Starting Now (43 page)

“Working hard hasn’t brought me fulfillment or lasting satisfaction. My career didn’t fill that hole of grief and loss I experienced, no matter how many hours I put in.”

Libby paused, half-expecting Hershel to comment. He didn’t, so she continued.

“Stepping back into the grind had exactly the opposite effect. Instead of helping me forget it made everything ten times worse. I realize now how important my friends have become to me. I neglected my relationship with Ava because I thought it was more important to bring in another client to the firm and earn my brownie points with you than spend time with her.

“That was another mistake. Ava reminds me of the girl I was at her age: motherless, bereft, frightened, and alone. I consider it my duty and my honor to be a mentor and a friend to her.”

“What about the young man you love?”

“It … may be too late for us. I don’t know yet; I hope not, but if so, I’ll recover and so will he.”

Hershel straightened in his chair, seemingly deep in thought. “You’re too important to the firm for me to let you walk away.”

She loved hearing it, but his rare praise wasn’t enough to convince her to change her mind.

“We can’t take the chance of losing the Reed account. Would you be willing to continue working with her? She’s difficult to please, and she’s obviously attached to you.”

Libby was fond of the older woman and she welcomed the opportunity to work with Mrs. Reed, but not if it would cost her everything that was important.

“And the Buckleys, if you wish, since you brought them into the firm,” he added. “And the new clients, if you want.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Libby said, confused but eager to hear what he had to say.

“I come in at nine and leave at six every night,” Hershel said. “I had to make myself leave the office because my marriage was at risk. My children didn’t know me. I thought it was more important to work hard and give them the material goods they wanted than spend time with them. In the process I nearly lost everything I valued. I could see the same thing happening to you, Libby.”

“But I don’t know if I can slow down.”

“You can and you will. I’ll help you. From this point forward you aren’t to arrive at the office before nine and you are to leave at six. Your workload will be cut in half and you’ll still be a partner.”

“What about bringing in new clients?”

“You already have your client load.”

“Mrs. Reed, the Buckleys, and the new clients I brought in, but only if I want?”

“Exactly.”

“What will the other partners say?”

Hershel smiled. “They’ll be fine; I’ll make sure of it. I didn’t fight hard enough for you the first time around and I won’t make that mistake again. Besides, you’ve proven your worth. Go talk to your young man, have the family you want and your career, too. I’ll help you find the balance the same way a good friend helped me years ago.”

Libby sat in the wingback leather chair too stunned to respond.

“Oh, and Libby, congratulations, you’re a partner in the firm now.” With that he tore her letter of resignation in half and tossed it in the wastebasket.

He rose out of his high-backed leather chair and came around to the front of his desk. He stood directly in front of Libby and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“I wish you nothing but happiness.”

Too stunned to react, Libby thanked him and then headed into her office. The first person she phoned was Robin.

“Did you do it?”

“Hershel talked me into staying. The firm is cutting my hours and responsibilities. Basically I only have Mrs. Reed and a few other accounts.” It made sense that he’d want her to stay on for the Reed account alone. Martha Reed had already made her opinions clear. She preferred to work with Libby. If she left, then it was highly probable that the older woman would as well, and the firm couldn’t risk that happening. Not again.

“You’ll handle just a handful of accounts?” Robin made it sound too good to be true.

“Oh, and that’s not all.”

“You mean there’s more?”

Libby couldn’t have held back a smile for a million bucks. Her face actually ached with the joy that flooded her. “I was made partner.”

Robin laughed outright. “Talk about having your cake and eating it, too. Congratulations, Libby.”

“Don’t congratulate me yet. I’ve still got to win back Phillip.”

“You will,” her friend said with utter confidence.

Libby sincerely hoped Robin was right.

Her next call was to Abby.

After Libby delivered her news, Abby said, “A little birdie told me Phillip Stone will be returning to the hospital on Wednesday.”

“Tell the little birdie that I appreciate the information.”

Wednesday afternoon, Libby stopped by the hospital to rock the newborns. Sharon Jennings did a double take and then greeted her with a warm hug.

“The babies have missed you,” the head nurse said. “And so have I.”

Libby donned a gown and entered the nursery, opting for the infant who was crying the loudest. Gently picking him up, she settled into the rocking chair and looked down at the baby with the deep red face.

“Now, now,” she whispered soothingly. “What has gotten you so upset?” She started singing to him as she gently rocked back and forth.

A little more than twenty minutes later, Phillip stepped out of the elevator. He walked directly past the nursery, glanced inside, and continued on for another couple of steps before he stopped abruptly and did a double take. He paused, continuing to stare at her and then after a couple of seconds, continued on his way as if he hadn’t seen her.

Ten minutes later he was back. This time he stepped into the nursery and his gaze went straight to Libby.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded, sounding none too friendly.

Libby placed one hand on her hip. “Rocking the babies. In case you’ve forgotten I was here two or three times a week for several months.”

“That was before you went back to the firm,” he argued. “What happened? Did they lay you off again?”

“No,” she said. “I made partner.”

He frowned as though he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. “Partner?”

“Yes,” she returned simply. “Actually, that came as something of a shock to me, too. I’d gone into the office Monday morning intent on handing in my resignation and …”

“You were going to resign?” He continued to stand several feet away from her with his back stiff and his shoulders tensed.

Libby returned the sleeping infant to his crib. “I tried to quit but Hershel talked me into staying with reduced hours. I’ll be working on a few accounts, but that’s it.”

