Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Good. Let them through.”
The call fell silent for several moments as I drove into the preschool Fisher and West attended. The call connected as I backed into a parking spot facing the school.
Until this moment, I had clung to the hope that I could back out if anything indicated a scam. I wouldn’t know either way by the end of the call, but the more steps I took made the potential backlash more difficult to deal with.
“Teresa?” Stone asked. “Are you present?”
“I am,” she said.
“Lucia, are you present?”
“I’m here,” she said, her voice shaky with apprehension. That needed to end right now. We had a long way to go and shaky confidence wouldn’t help anyone.
In that same vein, I had to remove the emotion from this case. My only focus needed to be on finding the truth. Getting on the road to learn the facts was in my future. I absolutely had to get off Beau’s back. He’d be carrying my load for the foreseeable future.
“Good afternoon,” I said, pausing as they echoed my sentiment. “I spent much of the last twenty hours reviewing your evidence. If you agree to our terms, I’d like to proceed with representing both of you. While I’m optimistic, it’s important that you understand the potential challenges and uncertainties that come with any litigation, especially in a case of this magnitude. This won’t be easy on either of you. If we’re able to incorporate the additional women, it will significantly strengthen your class suit. We’ll begin there.”
I grinned when the school doors burst open. Eventually, I saw my boys standing with their teacher holding her hands. I waved to let them know I was there. A little Dash and a little Beau were excited to see me, even while being reined in for the meeting today. “Stone has an engagement letter, a beginning contract that outlines everything. Stone will overnight the letter to each of you to receive tomorrow, I believe. Correct, Stone?”
“Yes, sir,” Stone said.
“I’m cautiously optimistic. We’d like to begin assessing the scope of services and responsibilities involved. We’ll keep you updated as we go. The letter we’ll send overnight to each of you needs to be read thoroughly and carefully considered. It will also clearly break down the fees and payments associated with the case, and how we’ll be paid for representing you. If you have a legal professional in your life, I urge you to have them read it and answer any questions. Stone or I can do that as well. Once you decide to proceed, we’ll begin the investigative phase. Please take as much time as you need to feel comfortable with the services we’ll offer you.”
“At this point, I don’t trust anyone,” Teresa said. “Lucia, how about you? Do you know an attorney you trust?”
“No, I don’t either.”
“Then after you receive the engagement letter and have read it over, Stone’s always available to answer questions until you’re comfortable enough to sign. I also have a law professor at SMU. Dr. Harris is one of the finest men I know. He’ll be candid with you. I promise that we’ll always be honest with you. You’ve been through more than enough.”
I’d probably label her tone as one of hesitant excitement. “Thank you, Mr.—”
“Please call me, Dash. I’m embarrassed by my last name,” I said truthfully. “I’m going to leave the call. I have a pre-scheduled meeting to attend. Stone can answer any additional questions. From this point forward, every communication is recorded to protect both of us.”
“Yes, sir,” Stone said. “I’ll remove you from the call now.”
“Thank you,” Teresa managed before the call disconnected.
I climbed out of the driver’s seat with Fisher bounding forward, running across the yard to me. The problem was the parking lot between us. In theory, he’d stop before hitting the pavement, but I questioned whether that would actually happen and jogged toward him.
Hunter stayed with the teacher weirdly.
Fifteen minutes later, we were headed back to the SUV, hand and hand. Five of those minutes were spent waiting for the office to meet with us. The administration team wasn’t happy with the disruption Fisher caused throughout the school. I reluctantly agreed to have him minimally evaluated, always reminding them of the cost Beau and I paid the private school for six children. My boy needed to be treated with care and compassion while we worked him through his struggles. The frowns the admin team greeted me with needed to turn upside down if we were going to continue attending this school.
Honestly, I felt like the annual income they received from us could fund the new annex in Sea Springs. I clutched Fisher’s hand a bit tighter. He was always happy, a joy to the world, never a hindrance. At least now, this school was on my page.
22: The Out of Town