The Matchmaker's Gift(76)
“What about Victor? Did he like her?”
Abby forced herself to meet Diane’s eye and to answer like the lawyer she was. “Jessica isn’t Victor’s type. She barely said a word all night, and when she did, it was mostly to his daughters.” This, at least, was true, Abby thought.
Diane gave Abby one last look, as if she could sense the hesitation in her answer. “Fine,” Diane said. “I’ll wait until I hear from Victor. In the meantime, let’s hope he gets himself together before the party.”
“Let’s hope,” Abby repeated, with forced enthusiasm. She fled from the conference room and back to her office, where she cradled her pounding head in her hands. Let’s hope I don’t lose my job.
* * *
The rest of the morning was uneventful, but the peace and quiet did not last long. At around one o’clock, the receptionist knocked on her door, carrying a tall glass vase filled with pale yellow roses and the softest blue hydrangeas. “What’s this?” Abby asked.
The receptionist shrugged. “It was delivered just now,” he said. “Diane got one, too.”
Abby opened the card that was tucked between the blossoms.
Dear Abby,
Michael and I are forever in your debt. The divorce is off! We can’t thank you enough.
With every good wish,
Evelyn Morgan
The sentiment was lovely, but Abby knew what was coming. Diane was going to have a fit.
It took less than a minute for the phone to ring.
“Abby, I need you in my office. Now.”
There, in the center of Diane’s desk, was a second arrangement of roses and hydrangeas. Diane waved the tiny card in the air. She tossed it at Abby. “What is this?” she spat. “What the hell did you do?”
Abby scanned Diane’s card.
Dear Diane,
What an amazing young attorney you have in Abby. Thanks to her persistence, the divorce is off! We can’t thank you both enough.
With every good wish,
Evelyn Morgan
“She seems happy,” Abby said, in her cheeriest voice, but Diane was not smiling.
“What did you do?” Diane repeated. “What were you so persistent about?”
“Well…,” Abby stammered. “Right before you left for Miami, Michael Gilbert gave me a call.”
Diane crossed both arms over her chest while Abby struggled to continue.
“Remember how I told you about Evelyn’s vision problems? Michael told me that Evelyn was convinced she was going blind. Apparently, her father had a rare eye disease, and Evelyn thought she had the same condition. She believed that it would make life very hard on Michael, but she refused to see a doctor about it. Michael had just been served with our papers, and he called because he was hoping that I might … encourage her to see someone before she made any final decisions.”
“And?”
“And so, I arranged for her to see an ophthalmologist…”
Diane looked as if she might explode. “Let me guess,” she said, with a sneer. “The same ophthalmologist you invited to the show—the one Victor’s kids can’t stop talking about?”
Abby gulped. When Diane put it that way, it did sound suspicious. Abby tried to sound confident. “Yes,” she said.
“And what was the result of the doctor’s visit?”
“It was terrific news, actually. Turns out Evelyn is on some medication for her arthritis that is causing the problems with her vision. Last I heard, she was making appointments with some specialists. I guess they decided the damage is reversible.” Abby paused. “It’s a happy ending, isn’t it?” she asked. “I mean, if she sent us flowers, she must be really pleased.”
Diane considered this for a moment before taking a seat behind her desk and flipping through her Rolodex. “Sit,” she ordered. “We’re going to call her.”
Evelyn answered after two rings. “Evelyn?” Diane cooed over the speakerphone. “It’s Diane Berenson. Abby and I couldn’t wait another minute before we called to congratulate you.”
“Diane! Did you get the flowers?”
“We did, we did! What an incredibly thoughtful gesture. Abby and I are thrilled for you and Michael.”
“You know,” Evelyn said, “I owe it all to Abby. I realize now how stubborn I was. I almost made the biggest mistake of my life. I will never be able to thank you both properly.”
“Don’t be silly,” Diane assured her. “Your happiness is thanks enough.”
“How sweet you are. I suppose it’s a bit of a novelty in your business—having a client with a happy ending.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Diane was laughing through tightly clenched teeth. “I assure you, we have many happy clients. At least that’s what their accountants tell us!”
Evelyn chuckled politely.
“In all seriousness, Evelyn, please remember that we are always here for you.”
“Thank you, my dear. Michael and I are so grateful to you both. I will be in touch. Both of you, be well.”
“You too, Ms. Morgan!” Abby chimed in.
After the call, Diane didn’t speak. Abby was used to Diane’s frenetic movement, her barking of orders, her pacing back and forth. This still and silent version of Diane made Abby feel uneasy and spooked. After five full minutes of quiet torture, Diane looked at Abby and told her to leave. “You need to go now,” she said.