“Why would you be so willing to walk away from a career you love?”

She shrugged. “There were far more important goals I wanted to achieve.”

“Such as?”

“Such as being a mentor to Ava and a good friend to Robin, Lydia, and Abby, and that’s only the beginning. I’m not an accomplished knitter but I’m fairly good and I have this sweater I’ve been working on for the longest time. It’s about time I finished it.”

“A sweater?”

“For a man I know.”

“A friend?”

“He’s that for sure. A very good friend, but I would like him to be so much more.”

Their eyes connected. Phillip’s gaze narrowed as if he wasn’t sure he should trust her. Libby’s heart pounded so hard it felt like a sledgehammer slamming against her ribs, to the point that she pressed her palm over her heart. This was it. Crunch time. Phillip either accepted or rejected her.

“What will make it different this time?” he asked.

“There’s a certain fulfillment in working with the law and being made partner, but I know what’s most important and it isn’t my career.”

He raised his brows but didn’t respond to the news.

“I’ve discovered I want so much more out of life.”

“Like what?” He crossed his arms as though protecting himself, standing guard over his own heart.

“A husband, for one thing,” she said, shocked at how low her voice dipped.

He cocked his head to one side. “That’s a possibility.”

“Children, too,” Libby added.

Phillip’s mouth twisted as though restraining a smile. “That’s negotiable.”

“Oh, Phillip,” she whispered, “I couldn’t lose you; I just couldn’t.”

Dropping his arms, Phillip took two giant steps toward her. He locked her in his embrace and lifted her two feet off the floor. Libby’s arms circled his neck.

“I don’t want to face the future without you. I love you, Phillip.” Her voice choked with the sincerity of her words. “Nothing I’ve strived to achieve means a blasted thing if I can’t share it with you.”

He closed his eyes and nodded. “I didn’t make it easy for you, did I? I convinced myself we were finished. I thought it best for us to have a clean break but I couldn’t stop thinking about you, about the promise we have together. I love you. I thought I could walk away but it didn’t take long for me to realize I couldn’t leave matters the way they were. I couldn’t stop loving you.”

“Don’t try so hard next time,” she teased.

His gaze held hers for the longest time. “I love you,” he whispered huskily as he brought his mouth to hers.

Libby gave herself over to his kiss, slanting her mouth over his and opening to him like a blossom in the warmth of the summer sunshine.

They broke apart when Sharon cleared her throat.

Libby pressed her forehead against his. “I’m ready to spend my whole life with you, starting now,” she whispered.

“Funny,” Phillip joked, “I was just thinking the same thing.”

One Year Later

The John Adams Junior High School auditorium was bustling with students, faculty, and parents as the band members sitting to the far left of the stage tuned their instruments. Their discordant squeaks only added to the fun as Libby and Phillip made their way into the area of reserved seats. Libby entered the row behind Phillip, holding on to his hand. She did her best not to step on anyone’s toes as she maneuvered past parents and teachers alike.

Robin and Roy followed her until they reached their assigned seats.

Libby heaved a sigh of relief as she settled into the folding metal chair. Not the most comfortable of seats but certainly adequate. She opened her program and felt a surge of pride when the first name she found was Ava’s. She was playing the lead role of Maria in
The Sound of Music
.

Robin leaned close. “This is a bit ambitious for junior high, isn’t it?”

“They have a wonderful music program.” The group wouldn’t be performing the entire show, but an abridged version. “Did you notice Ava is the lead?”

“I believe you might have mentioned it ten or twelve times,” Robin joked, elbowing Libby.

“What are you two muttering about?” Phillip leaned close to ask.

“Nothing, darling,” Libby returned ever so sweetly. Then, hoping Phillip had remembered, she asked, “You ordered the flowers for Ava, right?”

“Yes, love.”

Libby relaxed.

The school principal appeared onstage and the chatter died down as he stepped forward. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re honored to present to you this evening the talents of our students. We couldn’t be more proud of all the hard work that has gone into making this such a special performance. We’re blessed by a number of exceptionally gifted singers and musicians. You’ll soon see for yourself what I mean. Now, join me in giving these young people your attention and your applause.”

Libby clapped long and hard. She was excited for Ava and at the same time nervous, too. Ava had desperately wanted the lead. Libby had played the piano when she was much younger and she’d helped Ava practice before tryouts. Even Phillip had thrown in a bit of coaching.

She looked around and was sad to see that Darlene Carmichael had yet to arrive, although she saw that Ava’s brother, Jackson, was sitting with his friends.

The thick stage curtain parted and Ava stood center stage surrounded by pots of flowers. She threw open her arms and burst into song.
“The hills are alive …”

Almost immediately Libby’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t be more proud of the young teen and how she’d braved through so many
challenges over the last two years. Ava had grown another inch taller and was slim and beautiful. Her voice had matured and so had she. Libby had become more of a big sister to Ava than a substitute for her mother.

Libby caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and noticed the side door open. Darlene Carmichael sneaked into the auditorium. She stood mesmerized for several minutes as if she couldn’t believe what was right in front of her. Not until a lady in a red jacket motioned that Darlene was blocking her view did the older woman move. Darlene apologized and then pointed to Ava, apparently bragging that the girl singing was her granddaughter.

The old woman had pulled through after all. Libby was pleased. Darlene needed to hear Ava sing onstage in order to appreciate what a talented granddaughter she had.

As the performers transitioned into the second song, Phillip leaned close. “Are you comfortable?”

“I’m fine.”

He cocked both brows.