Fic: The Day After Tomorrow - pt. 12 [Eli Stone]
Chapter 12
Matt slipped out of the WPK elevator behind a couple of junior associates. He kept his head down to avoid having to converse with any of his colleagues. He knew he stood out in his jeans and casual shirt in amongst all the suits, but he had left his apartment in a hurry while Liam was napping and wanted to be back before he woke up.
"Hey," he said, nodding to Lauren who was waiting for him near the elevator. She had a small wad of messages in hand and started to relate the more urgent ones while they walked the rest of the way to his office. Once there he went straight to a filing cabinet to retrieve Jessica's file which contained much of her estate information.
"The Malcolms depo is this afternoon if you want to talk to Keith," Lauren said as she stacked up some extra case files that had been left scattered on his desk. "Do you want me to call him?"
"I'm sure he's got it under control," replied Matt. He wasn't much interested in his caseload. After only a few weeks away from the office and after everything that had happened he found it hard to think back to the details of the Malcolms case. "But can you call Eli? See if he's got five minutes for me."
"Sure," said Lauren. "Anything else?"
"Nope." Matt didn't look up from the file in his hands. Lauren waited for a moment in case he changed his mind, then left to make the call.
As Matt sifted through the paperwork on Jessica's estate he started organizing his thoughts. There were forms to file, loose ends to tie up, and soon Jessica's affairs would be settled. Even though they had access to all the legal help they needed and had prepared everything before she died, it seemed far too easy.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of movement. "Is he free?"
"Who?"
Matt looked up to see Jordan standing in his doorway. He got to his feet automatically.
"Sorry, sir, I thought you were Lauren."
"Perhaps the pink tie was a mistake," Jordan said dryly. "I told Ellen as much."
"No, it's uh, very becoming." Matt smiled weakly, suddenly wishing he'd bothered to put on a suit before coming in.
Jordan looked similarly uncomfortable. He took stepped inside the office, glancing around before fixing his gaze on Matt.
"I saw you arrive and wanted to pay my condolences. I heard about your friend's passing."
"Thank you, sir."
"Taylor's told me about her son... how you'll be looking after him."
"She named me his guardian." Matt looked down at his desk at the open file, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.
"It's a noble gesture, what you're doing. It can't be easy," said Jordan.
Matt looked up sharply, trying to catch any double meaning in his boss's words. "It won't interfere with my work, sir, if that's a concern."
"It's not." Jordan stopped, choosing his words carefully as he always did. "But don't underestimate the changes you'll have to make, Mr. Dowd. It's a lesson all parents have to learn."
Matt looked down again. He wasn't used to being referred to as a parent. It sounded preposterous and yet it was real - Liam was waiting for him at home with his mother and father.
"I remember before Taylor was born I thought everything would go on as normal," Jordan continued solemnly. "It changes you. It changes you as a man. To know that this small person - so perfect and innocent - is your responsibility. You determine what kind of person he'll become, he'll look to you to be his guide. When Taylor was born… suffice it to say I haven't been the same since."
"Well, that doesn't add more pressure at all," murmured Matt after letting out a long breath.
Jordan's mouth twitched in a half-smile. "I suppose in my own way I'm trying to prepare you for what's to come, as much as anyone can prepare you. But know that you are supported, Matt. WPK has generous paternity leave - you should take the time you need with your son."
Matt didn't know what was more disturbing - Jordan Wethersby calling him by his first name or using the words 'your son' to describe Liam.
"Thank you, sir. But I'll be back in a couple of weeks as planned."
"Very well, Mr. Dowd," Jordan said, before walking to the door. "Good luck."
"Sir?" Matt waited until Jordan turned around. "I happen to think you did an exceptional job with Taylor. If I can raise Liam half as well I'll be a happy man."
A look crossed Jordan's - a mixture of pride at the compliment and distaste at being reminded of Matt's connection to his daughter. But he smiled as graciously as he could before leaving.
Lauren waited until Jordan had gone before ducking her head inside his door to let him know that Eli was able to see him then. Matt nodded and collected up Jessica's paperwork. He made his way upstairs to the pro bono division that Eli now ran. He had a few junior associates to oversee, including Maggie when she wasn't assisting elsewhere. Their caseload was huge - far bigger than anyone had anticipated - and Matt could see the team was swamped. But Eli seemed to thrive on the chaos and grinned at him when he knocked on his door.
"I love what you've done with the place," Matt commented as he took in the piles of paperwork that littered Eli's desk and meeting table.
"It's been a little hectic since the summer interns left," admitted Eli with a wave of his hand.
"Jordan won't give you any more staff?"
"I'm surprised I have the ones I do. I don't really feel like pushing my luck."
"Well, you had your chance. You could've been his son-in-law by now. Bet you would've had all the staff you could handle then."
Eli ignored him and gestured for him to sit down.
