Like Mother, Like Daughter (Season 2)

Chapter Two: A Sea Change

"Cara Hastings," she said, approaching me directly, in her matching navy blazer and skirt combo as her expensive patent leather heels glinted in the sunshine as she put out her French-manicured hand. "You must be Iana."

"I must be," I replied, taken aback at her polished appearance as I shook her hand.

"And you must be Murphy, Iana's mother," Cara went on, sticking out her hand to my mother and shaking it. "Wonderful that you could be here to support her daughter."

"As her lawyer, it's my job."

Cara looked at me then, almost as if she was taken aback. "Was your mother not aware of our conversation?" she asked, her brown eyes looking worried.

I shook my head immediately then, making a mental note to ask who did Cara's hair, as the curly blonde locks would be the envy of anyone who respected hair care. "She's aware, don't worry," I assured her, and Cara smiled at me. "She's here as my mother, while you're here as my official and only attorney."

"Of course, part of my strategy is having an entire legal team, but we can work out the kinks later," she said, transferring her high-quality brown leather briefcase to her other hand. "I know Sally must be expecting you, and she doesn't tolerate lateness."

I nodded. "Sure," I replied, following in Cara's wake, and doing my best not to give into the glare that I knew my mother was giving to my back.

We followed Cara through the less-than-savory lobby area and towards the elevator, which had to have been close to forty-years-old. Thankfully, even though it seemed to squeak slightly when we entered, it didn't give us a problem as Cara pressed the correct button. It lurched into action then, bringing us up five floors before depositing us out on floor six, where a sign directed us to Sally's office.

"Sally?" Cara asked, knocking on the door with the back of her hand and letting us in. "It's been a long time."

"Hey, Cara," Sally said, a tight smile on her face as we stepped inside. She got to her feet, her natural weave all out and ready for business as she motioned for all of us to take our seats. She brought over a file close to her then as she sat back down, her dark fingers going through the paperwork meticulously before she came to the correct one. "Iana Gallagher-Blomqvist, charged with attempted murder in the first degree, assault and battery in the first degree, and aggravated assault resulting in a coma-like state. And I see that you pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect; you're ordered to undergo court mandated therapy..." She nodded to herself for a moment then before she reached into her desk and produced an ankle bracelet. "This one should fit."

I sighed, lifting my leg and placing it onto Sally's desk with a loud thud. I heard my mother gasp from behind me, while Cara laughed, and Sally didn't look surprised by my actions. I nodded at the ankle bracelet then, and then to my leg. "Let's get this over with," I said.

. . .

"I'm sorry that I'm not having a boy to carry on the family name," I said to Pops as we drove away from the hospital.

Pops shook his head. "Don't apologize. I'm just happy that the baby seems happy. She's growing all right and meeting all the milestones... How big is she now?"

I gripped onto my steering wheel then, willing for the bile not to rise in my throat. "We don't discuss it."

"Why?"

"Because, if we do, I'll ruin my car's upholstery," I replied.

Pops nodded. "Point taken... The yellow fruit, right?"