A/N: Thanks for continuing to read, review, and follow! I really appreciate it. I'm going to try this again. I'll explain that statement. I was going to post yesterday. I had this chapter completed and proofed. It was all ready to go. Then, I did something really stupid and lost the last chunk of almost 1,000 words. I actually almost lost this entire chapter but was able to restore a version that had everything but that last chunk. I honestly felt a little sick to my stomach. Today, I rewrote that section, and I think I remembered most of what I had written. I'm still shaking my head over that boneheaded move.
Weekend Reader, you are correct. I do usually root for the Kentucky Wildcats during March Madness, and I did so again this year. They made it to the Sweet 16 and that was it. It's all good though because the team I loathe with every fiber of my being lost over the weekend.
Back to the story. I want to warn you upfront that this storyline could have some triggers because it does deal with a sensitive topic. Remember what work the Miranda Center does before proceeding. Please read the Author's Notes at the end of the chapter. This chapter picks up where the last one left off. Hope you enjoy this update!
/
After storing her purse and hanging up her coat, Ellie grabbed a legal pad and headed into Marissa's office. Her boss had sent her a text first thing that morning asking her to come to her office as soon as she got in to go over her schedule. Ellie knew her boss had a partners' meeting first thing that morning, so she thought the need to revise the day's schedule might have something to do with something discussed during it. She could tell it was already going to be a busy day. Ellie knocked on the door to Marissa's office and waited until she heard her boss's voice before entering.
/
Marissa and the other partners had been at work for a couple of hours by the time everyone else at the firm had started their days. It was always like that on the days they had their partners' meeting. They held the meetings early, so they could avoid being interrupted, and once they were over, it gave them some time alone to work on some of their cases, again uninterrupted. Marissa found she liked the quiet time because it gave her time to focus on some of the needed administrative parts of her job. Today, however, she was using it clear her schedule for that afternoon, so she and Bianca could meet with Tessa.
After the kids had gone to bed, Tessa called Bianca's cellphone. The couple took the call in their home office to prevent being overheard. It was a brief conversation, but it covered the basics. Tessa didn't want to go into specifics over the phone which was more than understandable, and she agreed to meet with the couple the following afternoon at the Miranda Center. With the details settled, the call was ended, and the couple headed to bed. They knew the following day was going to be a long one, and they would need to be well rested for it.
Since she had a partners' meeting, Marissa left early with Danny and dropped him off at daycare while Bianca dropped their older children off at school. Marissa arrived at the office 30 minutes before the meeting which allowed her time to get settled and do a little research. When it was time and with coffee in hand, Marissa headed back to the conference room the partners used to meet. Old business was discussed first, and when they got to new business, Marissa brought up the possible new case. She told them what details she had along with what her gut was telling her. The other lawyers sat in stunned silence as they listened. Once Marissa was finished, they agreed with her assessment of the situation. She told them she would give them an update after her meeting that afternoon, and they agreed to meet again the following day to discuss what she had learned.
Once the meeting was over, Marissa headed back to her office to continue her research. It was only upon hearing a knock on her door that Marissa had realized the time. She stretched and drained the last of her coffee. Marissa made a mental note to grab another cup from the kiosk in the building's lobby as soon as she finished her meeting with Ellie.
/
"Come in."
"Good morning, Marissa."
"Good morning, Ellie. Please have a seat." Marissa continued once her secretary was seated across from her. "First of all, thank you for coming in early today. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome. It's not a problem, and it wasn't that much earlier than normal. It sounded important." It was rare that her boss called Ellie and asked her to either come in early or work late. Marissa was cognizant of the importance of a work/life balance and did her best to ensure that those working for her met that goal. It was because of this that Ellie didn't mind when she was asked to alter her schedule.
Marissa nodded. "It is. I'm not sure how important just yet though. I know I don't really have to say this, but …"
"I won't repeat what you're about to tell me." Ellie stated. As Marissa's secretary, Ellie was privy to information that others weren't, and it was understood that it would remain confidential unless otherwise stated. While some of the other secretaries tended to gossip about what their bosses were working on, Ellie didn't. She took the faith that Marissa placed in her to heart and wouldn't betray her trust.
