“If you’ve changed your mind I can still go with you. I can be ready in five minutes.”
She shook her head. “I’m just going to do it.”
“My phone is charged and I’ll keep it on for you.”
“You’ve been wonderful,” she said. “In case I didn’t say it or in case I forget to say it, you’ve been so wonderful. Helpful, encouraging, supportive.”
“How about a dynamic lover who’s taken you to heights never before experienced, taking your mind off your more cerebral legal affairs?” he asked.
“Satisfactory,” she said. Then she smiled her teasing smile. “Okay, above average.”
“The way you make me beg, it turns me on,” he said, returning the smile.
“I’ll call with updates, if there are any. I don’t know the process so if you don’t hear from me as soon as you...”
“It’s okay, honey. I know the process. And the rule is—unpredictable and leveraged on the mood of the judge and the paperwork involved.”
“Well, we’re ready. At least that’s what the lawyers say.”
“It’s going to be okay. Just remember, you did the right thing.”
“I did my best,” she said. “It’s been good enough so many times...”
“Maggie, you did the right thing. You’ll do the right thing today. All you have to do is listen and confer with your attorneys. You’re going to be fine. This will soon be behind you.”
“Only to happen again and again?”
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him, kissing her passionately. She couldn’t embrace him, coat in one hand and briefcase in the other. But she certainly gave full attention to his kiss.
“Did you smear my lipstick?” she asked.
“No. Now listen to me. Everything is going to happen again and again, Maggie. There will be accidents, there will be lawyers, there will be grieving family members. There will also be magnificent victories and lives saved. And there will be joyous occasions.”
“I’m remembering that book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People.”
“Good things also happen to good people. This isn’t the only outcome you’re going to have to live through, you know. Now, are you ready to go? Do you want to tell Sully you’re leaving?”
“I saw him for a moment before I got in the shower and he wished me luck. Will you tell him I’m on my way, please?”
“I’ll be glad to.”
He led her down the porch steps and helped her into her car. When she was getting in he gave her fanny a pat. “Break a leg,” he said. “Call when you can.”
“Thanks, California. I’ll return the favor if I can.”
Cal watched her leave and then walked back to the porch where Tom sat, waiting. When Cal sat down with his coffee cup again, he looked at Tom to see wide eyes and lots of teeth.
“Whoa,” Tom said. “You know what you should do? You should lock that down right away,” he said, giving a nod toward the house, toward Maggie. “Seriously. Right away.”
Cal laughed. “And what makes you think Maggie’s ready to get locked down?”
“Are you kidding me? You need my advice? You a novice?”
“Pretty much. What’s your best advice?”
“Well, at least you’re an adult. I fell for my girl when I was a kid...”
Tom launched into the story of his marriage, family and divorce. It was both complicated and predictable. He fell in love at sixteen, knocked up his girlfriend at seventeen, married her, went to work before finishing high school, had four kids. Then the girl grew up and wanted more of a life, but she felt suffocated by a husband and four kids, so...
Cal was only half listening. He was thinking about how beautiful Maggie looked and how brave she was. Not for facing a lawsuit in court, although that took guts. Every time she clocked in to her role as a neurosurgeon she was facing the unknown and laying her reputation and indeed, her future, on the line. Making those life-and-death decisions in seconds took great skill and incredible confidence. She amazed him.
Amazing women, it seemed, were his lot in life. For this he pushed aside his trepidation and said a little prayer of thanks. Complaining of finding not only one but two of these remarkable females should not be condoned. Time to give thanks.
*
As Maggie drove, something Cal had said came slinking into her mind. Good things happen to good people, too.