Free Worth the Fight (Accidentally on Purpose) by LD Davis Page A

her and you need to really try to make it work better than it is now, because this isn’t good for Lucas either.”
    I knew she was right. No matter how stubborn I was being about it, I knew Lena was absolutely right, but I didn’t know how to change it. How do I just suddenly open up casual dialogue with someone I disliked so hard for so long, and with someone I loved so hard but hurt me fifty times harder? That was why I was sitting in Lena’s kitchen, though. I don’t know why I fought her so hard when the very reason I showed up at my sister’s was to get advice on how to begin to repair my relationship with Emmy.
    “She has nightmares,” I said softly as I stared at the cookie crumbs on the table. “I don’t know how long they’ve been going on, but last night I heard her and…”
    I crushed the remaining cookies in my hand.
    “What happened to her?” Lena asked gently. “ Something has happened to her. I can see it in her eyes.”
    “I think he hurt her,” I said as both my hands closed into tight fists. “It’s possible he hurt Lucas, too.”
    “The other guy?”
    I nodded. Lena was quiet for a long time before she spoke again.
    “But…if he would have hurt Lucas, surely she would have said something.”
    I gave her a dubious look. “She didn’t even tell us about Lucas until he was five months old, Lena.”
    “I know, but that’s different. I think Sam would have spoken up.”
    “Maybe,” I said, still feeling doubtful. “Maybe Sam doesn’t know.”
    “Well,” she sighed. “Emmy’s not going to open up to you right now. It’s going to take some time, and you’re going to have to be nicer.”
    “I guess we should at least be able to have a conversation that doesn’t involve groceries or Lucas,” I sighed. “But I don’t want you to expect too much out of this.”
    “I only expect for you to be the kind hearted soul I know you are,” she said, retrieving her mug of cocoa. “Maybe you can get her out of the house more, too. She doesn’t get out much at all.”
    “I should hire her in the office,” I snorted.
    I was only joking, but Lena said “Why not? Isn’t that her thing?”
    I looked at my sister. “I’m not sure if she is ready to go back to work, and we don’t have a babysitter.”
    “You won’t know until you ask her, and god knows that you can use some help getting the firm in order.”
    “What about Lucas?” I asked, feeling a little optimistic about the whole thing.
    “I’ll watch him,” she shrugged.
    “Okay,” I nodded slowly. “I’ll ask her.”
    Just like that I got the answer I needed. I now knew how to begin the healing process with Emmy. I didn’t set my hopes very high, but at least I now had a starting point.
     
     

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    Emmy moved around the kitchen preparing dinner, lost in her own thoughts. When I walked in holding Lucas, she only acknowledged me with a glance, believing I was going to get whatever I needed and get the hell out, but when I moved closer to where she was working, she looked up, a little startled.
    “I need a huge favor,” I said.
    She looked at me expectantly – rather she looked at a point below my eyes.
    “My office is a mess. It's so disorganized and we're incredibly busy. My receptionist...well, she's just a receptionist. I need someone to come in and get us organized and on track.”
    “You're asking me ?” Her eyes looked into mine for the first time in months,  and her mouth hung open in genuine surprise.
    “Yes, I am. You're a very good office manager. I wish I had thought to ask you sooner.”
    “I can try.” She shrugged and turned her attention back to the stove. “When?”
    “Tomorrow,” I said, adjusting Lucas in my arms.
    “What am I supposed to do with Lucas?”
    “Lena will take him.”
    I could tell she was conflicted. She probably had no intentions of going back to work anytime soon and leaving our son in the care of someone else. She bit her bottom lip as she thought