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Grant
“You’ve got to be kidding me! You want how much? No. No way,” the opposing client shouted through the speakerphone. My client, Stephanie, rolled her eyes; she was probably used to this type of behavior. Hence the divorce.
“Legally, my client is entitled to that amount, plus the car and the condo, but she’s willing to cede the car in lieu of an increased monthly alimony payment,” I said, scrawling a number on a sheet of paper and sliding it in front of Stephanie. She nodded and I shot her a thumbs-up across the desk.
“So that works? Good, glad we’re seeing eye to eye. I’ll have my paralegal draw up the new term sheet and send it over. Bye.” I disconnected and Stephanie shook her head, a lock of dark hair falling across her eye.
“Don’t worry, that went well,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “His attorney basically caved to all our demands. This might not go as quickly as you want, but we should get most everything you asked for. Like I said on the phone, Rebecca will draw up the papers, we’ll have you sign, then we’ll get them over to your almost-ex-husband for his signature. After that, we’ll file with the court and I’ll be in touch with the court date. Assuming they accept all the terms.”
“Thanks. I’m ready to put all this behind me. Once we’re legally divorced, I can move back home to the west coast.”
“It shouldn’t take too long. You’ll be out of here by the end of the summer.” I stood, checking my watch. I needed to pick my kid up from swimming lessons and that settlement discussion lasted longer than I’d planned. “I’ll walk you out.”
Grabbing my keys from my desk drawer, I ushered Stephanie out of the office.
“Becs, I’ll email you the details on that settlement. See you tomorrow.” I waved good-bye, then headed out into the humid July heat. Maxing the air in my BMW X5, I reversed out of the spot, heading towards the Starlight Bay Rec Center. Normally I didn’t pick Hudson up from lessons; I’d hired a nanny for the summer and she did most of the pick-ups and drop-offs. But she’d had a dental appointment this afternoon, so I was on the hook.
I rounded the corner, slowing down as I turned into the Rec Center lot. Last thing I needed was a fender bender. Besides, it’s not like they’d turn a five-year-old loose on the streets. He’d be fine until I got there, I had no doubt about that. Benefit of small-town living.
I hadn’t planned on moving to this sleepy little beach town, but here we were. Spivey and Associates wanted an office close to the Cape and I was the youngest partner at the firm with the least tenure. So I packed up our brownstone in the city, and Hudson and I moved to Starlight Bay at the end of May. I managed to find a decent beach bungalow rental for the summer and so far, so good; the partners seemed happy with the initial opening and work had been steady. Hudson liked it here well enough and it’s not like we’d left much behind in the city.
I locked the car and jogged down the sidewalk, striding into the pool area. The scent of chlorine mixed with sunscreen hit me as soon as I stepped onto the concrete deck. I glanced around, looking for Hudson. A group of teenagers swam around in the deep end and another jumped off the diving board, landing with a loud splash. A cluster of toddlers sat on the edge in the shallow end, facing an instructor. I spotted Hudson playing on the steps nearby, his blonde hair glistening in the sunlight.
“Hey, bud,” I said, bending over and ruffling his hair.
“Hi, Daddy.” He beamed up at me before plunging his rubber duck back under the water.
“Oh, you’re Hudson’s dad. I’m Lana, his swim teacher.” An attractive—fine, smoking hot—woman waved at me from the pool. I was glad I had on dark Ray Bans because I was having a damn hard time keeping my eyes on her face. Sure, her face was pretty—lightly tanned with high cheekbones—but she somehow managed to fill out that city-issued navy-blue one-piece in all the right places, rivaling even my hottestBaywatchdaydreams.
Get it together, Grant. She’s way too young for you. And besides, you’re single for life.
“Hey, great to meet you. Sorry I’m late. My client meeting ran long.”
“It’s no problem. Hudson and I had a little extra time to play.” She climbed up the pool steps to stand next to me, and I had to work extra hard not to notice the water beading on her tanned chest, gleaming in the sun.
“I’m glad you picked him up today. I told your wife at his last lesson that he’s about to graduate to the next group, Sailfish.”
“Oh, she’s not my wife,” I said, scrubbing a hand over the back of my neck.
“Daddy doesn’t have a wife. He doesn’t believe in them anymore. Not since my Mommy left for Europe,” Hudson chimed in, his rubber ducky swimming along in the clear blue water.
“Oh. Sorry. I just assumed…” Her cheeks flushed bright pink beneath her tan. Fucking adorable.
“It’s fine, no worries. She’s Hudson’s nanny. For the summer. She hadn’t mentioned him moving up. That’s great news, buddy!” I high-fived Hudson, trying to change the subject, and he rewarded me with a gap-toothed grin.
“Thanks, Daddy.” He dipped his duck back underwater, making motor noises with his lips.
“Since he’s moving up, his lessons will be thirty minutes later.”
“Got it. So remind me again of the times? I’ll need to fill Taylor in.” I pulled out my cell, hitting Taylor’s number to text her before I forgot.
“His lesson will be 4:30-5:30 now. Sailfish 1 group.”
“Got it,” I said, typing the info to Taylor and hitting send. “Thanks for letting me know. He’ll be here at the new time starting tomorrow then?” I glanced up from my phone.
Lana nodded. “Yes. He can start that new time tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. Alright, bud, you ready to go? I’m sure Lana has another class to teach. We should get going.”
