Sitting in her tiny office, there were two files she�d been avoiding all day. One, a couple looking to adopt, although the wife didn�t know it, and the other was a young couple wanting to give their baby up. Jade sighed, knowing that there was no chance of just matching the couples up and being finished with it. Her secretary had not mentioned anything about the clients, and suddenly Jade wondered about that. Usually Betty was full of information, or knew the people coming in. She noticed that the younger couple wanting to give their baby up was call in clients, but she knew that she had to look at the other folder first. She had several young girls wanting to give their babies up, three due in the next month, and if it were at all possible, she�d like to try to set up meetings to see if the mothers liked the couple.
As soon as she saw the first page, she was livid. �Betty get in here. NOW!�
�Yes, Miss Cassadine,� the young women was in awe of Jade, and her family, and always tried to stay on Jade�s good side.
�Why the hell didn�t you tell me Mr. Smith called?�
�He said not to mention it. I think Mr. Smith was under the impression that you wouldn�t take the case��
�He�s right! I wouldn�t have.� Jade took a deep breath. �It says to call his office at ELQ. Call and tell him to come in tomorrow morning for an appointment. I�ll talk to him myself.� Betty nodded and left the office.
As Jade picked the other folder up and read it, she was touched by the minimal amount of information she read. Obviously the young man that called was scared and Jade worried that he was making a decision without talking to his girlfriend. The couple was living in Canada, probably because they could attend high school without having their parents enroll them in classes, and Jade was impressed by the fact that they were both taking college prep courses. She�d check it out of course, but everything else seemed to be in order.
Dialing the number, a familiar voice said, �Hello,� but Jade couldn�t place it.
�This is Jade Durbin Cassadine, the attorney contacted by�.�
�We didn�t think you would call back so quickly.� The young woman said. �I�m sure that you have a lot of questions for us.�
�I do, and I think that we should all meet face to face.� Jade waited for the expected response.
�Why?�
Smiling, Jade explained the process to her. �I have to meet you, make sure that you are taking care of yourself, not using drugs, and are serious about giving the baby up. I have to decide if you are worth the risk I�m taking��
�What do you mean?� The young woman was frightened and confused, but Jade was used to it.
�There�s always a chance that you will change your mind, and you can do that, but if I�m going to break someone�s heart, I have to know that it�s for someone I like.� Jade waited as she heard her young client explain it to someone else.
�We can�t go into Port Charles.� It was already written in the file that they would not be coming to Port Charles, and Jade understood. Runaways usually didn�t want to return to town in case someone saw them.
�I�ll come to you. That�s part of my job.� Jade said. �I want you to know that I�m going to be your friend through this, if I decide to become the attorney involved. I do need to get some information before I meet you��
An hour later, Jade had enough information to start the paperwork, in case she decided to take the case, but she knew in her heart she would. There was rarely a case she�d turn down, except in a situation where she was sure the biological mother would make trouble later. After setting the phone in the receiver, she heard voices outside her office. Recognizing the male�s voice, she buzzed Betty, �Send him on in.�
Zander opened the door and walked in, �You don�t want to help us?�
�I can�t, Zander.� Jade said. �Find someone else!�
�Your aunt wouldn�t recommend anyone else!� Zander said. �How�s Alyssa?�
�She�s fine. Lucky has her.� When Jade had returned to work, she decided working a couple of hours a day would be best for Alyssa, except when she had to meet clients. �Zander, I can�t help you. Emily hates me�..� She looked at him. �Why the hell are you thinking about adopting anyway?�
Zander sat down, without being invited, and looked down at his hands. �You can�t tell anyone..�
Jade rolled her eyes, �I may have graduated from school, passed the bar, and opened a successful practice before my twenty third birthday, but I�m not an idiot.� She smiled, �You�ve had me on retainer since we were twelve.� That�s when she�d decided to be an attorney. At twelve, her adopted father told her the truth, and introduced her to the lawyer that had helped Laura Spencer find JW Durbin, the man that had loved and taken care of Jade since the moment she was born. �I won�t say anything, Zander, except maybe to Aunt Alexis. She�s helpful on a lot of cases��
�No, not Alexis,� Zander and Emily had not told their families about their situation. �No one.�
�Alright.� Jade looked at him. �How does Emily feel about this?