Giving me an approving smile, Rose says, “That sounds like a good plan. They would be lucky to have you. Hey, where’s Lucian? I know there’s no way he would miss your graduation.”
Giving my hair one final brush, I say, “He had an important meeting this morning. I told him I could drive myself, but he insisted that I call you. He is going to meet us there.” I don’t tell her that Lucian has been acting strange for the last few days. I have a feeling there is some type of problem at work since Max has dropped by a couple of times looking unusually stressed. Both Aidan and Max had been at our apartment last night where they had gone into the office for a few hours. Afterward, Lucian had been preoccupied and distant. I’d tried to ask him if anything was wrong, but he had assured me there wasn’t anything, just some last-minute changes on a deal they were working on. I had no reason not to believe him, but something just didn’t seem right. This morning he had been more like his usual self although still tense. Whatever it was, I hope the meeting today resolved it. Lucian leaving work at the office and relaxing with me in the evenings has spoiled me.
Rose looks at her watch and says, “We’d better get going before we’re late.” Rose is a stickler for punctuality and likes to arrive everywhere well ahead of schedule. I have a feeling she gets that from her father. She rushes me out the door and into her waiting car. Traffic is light so we make it to the outdoor venue the university is using for our graduation quickly. I’m thankful for the beautiful weather and that it’s not too hot. The only thing worse than me in this white silk muumuu would be me sweating visibly through the thin material. I take a few moments to look around me, seeing no sign of Lucian. Where are you? I wonder as I feel a pang of unease ripple through me.
Lucian
“Where in the fuck is Max?” I hiss to Aidan as we sit in the waiting area. Since there isn’t a jury involved, the meeting will be held in the judge’s chambers.
“He had a call come in that he’d been expecting. He said he would be right behind us,” Aidan says. The only indication of his anxiety is the steady tap of his foot on the floor. I have to stop myself from putting my hand on his knee to stop him.
“We’ve only got a few minutes left,” I snap as I pick up my phone to try Max again. The judge opens his door at the same time that Max walks in from the hallway with a sober look on his face. Aidan steps forward to speak to the judge as Max grabs the back of my jacket, halting me in my tracks.
“Luc,” he says under his breath, “we need to ask for a continuance. I know who April Chester is…and it’s not good.”
The judge is giving us a look filled with impatience as Max continues to prevent me from moving forward. “Gentlemen, please come into my office so that we may begin.”
Max clears his throat and steps forward. “Your honor, I’d like to file a motion for a continuance. I have not had sufficient time to prepare and—”
“Mr. Decker,” the judge interrupts Max, “this is just a preliminary hearing and will not be postponed. It is my hope though that all parties may be able to reach a compromise today in order to see that the care of the young woman in question is continued without interruption.”
“Fuck,” I hear Max bite off and hope the judge didn’t hear him. I give him a sideways frown, wondering what in the hell is going on. If Max is this upset, it can’t be good. “Prepare yourself, Luc,” he adds, making me want to run in the other direction. Aidan gives us both a questioning look, but we have no privacy to talk. The judge points to the chairs in the front of his desk and we have a seat. The introductions are made and the judge advises we’re waiting for the other party to arrive. Max is still trying to convey something to me when the door opens again and I turn in my seat to see someone I never would have expected.
“What?” Aidan half stands in confusion before dropping back into his seat.
“Ms. Chester and Mr. Banks, please take a seat,” the judge says as he too settles in his.
While I’ve been trying to regain my composure, Aidan finally looks at the newcomers and his voice rings out loudly in the small room as he asks, “What’re you doing here?”
Monique Chandler turns in her seat to flash us a demure look full of innocence, but I’m not fooled. What the fuck kind of game is she playing? Now I know why the normally unflappable Max is so rattled. Wait, does this mean that Monique is April Chester? Was that what he was trying to tell me? I get to my feet, causing the judge to look at me in surprise. “Your honor, with all due respect, I, for one, would like an explanation before we go any further.”