Alicia had taken the kids out for breakfast on Sunday morning. All of their kitchen items were packed for the movers.

"I don't understand why we have to move," Grace said to her.

.Alicia knew they would miss their school, their friends, and the house where they'd grown up. Frankly, she herself couldn't get out of Highland Park fast enough. In fact, she wanted to tell the neighbors who now shunned them to kiss her ass, and go to hell. That wasn't Alicia's style however, and not apt to happen.

"Sweetheart, we've been over this. We can't afford the house anymore. Besides which, I hope to get a job in the city, and it will be easier on all of us if we're living there."

Grace took a piece of bacon from her plate, and placed it on her brother's. "Take this. I'm a vegetarian now."

Alicia looked at her daughter in surprise.

"Since when?"

"For a couple of weeks now, Mom. You just haven't been paying attention.

""Well, I have been a little distracted lately, Grace," Alicia said.

"Can I get a cell phone?" Grace continued

.Alicia was actually grateful for the innate selfishness of adolescent children.

Grace's incessant whining was one of the few aspects of her life that remained normal.

"Honey, we talked about this already. I told you when you turned 13 you could have your own phone. You won't be thirteen for a few more months."

""Mom, I'm the only kid in the seventh grade without her own phone. There are nine year olds with cell phones now. And when we move, you'll be working, and we'll be alone at lot more. Plus it'll be safer if I have a phone living in Chicago…"

."Alicia had to admit Grace had a valid point. "Fine. We'll stop at the mall on the way home, and I'll put you on my plan."

"Thanks Mom! You're the best!" Grace said.

Grace got up and went to the restroom, and Alicia asked Zach about the vegetarian thing.

"Mom, this is Grace we're talking about here. It's her latest thing. Two days from now, we'll catch her eating a burger."

"Well, if she's serious about becoming a vegetarian, I have no problem with that. If she does it the right way, and doesn't endanger her health."

"When Grace came back to the table and Alicia paid the bill. "Listen guys, I have a meeting on Monday with someone about a possible job. So if you come home from school, and I'm not home yet, lock up, and do not go anywhere.

"Zach rolled his eyes. "Yeah Mom, we know all that."

After the fallout from Peter's scandal, she hadn't known where to turn, or what to do. She wanted to get in bed, crawl under the covers, and sleep for a week. However, that wasn't possible. She knew she had to support herself, and her kids, but wasn't sure how to even begin looking for a job.

Then it had come to her one night out of the blue while watching some crime/legal drama on TV. Will. Will Gardner. Will was a managing partner now with a big firm. Will would help her. If nothing else, he could give her advice and maybe a lead when it came to finding a wasn't sure where to start, and it was actually Zach who came up with the solution. She asked her son how to search for someone online, and his answer was simple. "Just Google them, Mom."

She'd done that. She found the web page for Stern/Lockhart/Gardner, and called him right away. A receptionist and two secretaries put her on hold before she was informed that Mr. Gardner was in court, and she could leave message for him.

.He called her back within ten minutes.

.Will couldn't hide his pleasure at hearing her voice on the phone after all these years. He knew about the scandal, of course. He'd seen her on television at the press conference with Peter, and his heart went out to her. He knew she was handling everything with class, dignity, and grace like always

.He went into his office and closed his door while they spoke on the phone. "Alicia! It is great that you called! How are you holding up?""I'm coping. Listen, Will. I need your help. Do you know of any firms that might be hiring associates right now?" she asked.

As a matter of fact, you're in luck. Diane Lockhart and I are interviewing for a junior associate position right now. I can talk to her this afternoon, and call you back."

""Great! Thanks so much Will."

He walked into Diane's office, ready to sing Alicia's praises.

"Will, this woman hasn't set foot in a courtroom in 13 years. Do we really want the remnants of the Florrick scandal brought into our firm?" Diane asked him.

"Alicia is a very private person, and I can assure you that won't happen. I wish I could emphasize enough how capable, and smart she is. Maybe the only good thing about this whole mess with Peter Florrick is that Alicia is finally being given this chance.."

Diane gave him one of her famous enigmatic smiles. "Exactly how close were you to her, Will?"

"Not that close. She was already involved with Florrick when we met in law school. We were best friends. I don't think I would have made it through Georgetown without her. She was the one who kicked my butt, and made me study, when I preferred to drink. Not that we didn't have plenty of fun together in our spare time."

"Very well. Call her back, and tell her we'll give her an interview. But I'm not making any promises, Will. There are a lot of qualified candidates…."

Will wasn't listening to Diane anymore. He was so happy that Alicia was back in his life that he felt like he was walking on air. He decided he was going to hire her one way or another no matter what Diane wanted.

They agreed to meet at a new seafood place near the Palmer House hotel downtown. Will was already at the table when Alicia got there, pouring a bottle of embraced warmly. "It is so good to see you Alicia! I took the liberty of ordering a bottle of Pinot. Their wine selection here is actually pretty good."

This Will Gardner in the Armani suit and the expensive leather shoes was not the Will she'd known in college. That Will ate pizza for breakfast, and threw wet towels and dirty jeans on the bathroom floor when a hamper was readily available. That person drank cheap beer, and certainly wouldn't have known anything about a wine list

.She had agonized over this meeting for days. Would he think her staid and boring now because she had been a stay at home mom for all these years? She was sure Will dated a lot of women who were no doubt young and sexy. Then it occurred to her that she was still a married woman, and that this was supposed to be a business lunch.

.She pulled up a chair across from him, and started gazing at the menu. "I'll have a glass. I can only have one, though. I am driving. Plus, I have to go to Grace's soccer party with her tonight. It's kind of a big deal for her. It's an opportunity for her to say goodbye to her friends."She showed him their school pictures. "Grace is in seventh grade now, and Zach is in eighth."

"They've grown up! Last time we saw each other they were babies, Alicia," Will said.

"Yeah, well. Unfortunately, they get older, and learn to speak. My daughter thinks she's a vegetarian. I had to listen to a lecture this morning on the evils of meat while I tried to eat breakfast."

"He laughed. "So, let's get down to business. I talked to Diane Lockhart, and she said we could schedule an interview for later this week. How does Thursday at 11am sound?"

""That's great. The kids will be at school, so that's perfect. Thank you. You are a genuine lifesaver."

"Alicia, you deserve this opportunity, and I want to see to it that you get it. Somewhere."

She ended up ordering a salad, and then drank a second glass of wine, and a third. "I think I need some coffee," she finally said.

"Maybe it's better facing those soccer moms when you're a little tipsy. I wish I didn't have to go back to the office today. I wish I could go home, and change into shorts, and a tee shirt. Then we would go to Wrigley, sit in the bleachers, and drink Old Style. Baseball, sunshine, and beer. That's all I want on a day like today." And Alicia, he wanted to add, but couldn't say aloud.

Alicia smiled as she said goodbye, and left the restaurant. The Will she remembered from long ago was still there.

To be continued...