Reconcilable Differences: A 'Having It All' Novel Read Online Free

steepled, watching her
intently, an expression on his face that could only signify arrogant disdain. What
on earth is he thinking? She tried to ignore a sudden pinch in her ribcage,
reminding herself to breath.
    Not a man for rules and schedules, Eli squirmed in his
chair. She reeled him back in, remembering that her first responsibility was to
put her clients at ease. "How does that sound to you, Eli?"
    Eli's gaze questioned her. "S'okay with me," he
replied, shrugging.
    Sharon smirked, her eyes darting to D'arcy, but D'arcy
avoided eye contact, remained reserved and placid, seemingly oblivious to all
the undercurrents in the room. She instead regarded Kate, awaiting her next
comment.
    "Before we go any further, I want to address the
purpose of mediation," Kate said, warming to her familiar script. "My
role as a mediator is to help you to talk to each other . I am
completely neutral and I can't impose a solution on you. I want to help you to
find your own solutions. I am not a judge in a courtroom."
Struggling to swallow with a parched throat, she offered a reassuring smile,
glancing at Sharon and Simon. "My job is to work with you to
improve a situation that has become un -workable.”
    Sharon cleared her throat, and Kate glanced at her.
“Yes?”
    “Nothing,” she replied, her face pinched.
    "Any negotiation must involve the discussion of
substantive issues, of course. But r-relationship issues are at least as
important, and until we settle those, we cannot hope to agree on the
substantive ones. So we will begin there."
    "Seems to me you're making a big assumption that
reconciliation is both possible and advisable for our clients, Kate,"
interjected Simon quietly.
    Eli's head shot up.
    "There are divorce proceedings underway already,”
Simon added.
    She heard the challenge in his voice, saw the contemptuous
smile lurking below the surface. She blinked at him. Another sharp pain shot
through her ribcage and she sucked in a long slow deep breath while waiting for
the aftershock to abate, willing the anxiety attack under control.
    Kate stiffened her spine, raised her brows and continued,
"D'arcy and Eli agreed to come to me, Simon. However, I was about to say,
you should be aware that my background is crisis counseling and psychology, not
the law. My bent, therefore, if you will, is to examine the underlying..."
she swallowed, " ... causes of the problem. I am unabashedly a therapeutic
or reconciliation mediator. And an optimist." She smiled. "That is my
explicit bias."
    "That's fairly unusual, isn't it?" Simon asked.
    She shrugged, again outstretching her hands. "If in
the end both parties wish to divorce, that is their choice." She swallowed
the thickness in her throat. "At least keep an open mind, for your
client's sake."
    "As I trust you will, Kate.”
    She responded with a tight smile and a hard glare. What's
up with him? How dare he challenge her?
    "I have complete confidence in your objectivity ,”
Simon continued.
    Was that sarcasm? "Excellent!" She turned away.
"Eli," she said, looking directly into his dark eyes, mirroring his
grave expression "You and I haven’t met before today. You weren’t involved
in my selection. If you have any concerns, please tell me now. You must feel that your interests are protected." She saw his gaze waver toward
Simon, as though tugged away by magnets. Two strangers.
    Simon's eyes narrowed, advertising his suspicion.
    Then Eli's eyes returned to hers, and she felt her magic
take effect. So many mediators forgot to be empathetic and warm. He relaxed, a
weak smile flickering across his face. She could feel his hopefulness as he
nodded almost imperceptibly. She turned her gaze on D'arcy, head inclined,
until she nodded too. She was alarmed to see her words had the opposite effect
on Simon, who tutted and tossed down his pen with a dismissive and cynical air.
Why was he being so contentious? Did he have that much contempt for her still?
Who did he think he was coming in here and