My husband, Mark, is a good man; he's a strong man. When I needed him to step up with our kids as I finished dental school, he became our little family's rock without ever complaining or being bitter. He owned late-night feedings and diaper changes...
Colin, George, and Harvey sit across from me in expensive, perfectly fitted pin-striped suits and stern faces. They remind me of the Three Stooges--down to George having Larry Fine's signature giant nose, a nose everyone always finds themselves staring at.
Like I am right now.
"What happened to you?" Harvey asks, forcing me to look away from the penetrating stare of George's nose. "You look like you belong in the Jungle, overdosing on xylazine and drooling into a gutter reeking of piss, not inside Seattle's most prestigious law firm--a firm that represents Seattle's elites, a firm, need I remind you, you're meant to represent at all times."
My eyebrows shoot to my hairline. I know I don't look my best, but I don't think I look bad enough to be inside the Jungle, Seattle's most notorious homeless encampment.
"Yes. Well, the past twenty-four hours have been a lot to deal with. Please forgive me," I say through my teeth, forcing a smile I hope looks professional and not like I want to punch them in the faces. "I hope this being my first offense, you can overlook it. What did you want to speak with me about?"
They look at each other and I fist my hands in annoyance. I have things to do, things to figure out, and I can't do that with them sitting here wasting my time.
"Speaking of the past twenty-four hours," George says with his condescending nasal voice, bringing my view right back to the giant target on his face. My skin crawls whenever he speaks--today is no different--but he's a partner here so I must keep my composure. "Can you explain how you not only single-handedly made a mockery of yourself and this firm by the circus performance between you and your wife at Lush last night, a dinner the client so kindly set up at Eliza's request for your benefit, but also by not showing up for the crucial meeting with our most important clients this morning, leaving the meeting in the hands of Eliza who has only been at the firm a few months?"
Shoot. They're right. I should have been there, but I needed to handle things at home more. Eliza knows everything going on with this file; she's thorough and professional. I had no doubt she could handle the meeting today, but she is still new here.
"I--"
Wait a minute. Did he just say Eliza requested the dinner?
It feels like my brain is walking through wet sand as my mind backtracks.
"Our nightmare client extended an olive branch and offered dinner on them to show appreciation for all we've done."
Searing anger builds within my chest. That snake.
"Did you say Eliza requested the dinner at Lush?" I ask aloof as the puzzle pieces begin to fit together: a reminder missing from the calendar, a dinner that just so happens to be at the restaurant my anniversary was supposed to be at, a dinner at the time my wife would see us.
