Chapter Seven

He was surprised when he got the call from Kurt. He hasn't heard from him or Diane in quite a while, which was very unusual after long years of working together side by side with her. But that belongs to the past now, she decided to go on separate ways and even though they didn't want it to affect their friendship, nothing is the same again.

Nevertheless Will Gardner is now at the door of Diane and Kurt's house, because Kurt wanted to talk to him in person and he offered to come over in the hope of at least having a chance to bump into Diane. He isn't sure what he'd say to her after all this silence, but he cannot deny that he's missed her. Not that he'd tell her that or let it show, he is too stubborn for that. It used to be so much easier to get over the bumps in their relationship when they were together each day.

"Hey," Will greets Kurt with a handshake before he steps inside, searching for Diane with his eyes.

"Diane is out," Kurt answers his unvoiced question, "Thank you for coming here, I really appreciate it."

"You said you have some legal problem," Will takes a seat in the armchair in the living room.

"I do and I need advice."

Will is tempted to ask why he doesn't ask his wife for legal advice, but he doesn't mean to pry. He's lost his right to know what's going on in Diane's life when he decided to shut her out of his. He regrets it and he'd try to make it right if he knew how, one of the reasons he's there now.

"What is the nature of the problem?"

"I know family law is not your field of expertise, but maybe you can…"

"Please don't tell me you're getting a divorce," Will hears his own shocked voice, but Kurt's face remains calm as he shakes his head.

"No, it's about a kid who might be mine."

Kurt's answer shocks him again, but he tries to disguise it this time.

"Tell me as many details as you can."

"Well I had an affair with his mother that ended last spring and now she has a year old son who might be mine. Her sister told me all about it, then the mother denied it and then her sister did too. But I don't believe them anymore, I want to know the truth and if he's really my son, I want to have a relationship with him."

Will doesn't have to ask what Diane has to say about all this, he thinks he knows the answer to this question on his own. Maybe that is the reason she isn't there now and why Kurt's turning to him for advice.

"You can file a paternity lawsuit if that is what you want. The court will order a paternity test and then you can know for sure if he's yours and maybe ask for joint custody if he is."

"I'm not thinking that far ahead, I don't want to interfere with their life too much, but if he is my son, I have a right to know him."

"You do."

"I have to sleep on it, but if it comes to that would you represent me?"

"I haven't dealt with family law in years," he tries to find an excuse, not that he couldn't handle such a case, because he knows he could. It would be easier to say he should turn to David, but he isn't with the firm anymore either.

"I suspected that, but I know I can trust you, it's a very sensitive topic for me, not to mention for Diane."

Will can only imagine how Diane feels about this, it must have come as a shock to her. It doesn't matter what's going on between them, he's only ever wished happiness for her.

"All right, I'll be happy to help."

"Thank you," Kurt replies with a trustful smile that fades away after a few seconds, "I'm sorry about what happened to your firm," he adds and Will's glad he's able to reply to this statement he's heard countless times already with his head high.

"Thanks. My reign had to end once, it could have ended much sooner."

He remembers the time when he was suspended, but Diane still had his back and he was able to retake his seat as the name partner when he'd sit out his penalty. And after everything she's done for him he's still partly blaming her for what happened to their firm.

"I hope it's not the end yet."

"We'll see."

They hear some noise coming from the front door and Will is sure it can only be Diane. He looks at Kurt who jumps up from his seat right away and walks out the room. Will doesn't follow him. Now that she's here they will meet in a few minutes anyway. It's been months since they last talked, the bankruptcy changed everything. Will realized he had no friends anymore, only enemies and they all wanted one thing, to see the end of Gardner and Associates. Finally someone did come to his rescue, but the prize he had to pay was too high.

"Hi," he turns in the direction of her voice and looks at the woman who used to play a big part in his life. She hasn't changed at all, while Will is sure he has aged a few years in these last months alone.

"Hi," he stands up and takes one step towards her, "Kurt called me," he says something Diane must know already, but he cannot think of anything else to say, even though he had time to prepare for seeing her.

"I know."

They stare at each other in silence for a few seconds, he's waiting for her to say something, because his mind is blank at the moment, but she stays quiet, so he has no choice but to put an end to this awkward moment.

"I'd better go," he says and he hopes to hear something from her that makes him stay, but she only nods silently.

He walks past her and sees Kurt waiting in the hall. He must have heard what went down inside the room. He must have known that he and Diane aren't on the best terms, that's why Will was even more surprised when he called him for help.

But no matter how awkward it was, he's glad that he came, it was good to see Diane again.