v

of the lawyer's office, my hand re

eflex I co

le morning sickness, but a marrow-d

cked Mich

at this firm. She had whispered the tip-o

s 2:1

the hallway. I knew I shouldn't be here

d to know h

e room was slightly ajar,

It was calm. Business-l

ed," he said. "If she finds out about Sere

n be tricky, Michael,"

said. "That's wh

ering against my ribs. I leaned

leverage?" the

t. "I'll drain her accounts. And if we... if there were a child involved, I would petition f

allwa

t a child. He

thetical child, but the cru

is voice devoid of any emotion. "It forces settlement. She

arp cramp i

all to keep from slidi

knew exactly

g to use my lo

t the baby gro

't see a son or a daughter. He would see a negotia

l I tasted the co

my dea

back to the elevator. My st

ront him. I d

he toughest divorce attorney in the ci

trembling but resolute. "And I want ful

grounds?"

aid. "And psych

eed p

et it,"

uzzed agai

s Mic

ou're feeling better. I'll be hom

after he finished talking to

y was su

$50,000 to your accoun

. He was trying to pad the landing so

d at th

," he ca

ney," I

my fingers movi

ks. Don't

it

ned his co

down to t

k Cal

esse

lifted of

e parking garage,

ation wash over me. I

ity. Cold,

wife. I wasn't

a mo

to protect her young from predators.

e to t

ur joint savings. It

a storage uni

him to kick me out. I was g

. It was a notificati

d seen the

o

him

im wo

of the uncertainty I h

e. The hous

the nursery. T

him," I whispere

on't u

hand on m

ust us,

st time in days