Elsbeth wraps Alicia in a big hug, inhaling softly. Alicia falls into the hug and allows it for a second, needing the closeness of someone to make her feel better. Elsbeth steps back looking at Alicia,
"You smell nice, what perfume is that?"
Elsabeth walks back to her desk signalling for Alicia to follow.
"Those earrings, where did you get them? Come sit down. Wait I'll move those for you. Do you want anything water, coffee?"
Elsbeth takes a huge pile of files from a seat to allow space for Alicia, she nearly topples over the weight but manages to slide the files onto the floor creating even more mess. She pours her self a water and motions to Alicia. Alicia gracefully takes the vacated seat and crosses her legs, back straight but otherwise at ease with Elsbeth and her craziness. A slight smile on her face. She looks to Elsbeth and shakes her head to indicate she is fine and doesn't need anything to drink.
Elsbeth sits down in front of Alicia,
"I find myself in of a lawyer. And you're the only one I truly trust anymore Elsabeth."
Elsabeth perks up at this, smiles at Alicia.
" What do you need Alicia. I'm here to help."
Alicia walks into her apartment, hangs up her coat, puts her bag away and flops down on the sofa leaning her head back eyes closed. She can feel herself drifting off when she feels someone sitting down next to her curling in beside her, their head on her shoulder. The same again on the other side. She cuddles into her children not wanting to get up. They sit like that for roughly ten minutes before the sound of her stomach rumbling makes them laugh. Zach sits up and looks at his mom.
"Can we get pizza? Please?"
"Yeah mom, please."
Alicia laughs and picks up her phone bringing her feet up beside her she dials.
"Okay who wants what?"
Once the pizza was delivered and then devoured with Zach eating more than his fair share she looks at her children. Her babies who it feels only yesterday used to scramble and fight to sit on her lap and have her tell them stories and give them big kisses. She looks at how grow up they are, how strong. She watches as Zach steals the last bite from Grace and shoves it in his own mouth. How Grace pushes him as he opens his mouth wide for her to see. She scolds him gently, hiding a small smile at their juvenile antics and gives Grace her own last slice as compensation to her stolen bite. Alicia takes a breath and looks at them again,
"So I wanted to talk to you both."
They both smile at each other and dramatically swivel their heads towards their mother, crossing their legs and trying their best to look serious. They fail and start to laugh. Grace jumps over and sits next to her mom.
"So you're staring your own firm?"
Zach then sits next to his mother and looks at her.
"And you're finally going to divorce dad."
Alicia sits there stunned at her children, she can feel the tears threatening to spill at the edge of her eyes.
"When did you pair grow up? I don't like it. Go back to being tiny and cute."
Zach looks affronted and shocked,
"I am cute, I'll have you know at least three girls in my class think so."
"Ew are they blind?"
"Grace be nice."
Zach sticks his tongue out at Grace who glares back at him. They snuggle down with their mom.
"So you're both okay with this? With all of this?"
"Honestly?"
"Yes Zach honestly."
"I feel fine about it. I mean I feel guilty that we made you stay with him for so long. When I think about it, after everything happened I should have made it easier for you to leave him. Both of us should have. He doesn't make you happy. I just want you to be happy."
"Yeah mom. We just want you to be happy."
"You both make me so happy everyday. You know that right? And don't ever blame yourself for me staying with you father, I still loved him then. I do now. It just not the same, at least I can say that I tried to make it work. And that no matter what we will always have the two brightest, kindest and cutest kids in the world."
"Good. Can we have ice cream now?"
"Yes Zach we can have ice cream now."
"Oh with chocolate syrup?"
"Yes Grace with chocolate syrup."
Alicia decided it was best for her to deliver the papers to Peter. They hadn't talked about it not really. She had hinted but he always changed the conversation, would guilt her into another event or interview. Using the kids against her, his career then hers. She had had enough and with her conversation the other night with her children she didn't fear for what it would do to them as much. They could be civil, friends even. But they could no longer be husband and wife and she knew that for certain.