"How're you doing?" he asked.
"Okay. I guess," Matt replied.
"Liam settling in at your place?"
"My mom's spoiling him rotten."
"That's good." The two men looked awkwardly at each other, neither knowing what else to say by way of small talk.
"So," said Matt to break the silence. "The guardianship order..."
"Of course." Eli pulled the file out of a cabinet and rounded his desk to take a seat next to Matt. "There are some other things in here for you too. Things Jessica asked me to hold onto."
Matt raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"There were a few letters she asked me to send, including one to her stepfather who we had to track down. But the rest of them she wanted you to have."
Eli handed him a small wad of envelopes with Liam's name on them and a number.
"They're letters for his birthday - right up until his eighteenth," said Eli.
Matt turned one over in his hand. It was sealed. "I didn't even know she wrote these."
Eli said nothing, giving him a moment to take it in. Matt eventually looked over at him.
"Were there any other letters?"
"No." When a flash of disappointment appeared on Matt's face, Eli frowned. "Should there have been?"
"No, I guess not." He shrugged it off, feeling petty. He'd had plenty of conversations with Jessica towards the end to say everything they needed to - he didn't need a letter as well. Plus, he felt pretty crappy being jealous of a baby.
Eli handed him the file with the paperwork on Jessica's guardianship order.
"We've already filed it with the Department of Social Services. They'll be in contact about the home visit, then they'll set the hearing."
"How long?"
"Should only be a few months."
Matt nodded. He knew it all, had done the research, but now it was happening.
"Are you ready for all this?" Eli asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," said Matt. "Although Jordan just finished telling me you can never be prepared for being a parent so maybe I'm deluding myself."
"Jordan, huh? I didn't know the two of you were that close."
Matt couldn't miss an opportunity to needle Eli. It was instinctual. "Well, like I said, you had your chance to be his son-in-law."
"Is there something you want to tell me about you and my ex?"
Matt laughed humorlessly. "Not even if there were something to tell."
"Fair enough," said Eli with a faint smile. "Do you need anything else?"
Matt closed the file and picked up the letters from Eli's desk. "I'm all set. But I'd better get back home. Thanks for looking after this."
"No problem." Eli joined Matt when he stood up and followed him to the door. Not sure what else to do, he shook Matt's hand.
Matt made it almost all the way back to his office when Taylor joined him, matching his stride.
"I heard you were here," she commented.
"You're not the only one. So much for laying low," he replied, but he was pleased to see her. He'd decided to spare her from subsequent evenings with his parents and hadn't spoken with her for a few days, something that was growing increasingly harder, he discovered.
She said nothing more until they were behind his closed door, waiting while he organized a few more files and folders on his desk. She watched him until he finally looked up and caught her staring.
"Your parents must be leaving soon," she said, momentarily flustered when she couldn't think what to say.
"Tomorrow," he said.
She didn't miss the regret in his voice. "I guess you're busy tonight, then."
Matt started reading through a few final messages, not paying much attention. "Uh huh."
Taylor said nothing more, but it took Matt almost a minute to realize she was waiting for him again, however patiently. He sighed softly.
"Sorry."
"It's okay." She smiled warmly. "I won't keep you… I just wanted to see how you were."
"I barely know anymore. I just met with Eli about the guardianship order. And your father stopped by."
A frown flickered on her brow. "He did?"
"And this morning I said goodbye to the Porsche. I'm now in possession of a soccer mom car."
Taylor hid her smile. "Now that I have to see."
It wasn't quite as bad as he made it sound - the brand new Mercedes Benz M-Class in his parking spot had every available feature installed - but Matt still eyed it with a measure of dissatisfaction.
"You're very responsible," she said reassuringly, being careful not to mock him. "And don't look at all like a soccer mom."
Matt dumped a briefcase full of files in the back next to Liam's car seat and turned around to face her. He smiled briefly, not really believing her, but was ready to forgive when she pressed up against him and kissed him.
"I have to go to Toddler Gym," he said when she pulled away only her lips. His hands still rested on her hips, keeping her close.
"What?" she asked, amused.
"Toddler Gym. Apparently it's something you have to do on a Saturday morning. And swimming classes. I'm told it's never too young to teach a kid how to swim. Then there's Music Jamboree. I don't even want to know what that is."
"I'm sure you'll work it out. You'll be fine."
Matt sighed and kissed her again before pushing her away gently.
"I have to go. He'll be awake soon."
Taylor nodded, biting her lower lip. She waited as he got into his new car and the engine purred to life. He lowered the window, leaning an elbow against the door and looking a little like a soccer mom, but Taylor said nothing.
"It was good to see you," he said.
"I'm here," she reminded him.
Matt contemplated asking her to come for dinner. His mother had been suggesting as much for days. But in the end he smiled half-heartedly at her and backed the car out. He didn't look back as he drove away. It was easier that way.