Read Online A Woman's Place: A Novel by Barbara Delinsky - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barbara Delinsky
Tags: Fiction, General, Popular American Fiction, Fiction - General, Contemporary Women, divorce, Businesswomen, Custody of children
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money and are feeling too vulnerable to start over again with someone new."
I could identify with those women, with the helplessness, the vulnerability. I wanted someone tough, too, and had gone for reputation, with little knowledge of substance--not that I would have conducted my business like that in a million years. But the circumstances were extenuating.
"His was the only name I had. I need someone fast. I have to be in court on Monday to answer this charge."
"You don't want to work with Lloyd Usher." I looked up at him, feeling a twinge of hysteria. "Who do I want to work with?"
"Carmen Niko."
The hysteria stalled. Here was a name. I had heard it before, but not in the context of law. "Is that a man or a woman?"
"A woman. She's about your age--thirty-nine, forty--very smart, passionate about her work."
I was trying to place the name. "Have I ever met her? Is she a customer?"
"I dated her."
"Oh God, I do remember. That was a long time ago." But hot and heavy for Page 34
Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
a time, if memory served, though I wasn't sure how I knew that. It wouldn't have been from Brody. His love life was one of the few things that was off limits between us. While he might mention in passing that he was taking someone to a particular restaurant or show, I learned more from Hillary Howard's column in the local weekly. Hillary kept track of North Shore movers and shakers. She had a vivid imagination and a weakness for gossip. Brody, who was often out and about, was fair game. Hillary had always had her eye on him. She still did, and she wasn't alone. He could deny it all he wanted, but women looked when he passed. I knew. I traveled with him.
He was currently seeing a woman named Ellen McKenzie. She was an artist with a loft in Boston's South End and was a knock-out in an unconventional way, if the picture of them Hillary had run several months back was anything to go by. He didn't see her every week. I doubted he had long term designs on her. The sex was probably great. Brody was virile.
But we weren't talking about Ellen McKenzie. We were talking about Carmen Niko. "How did it end?" I asked, because if there had been angst, and if Carmen associated me with Brody, there might be trouble. But he said, "Amicably. I was working with Dennis at the time, and things were hairy there. Carmen's career was taking off, one case coming in after another. We were both preoccupied. It got so the relationship was more trouble than it was worth. We're better friends than lovers. She may not have the name recognition of Lloyd Usher, but she's a better lawyer any day."
That was enough of a recommendation for me. "How do I reach her?" Brody pulled free, crossed to the phone, and dialed the number. After a minute, he said, "Carmen? It's Brody. I need to talk with you. If you're there, pick up the phone."
I held my breath. It was nearly nine. I didn't expect a lawyer to meet with me at this hour, but I had to see someone tomorrow. If Carmen Niko was on trial, out of town, or otherwise indisposed, I was back to square one.
"Carmen," Brody chanted, "come on, Carmen. This is a professional call. A great case." I must have looked like I was dying inside, because he came back to me, phone and all. He took my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it--all of which made me feel cared for and loved, which was what I desperately needed after Dennis and Lloyd Usher--but what really helped was when he said, in response to what I assumed was a dry greeting from Carmen, "It is a great case. Right down your alley. Successful woman being sued for divorce by a less-successful man, who wants to boost his ego by milking her dry. We're talking money, possessions, and two young kids who love her to bits and, p.s." have spent far more time with her than with him. She got back a few hours ago from Cleveland, where she was visiting her mother, who's dying, and he had her served with an Order to Vacate. She has until Monday to answer
I could identify with those women, with the helplessness, the vulnerability. I wanted someone tough, too, and had gone for reputation, with little knowledge of substance--not that I would have conducted my business like that in a million years. But the circumstances were extenuating.
"His was the only name I had. I need someone fast. I have to be in court on Monday to answer this charge."
"You don't want to work with Lloyd Usher." I looked up at him, feeling a twinge of hysteria. "Who do I want to work with?"
"Carmen Niko."
The hysteria stalled. Here was a name. I had heard it before, but not in the context of law. "Is that a man or a woman?"
"A woman. She's about your age--thirty-nine, forty--very smart, passionate about her work."
I was trying to place the name. "Have I ever met her? Is she a customer?"
"I dated her."
"Oh God, I do remember. That was a long time ago." But hot and heavy for Page 34
Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
a time, if memory served, though I wasn't sure how I knew that. It wouldn't have been from Brody. His love life was one of the few things that was off limits between us. While he might mention in passing that he was taking someone to a particular restaurant or show, I learned more from Hillary Howard's column in the local weekly. Hillary kept track of North Shore movers and shakers. She had a vivid imagination and a weakness for gossip. Brody, who was often out and about, was fair game. Hillary had always had her eye on him. She still did, and she wasn't alone. He could deny it all he wanted, but women looked when he passed. I knew. I traveled with him.
He was currently seeing a woman named Ellen McKenzie. She was an artist with a loft in Boston's South End and was a knock-out in an unconventional way, if the picture of them Hillary had run several months back was anything to go by. He didn't see her every week. I doubted he had long term designs on her. The sex was probably great. Brody was virile.
But we weren't talking about Ellen McKenzie. We were talking about Carmen Niko. "How did it end?" I asked, because if there had been angst, and if Carmen associated me with Brody, there might be trouble. But he said, "Amicably. I was working with Dennis at the time, and things were hairy there. Carmen's career was taking off, one case coming in after another. We were both preoccupied. It got so the relationship was more trouble than it was worth. We're better friends than lovers. She may not have the name recognition of Lloyd Usher, but she's a better lawyer any day."
That was enough of a recommendation for me. "How do I reach her?" Brody pulled free, crossed to the phone, and dialed the number. After a minute, he said, "Carmen? It's Brody. I need to talk with you. If you're there, pick up the phone."
I held my breath. It was nearly nine. I didn't expect a lawyer to meet with me at this hour, but I had to see someone tomorrow. If Carmen Niko was on trial, out of town, or otherwise indisposed, I was back to square one.
"Carmen," Brody chanted, "come on, Carmen. This is a professional call. A great case." I must have looked like I was dying inside, because he came back to me, phone and all. He took my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it--all of which made me feel cared for and loved, which was what I desperately needed after Dennis and Lloyd Usher--but what really helped was when he said, in response to what I assumed was a dry greeting from Carmen, "It is a great case. Right down your alley. Successful woman being sued for divorce by a less-successful man, who wants to boost his ego by milking her dry. We're talking money, possessions, and two young kids who love her to bits and, p.s." have spent far more time with her than with him. She got back a few hours ago from Cleveland, where she was visiting her mother, who's dying, and he had her served with an Order to Vacate. She has until Monday to answer
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