Chapter 2
Two
Whitney couldn’t deny the feeling that something was wrong. They never had closed door discussions. Was Roger leaving the firm? Or worse, was he sick? She sucked in a breath and hoped her gut was wrong, but that was rare.
Roger hesitated, then leaned forward, settling his forearms on his knees.
Her smile faded. “You’re making me nervous, Roger. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Actually, it’s pretty great.” He rubbed his hands together. “I didn’t think this would be so hard.”
He’s leaving the firm.But she didn’t open her mouth. She sat there, giving him time to say what he had to say.
“I’ve met someone.”
She let out a breath. “Thank goodness. You had me scared there for a minute.” That was the last thing she’d expected to hear since he always dated so casually. It’s why their little arrangement had worked so well. Absorbing the words, she moistened her lips and spoke. “We’re not talking about a client here, are we? I mean, is this a real relationship?”
He shook his head, his eyes dancing with a hint of excitement. “Not a client. This gal is someone really special. I think she might be… my person.”
An unexpected twist in her gut surprised her. Not because of feelings for Roger—no, they really were just friends, and she was happy for him. It was more of a realization that she no longer had that safety net with him at her side. Having Roger, although she’d always been clear with everyone that they were just friends, had at least given her some space from Mom’s constant nagging and matchmaking. And Dad, well he seemed to think women were still most effective as part of a couple. As archaic as the thought was, she wasn’t going to change him, but she certainly intended to prove she could succeed without being married.
Whitney managed a supportive smile. “That’s wonderful, Roger. I’m happy for you. How? Wow, when did you have time?”
He laughed, back to his relaxed self. “Right? It’s a crazy story. I’ll have to tell you all about it at some point, but I really am sorry that I need to cancel those next couple events we were attending together.”
“Not a problem. Don’t even think about it.”But it did give her pause enough to think maybe she might need to figure out what she wanted or needed in her own life.
He seemed relieved. “I thought you’d understand. It all just sort of happened. I wasn’t even looking. I feel bad about the timing with Casino Night right around the corner.”
“Don’t give it another thought. Really.” It wouldn’t be the first time she had gone to one of those fundraisers alone.
“I’d like to take her to the annual Lawyerpalooza coming up in a couple of weeks if you don’t mind.” He rose. “It won’t be weird, will it?”
“No. People know we’re just colleagues. I’ll see y’all there. It’ll be fine.” The worst part would be Mom’s digs about how Whitney could have, or should have done whatever to land Roger herself since they got along so well. But there was absolutely no spark there. The momentary pity party ended. “I can’t wait to meet her, Roger, and you look genuinely happy. This is so great.”
“Great. Yeah.” He stood there awkwardly. “I… well… that’s it. I’ll see you around?”
“You will. Good luck.” She walked him to the door.
A strange combination of feelings rolled over her. The news irked her a little. Not that he had found someone, but that she suddenly seemed to be the only person who wasn’t balancing a personal life with their work.
I’m turning into my dad. Married to my work. With none of the benefits.
Whitney walked back over to her desk and pulled her keyboard closer. She pulled up the file she’d been reviewing before the interruptions. Her day was full. Three new clients and a list of follow-ups, which meant lunch at her desk again; but she didn’t mind busy days.
After her last appointment for the day, she went through her email. An email about the upcoming Casino Night fundraiser elicited a sigh from her. She and Roger had planned to attend several functions over the next few months. That beach trip at his folks’ place on Hilton Head would be off her calendar now too. Too bad. She loved that place.
She’d gotten so comfortable in the arrangement with Roger that she hadn’t kept up with single guy friends she could call on to accompany her. They were probably all otherwise engaged by now anyway.
Just the thought of having to renew old friendships or make new ones made her feel lonely.
It was close to six thirty and most of the office had already cleared out. She got up and walked around the corner to see if Carina was still there.
Unlike her own office, Carina’s was very modern, decorated in sharp lines and shades of gray. The only artwork in the room was a black and white charcoal sketch. Not one single personal picture of William or their two-year-old daughter, Chloe, in sight. Carina insisted on keeping family and business completely separate, which had always struck Whitney as odd, considering they worked in family law.
“Hey.” Whitney double-knocked softly on Carina’s open office door. “You busy?”
Carina looked up from her computer. Her dark hair fell away from her face, resembling how she wore it back in college. “Working through briefs.” She pushed her chic rectangle readers, the same bright magenta as her lipstick, to the top of her head. “You okay?”
Friends since college, Carina knew Whitney so well it was hard to keep a secret from her. “Yeah. I was going to run down to The Wrap and pick up some dinner.” She pressed her hands against her lower back and stretched, eager for the walk more than the food. “Want to join me?”
“No. I can’t.” She sat back in her chair, mirroring Whitney’s stretch. “William is meeting Marie and Brad for dinner. They’re passing through on their way to Primland to watch the meteor showers tonight.”
“I heard about that.” Marie and Brad had been friends with them since college. “They always do fun stuff like that.” Whitney had always wanted to go to the observatory tower in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even on a regular night with nothing but darkness and a gazillion twinkling stars it would be quite a show. “Why aren’t you joining them for dinner?”
