about something else, but not law school. I’ve never wanted to
be a lawyer. I could see myself getting my master’s in art
history or something and teaching after that, maybe, but I
could never see myself practicing law.”
“Alright, then let’s talk.” Sandra sounded so hopeful that for
a moment Emily got her hopes up too. They were quickly
dashed. “But this is the only way that your dad can see to get
you out of this marriage. It would look so, so bad otherwise.
For both of us. And for you.”
“Then let it look bad! Let it look bad for me. Say I was the
stupid one. That I made the mistake. Blame it all on me.”
“Then people will wonder how we could have raised you to
be that way. To go off and get married to a woman you hardly
know. A woman who has tattoos and piercings and is at least
ten years older than you.”
“She’s not. And what do those other things matter? She’s a
good person and I’m not doing this to her. She has a business
to run. I’m not going to say terrible things about her and have
her suffer. That’s not okay. That’s not honest. Please don’t try
to do that, or I will share my side of the story and all of this
will blow up in your face.”
There was a long pause, then Sandra’s voice, cold and hard
as flint. “Is she worth it? Worth giving up your family for?
Your dreams about art school? Your career in anything? Is she
worth wrecking your father’s career? Would she stand by you
if it was the other way around? I don’t think she would since
she really is just in this for profit.”
Emily knew it had started that way, but over the past few
days, she’d seen a different side of Danica. She’d made love to
her, and Dani had responded in kind. Emily had never felt that