Betrayed (Rosato & DiNunzio, #2)(61)

Judy shook her head, disgusted. She understood what Kelin was up to and she kicked herself for leaving herself vulnerable. He wouldn’t win the motion, but he’d bring her conduct to the attention of the Court, prejudicing the judge against her. She’d have to file a reply explaining herself, but the judge’s first impression of her would be as a hothead. She had to hope it wouldn’t prejudice him against Linda’s case, or she’d never forgive herself.

Judy gritted her teeth, jostling in the moving cab. She had misjudged Kelin as a spoiled baby, but he was a sharp and aggressive litigator. His motion was typical of the behind-the-scenes gamesmanship that she hated, but she had no one but herself to blame. Her thoughts raced ahead, and the implications fell like dominoes, in a cause-and-effect chain of collapse. She’d have to write, research, and file a response to the motion right away, to mitigate the damage with the judge. She’d have to get the Morrell deposition rescheduled. She’d have to explain it to Linda, and worse, to Bennie.

The cab raced toward the hospital, and Judy looked to the window, realizing that as bad as it was, it paled in comparison to what Aunt Barb was going through.

This very minute.





Chapter Twenty-seven

“So what did the nurse say?” Judy asked, dumping her messenger bag and purse on the chair next to her mother, in the quiet waiting room. A young receptionist sat at the front desk, tapping on the computer keyboard, and the only other people were an older couple sitting together at the far end of the row, watching the news on a TV mounted in the corner, with closed captioning.

“She hasn’t said anything new, since what I told you on the phone.”

“What about why it was taking longer?” Judy slid out of her coat and put it on top of her stuff. “Did you ask why?”

“Yes, and she said she didn’t know, but she’d keep us posted.” Her mother pursed her lips, lipsticked a tasteful pink, which told Judy that she had just been in the bathroom, freshening her makeup.

“So that conversation was at about ten thirty, correct?”

“Yes, I suppose so, if I’m to be cross-examined.” Her mother gestured at the empty chair beside her. “Please, have a seat.”

Judy checked her watch, which showed 12:01. “So that was an hour and a half ago.”

“I can subtract, dear. Sit down.”

“Hold on.” Judy hovered over her chair and glanced back at the receptionist. “I’m saying because it’s been an hour and a half, so it seems reasonable to ask how things are going.”

“Don’t ask any more questions. If there’s something we need to know, they’ll tell us.”

Judy almost laughed out loud. “Mom, I’m a lawyer. If I ran my life that way, I’d be out of a job.”

“Do you have to be a lawyer, every minute?”

“Honestly, yes.”

“You’re not in a courtroom. You’re in a hospital.”

“So what? I don’t think it’s a bad thing, to be a lawyer in a hospital.”

“I do.”

“I don’t,” Judy shot back, defensive. “It’s good to be an advocate when you’re in a hospital. Aunt Barb can’t do it herself, so she needs us to be her advocate.”

“Oh for goodness’ sake, sit down.”

Judy glanced back at the receptionist, who was now on the phone. “What’s the big deal? I can’t go ask a question?”

“She’s just a receptionist. She’s not a nurse. She doesn’t know anything.” Her mother inhaled slowly, which Judy recognized as her long-suffering martyr sound.

“She can find it out, Mom.”

“That’s not how it works. The doctor comes out and talks to you, or the nurse. The receptionist doesn’t tell you anything.” Her mother brushed a hair back into its silky blonde topknot, a reflexive gesture, since every strand was in place.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t ask.”

“But what’s the point?” her mother asked sharply.

“The point is that I’m worried something happened!” Judy raised her voice, not bothering to check herself. She couldn’t shake the stress of the morning, the botched deposition, or the Rule 37 motion. “Don’t you want to know what’s going on in there? She’s your sister!”

“No, I don’t want to know.” Her mother rolled her eyes. “She’s my own sister but I don’t care. You’re the only one who cares. Thank God you’ve arrived.”

“Mom, really?”

“That must be it. You love her more than I do. To prove it, you’ll go running around willy-nilly, asking questions that nobody will answer.”

Judy felt her temper give way. “Mom, what’s your problem? That’s not what I’m going to do at all, and you can’t know if somebody won’t answer a question until you ask.”

“Then go ask!” her mother hissed, her blue eyes flashing with anger. Her fair skin flushed under her foundation. “Why are you bothering me? You’re a big girl. You’re a lawyer, twenty-four/seven. If there isn’t a fight, you’ll pick one. You’ll find one. You’re not happy unless you’re unhappy!” Her mother threw a hand toward the reception desk, then turned away. “Go ask whatever questions you want! You don’t need my permission. God knows you never listened to me anyway.”