The Story of Tonight

Chapter Twenty

"I understand. I'll send you the motion shortly."

Vanessa hung up her office phone with a bit of force, letting out an audible groan. She cocooned her head on her desk, her arms shielding the light of her office. That was the third phone call she had received just that day from a client wanting her to withdraw from their case. Another two had called her the previous day. They all had the gist of the same response: if her personal issues were being broadcast across the media, how could she help them with theirs?

It may have been naive of her, but she hadn't thought of what the ramifications of Lia and her relationship with Lin being in the media would have on her work life. Sure, she knew it would personally affect her, and it had. Watching your daughter sob because a paparazzi was chasing her for a photo was a sight no parent ever wanted to see. She was confident enough to not let the comments on social media get to her. They weren't the most flattering, but why would Vanessa give a shit what strangers on the internet had to say about her? She had spent the last fifteen years dreading what Lin would think of her once he knew, and she had survived that conversation. Faceless Twitter icons were the least of her concerns.

When she started receiving phone calls from clients, however, she couldn't say she was that surprised. She had always been a methodical person; it was one of the reasons she had done so well in law school. It also was the reason why she could understand her clients' concerns. Tabloid gossip didn't exactly scream confidence in the courtroom. Although she understood, she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her concern for the future of her career.

Vanessa groaned again when she heard her phone start to ring again, only this time it was her cell phone. She ignored it, not having the energy to listen to another person tell her how screwed up her life was. She stayed in her tightly wrapped bubble. It wasn't until she heard it ring a second time that she decided she should answer it. She knew it could be a client of hers that she still wanted to keep or Lia's school. The caller ID was neither of the choices, and it brought a genuine smile to Vanessa's face.

"Hi Lin,"

"Hey, I know you're at work, but really quick. Would Lia like silver or gold for jewelry more?"

Vanessa laughed at the urgency in his tone, as she sat back in her office chair, "I'm not busy right now. Although I am a bit confused why you didn't just text me that,"

"That was my plan if you didn't answer this time, but I also wanted to hear your voice."

Vanessa would have rolled her eyes if she had heard another guy tell that to one of her girlfriends, but from Lin it just made her feel like a giddy teenager. "It's good to hear yours, too."

"So, gold or silver?"

"Lin, you can't keep buying her gift after gift," Vanessa said with a light laugh, although her words weren't completely baseless.

"V, it's for Christmas," Lin reasoned, although he wouldn't deny he had been more than willing to indulge on his daughter, "I have fourteen Christmases to make up for. Now, come on, I know you're a silver girl, but I'm not sure about Lia and I don't want to screw this up."

Vanessa wasn't an emotional person, but even she felt her heart melt a bit at Lin's dilemma. She had spent years so worried over what telling about Lia would mean. She was embarrassed when she thought about how wrong she had been. Lin had slipped into the role of 'father' so easily; she didn't know many fathers who would be this concerned over a Christmas gift, let alone the type of jewelry material."

"Gold. The only piece of jewelry she has is a bracelet from my mom. She'd want whatever it is to match,"

"Alright, thank you for your help. Call me when you get home,"