“Of course.”
“I don’t know much about this Valentine Law Group. Are you sure it’s a good idea for us to align with them?”
Caroline had always been the cautious one of the group. If I were to name a negative trait of hers, it would be timidity. She seemed to over think and second guess everything. It worked well for her because she is the top litigator at my firm, but that didn’t work for me. I didn’t tiptoe through life; I stomped. I liked to make my presence known and felt. I would never bring her timidity to her attention. I appreciated the differences the women here shared.
“I don’t know much about the firm either. Mostly what I’ve read and seen on TV but, what I do know is they have more power than we do. It never hurts to align yourself with a giant as long as it suits you.”
“Okay, but will you be careful and let me know the details when you find out?”
I knew some of the details of the case; the client was female. Both she and her boyfriend were being charged with a crime, and the mostly male firm felt it was necessary to have female representation for her. I didn’t want to share the details with Caroline. It was bad business to speak on a case you hadn’t accepted as your own. It was even worse when you were on the case and talked about it with people who were not affiliated with it.
“I will keep you in the loop, Caroline.”
* * *
“I thinkthis is the last box, Vee,” my brother-in-law, Kerem, grunted as he placed the box on the ground in the kitchen.
“Thank you, Kerem.”
Kerem and my sister Keeva helped me move the last of my things from their house to my condo. The movers did an acceptable job transporting my belongings from my storage unit to my condo. They didn’t lose or damage anything. I didn’t know if it was because they knew my career and knew that I would write some strongly worded letters to their corporate office or if they were good at their jobs. Either way, they did a good job. I gave all four men a generous cash tip.
“You know Big Dell, and Ms. Estelle would have happily moved you in,” he chuckled.
“That’s the exact reason why I moved while they were down in Charleston visiting daddy’s family. Mommy would have quilts and fake floral arrangements all over this house!” I laughed.
My mother and father were in Charleston, Missouri, and Cairo, Illinois visiting my dad’s siblings. He was one of thirteen siblings, all of whom were still alive; old, but alive.
“Don’t think she’s not going to add her touch somewhere,” Kerem admonished.
“We will see.”
“Where is my wife?” he asked looking beyond me down the hall.
“She’s probably in my bedroom trying to figure out what she can steal out of my closet.”
“Baby!” Kerem called out.
“Yeah?” Keeva responded.
“We need to leave. We need to stop by the south side daycare to check on the construction before we go home.”
“I’m coming,” Keeva called back.
My sister emerged from the back of my house with several articles of clothing on hangers.
“I told you she was back there shopping,” I laughed. “What are you stealing of mine this time?”
“Stealing? No, I’m borrowing.”
“No, when you borrow something it implies the owner of the thing will at some point get it back. You don’t borrow anything because I never see my clothes again.”
“Whatever Vee, it’s not like you are going to miss any of this stuff anyway.”
I shook my head knowing this whole discussion was useless. If I wanted something back, I would have to go into her closet and retrieve it.
Kerem walked up behind Keeva and put his arms around her waist while kissing her neck. Keeva immediately closed her eyes and tilted her head to give him access.
“Ugh! Get a room!”