A Woman's Place: A Novel by Barbara Delinsky Read Free Book Online Page A

or me crying or me yelling at their grandparents or their grandparents calling the police. The last seemed unlikely. I had always had an amicable relationship with my in-laws. But I thought I had with Dennis, too, and look what he had done. My faith was shaken. I couldn't be sure that the people I trusted would behave rationally.
    But the kids were my first priority. What mattered most was that they wouldn't be traumatized before Dennis and I could work things out. I needed advice on that. Yes, I needed a lawyer. I pulled the cellular phone from my purse, called information for the number of Lloyd Usher's Page 26
    Barbara Delinsky - A Woman's Place
    law office, and dialed it. The office was closed for the day, of course. It was six-thirty. But I knew the kinds of hours I kept, knew the kinds of hours most successful people kept, and figured he was still there. I rifled my Filofax and called my Philadelphia franchisee at home. Working to sound normal, I told her that I had an urgent question and needed to reach her brother-in-law. She gave me his private number. I dialed it.
    Lloyd Usher answered with a grunt that said he was busy. Hurriedly, I gave him my name, that of his sister-in-law, and the bare bones of my situation. I should have known he wasn't the man for me when he offered to see me the following afternoon at two, but his was the only name I had, and I was desperate.
    So I pleaded. I said it was an emergency, that I had concerns about my children that couldn't wait until the next day. He complained that everyone had concerns that couldn't wait, and that he had to leave the office by seven-thirty. I promised to be there before then and take only a few minutes. That was all I needed, really, a few minutes to ask a few questions. That would be a start. It would counter the awful helplessness I felt and give me a semblance of control. I drove as fast as the rush-hour traffic would allow. After having trouble finding parking, I didn't reach his office until seven-fifteen. He was glaring at his watch--it was a large gold thing--when he charged into the reception area to fetch me.
    "I'll be quick," I assured him. I tried to sound calm and efficient, understanding of the time squeeze, and appreciative. I wanted him to think me mature and rational. He hurried me down a corridor of offices. An interior designer by training, I would normally have noticed what I passed, but my mind was too clogged to conclude anything but that the decor was lavish and the clientele moneyed. Lloyd Usher and his office suggested more of the same. Imported carpet, rich woods, double-breasted suit, styled hair.
    After gesturing me into a leather chair, he went behind the desk. He took off that large gold watch, held it in one palm for clear viewing, opened the other my way. "Let me see the court order." I took it from my pocket and passed it over.
    He read it and passed it back. "This is a drastic move. What brought it on?"
    "I have no idea. I walked into the house after eleven days away. My husband was waiting for me. I hadn't been there ten minutes when the man arrived and handed me this."
    "He served you," Lloyd Usher corrected. "But you didn't answer my question. An Order to Vacate is serious business. You must have done something to warrant it."
    "I did nothing."
    "Mrs. Raphael," he chided.
    I was taken aback. This man was supposed to be my advocate. I didn't understand his accusing tone, or his disdain, or his watch, at the ready, keeping time.
    But he was successful. He was in demand, the divorce lawyer's divorce Page 27
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    lawyer. He had to know what he was doing. And I needed help. So, calmly, I said, "My husband had a list of things. None was significant alone. As a group, they made me sound negligent."
    "Are you?"
    "No. I love my children."
    "Many an abuser loves his children." Either he was testing my mettle or playing devil's advocate for the sake of learning more about me. But staying calm was harder