Chapter 7
Lea and Sharon sat at the kitchen table eating cereal.
"I could not sleep last night," Sharon said. "I couldn't stop thinking about what Carla found."
"I couldn't sleep either," Lea said. "I think we should tell Mom."
"But Carla told us not to," Sharon said.
"I just feel really guilty keeping it from Mom," Lea said. "I'm telling her."
"But Carla will be so mad at us," Sharon said.
"I know," Lea said. "But we have to tell Mom."
"Tell Mom what?" Amy asked as she entered the kitchen wearing a suit.
"Nothing," Lea and Shannon lied.
"You two are definitely hiding something," Amy said. "We'll talk about it later. I have a job interview for a secretary position at Langford and Johnson."
"Good luck, Mom," Lea said.
"Thanks," Amy said.
An hour later, Amy sat at a desk being interviewed by Carol Johnson.
"So, Ms. Roberts," Carol said. "It says here you attended San Francisco Law School and graduated at the top of your class."
"Yes," Amy said. "That's true."
"I'm surprised you're not applying to be a lawyer," Carol said.
"I just don't have the time to be a lawyer," Amy said. "I have two teenaged daughters and their father is out of the picture."
"I have three teenaged daughter's and I'm divorced," Carol said. "I want to hire you as a lawyer."
"Wow," Amy said.
Later at Julia's house, the women sat at Julia's kitchen table playing their poker game.
"You went into a meeting for a secretary job and came out with a job as a lawyer?" Julia asked.
"Yes," Amy replied.
"Are you nervous?" Martina asked.
"I'm terrified," Amy replied. "I haven't practiced law since I was pregnant with Lea."
"You'll do fine," Robin assured her friend.
"If not, you can always get tips from me," Martina replied. "Because…."
"We know," Julia, Robin, and Amy said. "You're a lawyer."
Meanwhile in Mia's room, Mia, Carla, Lea, and Sharon sat on Mia's bed while Carla held the secret box.
"Carla," Mia said. "We've all been thinking. We need to tell someone about the box."
"We can't go to the police," Carla said.
"Not the police," Mia said.
Mia, Lea, Sharon, and Carla went downstairs with the box. As they walked into the kitchen, Mia took a deep breath.
"Mom," Mia said.
"Yes?" Julia asked.
"We have something we need to tell you," Mia said.