that misunderstanding, but if not, I’ll do it again. I’m sorry.”
Ryan sighed heavily. “I don’t know why you seem to bring out the worst in me. I’m really not normally so . . .”
“Irascible . . . judgmental . . . unforgiving . . . “
Ryan’s eyes shot to hers, words of defense on his lips, but seeing the teasing light in her eyes, his eyebrow quirked up and his expressions softened.
“Guess I deserve that.”
Elise unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and opened the door to the backseat so she could pull out a garment bag. Wanting to have her umbrella up first, she tried to open it, but the old, cheaply-made contraption was jammed and wouldn’t fully extend. As she struggled, Ryan came up beside her and extended his own classy black umbrella over her as well.
Elise tossed her under-achieving umbrella back into the car, grabbed the garment bag, and began walking to the front entrance with Ryan and his umbrella remaining in close attendance beside her.
“What’s this lady in for?” Ryan asked
“I don’t know. I didn’t even ask,” Elise replied. “It’s not important. She mentioned that she’d made some mistakes. But now she’s anxious to finish her sentence so she can get back to her family and turn her life around. I think the church’s ministry has really helped her, and she’s committed her life to Christ. She’s very nice. You would never think her a criminal.”
“Everyone is capable of being a criminal. I haven’t even decided on your guilt or innocence yet.”
As if she needed a reminder.
“So tell me what we’re doing here,” Ryan urged once again, ignoring her silence. “How are you helping this inmate and her daughter?”
Elise could tell that Ryan was the type who liked to know the plan. It probably gave him a sense of control over the situation. It was very likely driving him crazy not to know every single last detail. And Elise kind of liked the thought of throwing this self-assured man even a little off-balance.
Right before the entrance, Elise stopped and turned to face Ryan squarely.
“I think I’ve really told you all you need to know right now. Like I said, I don’t know much about Tricia other than she’s a woman who needs a little help with her daughter. I have a plan to help her, so beyond that, I guess you’re just going to have to trust me.”
From the tension emanating from Ryan, Elise knew he wasn’t happy about the situation, but he kept his moody silence the entire time as they went through security and were led to a windowless room to wait for Tricia. He remained quiet even then, though after about thirty seconds of waiting, he popped out of his chair and began pacing the room. Elise ignored him and pretended to inspect her nails until finally, the door opened and a security guard led a woman dressed in the standard prison-issue jumpsuit inside.
Tricia’s eyes jumped from Elise to Ryan, and she stopped dead in her tracks.
“I didn’t ask for a lawyer,” she said in confusion. “Elise, I already told you I was guilty.”
“No, Tricia,” Elise hurried to explain. “He’s not here for—”
“How did she know I was a lawyer?” Ryan interrupted in confusion.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Elise said, pointedly looking at Ryan from head to toe. “Wipkipedia probably uses your picture to help define the term ‘lawyer’”
In Ryan’s defense, Elise had to admit he wasn’t dressed as a typical lawyer, at least not today. This was the first time Elise had seen him in anything other than a suit. But even with his khaki pants and forest green pullover, Ryan still had the unmistakable presence of a successful attorney.
“He is a lawyer, Tricia, but he’s not here on official business. Ryan is my . . .” How exactly was she supposed to explain Ryan’s presence? “friend,” she finally finished. “He’s just tagging along on my errands today.”
Thankfully, Tricia seemed to accept this explanation and sat down at the
Ryan sighed heavily. “I don’t know why you seem to bring out the worst in me. I’m really not normally so . . .”
“Irascible . . . judgmental . . . unforgiving . . . “
Ryan’s eyes shot to hers, words of defense on his lips, but seeing the teasing light in her eyes, his eyebrow quirked up and his expressions softened.
“Guess I deserve that.”
Elise unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and opened the door to the backseat so she could pull out a garment bag. Wanting to have her umbrella up first, she tried to open it, but the old, cheaply-made contraption was jammed and wouldn’t fully extend. As she struggled, Ryan came up beside her and extended his own classy black umbrella over her as well.
Elise tossed her under-achieving umbrella back into the car, grabbed the garment bag, and began walking to the front entrance with Ryan and his umbrella remaining in close attendance beside her.
“What’s this lady in for?” Ryan asked
“I don’t know. I didn’t even ask,” Elise replied. “It’s not important. She mentioned that she’d made some mistakes. But now she’s anxious to finish her sentence so she can get back to her family and turn her life around. I think the church’s ministry has really helped her, and she’s committed her life to Christ. She’s very nice. You would never think her a criminal.”
“Everyone is capable of being a criminal. I haven’t even decided on your guilt or innocence yet.”
As if she needed a reminder.
“So tell me what we’re doing here,” Ryan urged once again, ignoring her silence. “How are you helping this inmate and her daughter?”
Elise could tell that Ryan was the type who liked to know the plan. It probably gave him a sense of control over the situation. It was very likely driving him crazy not to know every single last detail. And Elise kind of liked the thought of throwing this self-assured man even a little off-balance.
Right before the entrance, Elise stopped and turned to face Ryan squarely.
“I think I’ve really told you all you need to know right now. Like I said, I don’t know much about Tricia other than she’s a woman who needs a little help with her daughter. I have a plan to help her, so beyond that, I guess you’re just going to have to trust me.”
From the tension emanating from Ryan, Elise knew he wasn’t happy about the situation, but he kept his moody silence the entire time as they went through security and were led to a windowless room to wait for Tricia. He remained quiet even then, though after about thirty seconds of waiting, he popped out of his chair and began pacing the room. Elise ignored him and pretended to inspect her nails until finally, the door opened and a security guard led a woman dressed in the standard prison-issue jumpsuit inside.
Tricia’s eyes jumped from Elise to Ryan, and she stopped dead in her tracks.
“I didn’t ask for a lawyer,” she said in confusion. “Elise, I already told you I was guilty.”
“No, Tricia,” Elise hurried to explain. “He’s not here for—”
“How did she know I was a lawyer?” Ryan interrupted in confusion.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Elise said, pointedly looking at Ryan from head to toe. “Wipkipedia probably uses your picture to help define the term ‘lawyer’”
In Ryan’s defense, Elise had to admit he wasn’t dressed as a typical lawyer, at least not today. This was the first time Elise had seen him in anything other than a suit. But even with his khaki pants and forest green pullover, Ryan still had the unmistakable presence of a successful attorney.
“He is a lawyer, Tricia, but he’s not here on official business. Ryan is my . . .” How exactly was she supposed to explain Ryan’s presence? “friend,” she finally finished. “He’s just tagging along on my errands today.”
Thankfully, Tricia seemed to accept this explanation and sat down at the
Similar Books
