Chapter Twenty-One

Despite the lack of sleep, Lynn has an extra dose of energy to handle the campaign event that morning and by the time they are done, she still feeels she could go on for a few more hours. But the people eventually leave and only Eli and Jo stay. She sends her assistant home or whatever her plans are for the weekend and decides to have a moment with her campaign manager alone.

"So how am I doing, Eli?" she asks, expecting him not to sugarcoat the reality for her. She's aware that it won't happen from one day to another, but she also wants to know if all the hard work she puts into this campaign pays off.

"You are in the race, that's all that matters. The first debate is coming up, it's our first goal to focus on in the near future."

"I am excited about it," she admits with a smile. She has been good at debates ever since high school, where her team won one competition after the other with her leadership. She always felt comfortable expressing her opinion on any subject and her arguments were usually the most convincing ones.

"We need to go through the talking points and make sure you know what you - under no circumstances - can talk about."

"Like the lawsuit?"

"And your relationships. I know it's none of my business, but are you seeing anyone at the moment?"

Lynn expected this question to come up at some point. Last time he just warned her jokingly, but now he means the question and it's easy to tell that he expects an honest answer, which she doesn't want to deny him. Trust needs to be the basis of their work relationship, that's the only way they can show up results.

"I am."

"And how do you wish to handle it during the campaign?"

Lynn is grateful he doesn't ask for further details. From their earlier conversation she assumes that Diane doesn't want Eli to know about them, it could be that he doesn't even know Diane is gay on the first place. It's not only Lynn's but Diane's secret as well and she cannot share any of it without her permission.

"We will be careful."

"And what do you plan to tell the voters about your love life?"

Lynn's also prepared for this, so she doesn't hesitate much before her answer.

"That I'm proud to be a single woman. We used to have this stand-in boyfriend in my last campaign, but I always found that more deceiving than saying I haven't found the one yet."

"You can be a gay icon even if you don't admit that you are gay. The Chicago gay community is small, but powerful, you can find wealthy supporters there."

"I'm sure you'll figure out how to make the best of it."

She likes the way Eli thinks, always one step ahead of things. Maybe someday they will discuss how to announce her coming-out, but for now they need to focus on finding an alternative solution.

"We might need to vet your partner at some point though," he turns back to their previous subject all of a sudden, bringing out a slight chuckle on Lynn's lips.

"She is trustworthy, I can assure you, you would most certainly approve," she tells him with a mysterious smile and Eli replies with a nod, showing that he trusts her on this.

o-o-o

Lynn isn't surprised when her brother shows up without a word again that early evening. She has been contemplating whether or not to call Diane and ask how she is, tell her about her day and her talk with Eli, but her brother manages to divert her thoughts from her lover for a short while.

Ben obviously feels guilty about missing out on the last family dinner and they weren't able to arrange a meeting during the week. That's probably why he's popped up with a few boxes of Chinese food to offer his company, which Lynn gladly accepts.

Even though it is probably written all over her face, she isn't sure whether or not she should talk about the new woman in her life, until she gets saved by the doorbell. As she walks out the kitchen she somehow feels that the person standing at the door is possibly the one she's been reluctant to bring up at the dinner table.

"I know I probably should have called first," as Lynn supposed it's in fact Diane who is standing at the door, "But you said you would be home tonight and I still owe you two dinners, so I thought I deliver one in person," she says with the most adorable smile and Lynn just feels incredibly happy to see her.

"What a wonderful surprise," she replies and tries to figure out what to do now that two of the most important people in her life, who don't even know each other yet, had the same thought at the same time, when Ben shows up next to her, deciding for her.

"Who is it?"

Lynn doesn't take her eyes off Diane who seems to be confused by Lynn's company, so she invites her in to make the necessary introduction.

"Come in, please," she tells her, "I'd like you to meet someone."

Diane is still a little hesitant, but she steps inside, trying to trust Lynn, who takes a deep breath.

"This is my brother, Ben and this is Diane," she looks from one to the other and she notices at once how Ben already knows who Diane is, without her saying so, because she cannot really decide what word to use to their new relationship.

"Diane Lockhart."

"Bennet Cooper, it's a pleasure to meet you, Diane."

"Likewise."

The two shake hands and Lynn really hopes Diane feels comfortable meeting her brother, even though she wasn't prepared for it, but it's really important to Lynn that the two of them get along.

