Goosebumps froze on my arms. “Marj…”

“Oh, what are you afraid of? You know you passed with flying colors. My brilliant BFF could do no less.” She sighed. “Besides, we could all use some good news this morning.”

I couldn’t argue there. Marjorie, who usually slept like a baby, had clearly tossed and turned last night. Her eyes told the tale.

Ever since college, Marj had labored under the delusion that I was brilliant. The truth was I was no more brilliant than anyone else. I studied. I had to, to get scholarships. Marj, coming from the Steel Empire, hadn’t needed to worry about money. I had worked hard in school my whole life, my father driving into my head that I needed to go to college and I needed to get scholarships to be able to do it. I’d always had scholarships, and I’d taken loans to cover the rest that my dad couldn’t and then worked to cover my living expenses.

And here Marj was building me up in front of Marion and Ryan and waving my bar results in my face. What was I supposed to do? I had to open them. And if I didn’t pass… Nothing much. I’d be mortified, that was all.

But as I had done for all tests in my entire testing career, I had studied for the bar exam. And when I studied for tests, I usually got As. So I had to go with the odds here. Why worry yet?

“I’m on pins and needles here, Jade.” Marj thrust the envelope at me.

I reluctantly took it. Telling her I didn’t want to open it in front of everyone would do no good. They already knew it was here anyway, and whatever the result was, they would know that eventually as well.

“Yes, please don’t keep us in suspense.” Marion smiled.

I took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope. Inside were two pieces of paper. My vision blurred as I tried to read the first piece. Name, address, scan scan scan, scan scan scan…

Status.

I drew in a deep breath.

Pass.

I widened my eyes to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong.

Pass.

“I passed!” I squealed.

Marj launched herself at me, giving me a hug. She nearly stumbled, but Ryan steadied both of us.

“Easy there, squirt,” he said. “Her first lawsuit will be against you.”

Marj let me go, and I was shaking as I looked at the second sheet of paper.

“What’s that?” Marj asked.

I scanned it quickly. “It’s about the swearing in ceremony next month in Denver.”

“That’s great.” Marj clapped her hands. “We’ll all go to support you.”

“That’s not necessary. I may not even go myself. It’s not like it’s a requirement.”

“Nonsense,” Ryan said. “You should definitely be there. We’ll make sure we all get it on our calendars.”

I took a deep breath. Thank God.

If only Talon were here…

Marjorie interrupted my worries. “You need to go look for an attorney job,” she said.

“I’m kind of working here today, Marj.”

“Actually, I was just coming in to tell you guys that there’s not much to do around here today,” Ryan said. “Marion can handle everything. Why don’t you take the day off, go get your dress blues on, and go into town? There’s only one firm in town, plus the city attorney’s office. You can see them both today, strut your stuff. Maybe one of them will have an opening.”

“See?” Marj said. “Everything is working out. Let’s go back to the house, get you dressed, and I’ll go with you. I’ll treat you to lunch. Besides, it’ll help get my mind off of…”

Talon.

She didn’t have to say his name. We were all thinking it.

This was all hitting me so fast. I wasn’t sure I could speak coherently, let alone try to get a job today. I opened my mouth to say as much, but Marion and Ryan ushered us out the door.

“Go on, you two,” Marion said. “Ryan and I can hold down the fort here. You get yourself a job, missy.”

 

* * *

 

No sooner had we lunched at Enzio’s Italian eatery—the eggplant parm, usually my favorite, had been flavorless due to my worry—than Marj was marching me toward the city attorney’s office.

“The city attorney’s name is Larry Wade. I don’t know him very well, but I believe he and my father did business together. Do you want me go in and introduce you?”

I shook my head. Marj had already done so much for me. Besides, I wanted to do this myself. “No, thanks. I’ll go alone. I don’t want it to get around town that I’m going around asking for favors because I know the Steels.”

“I understand,” Marj said. “Now run in there and show them what you’ve got.”

I gathered my courage and walked through the door of the small city building. I was used to the massive city buildings and courthouses in Denver. This was a tiny brick building that apparently housed the mayor, the city attorney, and their staffs, which didn’t appear to be very abundant.

A young lady sat behind a wall. I walked up to her. “Excuse me.”

“Yes, may I help you?”

I cleared my throat. “I’d like to see the city attorney, please, if he’s available?”

I let out a breath. I had done it again, inflecting my voice at the end of a statement and making it sound like a question, as if I were asking for a favor, as if I weren’t worthy of seeing the city attorney.

I had to stop doing that.

“Do you have an appointment?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“May I tell him what this is regarding?”

I drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m an attorney. I’m looking for a job here in Snow Creek.”

“Oh, then you came about the ad.”

“The ad?”

“Yes, they’re looking for an assistant city attorney. I’m sure he’ll want to see you. We haven’t gotten many applicants. There aren’t too many attorneys who choose to live in Snow Creek.” She let out a quick laugh. “Let me tell him you’re here.”

My heart soared. They were actually looking for someone. Could my timing have been any better? Things like this never happened to me.

The receptionist turned back to me. “Larry is in the office and will see you. He’s very excited that you’re here.”