One to Chase - Tia Louise Page 0,3

the button.

“I don’t need Elaine’s older brother doing favors for me,” I grumble. The very idea makes me want to hurl. “I used to live here, remember?”

Sylvia (my mother) joins me in the kitchen already immaculately dressed in dark, form-fitted jeans and an oversized, white button-up blouse. Light-brown hair streaked with silver is clutched at the back of her neck, and her signature double-strand of chunky pearls peeks out of her open collar.

“I know, but pretend you do.” She smiles revealing straight white teeth. “Elaine wants to bond with you as a sister.”

“Sylvia,” I exhale loudly.

“Amalie,” she teases, using my full name. “Hold your own in a different battle.”

“You missed your calling, dear,” I kiss her head before sitting across from her at the small table. “You should’ve been an ambassador.”

“To France? I would have loved it, but your father hated the French.”

“Right.” I fight my visceral response to the mention of my late father, the anger burning deep in my stomach at the thought of how much she sacrificed for that man.

Her blue eyes twinkle with her laugh, and I push the past down and away.

For her. Always for her.

My mother is the wisest, most diplomatic person I’ve ever met. She had to be, living with that man as long as she did. It’s a path I will never follow. Women don’t need men, and I will not be held hostage the way my gorgeous mother was for years, her dreams and desires taking a backseat to his.

Stirring cream into my coffee, I take a long sip of the soothing hot liquid. We’re well into spring, but I still enjoy the warm embrace of a good cup of coffee in the morning. “Who is Elaine’s ridiculous older brother anyway?”

“Not so ridiculous, from what I understand.” She flips through a paperback on the table. “He’s quite impressive. He’s the attorney who helped get Derek out of that murder charge.”

My eyebrows go up, but I only concede a Hmm.

She proceeds to have a mini-rant. “As if Derek Alexander could ever be accused of such a crime. It’s a sure sign our legal system is broken when a man of his character and reputation is—”

“Mom,” I gently interrupt her. You’d think Derek Alexander was her own son the way she goes on about him. “What’s this impressive attorney’s name?”

Shaking her head, her agitation dissolves. “I can’t remember. Edward, I think? I only met him briefly at the wedding.”

Nodding, I swipe an apple out of the basket. “If it makes you happy, I’ll meet with Edward. Does he sparkle?”

“Why would he... Oh! Is that the new slang for gay? I don’t actually know. He didn’t seem to be, but I never can tell anymore—”

“No!” I can’t help laughing. “It’s a book! Nevermind. Should I call first?”

She’s still mildly confused. “Elaine said she’d take care of the whole thing. You just have to be at his office at eleven, and he’ll meet with you there.”

A quick glance at the clock says I have a few hours. “At least it’s Friday. Please tell Elaine I said thank you. And I can only hope she deserves my favorite brother.”

“That’s my girl. When you’re done, let’s have lunch at L15.”

My nose immediately wrinkles. “Good god, is that place still in business?”

She glances up concerned. “No good?”

“It’s the classic joke—the food is terrible, and the portions are too small!”

Now she laughs, a sweet, musical sound. Our mother really is too good to be true. “Then you pick the place. I won’t treat you like a tourist.”

“Is Millie’s still around?”

“On the East Loop?” I nod, and she concedes. “See you there at noon.”

Chapter 2: Surprises

Amy

The law offices of Merritt, Hampton, and Donnelly are an easy walk from Sylvia’s Near North condo. I’m thankful for that as I head south on Michigan. I love my mother, but I need to clear my head this morning.

Armand started messaging me last week.

I know why you ran. The words still glow in my brain. I’m not angry. Tell me when you’re coming home.

Home. An uncomfortable tightness clutches the back of my neck, like someone lightly grazed his fingernails across the skin of my shoulders and then snatched my neck as hard as he could.

I shiver in the warm air.

Coming back to Chicago was supposed to end my Paris problem, but with cell phones and social media, I feel like I can never get far enough away anymore.

Armand is not my home. How could he even say that? He ruined everything.

Our relationship was strictly