"Looks like we have more food now, I'm glad you're joining us for dinner," Ben takes the bag from Diane's hand and tactfully disappears in the kitchen, which Lynn appreciates very much.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come unannounced, it was stupid," Diane apologizes.

"Please don't say that, I didn't expect any company tonight and now I have both of you, I'd really like you to get to know Ben. I think you'd like him, he is a lot like Will." She can still see the hesitation on Diane's face so she continues trying to persuade her, "I know you think it's probably too early, but now that it came to this, I think there's no harm in you two having a conversation. He is a nice guy, I promise."

"All right."

"Thank you," Lynn takes Diane's hand and presses it gently, because that's all the physical contact she feels free to have with her in front of her brother's observing eyes.

By the time they enter the kitchen Ben has placed the rest of the food in the middle of the table and Lynn smiles as she realizes Diane brought Japanese food from the restaurant where they had their first date. She turns to her to show her appreciation and notices how she's still standing close to the door. She glances at Ben to silently ask for his help.

"I promise I don't bite," he turns to Diane with his most charming smile and he manages to make her chuckle, which Lynn takes as a good sign, "The sooner we finish dinner, the sooner you two get rid of me," he adds, making Lynn laugh as well.

"Wine anyone?" Lynn reaches for the bottle on the table to help ease the slight tension.

"I'd love some," Diane nods with a smile and finally steps closer.

"I'm a little disappointed in my sis that she hasn't talked to me about you yet," Ben says after they all take a seat around the table.

"It's because the last time we talked there wasn't much to tell yet," Lynn says, observing Diane from the corner of her eyes. "It all happened fast. One moment she was my lawyer, next thing I fired her to ask her out on a date."

"My sister is known for going for what she wants."

"She is not alone with that," Diane replies and Lynn feels that she's finally starting to loosen up.

"So you are a lawyer, what else should I know about you?" Ben's inquiry doesn't sound obtrusive, so Lynn decides it's time to stop worrying about Diane and just enjoy their conversation.

"I run my own firm."

"We have that in common," Ben answers, smiling.

"Diane is a member of Emily's list, that's how we met," Lynn explains.

"Let me guess, my sister cornered you at a meeting and you had no idea that she didn't only want legal representation?"

"I had no clue," Diane admits, glancing at Lynn, who is aware that she managed to surprise Diane when she asked her out.

"How could I have known if she's interested in woman on the first place, I just needed the best firm on my side," Lynn tries to defend herself, even though she knows there's truth in what Ben suspects.

"I would believe you, but I know you too well," Ben teases and Lynn decides to ignore it for now and focus on another subject.

"Stern/Lockhart&Gardner is the best firm in Chicago… if you ever want to jump ship," she advises her brother.

"I think my sister is trying to convince me to retain your firm," Ben turns to Diane, who only replies with a smile.

"You should definitely think about it," Lynn insists.

"I'm not really satisfied with our lawyers anyway," he admits.

"That's my brother," Lynn smiles at him, appreciating his gesture.

"Do you have any siblings, Diane?" Ben tries to keep Diane in the conversation, much to Lynn's satisfaction.

"No, I am an only child."

From her answer Lynn can't decide how Diane feels about this fact, but truth is she couldn't imagine her life without her 'little' brother.

"We mostly get along well, our years of rivalry are long over," she explains.

"But teasing is always fun," Ben replies with a wink, "You know I enjoy this more than our family dinners. Which reminds me, are you bringing Diane with you next weekend?"

"What?" Diane asks with a shocked expression.

"Relax, he's joking," Lynn rushes to interfere, the dinner has been going too well to let something like this cause Diane stress again.

"Am I?" her brother asks playfully.

"Bennnnnnn," Lynn scolds him to make him stop.

"I'm sorry, of course I was joking. I hope you can escape the Cooper Family Dinners for as long as you can, they aren't always fun. I'm sure our parents would enjoy your company though."

"Can we please talk about something else?" Lynn desperately tries to divert from the subject. They've just started dating and only spent one night together, introducing Diane to her parents is the last thing on Lynn's mind.

"Sure, so are you two planning to move in together?"

"Ben," Lynn snaps at him with a chuckle and she catches Diane's smiling face, which convinces her that she's slowly learning to handle Ben, "Maybe you should cut back on the teasing, I don't want you to scare Diane off."

"I'm not scared that easily," Diane replies and this ultimately reassures Lynn that she has nothing to worry about.