“Hey, Burnsie. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, grinning at her.

She’s immune to my charm; it never works on her. Not even a hint of a smile crosses her lips when normally my voice would have a woman dropping to her knees. It’s plagued me for years that I can’t figure out why she just… doesn’t care.

“A new inquiry just came through. Something about a baseball team and the recruit. It got sent to me when it clearly belongs to you.” She walks to my desk, thrusting the paper in my direction.

I take it from her, eyes scanning the document. “Thanks for the delivery.”

She backpedals toward the door, like she can’t evacuate my office fast enough. “Are you okay?”

“Hm?”

“You look terrible. And not like yourself.”

“Are you implying that I usually look very not terrible?” I wink at her and she rolls her eyes. “I’m fine. I did something stupid, and now I’m dealing with the aftermath. Don’t worry, I’ll survive.”

She nods once; her back turning to me, signaling the end of our conversation. “Good. Have a nice day.”

“You too, Emma. It’s refreshing to know you’d miss me if I went off the deep end or something. For what it’s worth, I’d miss you, too.”

The door slams shut, windows shuddering in her wake as she disappears beyond the other side. I grin. That fucking fierceness gets me every time.

It’s hard to explain, but the ephemeral moments when Emma gives me a fraction of her time are some of my favorite parts of the day. It’s not that way with anyone else.

What the hell does that mean?

TWO

EMMA

Today is going to be a good day.

I can feel it.

The first changing leaves of fall cover the sidewalk and crunch under my heels as I sidestep a split in the concrete, narrowly missing stumbling off the curb. The sun’s rays are starting to peek out from behind the surrounding buildings, making way for the warmer, brighter parts of Thursday.

It’s perfect.

As an attorney, my occupation can be brutal at times: enduring grueling hours and little to no communication with the outside world as I spend all my time behind a computer or with my nose buried in paperwork, heart-wrenching cases constantly flooding my desk. None of the work I do is fun, and after a while, it begins to take a toll on even the strongest people.

Out here, under the cloudless sky being roused awake by the morning light, I’m reminded to find the good in every day. Sometimes I have to look hard, searching high and low through all the negativity and pain, but I always discover it; even if it’s in the least likely of places.

Sometimes those are the best surprises.