Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(96)

Libby replaced the phone and immediately contacted Phillip, who was out of town at a physicians’ conference in Las Vegas. Unable to reach him directly, she left him a message on his cell phone.

Next she sent Robin a text. Thirty minutes later Robin texted her back and suggested they meet for a glass of wine. Libby agreed to meet her that afternoon. Robin came back with a location and time.

Three hours later the two of them sat sipping merlot in a wine bar off Fourth Avenue near Libby’s office. “I think he wants to offer me my old job back,” she mused aloud, holding her wineglass by the stem, resisting the urge to twirl it as her mind buzzed with possibilities.

“Clearly he needs you for something,” Robin muttered, tapping her fingers while her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“But why?”

“The answer is obvious,” Robin said, relaxing against the bar stool. “Mrs. Reed. Would you go back?”

This was the same question Libby had been asking herself since Hershel’s call. The very same question Phillip had posed in a text message he’d sent in response to her voice mail. Would she go back? “The truth is, I don’t know,” Libby admitted. She held the stem of the wineglass with both hands, as if she needed the goblet to center her.

“You’ll go back,” Robin said decisively.

“Really? And what makes you think that?”

“Well, for one thing, Hershel hasn’t gotten where he is without a few persuasive skills. From what you’ve told me he’s always been fond of you in a fatherly sort of way. Also, I suspect Mrs. Reed is still unhappy.”

Libby had more or less reached the same conclusion herself.

“And,” Robin continued, “because of the difficulties with Mrs. Reed, Hershel was able to convince the other partners that nothing would satisfy the older woman unless she worked with you.”

“Do you think they might offer me a partnership?” Libby whispered, hardly able to believe the firm would be willing to go that far.

Robin sipped her wine, her look pensive. “They might. It depends.”

Libby shook her head. They were both leaping to conclusions. She hadn’t even met with Hershel yet. Still, the thought was there. Partner. Her heart beat just a little faster. Could it actually be possible they would want her desperately enough to offer her a partnership?

“Is this what you want?” Robin asked, leaning toward her slightly. “You’ve made a lot of positive changes. Are you sure you want to get back into the same old grind?”

Libby didn’t need to think twice. “I do. I deserve to be a partner. I worked for this.” In her mind everything would change once she’d achieved the goal that had driven her for the last six years. Being a partner would make all the sacrifices worth it. Besides, she was a different person now. She would balance her work life and her personal life and avoid the mistakes of the past. It’d be difficult, but she could do it, especially with the support system she had built over the past few months and with Phillip at her side.

“All you can do is wait and see what Hershel and the others have to say,” Robin said as she glanced at her wrist. “Gotta scoot, I’m meeting Roy for dinner.”

Libby nodded. Robin had changed from the career-driven workaholic she’d once been. These days she left work at six and spent most of her free time with Roy. The two were the talk of the courthouse, from what Libby understood. Seeing Robin this happy thrilled her.

Her friend left money on the table for the wine. “Have you talked this over with Phillip yet?”

“He’s out of town. I left him a message and he texted back. We haven’t actually talked yet.” Smiling, she had to wonder just how much of the conference he was attending. Every time he phoned all Libby could hear was jarring casino noise in the background. He’d arrive back in Seattle on Sunday.

The rest of the week passed slowly. Finally, Friday afternoon, at two minutes to five, Libby walked into the familiar office. The receptionist, Lois, stood when she stepped off the elevator. “Ms. Morgan, welcome,” she said, sporting a huge smile. “I believe the partners are awaiting your arrival.”

Libby squared her shoulders.

Hershel’s office was directly down the hall and although Libby was well aware of the location, the receptionist led the way and announced her arrival.

As soon as she entered the room, everyone stood and stepped forward to shake her hand. The other partners beamed smiles in her direction.

Libby blinked a couple of times to make sure she hadn’t fallen into some fantasy. If this was a dream world, she didn’t want to wake up anytime soon.

After two or three minutes of small talk, Hershel cleared his throat. “I know you’re curious as to why we’ve asked to see you.”

Libby nodded.

“Basically,” Hershel said, “we’d like to offer you your old position back. Of course, you’d be working with Sarah again and we’d be willing to offer you a slight increase over your former pay scale.”

Howard Smith spoke. He was a short man of only about five-six who wore his hair in a crew cut, most of which was gray now. “We’re hoping you’d be able to start sometime next week.”

Libby blinked. Hershel had told her she’d be pleased and she was, but hesitant, too. Why the rush? Next week?

She crossed her legs and after settling into the wingback chair she regarded them closely. “I’m sure you’re aware I have my own practice now.” Before she made a commitment Libby wanted more details. As for working with Sarah, the offer didn’t hold as much appeal as it once had. She didn’t feel the same about the paralegal since it’d become clear Sarah had betrayed her confidence with the partners, not to mention her failure to respond to Libby’s job offer.