“I’ve got too much to do.”
“So does William, but he made time to go.” Whitney realized she was projecting her own challenges with life/work balance onto her sister-in-law, but the words were already out there.
“Look who’s talking. You’re here in the office too.” Carina’s brow raised, and she tossed her hair back as she laughed. “Talk about the pot calling?—”
“It’s entirely different for me,” Whitney cut her off. “I’m not married, so working late has no consequences for me. You, my dear, are. And since you’re married to my brother, and I love you both, I’d kind of like to see that work out.”
“We’re fine,” Carina insisted.
“I know, but we see all the time that it doesn’t take much for a marriage to suffer from neglect.”
Carina’s eyes widened. “Did William say something?”
“No. Nothing like that. It’s on me. I got Jen Proctor’s final papers in today. You know how I get a little wave of nostalgia and sadness as each marriage goes officially kaput.” She waved goodbye to an invisible relationship.
“That was a long, drawn out divorce.”
“I never want that to happen to the people I love.”
“Don’t worry about us, Whitney. We’re doing fine. One of us tries to be home for Chloe every evening, and we’ve got help. It all works. Divide and conquer.”
“Yeah. No. That’s great for Chloe, but Carina, that doesn’t do a thing to keep your marriage strong. I don’t have to recite the statistics to you. You’re the one who tracks them.”
“The data.” Carina nodded slowly. “Yes.”
Whitney watched the wheels turn in Carina’s mind. Some people knew song lyrics, but Carina understood statistics, and she loved letting data do the talking in a case.
Carina’s mouth dropped open, but not a single word came out.
Whitney had a feeling she might get a don’t-put-your-nose-where-it’s-not-invited speech, but Carina put down her pen. “Whitney. You’re right.” She pressed her fingers to her temple. “Man, it is so easy to get caught up in the minutiae of work.”
“And winning?”
“You know how I love to win.” She let out an audible sigh. “And you’re right. William works every bit as hard as we do, but he’s making time for this visit. Why aren’t I?”
Whitney shrugged.
Carina reached over and switched off the large monitor in front of her. “Because you’re right. Second time today. You’re on a roll. You know what else we need to make time for again?”
“What?”
“Yoga. Let’s do that this weekend. Okay?”
“Yeah. Absolutely. I mean, that’s from total left field, but I miss the workout and the girl time. Let’s do that. So do you need me to pick you up something from The Wrap?”
“No.” She stood. “Tonight, I”m going to join my husband and the Bakers for dinner at Bookbinder’s.” Carina retrieved her handbag from the bottom drawer. “Thank you.” She rushed over and hugged Whitney.
Standing there awkwardly in the embrace, Whitney mumbled, “Well, aren’t I just the best darn sister-in-law in the world?”
“You are, and the best counsel of all types,” Carina said. “Want me to walk with you down to The Wrap?”
“No. You get going. You’ve probably already missed the appetizers, and you know how we love their jumbo lump crab cocktail. I can practically taste the sauce.”
“Let’s plan to go there later this month for your dad’s birthday,” Carina said as she edged toward the door.
Whitney would love to avoid last year’s disaster of a birthday get-together by going out instead. “They love Bookbinder’s. We can have them do that dark chocolate pudding layer cake Dad loves.”
“That would be awesome. I’ll make the reservations while I’m at the restaurant tonight,” Carina said. “His birthday is on the twenty-second, right?”
“Yes. I’ll tell Mom we’re taking care of it.” Whitney was relieved to have one less thing to worry about. “Give my brother my love.”
“I will. Thanks for being the best sister-in-law ever.”
“I just can’t help myself,” Whitney teased. “Hey, let me know what y’all have going on this Saturday. I need some downtime with my sweet little niece.”
“That works.” She hitched her purse up on her shoulder. “Love you. Good night.”
“Have fun.” Whitney watched Carina walk out. It must be exhausting being a wife, mother, and professional, but you’d never see even a hint of that in Carina. Even with full-time help, Carina juggled a lot, and every single thing on her plate was a priority, but she handled it with grace.
Whitney realized she might be the only one not finding a way to have a personal life as she walked back to grab her wallet.
As was the norm for a Wednesday night, several clients waited in the lobby. An older gentleman in a suit who looked like the type to be updating his will sat across from a businessman who appeared to be answering emails on his phone. Two others, one in an ill-fitting sport coat, and another in blue jeans, sat across from a couple who looked blissfully in love, holding hands. Whitney could darn near see the heart bubbles dancing over their heads.
Whitney offered a polite smile as she walked by.
Where those people sat used to be her granddaddy’s office. He retired years ago, but still if she took a deep breath, she could catch a faint hint of coffee and vanilla. Mom swore it was the lingering scent of cigars from a time when it wasn’t uncommon for men to celebrate with one, but Whitney found the smell familiar and comforting.
She pushed the heavy front door open and stepped outside onto the busy streets of downtown Richmond.