"Thank you. I need to clear my schedule for the afternoon. I'll be going to the Miranda Center to meet with a prospective client, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. Bianca and I were contacted by a young woman that we have a connection with. We don't know exact details, but Bianca and I should have more after our meeting. Until further notice, this client will be referred to as Jane Doe."
The fact that Marissa's meeting would be at the Center coupled with the use of a pseudonym for this prospective client told Ellie the nature of case. She nodded as she made a note of the name. "I'll start the initial work on creating a case file."
"Thank you. There are a few other things I'll need you to do. I made some notes on the meetings I have this afternoon. I believe everything can be moved around. Could you make the necessary calls for me?"
Ellie nodded as she took the note pad from her boss. "I'll take care of it. What else?"
"I started some research on a Dr. Jerry Landry. Could you contact Mitch for me and ask him to open a discreet investigation on this doctor? He's based in Llanview."
"I will." Ellie made a note of the request.
"Speaking of Llanview, I need you to contact Vikki Buchanan and Nora Buchanan and see what their schedules look like this week. I'd like to meet with them as soon as possible. Vikki is at The Banner, and Nora is at the District Attorney's office. Their numbers are in my personal contacts."
"What should I tell them if they ask why you want to meet?"
Marissa paused and thought about what she wanted to say. "Tell them I'd like to meet with both of them to pick their brains about certain activities that might be taking place in Llanview. Mention to Vikki that it is off the record for the time being."
Ellie nodded again as she wrote down what Marissa had told her. "I'll tell them exactly that. Anything else?"
"That's it for now. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'll get started on this right away." Ellie noted the empty coffee cup on the desk. "Would you like me to get you a fresh cup of coffee?"
"That would be wonderful! I have a feeling that I'm going to need it today." Marissa got some money out of her wallet and handed it over to Ellie. "Get whatever you want too. I'm buying. I figure it's the least I can do considering what I just gave you."
Ellie smiled. It wasn't necessary for Marissa to buy a cup of coffee for her as well, but she knew it would be useless to argue the point. "I'll grab your coffee first and then start on this list."
"Thank you! You are a lifesaver."
/
"Danny! Oh my gosh! You've gotten so big and even more handsome!" Aya gushed the moment she saw the adorable redhead. She rushed over and tickled Danny's belly. The boy giggled and grabbed Aya's fingers.
"Hi, Aya. It's good to see you too." Marissa deadpanned.
"Oh, sorry. Hi, Marissa. It's good to you." Both women knew there wasn't an ounce of remorse in Aya's tone, and it wasn't taken personally.
Marissa chuckled. "Whatever. Is Danny's other mother free?"
"For the most part, yes. She is going over a few things with Jan. I don't think she was expecting this big guy though."
"No, she isn't. It's a surprise. I'm not sure how long our meeting will be, so I decided to bring him with me."
"Please tell me that you need me to watch him." Aya said hopefully.
"I'll let you and Jan fight over who gets to watch him." Marissa laughed. She knew both women adored Danny as well as their other three kids.
"I can live with that." Aya noted Marissa's arms were full. The redhead was not only carrying Danny but his diaper bag, her purse, and a carryout bag from Krystal's. "Do you need some help?"
"Actually, yes. Would you mind grabbing my briefcase out of my car? I couldn't quite carry everything in one trip."
Aya chuckled. "You did a pretty good job of it. I'll be happy to get it for you."
"Thank you. The keys are in the side pocket of the diaper bag."
"Got 'em. Are you parked in your usual spot?"
"Yes, I am. Is it okay if I head back?"
"Yeah, go ahead. I'll be back in a minute."
/
"Knock, knock. Are we interrupting?"
Bianca glanced up and smiled brightly when she saw her two favorite redheads. "Hey, you two. Come on in." Bianca walked over and kissed her wife, and then, she took Danny, who was excited to see his other mother, and kissed him as well. "You are a wonderful surprise, little one!"
"Oh my gosh, Danny, you're getting so big." Jan said as she greeted the littlest Tasker-Montgomery. "Hi, Marissa. It's good to see you too."
"Okay, you're my favorite because you acknowledged my existence without prompting, unlike Aya." Marissa joked as she placed her purse and Danny's diaper bag on a nearby table.
