Do You Take This Man (57)

Britta laughed, and I smiled on instinct. I loved my friend’s laugh. “You’ve told me that already.”

“Well,” I said, hearing the distinctive click-clack of heels on the hardwood in the hall, “you know everything, then.” I squared my shoulders at the sound, relieved there wouldn’t be time for Britta to figure out Lear maybe was my type, and also concerned that I was beginning to think of him that way. “Hey, I’ll call you later. I gotta go.”

“RJ,” Gretchen said, stepping into my office after a double knock on the door. “I figured you’d still be here.”

“Of course.” I straightened.

Gretchen nodded toward her office. “You want to have a drink with me?”

When I pictured being an attorney originally, I didn’t have many references except reruns of Ally McBeal, Suits, and Law & Order, but I imagined a glamorous existence where every workday was wrapped up by sharing a drink with the boss. “Sure,” I said, following her down the hall. Gretchen’s corner office was all white leather and chrome, with touches of color in orchids. They were such an unexpected thing in her office, I noticed them every time. I settled into one of the chairs and accepted the glass of Scotch.

“There’s a training seminar on trusts I’d like you to attend. It’s in Boston at the end of the summer,” she commented, settling into the chair next to me.

“I’ll get the dates from your assistant.” I sipped the smooth drink. “Carl asked me to speak at the biannual firm training retreat in the fall.”

Gretchen’s eyebrow raised slightly. I didn’t know all the politics between the senior partners, but I’d seen her raised eyebrow regarding Carl more than once. “About what?”

I met her gaze with my own slightly raised eyebrow. “Diversity.” It wasn’t the first time I’d been asked to be the expert on the topic as a, or often the, Black woman.

“No,” she said with a wave. “I’ll tell him you’ll be presenting on concealing assets and electronic spying.”

“Thanks, Gretchen.”

She raised her glass. “No thanks needed. You’re skilled in asset valuation, and Carl can hire someone to speak on diversity. Better yet, he could enroll in a class himself.”

We both glanced out her window, where the sunset had the sky shifting from orange to a relaxing shade of blue.

“I spoke with Dina Mayfield tonight,” she said. “We’re going to slow down our work.”

I mirrored her demeanor, taking a sip before responding. “Oh?”

“They’re attempting to reconcile,” she said. We weren’t facing each other, but I heard the eyebrow lift in her voice.

“For real?”

“Apparently. They want to try one last go at counseling, see if they can save the marriage.” Gretchen shook her head. “She said they bonded over something with the foundation. She said she forgot how much his passion meant to her, and I don’t think either is quite ready to let go of the foundation.”

I nodded. “That sounds . . . touching. You believe it?”

“I believe they’re going to try.” She leaned back in her chair, stretching and sipping her Scotch again. “What do you think?”

I thought through her words. “I think she’s asking us to slow down but not to stop.”

Gretchen flashed me a rueful smile and held up a hand. “Give the woman a drink.”

I smiled and settled back into the chair. “It would be something, though, if it worked. I mean . . . once they get to this place, accusing each other of cheating . . . it’s not likely, is it?”

Gretchen finished her drink. “In my experience? No, but she’s paying to retain us, so who knows.”

I finished my drink. “Who knows?” I tried to imagine the Mayfields’ eyes meeting across a room full of kids receiving college scholarships. Gretchen was right, it was unlikely. We’d keep working, but the idea of their possible reconciliation, mixed with the sunset and the good Scotch . . . I let the idea of me and Lear float around me without swatting it away.

Gretchen’s voice cut into my unformed daydream. “How is it going wrapping up the wedding thing?”

It was delayed, but I mentally pushed away the sappy feeling about Lear. “Good. I’m committed to five more in the next month and a half. Three of them for our biggest clients’ kids and grandkids.”

She nodded. “You know why I want you out of it, right?”

“It’s the right move. I agree.” Still, I wondered if I’d miss it at all after the last ceremony . . . and if I’d have any opportunities to see Lear, and if I wanted to keep seeing him.





Chapter 32


Lear





“HEY, ABEL. WHAT are you doing over here alone?” The kid, who was fourteen or fifteen, was the bride’s younger brother I’d gotten to know the night before, and we’d bonded over a shared interest in anime. I felt for him sitting alone. I’d been there, and he kind of reminded me of myself at that age.

“No one to dance with,” the kid mumbled. His attempt at cool indifference didn’t convince me at all as his gaze followed a group of teenage girls making their way to the dance floor.