Blanc spoke up and shook his head but then motioned to her not to speak. “Please do not address my client. I’m more than happy to explain-”
“Then do it.” My voice was so rough, it was as if I’d gargled acid. “You know, I knew Shawn. He was a nice guy, and I can’t imagine he’d like any of this, but know something else about him, too. He was a dreamer, and he wouldn’t have seen this much money in his lifetime. So unless you can prove to me that he would, I’m not settling.”
“How dare you make this about Shawn’s experience in life? If anything, this has to do with his life being cut short and those experiences, as you call them, being ripped away from him. He was a dreamer, but he had big plans for a bright future.”
“You mean sucking off the Walker tit? We both know that Shawn wanted to marry my sister. How am I to know he would have gotten a decent job and supported her on his own?”
Mrs. Patterson clutched her neck and leaned away from me. “My son wouldn’t want a dime of your family money.”
“But you would?” Layne placed his arm on mine to call me off of her.
She turned to her lawyer. “I’m not taking less than I’ve asked for.” She stood and dragged Mr. Patterson up by his arm. “I don’t have to sit here and take more abuse from this spoiled brat. It’s a good thing my son isn’t around marry into your awful family.”
I rose to my feet and g
lared across the table her. “You’re no prize sow yourself, lady. And, I’m glad he’s not here to see what an embarrassment his own mother is.”
Things heated up from there with Blanc and Layne trying hard to intervene, but I wasn’t going to sit back and take it from the old bitty. She gasped again and then stormed to the door where she paused to glance over her shoulder. “We’ll be in touch.”
“Way to go; you’ve made things worse.” I pushed past Layne and stepped in front of Blanc.
“You know this is wrong, and you won’t win this case. I realize they’ve lost a son, but I’ve lost my entire family. I will not lose my home, too.”
“I’m trying to reason with them, but they believe this is necessary. Good day, men.” He went around me and headed for the door. I could sympathize; they had him a tight position, but I wasn’t about to let him win this, and he knew it.
“I told you not to talk. Why don’t you ever listen to me?”
“Because you’re a pussy, and if you don’t work this out, you can pack up your office along with the whole building because this is what’s going, do you hear me? This fucking place!” I turned and hurried out, hoping that the Pattersons weren’t still in the parking lot.
She doesn’t need this shit? Well, neither the fuck do I!
Chapter Twenty
Lexa
I had only been off work for a solid minute when Aiden’s first text came through my phone. I glanced at it and smiled.
Are you off yet?
I stopped at the soda machine and typed back. Yes. How are you?
Still blowing off steam and planning a mind-blowing date.
Any hints? I didn’t think he’d say, but it was worth the shot.
No, but I hope you like sword-fighting transvestites.
I laughed out loud as one of the other nurses, Tasha, stepped in front of me and put her money in the machine. “Who are you giggling with? A hot boyfriend?”
The word boyfriend rattled me a bit. “No, he’s a friend.” I shook my head and typed: You better be joking.
You said to be creative. I warned you.
“The way you’re smiling, no, that’s a boy crush smile. He might be a friend now, but I have a feeling it will end up more.” She slid her money in and made her selection.
As she walked away shaking her head, I couldn’t help but wonder what Aiden would think about her opinion. I didn’t think he wanted things to be too hot and heavy. He had a lot going on in his life, thanks in part to my parents, and I wanted badly to ask him how his day went. I hadn’t gotten any calls that my parents had shown up down in the ER lobby, so I guessed it wasn’t a bloodbath.
How did things go? I figured I could keep the question vague enough and do no harm.