"What can I say? I follow my boss's example. Where is Aya? I'm surprised she let you get past her with him." Jan said knowingly.
"She's grabbing my briefcase out of my car for me. So, I guess she gets a couple of points back for that."
"Do you need us to watch him for you during your meeting?"
"Yes, please. Aya did already volunteer, and I told her that I would let the two of you fight over him."
Jan shrugged. "I can handle that. I'll leave you, alone so you can enjoy your time together before the meeting. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thanks, Jan." Bianca called out to her secretary. She then turned her attention back to her wife. "I wasn't expecting you for at least another hour, and I definitely wasn't expecting Danny."
Marissa began to unpack the carryout bag. "Well, I thought we could have lunch together before our meeting. I wasn't sure how long the meeting would take, so I decided to spring Danny and bring him along."
"Well, I like how you think. You also knew you wouldn't have any problem finding someone to watch our son while we met with Tessa."
"Yeah, that part was pretty much a no brainer."
"Yes, our youngest is pretty popular wherever he goes." Bianca said as she retrieved a bib and Danny's baby food.
"Just like his brother and sisters."
"True, very true."
"Here is your briefcase, Marissa." Aya said after a quick knock on Bianca's office door.
Jan followed Aya in. "And here is a highchair." She had borrowed it from the Center's daycare. "We figured this would come in handy."
"Thank you! I knew there was a reason I hired both of you." Bianca quipped. "Seriously, thank you for this."
"You're welcome. You know we would do anything for Sparky." Aya laughed at Bianca's eyeroll. They loved teasing her about the nickname given to her youngest by Kendall and perpetuated by Marissa.
Bianca sighed, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Marissa grin. She turned and pointed at her wife. "I blame you as well as Kendall for that nickname."
"Whatever. You love us anyway." Marissa said as she gave her wife a quick kiss.
"Yes, I do." Bianca smiled. In all honesty, she really didn't mind the nickname. It was starting to grow on her, but she wouldn't be admitting that to anyone else anytime soon. She turned back to Aya and Jan. "The two of you get out of here and go get some lunch. You're going to need that energy to watch this little guy. He's gotten a lot more mobile from the last time you saw him."
"Talk about an understatement." Marissa chuckled.
"Okay. We'll be back before your meeting." Jan said as she led Aya out of the office.
/
Bianca glanced at Marissa when she heard Jan knock on her office door. "Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." After Aya and Jan returned from lunch, they took Danny so his mothers could prepare for their upcoming meeting.
"Come in."
Jan led a young woman into the office. The couple immediately recognized Tessa Mendes. Her younger sister Jessica was her spitting image. Both had dark wavy brown hair, olive skin, and dark brown eyes. Tessa was a few years older, and she carried herself with the grace and poise of a gymnast. It was her eyes, however, that caught the couple's attention. The couple could see a variety of emotions that ranged from nervousness to fear to pain to anger in them.
"Hi, Tessa. I'm Bianca, and this is Marissa. I'm not sure if you remember. It's been a while since we've seen each other."
"Hi, Tessa." Marissa said.
The younger woman nodded and shook both women's hands. "Hi. Yeah, it has been a while, but I do remember you."
"If you need anything, just let me know." Jan said before she left, closing the door behind her.
"Thanks, Jan. Would you like to have a seat, Tessa?" Bianca asked as she motioned to the office's informal sitting area which consisted of a small sofa, two chairs, and a small coffee table which had three bottles of water, legal pads, and pens on top of it. The decision of where to sit was left up to Tessa because her comfort was of the utmost importance. If she wasn't comfortable, it would make her opening up to them and telling her story even more difficult than it was already going to be.
The younger woman glanced around at her seating options before she sat down in one of the chairs, her posture stiff and tense. Bianca and Marissa followed her lead and sat down on the sofa. The women sat in silence for a few minutes until Marissa broke the ice.
"Tessa, do you have a dollar?"
Although confused by the unexpected question, Tessa nodded. "Yeah, I do. Why?"
"If you were to give me that dollar and if you want, it would serve as a retainer for my services as your attorney. As such, anything you tell me would fall under attorney/client privilege until you say otherwise. If you were to change your mind at any time and no longer want me to represent you, what you've told me up to that point would still fall under that privilege."
