Chapter 2

Vincent’s POV, flashback the day before.

I get a call from a domestic abuse client that is in jail for abuse out of town and I need to catch a flight to see him. As I’m researching flights to see my client, I can hear my wife, Victoria, getting closer to my study.

“Vincent, I’m getting hungry, why don’t we go out to Rillo’s for dinner tonight?”

“Victoria, I am researching flights to see a client.”

“You’re going out of town for a case again??”

“Yes, my clients need me.”

“I need you too! Your clients get more time with you than I do! Now I am getting hungry so let us go out for dinner.”

“Fine, give me an hour to look at flights, that gives you a chance to get ready, and then we can go.” Clearly annoyed with me, she goes to our room in a humph and gets herself ready. Not that she needs much time, she is beautiful. Her beauty is a perk of being married to her. Our parents set us up at first and things were great in the beginning, but lately, it seems like all she wanted was my money and not me.

“Vincent Blackman, divorce lawyer how can I help you?”

“Blackman hey it’s Leo Maxwell, the PI you hired to tail your abuse and divorce clients, Luke and Vera Watson?”

“Ah yes, Maxwell how has the stakeout been going?”

“It has been enlightening. Remember the other day before Luke went to jail, Vera claimed he was abusing her, well I followed her to their house before cops got involved and discovered it’s really her abusing him. Got the pictures to prove it so that should help both your cases on them.”

“Great that will be a big help, keep tailing her. Obviously, with Luke in jail, there’s not going to be much excitement but keep up who visits him beside me.”

“You got it, boss, talk later.”

“Thanks, talk later.” I go back to researching flights when I hear Victoria at my door again.

“I am all ready to go, and clearly you’re not.”

“No, I am swamped with work, but since you want to go out, I suppose I can take a break for now for dinner.”

“You seem to have forgotten it’s our anniversary…” Victoria looking defeated on her face, but she looks stunning in her silvery, above the knee dress and strappy silver 4in heels. Guess she has something on the mind for after dinner.

“Oh, right it is…I’m sorry babe…” Mental facepalm for that. I completely forgot what day it was…mental note to get some roses or something on the way home from the restaurant so I’m not a total jerk for forgetting… “Give me a few minutes to get ready and you can meet me in the car.”

“Sure, sure…” She grabs her silver purse and heads towards the garage where our BMW is parked. I change from my work suit to a going out suit and my cell goes off again.

“Vincent Blackman, divorce lawyer how can I help you?”

“Blackman it’s Maxwell again. Sorry to call again but it is important. Vera Watson is seeing someone else while she’s still divorcing her current husband. I can send it to the office email if you would like.

“Really!? Could use that against her somehow, maybe clouding her judgment, could hurt her case if it were to come out in court. Yes, send it to the office email.”

“Will do, boss. I’ll also send the pictures I have so far so you can have it in time for court.”

“Great that will be helpful! I got to go; the wife is waiting for me in the car for our anniversary dinner.”

“Oh, have a good time. Glad you don’t need your own services.”

“Yeah, that would be awkward. Talk soon, I have a flight for later tonight to see Luke, so I’ll have to break it to her that I’m packing after dinner to see Luke for the case.”

“Ooh, that’s going to be rough. Glad it’s not me. Have fun!”

“Gee thanks. I’ll talk later.” He’s not wrong though…she’s not going to be happy…we finally get to the restaurant and for a weekend yeah, it’s busy but at least we were able to get in.

“Hey guys, I’m Scarlett I’ll be your waitress. Our specials tonight are two lobster tails, a side, and a soup for $40, and our cocktail for tonight is a peach Bellini and a champagne cocktail called the Rossini. I personally like the Bellini very peachy. Anyway, what can I get for you?”

“I’ll have a whiskey on the rocks, and the special for dinner, and a side of vegetables with the seafood bisque.”

“Alright and for your miss?”

“I’ll have the Bellini, also the same as him for dinner.”

“Alright, I will put those in for you.” I grab Scarlett quickly before she went away for an extra request.

“Before you go, do you mind getting us some Chardonnay? We’re celebrating our anniversary and that is her favorite champagne.”

“Oh, sure I can do that.” She walks away to put in our order, and I am nervous about telling Victoria about me leaving later in the evening, but she apparently had other ideas.

“So…have you thought of having kids?”

“What!? No?? Why? Are you pregnant!?” I almost choke on my whiskey as she asks me.

“No…not since the miscarriage…but I want to be pregnant.”

“We have talked about this I am not ready for kids.” That seems to have struck a nerve…she got an angry look on my face.

“You know I want kids.”

“And I don’t so drop it. Look, if this means so much to you, we can talk about it more when I get back from my trip.”

“Trip? What trip? The flight to meet your client?”

“The soonest flight I could find to get to my client leaves later this evening…so I leave pretty much after dinner.

“Great…I’m going to have another drink…”

“That’s your second drink tonight. Not healthy if you want to get pregnant.”

“Well as you said you don’t want kids so why bother? Besides, I’m celebrating so let me be.” Couldn’t argue with her on that one…but the truth is I just don’t want kids with her…

“Alright here are your food guys.” Scarlett came at a perfect timing I didn’t want to keep talking about this.

“Thanks, looks good.”

“Yes, thank you.” After dinner, Victoria has one more Bellini and then I ask for the check because I don’t want her getting too drunk.

“Thank you have a goodnight, Mr. and Mrs. Blackman.”

“Thank you and enjoy the tip.” I carry Victoria to the car since she was clearly drunk. Note to self I’m cutting her off when it comes to alcohol.

“I guess you’re going to start packing.”

“Yes, I am. I have to leave for the airport in a few hours.”

“You know what you piece of crap you have some nerve telling me that you don’t want children with me. Most men would be happy to give me children.”

“Yeah well, I am just not ready to have children right now!” Now things got interesting and unexpected. She starts throwing books from my bookshelf at me!

“YOU!” She threw one of my law books at me…and it’s not light hit me in the arm.

“Easy with the book throwing! I need to pack right now!”

“Sure, your clients have more time with you than I do!”

“No, they don’t! You and my clients have my time equally! My court date is coming up and you know I get busier!”

“Yeah yeah yeah.” She threw another law book at me almost hit me in the head.

“Watch where and what you're throwing!”

“I do not care!”

“Well, I care! Now if you do not mind, I need to pack!” We argue like that until I finish packing. Luckily, I finish packing and I see Victoria with another of my law books. Yes, I had a lot of books I kept from law school. Might as well keep them if you buy such expensive books. Never know when it might come in handy.

“Easy with the books!”

“I. do. not. care!”

“Well I do! Now I need to go on my trip.”