Page 21 of Anatomy of Us

And now I'm selfish.

“Ms. Méndez has enough money to retire and devote herself to her child,” Harrington continues, “but she has chosen to return to competition, which forces her to leave the baby with his grandmother every morning, disruptingsleep routines and depriving him of contact with his mother. All because she needs to feel the crowd's applause again.”

I curl my fists. My lawyer squeezes my hand again. Behind me, Tessa's chair creaks as she shifts. I hope she learned, over the years, to control the temper she had back when we were together.

“A baby of only a few months,” Harrington adds. “Left daily with his grandmother while Ms. Méndez chases... what, a dream that will not come back? All because she refuses to accept that it's time to retire. I imagine fame is a very hard drug.” He smiles like he enjoys his own voice.

I can't take it.

“My mom raised me alone and I'm not traumatized,” I snap.

Yvonne squeezes harder. Shut up.

Harrington's eyes light up like he just hooked something.

“Let's look at the club's preseason schedule. Two and a half weeks in Florida. Eighteen days away from the child.”

“Many parents travel for work,” Yvonne says.

“True,” Harrington allows, tilting his head. “But not many do it when they could avoid it, simply because they refuse to accept their sports career is over.”

“I plan to take Wesley with me to Florida,” I blurt.

“A baby traveling with a professional soccer team. Very appropriate.”

Patricia Roberts lifts a hand.

“Mr. Harrington. This is mediation. Lower your tone and refrain from sarcasm.”

“Of course,” he says, and he looks pleased anyway. “I'm only establishing relevant facts.”

“Wesley is healthy, happy, and well cared for,” Yvonne counters. “Everything else is interpretation.”

Then he says the words that freeze my blood.

“Let's discuss her rehab work before returning to the team,” Harrington says, pulling out another document. “Three sessions per week with the club's director of medical services, Dr. Tessa Marie Clark.”

Shit.

“A brilliant résumé, no question,” Harrington says. “Munich, Manchester, Barcelona... and she returns to Seattle exactly when Ms. Méndez decides to return to play. Exactly when she needs medical services not to raise objections about her physical condition.”

“Dr. Clark was hired by the club. Not by my client,” Yvonne says.

“What a coincidence, all the same,” Harrington replies. “Ms. Méndez, did you know Dr. Clark prior to her hiring by the club?”

God, I didn't think they'd bring this up. I didn't think it mattered. I should have told Yvonne.

“Yes,” I say, my voice so thin it barely exists.

“Pardon? I don't believe I heard you.”

“Yes,” I repeat.

“And how did you know her? University?” Harrington asks, like he's tossing me a rope made of thorns. “Classmates? I can't imagine you shared many classes, can you?”

“No.”

“Then,” Harrington says, and pauses like he's on a stage, then leans toward me, “what exactly was the nature of your relationship with Dr. Clark?”