Kurt waits at a red light in his pickup truck and sips strong coffee from a travel mug while listening to the news on a local station. The light changes and he shifts into first and shuts off the radio. It is 7:37. The best fishing would have been early this morning but it was a bold move to ask Diane to go fishing at all - he didn’t quite have the ( Read more... )

Diane is cross-examining the prosecution’s key witness and Will finds himself leaning forward on his elbows, hanging on every word.

He’s seen his new law partner argue in court three times before, and each time she struck him as a formidable litigator - but this time her success is his success.

Damn, she’s good.

He sees her small triumphant smile ( Read more... )

Diane’s ears are ringing as she leaves the conference room. Can’t they get through a single partners’ meeting without it devolving into a shouting match?

She has to be grateful that Clarke Hayden’s strategizing has forced David Lee to stay but she can’t help wishing the exasperating divorce lawyer would occasionally make himself scarce. Never mind. ( Read more... )

Diane parks across the street, bracing herself for the night air as she slides out of the driver's seat. Crowley's hasn't changed, although Diane hasn't been here in at least five years. As she gets closer, her steps slow. She has caught sight of Stern through the window.

He is sitting at the bar, his shaggy, bearded head bent low over the counter. ( Read more... )

Diane's desk lamp is the only light burning in Lockhart-Gardner's deserted offices.

She can't see a thing in the dimness but it doesn't matter: she stopped working a quarter of an hour ago.

She wants to feel good about the settlement. The newspaper got off cheap, in spite of the damning investigative report. Alicia and Cary acquitted themselves well ( Read more... )

Patty starts to say something, but Ellen pushes her backward. Patty staggers back into the counter and wedges her hands against the counter top for support. Ellen kisses her soundly and repeatedly. Yes, her kisses say. Yes to all of it. Yes to birthday parties. Yes to Catherine. Yes to Strawberry. Yes to dates, even if Patty organizes them. Yes to ( Read more... )

Catherine comes downstairs in the T-shirt she slept in. Patty has tried giving her pajamas, but she refuses to wear them.

The girl is rubbing her eyes sleepily. Patty drinks her tea. “Happy birthday,” she says.

Catherine just yawns.

“Do you want me to make breakfast?” Patty tries.

“I’ll do it. You don’t do it right.” Catherine says.

Any other day, this ( Read more... )

Dear Patty,

I apologize for the unkind things I said and implied on Monday. The only excuse I have to offer is that I honestly was not trying to hurt you. I think because I knew you first as my boss, I somehow expect you always to be as impervious to insult and injury as you seem to be in a conference room or during a deposition.

The fact remains ( Read more... )

They meet for a drink after work on Monday. Arriving a little late -- her phone wouldn't stop ringing at work today -- Ellen catches sight of Patty sitting at the bar. Patty doesn't see her yet, so Ellen takes a few extra seconds in which to admire the bemused smile that is softening the lady’s features as she gazes into space.Then, feeling daring ( Read more... )

Ellen’s doorbell rings early Saturday morning and a delivery man hands her a huge bouquet of orange gladiolas.

Ellen feels giddy as she arranges them in a vase. Because kissing Patty was a revelation. It answered about a hundred questions she has had about Patty… from what she tastes like to whether she likes tongue (yes, but not too much) to how ( Read more... )