Walking into his office was always a novelty for her, people would walk the other way to give her space. Others rush up to take her jacket and offer her tea, coffee and refreshments. She would laugh if it wasn't so sad, they had never met her, never really talked to her yet they all acted as if they feared her mere presence.
She walked right into Peters office, a straggling secretary running behind her grabs the door before it bangs opens. Peter is standing with his back to the door, leaning against his desk hands gripping the side. His head whips round at the sound of the door, scrambles to right himself. His face blushing red as he turns round. Startled. He catches his breath,
"Alicia! What are you doing here?"
" I need to talk to you. I'll wait outside while you have whoever that is leave."
Alicia shakes her head as she leaves the office to stand outside, the secretary looking at a loss for what to do just walks away and sits at her desk every so often looking up to check on Alicia waiting for the intern to make her way out of Peter office.
Alicia can't help but be somewhat relived, it'll make this conversation so much more easier to have. No "I love you Alicia, you're my world" will work now. She knows now not to be so naive.
She watches as a young brunette surprisingly, hurries out of Peters office, head down and rushes along the corridor. Alicia fights the urge to follow her, pull her hair and make a scene right here in the office. It still smarts, niggles at her confidence and self worth but she throws it off. Knows that she is better than those woman. Remembers a time when Peter had just been elected States Attorney. How happy he was, how happy they were. How every so often he would forget a file or need a new tie and she would run down to his office, greeted with smiles and nods from his staff as they lead her to his office. Where she would hand over the file or fix his tie only to mess it up again as he would kiss her. Fiercely, tell her to be quiet because they don't want anyone to hear as he would take her over his desk. Or push her to her knees, with that look in his eyes begging her to please him. And she would, despite popular belief she never minded doing that for him. She knew he would always return the favour at some point so she would do it. Just to please him.
Peter peaks out the door in his office, clears his throat, opens his mouth.
"Don't. Just don't."
She pushes past Peter and is about to make it into his office when Eli appears about to join them. She whips round and puts her hand out pushes Eli back none too gently.
"Eli. Can I help you?"
Eli for a second looks stunned but recovers well. He makes to walk back towards the office but stops with the Alicia stare he is getting.
"I thought we could go over some more events. An interview has come up…"
"No Eli. Now please leave me to talk to my husband alone."
Peter stares at Eli, wishing for him to come in. Eli steps forward again.
"Come on Alicia it'll take 5 minutes tops, then we can have one of the guys drive you home."
Alicia straightens up and huffs out a biter laugh.
"Eli. I'll make this clear, either I can have a private conversation with my husband alone in his office. Or we can have the same conversation out here in front of everyone. Which would you both prefer? Because right now I have no preference."
Eli raises his hands and steps away, Alicia marches into Peters office. She watches Peter hesitate to leave the safety of his office door and shouts, well more like barks to him to get in.
She can't ever remember Peter being like this, head down avoiding her eye. Ashamed. Even after the hookers he looked her in the eye. Not now though.
"Peter…,Peter would you look at me."
"Im sorry Leesh it meant nothing at all. She came on to me. I tried to…"
"Peter shut the fuck up. Just, fuck you Peter. I wanted to come her and have a civil conversation. But that ship has sailed. I want a divorce. I had Elsbeth draft up the papers. Sign them."
"Alicia. You can't just spring this on me. That's not fair. I don't want to divorce you. Think of my career. I wouldn't survive the next election."
"I love how you first response to divorce is how it will effect you, and your career. Not how it would affect our children. Who I've talked to and are fine with it by the way. Stop being a selfish ass hole and sign those papers. I had Elisabeth split everything fair. Look over them. Sign them. Let me have a chance to be happy again."
She didn't wait for whatever he was about to say she just stormed out of the his office. Feeling lighter than she had in years.
Eli of course was waiting for her outside. She sent him her best icy Alicia stare and walked away. Him suitably cowed not to follow her.