Page 29 of Skipping Stones
Linney put her phone on “do not disturb” and closed her eyes trying to gather her strength. A new chapter was about to begin.
11
Derek breathed a huge sigh of relief when his phone buzzed with Linney’s text. He’d been worried about her and the choices she’d been making to stay with Mac. Now he was worried about how she was coping. She clearly didn’t want to talk about it, and he knew MJ would be there for her. Still, it took everything he had not to text her back. Instead, he reached out to Kirsten and got MJ’s number. The women had stayed in touch since Kirsten’s mini makeover. It was only after MJ repeatedly assured him that the whole newsroom had Linney’s back and that she had booked them a trip to Greece to get away that he was able to turn his attention back to the case on his desk.
The case needed his attention. It had been haunting him for a few months. Derek was representing a young mother and her son who had no social safety network. The husband had isolated his wife and then disappeared. She was being taken advantage of by a landlord whose apartment building was a whisker away from being condemned. Derek couldn’t help but compare it to his own upbringing. He and his mother had benefitted from the close-knit community he’d grown up in and this woman had none.
His client was reliant on the food bank and a local charity for clothes as her toddler grew. Derek could relate. He’d had at least one winter coat from the local church, and mittens from the KnitWorks ladies. And then there were many dinners he and his mother had eaten with Linney and her grandmother. Years later, he came to understand that Linney’s gran had allowed his mother to keep her dignity by letting her “babysit” to pay Mrs. McDonnell back for the generosity when the two children played together.
Derek was determined to get his client justice. So it was quite late that evening when he joined Olivia at her law firm’s box at the Rogers Centre. It was mostly used to entertain clients, but from time to time, it was a nice perk for employees and their families to watch a Blue Jays game.
“So, Derek,” her boss began after drinks had been handed out, “when are you going to give up on Legal Aid and come and join us on Bay Street, where the real money is made? Word on the street is that you’re good. But they’re paying you peanuts.”
Derek pasted a smile on his face. He’d heard this more than once from Olivia’s colleagues and it irked him every time. He did not understand why people couldn’t accept that he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. At Legal Aid, he was able to help people. One at a time, he made families better than they were before they’d met him.
“Thanks, but I’m happy where I am. You’re right, I could make more at a big law firm, but that’s not what practising law is for me.”
“You’re a bright guy. Why not leave Legal Aid to the new grads?” The organ started up, whipping the Blue Jays fans into a frenzy.
“I could have had my pick of the Bay Street firms,” Derek said through gritted teeth. “I chose to work where I do, and I’m proud of my work.”
Olivia came to his rescue, sliding in beside him. “Leave my husband alone. He’s an idealist. And I love him for it. Someone’s got to help the less fortunate.”
“Fine,” her boss said, turning as the crowd cheered for a home run by the home team. “But if you ever change your mind, Derek, you know where to come. We’d have you in a heartbeat.”
“Thanks for getting me out of that,” Derek said to Olivia, giving her a quick kiss.
She sipped her wine and looked at him seriously. “Would you ever consider it though? A comfortable office, a great view, a paycheque that matches mine? We could buy a house up in Lawrence Park.”
Derek stiffened, thinking of the excess of the tony neighbourhood. “Our condo is pretty great, don’t you think? I’m happy with how things are. Now, if you’d tell me you’re ready to start thinking about a baby, I’d be even happier!”
“Derek!” She playfully swatted his shoulder, and he understood the message. Not yet.
* * *
The Greek sun was high in the sky and it felt warm on Linney’s legs. She’d initially resisted MJ’s urging to leave everything behind for a few days in the Mediterranean, but the getaway was turning out to be just what she needed. She dug her painted toenails—regal rebel, the colour was called—in the sand. Beside her, MJ’s periwinkle-coloured toenails were drying from a recent dip in the sea. Linney lowered the brim of her straw sunhat, thinking about how nice these first two days in Greece had been. They had spent much of their time swimming and lazily lounging on the beach or by the pool drinking up the sun. No thoughts of home. No news. No worries. Just two friends on holiday. To MJ’s unending amusement, Linney kept picking up stones as they walked along the beach. She tried to skip some in the sea, mostly losing to the waves, and had tucked several perfect pebbles into her pockets.
“Ready for a swim?” MJ interrupted her train of thought. Linney nodded and got up out of her lounger tossing her hat behind her.
It was a glorious escape from reality. While her colleagues had mostly been great, Linney still felt awkward when people glanced her way, and when conversations stopped as she approached. They swore off newspapers and pledged not to watch the news. But truth be told, by the third morning, they were both going crazy with boredom.
“I wonder what’s going on back at home?” Linney mused, as she dipped a spoon into the pot of honey on the breakfast table and drizzled it into her yogurt.
“I wonder what stories we’re missing out on?” MJ added. She was as eager as Linney to know what was going on in the real world. “What do you think? Should I go and get a paper?”
“Well—”
MJ laughed. “We’re like news junkies desperate for a fix!” Then her hand flew to her mouth as she realized the comparison she’d made. “Linney, I’m sorry. I did not mean to be insensitive.”
Linney shook her head. “It’s fine, MJ. You shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around me. Go get that paper!” MJ pushed her chair back and then hurried across the dining room to the front desk where the news they’d been ignoring was free for the taking.
As she went, Linney thought about it. Yes, there had been a brief moment where she felt pain, shock, and shame all at once, but it wasn’t as bad as it had been a few weeks ago. She was going to be okay.
They gorged themselves on the news that day—print, TV, online, catching up on what had happened around the world. The break had been good, but they both lived for news. They bantered over dinner about a falling dictator in Eastern Europe, the American economy, and the rumblings of Brexit in the UK. Familiar territory for both of them.
“What’s the next move for you?” Linney asked as they hiked up a steep scrubby trail on their last afternoon in Greece. Despite the hour, it was scorching, and Linney was melting. She was starting to wonder if the promised spectacular sunset views of the islands off the shore were going to be worth it. She stopped to take a sip of water and wipe her brow, where tendrils of hair were stuck with sweat. Behind her, MJ seemed as cool as a cucumber.
“I am thinking of moving to editing on the digital side,” she said, cryptically.