Free Back to You by Natalie-Nicole Bates

mother. Who’s going to hire me now?” Tears streamed from Suzy’s eyes.
    “You’ll be entitled to alimony and child support. You have children who are under eighteen. I doubt that any judge in his right mind would make you sell the home your children live in. Have you seen an attorney yet?”
    “I called Legal Aid, but they said because I have a house and a car, I can pay for my own attorney. I told them that if I have to pay for an attorney then I’ll be living out of my car with my children because I won’t have a home.”
    Suzy looked utterly humiliated and defeated. It was still such a shock that her life was falling apart all around her. No wonder she had been so distant.
    “Well, I can solve that. I’ll lend you the money for an attorney, and you can pay me back when you’re financially stable…or never.”
    Suzy shook her head vehemently. “I’m not taking money from you, Lynsey. Money and friendship don’t mix. Just be my friend; that’s all I want from you.”
    Lynsey reached over and hugged her friend tightly. “I’m here for whatever you need, remember that.”
    “Lynsey, what am I going to do? What do I tell my kids? DJ is going to graduate this year. How do I tell him that I can’t pay for college?”
    “There are all kinds of scholarship and grants available. It’s not hopeless. You’ll know what to say when the time is right,” she answered honestly.
    “You’ll think I’m crazy, but I don’t want a divorce. I mean, I know he cheated, and he’s in love with someone else he’s starting a new family with, but he was my first love—the only man I’ve ever loved and the father of my children.”
    Lynsey’s heart actually hurt at the thought of Suzy’s pain. Even after everything that Doug had done to her, she still loved him, and wanted a life with him. She didn’t know what to say or how to comfort her friend. A stream of tears ran down her face too.
    The kitchen door rattled and Nick stepped inside. Immediately he frowned. His T-shirt was plastered to his chest with sweat. He had obviously been out for a run.
    “You need to talk to Nicky, now. Tell him everything,” she implored. “But remember that I’m here for anything you need, and I mean anything,” she whispered into Suzy’s ear.
    Standing up from the table, she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. “Nicky, I’m going to go out for the afternoon. Your sister really needs to speak with you.”
    When he walked up to Lynsey, she could see concern in his blue eyes. Gently, he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Are you okay, my angel?” he asked.
    “I am perfectly fine. Suzy needs you now. I’ll see you when I get home.” Reaching up on tip toes, she pressed a kiss to his smooth cheek. “Bye.”
    ***
    It was early evening when Lynsey returned to Nick’s home. She found him at the kitchen table going through stacks of paperwork.
    He looked up. “You’ve been a popular girl. Caleb and Owen called here looking for you—twice. They would both like for you to call them back.”
    “Oh? Owen has an idea for a book he wants to collaborate on with me.”
    “Owen is a good guy. I could see you and him together for the duration,” he said.
    After Suzy’s admission regarding the dismal state of her twenty-year marriage, Lynsey was in no mood to think about a romance with Owen Mitchell—or anyone else for that matter.
    “How’s everything, Nicky?” She hoped that he could help Suzy resolve some of her troubles. But realistically she knew her friend’s problems were far from over. With children in the mix, her problems would probably never end.
    “I’m just looking over my finances to see how I can help my sister. She needs an attorney—fast.”
    Lynsey went to the stove and started the kettle to make coffee for both of them. “I offered to lend her the money, but she won’t take it from me. She says it will ruin our friendship. That’s so not true, but I know she’s hurting and