Free Broken (Endurance) by April Thomas Page A

normal circumstances and relate back to him what was really going on. Well, he is only a phone call away, he thought as he pulled out his cell phone.
     
    Charleston Dash suddenly entered the room and Maxwell slipped his phone back into his pocket.  He glanced at Cressida and could see the rage building.  Her eyes were hard and her cheeks flamed with anger.
     
    Charleston looked over at Maxwell and smiled. "I'm sorry, I see you have a client." He turned to walk out of the door.
     
    "Why did you do it, Dad?" Cressida yelled.
     
    He stopped.  His shoulders rose and fell on a heavy breath as he turned and re-entered the office.  With a calm, deliberate motion he closed the door behind him.
     
    Maxwell suddenly felt out of place. "Do you want me to come back later?"
     
    "No, I'm going to need a friend." Cressida’s eyes remained on her father.
     
    "What are you talking about?" Charleston asked cautiously. "You are making a scene in front of your client."
     
    "I will be right outside when you need me." Maxwell walked out of the room, but stayed close.
     
    Cressida glared at her father with more hatred than she would have thought possible.  Seeing the calm, serenity in his hypocritical eyes only enraged her more.  "You knew I wouldn't take that case."
     
    "Is this the whole Blake Carter thing again? It's not a big deal."
     
    "Blake told me he’d requested me as his lawyer."
     
    "Are you going to listen to a crazy man?"
     
    "I know crazy when I see it, and he ain't crazy."
     
    "Look, we are lawyers and sometimes we have to defend the trash that no one else will. It's our job.  If you can't handle that, then you’re not fit to be in this field!"
     
    "I have won more cases than I have lost. I know I'm a damn good lawyer and what makes me good at what I do is my instincts. That man is guilty. You know it. I know it.  Everyone involved in this case knows it!"
     
    "So what!" Charleston yelled, his face growing crimson.
     
    "I want to know why my father lied to me," Cressida yelled back.
     
    "I refuse to be interrogated by my own daughter!" Charleston stormed out of her office and slammed the door behind him.
     
    Cressida grabbed a book off the mantle and sent it flying through the air where it slammed into the door behind her father. She stomped up and down the length of her office before breaking down again.  Her knees crumbled and no longer held her weight as she slowly slid to the floor, crying. A few moments later Maxwell came back in. He helped her to her feet, grabbed her briefcase and purse, and walked her out of the office and brought her to his car.
     
    Offering no argument, Cressida sat and stared while he drove her to his home. On leaden legs, she dragged herself out of his car, Maxwell’s guiding hand barely enough to support her.  A thick cloud of lethargy weighted on her as she followed him inside. 
     
    Greeted by Mei’s grandmother, Lin Li, Cressida forced a smile.  When dinner was served, Cressida leaned back in the dining room chair facing Maxwell and Lin Li. She was distracted and found it impossible to keep up with the conversation. Tidbits of information made it through her muddled thoughts.  Lin had heard from Mei who was settling in nicely at college.
     
    Maxwell laughed to himself. He could feel the tension in his son’s voice.
     
    Winston came in to collect the empty dinner plates and paused over Cressida's plate. Realizing she’d barely touched her dinner, she smiled and nodded. The altercation with her father had all but extinguished her appetite. Over and over again, she sought other secrets her father may long have kept from her.
     
    "Come with me." Maxwell touched the back of her chair. Cressida slowly stood up as he pulled the chair from under her. “Excuse us, Lin.” He led her away from the table.
     
    Though unaware of the young woman’s problems, Lin felt the depth of sorrow Cressida carried, and empathized.  One so young shouldn’t yet be burdened with such