No Longer Needed by Brenda Grate Read Free Book Online Page B

began to fray.
    Emma reached for the desk phone and paused. She let her hand drop to the desk and took a deep breath. She wished there were something she could do to calm herself. Connie had often talked about meditation and yoga, how it helped her to cope with the stress from her busy life, but Emma had dismissed that as well. She hadn’t had much stress in her life. Now it seemed like stress had moved right in to her house, even crowded into her bed.
    Phone Connie and ask about meditation and yoga, Emma wrote at the end of her list.
    She forced herself to pick up the phone and dial the lawyer’s office. He was in and the secretary put her right through. By the time she hung up, Emma’s hands shook so hard she could barely hang onto the phone. Her stomach churned so much she dumped the rest of her coffee into the sink.
    Alan had slipped her Greek house into the divorce contract. He must have had his lawyer do it after she’d given her verbal agreement. He banked on her getting the final draft and not reading it since she’d already read the first copy. He knew her.  
    Emma had always done her best to avoid unpleasant things, so she would have probably done just that. She felt lightheaded at the thought of signing the house away. Alan would have crowed with victory.
    She’d demanded the lawyer remove the house, saying she would never sign it if it were left in. Since he was Alan’s lawyer, he said he’d have to consult his client before doing something “so drastic.”
    It was time to find her own lawyer. Emma had given up too soon after the first few refused to take her as a client once they’d learned who the opposing lawyer would be. Alan had picked the worst bulldog law firm in Toronto, knowing most lawyers hated going up against them.
    No matter what, though, she knew she couldn’t fight on her own. She’d just have to find someone who would be willing to take them on and wasn’t afraid of a good fight.

    Exhausted, Emma got into her car and glared up at the office of the third lawyer she’d visited that day. This one also wasn’t willing to represent her. He’d claimed his schedule was too full, but she knew the truth. He hadn’t said that until she’d told him who represented her ex-husband.
    She started her car and then pulled a list from her bag on the seat beside her. At least she still had her BMW. It was in the divorce agreement, but she hadn’t signed it yet. And now that she knew what he was up to, she wasn’t going to sign anything until an impartial lawyer— does such a thing even exist? —scoured the documents.
    There were two more lawyers listed, but Emma decided she wouldn’t even waste the gas or her time. She pulled out of the parking lot and drove aimlessly for a while.
    What do I do now?
    Emma wondered if she could bring a lawyer in from another city. But, surely that would cost more than she could afford.
    A parking spot on the street appeared in front of her, and she pulled in without realizing where she was. She didn’t recognize this area of Toronto. She turned the car off and slumped over the wheel. Then she lifted her head an inch and banged it back down, again and again.
    A giggle burbled up when she realized how utterly stupid she must look. She laughed out loud remembering a joke Brad used to tell.
    “Why did the man keep banging his head against the wall?”
    “Why?” Emma asked.
    “Because it felt so good when he stopped.”
    She missed the days when Brad ran around telling jokes and laughing like a loon at the punch line. Sometimes he didn’t even get that far and laughed so hard he could barely tell the joke.
    Emma’s eyes welled up. I miss my son.
    Her next thought was, I need a drink.
    She felt a small pang of guilt. She wasn’t the kind of woman to drink in the middle of the day, and not even much at night either. But it was a particularly horrible day and she needed it. She saw a bar up the street. It didn’t look too seedy, so she decided to risk it. She