Tessa understood what Marissa was saying. She nodded, retrieved a dollar from her purse and then handed the bill to the redhead. "I don't have a lot of money, Ms. Tasker."
"Thank you. First, it's Marissa, and don't worry about money. This will cover things."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. My firm takes cases from time to time on a pro bono basis which means a client, you in this case, doesn't have to pay. I will, however, need you to sign a standard contract stating that I will be representing you but that can wait for now."
Tessa sighed in relief. She had been worried about money and how to cover whatever attorney fees she might face. The fact that Marissa was waiving her normal fee was a godsend to her and her family. The Mendes family did okay financially, but something like this could put a dent in their finances. Tessa glanced at Bianca. "Are there any fees I should expect here? What about confidentially?"
Bianca shook her head. "There are no fees associated with any services provided by the Miranda Center. As for confidentially, it is active the moment someone asks for help, as long as it doesn't entail any illegal activities."
"Okay. That's good to hear."
"Is it okay if I take notes while we talk? I'm a note-taker. It comes in handy with what I do." Marissa asked.
Tessa nodded. "Yeah, it's okay." She paused while Marissa picked up a legal pad and pen. "I'm not exactly sure where to start."
"Take your time. We're not going anywhere. As to where to start, sometimes the beginning really is the best place." Bianca suggested.
"I guess you're right." Tessa thought for a moment, and after she took a deep breath, she began. "I love gymnastics. I have for as long as I can remember. Whenever the summer Olympics took place, you would find me glued to the television watching the gymnasts perform. I was in awe of them. Their strength, their poise, their grace. I wanted to be just like them. I started with tumbling around the house. I would use curbs as balance beams and then later make my own. I would swing on monkey bars or whatever else I could use as makeshift uneven bars. My parents finally had enough and found a gymnastics class for me. I can still remember my first class. I loved it so much. I still do. It all just came naturally to me. It can be a lot of hard work, but that doesn't matter to me. As I got older, I began competing and winning, and the more I won, the more I started to get noticed by nationally recognized coaches. I also started to get scholarship offers, and eventually, I chose to go to Llanview University. I liked their program and the coaches. Plus, it's away from home but at the same time, not too far away. If that makes sense."
Bianca smiled. "It does."
"I was hoping to make the Rio Olympics, but I hurt my shoulder right before the trials. It sidelined me, and I had to withdraw. Having to do that and missing that chance hurt. It hurt a lot. I think it hurt more than the injury. I haven't given up though. I've got my eye on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I know I'll be a little on the older side, but I'm not going to let that stop me. I'm not giving up on my dream."
"Good for you. I have no doubt that you'll give it your all."
It was then that Tessa paused and picked up a bottle of water and took a drink. She knew she was stalling before relating this next part of her story. She also knew that she needed to continue. Tessa had to talk about what happened next. She needed to in order to heal, to stop being victim in her eyes, and to prevent someone else from going through what she did. She had to stop it. She was going to stop it. But damn if this next part wasn't painful.
"When I got hurt, one of the coaches sent me to see the team doctor." Tessa's voice trailed off.
Bianca and Marissa noted the pause and could see Tessa's struggle to say the doctor's name.
"Take your time." Bianca said calmly.
After a few minutes, Tessa had gathered her courage and pushed forward. "The team doctor is Dr. Jerry Landry. He's on staff at LU and not just as our doctor. He's an osteopathic physician, and as such, he oversees rehab for all of the school's athletic teams. I had never seen him before because I had never been hurt that badly before. The coaches trusted him, and he had a good reputation. So, I went to see him instead of my primary doctor back here. At first, everything went okay. He was nice and seemed to really want to help me get better. I remember him telling me that we were in this together and that he was going to help me make my Olympic dream a reality. I believed him. I had no reason not to, at least not at first. Things changed after a few treatments."
/
A/N: I'm going to leave this here and give us all a break. I will tell all of you now that I'm not going to go into graphic detail with what happened to Tessa. I'm not comfortable writing that part, so I'm not going to. On to another subject. I'm travelling to Indianapolis for work this week. You know what this means. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to write, so I might not post this weekend. See you soon! If you celebrate the holiday, Happy Easter!