the top of Gloria’s sundae. “If we aren’t successful in mediation, we’ll have to go to court. We’ll get the fifty-fifty split almost guaranteed, but this process will be drawn out a few more months. It’s your call, Mr. Jacobs.”

He whispers with his lawyer and then sits back. “Fine. But we’re not running it together. How is this going to work?”

It takes us two more hours to figure out a plan for David to pay Gloria for her share of the business. She doesn’t want to work with him—or Denice, the secretary-slash-new woman—so it’s a perfect way out, if a particularly difficult one to navigate a resolution to.

By the time we’re done, I’m exhausted, but I still shake Gloria’s hand as she preps to leave. “That’s really it? It’s over?”

I put a gentle hand on her shoulder, reading her face. Some clients are overjoyed that whatever they’ve been through is finally done, ready to throw a divorce party, even. Others are shocked and saddened that what had started with so many hopes and dreams is truly over with the swish of a pen.

“It’s over. I’ll file the paperwork, but barring something going awry, it’s done,” I say carefully. Gloria nods numbly, all pretense of her bravado and fight sapped out of her. As she walks out the door, I tell her once more, “It’s all your choice, Gloria. You can go anywhere and do anything. Think about something you’ve always wanted to do and go do it. Skydive, travel, curl up with a good book and glass of wine. Big or small, celebrate the birth of the next phase of you.”

She smiles weakly and disappears down the hall. A moment later, Debra appears in the doorway. “Sorry we kept you so late. I didn’t think it’d go that long.”

Debra shakes her head. “No worries, Allyson. But you got a call a little bit ago. Guy said he’s Cooper’s football coach?”

My head snaps up, on guard. “What’s wrong?” A thousand scary thoughts run through my mind at once. Broken bones, concussion, car accident, even though Cooper shouldn’t be riding in a car while at practice.

“He said that neither you nor Michelle showed up to pick up the boys after practice? I told him it’s Michelle’s day, but she didn’t answer the phone when he called her. I tried too and no answer. I offered to come get them myself, but he said they’re fine. He didn’t want to drive them over without permission but said he’d stay at the park with them until you or Michelle could come. He said to tell you, ‘No rush, we’re just feeding the ducks.’ I think he meant literally, but it kind of sounded like he was kidding when he said it?”

My emotions, which have been on a roller coaster, take another loop-de-loop . . .

Michelle didn’t show up or answer her phone, but she’s a nurse at the local hospital and sometimes gets stuck in the middle of a case and can’t step out. Usually, it’s no big deal and I can readily pick up the slack, but not when I’m in closed-door negotiations.

But Bruce is taking care of the boys, something he didn’t have to do.

And last but not least, I’m a little bit giddy at his pointed mention of ducks. He must remember that’s how we met, so is he trying to tell me something by bringing them up again? Or am I reading too much into it? It’s definitely that, for sure. Because he could probably care less about some silly stuffed duck he won for me at the fair as a memento of a dumb school speech.

And why do I even care? I mean, not being arch enemies with him would be nice since he’s coaching Cooper, but I don’t need to go reminiscing about the good old days. Consciously, it only makes me mad about things that happened long ago, but unconsciously, if I do start to think about the past, I’m afraid I’ll wake up from another one of those sexy dreams that I cannot have. Not about Bruce, at least.

“Shit! I’ll go right now. Can you send Michelle a message not to worry, that I’m on my way for the boys, and she should do whatever she needs to at the hospital? I’ll feed Liam dinner and he can spend the night if he needs to. And then put Gloria’s mediation agreement in the safe for the night. I’ll file it at the courthouse tomorrow morning.”

Debra grabs the stack of papers from my hands. “Go on, I’ve got all this. Do what you need to do to, Allyson.”

“You’re the best!” I call out, running for the door.

Chapter 8

Bruce

“Sorry you have to wait with us,” Cooper says morosely. He’s a mess of sweat and dirt, and I had to search my truck to find him and Liam a couple of granola bar snacks to feed their post-practice hunger. Even then, they gave half of the crumbly bars to the ducks that swarmed up on the edge of the pond as soon as we walked over. The ducks didn’t seem to mind the stale snack in the least.