Checkmate

26

    Saturday morning, I woke up in nirvana. If waking up cradled by the man of my dreams wasn't heavenly enough, he took it upon himself to make me breakfast in bed and spoon-fed me while we talked about anything that came to mind. How I'd deluded myself into thinking this man wasn't right for me was left to be debunked because the signs had always been there. I'd just convinced myself it'd be too good to be true.

His patience with me was astounding and we lost ourselves in each other, making the bed our haven, our euphoric bubble, blocking out all the worries and stress of the outside world.

   Sunday around lunchtime, we said our goodbyes and I had to stop myself from kissing him away and watching him drive off from the sidewalk. However, I'll admit to waving at him from the porch as he left. Later that evening, Colton stopped by to drop off Sam. The excitement on his face as he jumped out of the car to run into my arms made me swoon. Knowing how much fun he had at his Dad's, being met with so much joy and eagerness gave me a boost of confidence that I'd done a great job at providing for us regardless of all the struggles I faced along the way.

As quickly as the weekend came, it was gone, giving way to Monday, a new week, and a new case. I'd just finished my cup of coffee, looking down at the bustling street from the window when I heard three knocks at the door, turning around to see Destiny peeking her head in.

"She's here," she simply said, and I nodded while stepping away from the window, motioning for her to let in my potential client.

   Destiny stepped aside, letting past a brown-skinned woman of average height. Her hair was beautifully styled in a chignon, accentuating her sharp features. Her Hermes bag dangled in the crook of her arm giving her a dash of class that worked graciously with her polished demeanor. Dressed in black pants and a white blouse with a silk powder blue ribbon tied around her neck, the woman stood with her head held high, but I could see the clear exhaustion in her eyes.

"Erin Samuels?" I asked and she nodded, confirming her identity.

I stepped around my desk and extended a hand in greeting.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I'm Kimberly Graham," I said, shaking her hand.

"Exactly the woman I was looking for," she smiled slyly and my grin grew, flattered by her words.

"Let's sit and you can tell me how I can be of help," I said, leading her to the couch.

"Would you like anything to drink? Water? Coffee?" I offered but she waved it away, mumbling her thanks for the considerate offer.

I took a seat at the opposite end of the couch, shifting my body so we'd be facing each other.

"So, what can I do for you?"

She inhaled deeply, opting for a more composed posture and I braced myself for what she had to say.

"I am recently divorced from my ex-husband. Our relationship lasted eleven years and for the most part, I was unhappy."

She paused and glanced at me briefly, seeking reassurance as this must be a difficult topic to get into. I nodded along, motioning for her to carry on explaining herself.

"For many years we tried to conceive but I was never able to carry a baby to term, so for the last year of our marriage, we looked into surrogacy. We had found someone and set up a date for the insemination to take place."

She shifted uncomfortably, her gaze now lowering in shame. It was shocking to see how quickly her confidence morphed into vulnerability and unease.

"Take your time," I reassured her, to which she replied with a shy smile.