Adam's Daughter by Kristy Daniels Page B

Josh knew something about Bryant’s background. He had heard how he had wrested control of the Times away from his wife, the legal will notwithstanding. All things considered this case could make for a truly gruesome public spectacle.
    He really didn’t need the hassle right now. He was struggling to build his practice, trying to develop his reputation as a crusader for the common man shut out by the legal system. He didn’t lack for clients. The problem was, he was finding, the common man was commonly broke .
    It had been going on like this for four years now, and he was still heavily in debt from his law school loans. He could barely afford the rent on the office, the phone company was on his back, and he couldn’t even begin to think about paying a secretary.
    He sometimes felt guilty about his preoccupation with money. His parents were German Jews who had settled in New York with virtually nothing. They had moved to San Francisco and opened a small tailor shop on Sutter Street. He was oldest of four children, the only one to go to college. When he decided on law, everyone said he was destined to do some good in the world. And he had. But he wished sometimes it were not always such a struggle.
    He glanced at the photograph on his desk of his wife Anna. He didn’t long for money for himself. He wanted it for her. She deserved it after supporting him throughout law school. And a family, he wanted to give her that. She had been patient, waiting years to start a family, and now she was pregnant with their first child. He didn’t know how they were going to pay the hospital bill.
    “I know this isn’t your usual line of work,” Adam said, interrupting his thoughts. “But I’ll make it worth your while. I intend to be a very important man in this state someday, perhaps in the country. If you help me with this one matter, Mr. Hillman, I promise you that you can be right by my side, as far as you want to go.”
    Josh Hillman stared into Adam Bryant’s cool blue eyes -- not doubting for a second that he would do as he said -- and suddenly he had the strange sense that his life was never going to be the same.
    He held out his hand. “You’ve got yourself an attorney, Mr. Bryant,” he said.
     
     

    CHAPTER TEN
     
    The performance of La Boheme was magnificent, but Adam barely paid attention. His mind was racing ahead, his nerves were wire taut.
    It had been a week since his meeting with Josh Hillman, and the young lawyer had put together everything he needed to proceed with the divorce, including information that could, if necessary, cast shadows on Lilith’s character. Josh had advised Adam to convince Lilith to settle. Going to court meant an ugly protracted battle that could affect his reputation and Ian’s stability. Adam, realizing he was right, had agreed to talk to Lilith.
    When he and Lilith got home, Adam went straight to the library, took off his tie and poured a brandy. He waited a half hour before he went up to Lilith’s room. She was at her dressing table, wearing only a black silk slip.
    “I thought you went to bed,” she said.
    “I was waiting to see you.”
    “I didn’t think you knew where my bedroom was these days.”
    He stood by the bed. “We have to talk, Lilith.”
    She began to slowly brush her hair. “I didn’t think you even liked doing that anymore.”
    “I want a divorce.”
    The brush stopped in midair. Then it resumed.
    “Lilith, did you hear me?”
    The brush strokes grew more forceful.
    “I want a divorce.”
    She didn’t tu rn around, just continued to drag the brush through her hair with quick violent strokes.
    “Our marri age is a joke, Lilith. We don’t love each other anymore —-”
    She swung around and hurled the brush at him. It missed and smashed into a lamp, shattering it. “You don’t love me ! That’s what you mean!” she yelled.
    “Lilith —-”
    “You’ve never loved me!” She began to cry, great gasping sobs that made her bare shoulders sh ake.