Chapter Twenty-Five
The text is simple:
How about a drink?
And even though it's been a while, the answer comes right away:
I thought you'd never ask.
When they are sitting at their usual table in one of their regular places after months of no talking, he isn't sure anymore if this was a good idea, until she asks her first question, making him chuckle.
"Did Diane put you up to this?"
"No, why would you think that?"
"No reason," she tries to hide her half-smile behind her glass.
She is wrong and also right. He has been considering calling her, but the talk with Diane gave him the last push. And now that they are here, he's glad he made the first step.
"It's good to see you again, K," he admits, smiling at his friend and her smile is now much more visible as she replies.
"It's good to see you too."
"How is freelance work?" he inquires, wanting to know how Kalinda is doing on her own.
"Diverse," she answers briefly as always, "How is Patti?"
"Pregnant."
Kalinda's laughter makes Will laugh as well, even though he still hasn't gotten over his boss's announcement the other day. Why on earth would she want a third child, when she has a firm to run now?
"So you'll be in charge again soon?"
"I doubt it, I'm sure it will be one of her boy toys."
If he did think for a second Patti would leave the firm to his care for the few months she might spend at home, the news would have affected him a lot differently.
"Aren't you one of them?"
"Don't even joke about that," he warns her playfully.
"When are you leaving her?"
She brings up a question that crosses his mind every single day, but it's still not the right time. He needs a plan and a partner.
"I can't make it on my own."
"Too bad."
"Are you looking for a home?"
It's clear that even if she did hold a grudge, she isn't anymore and Will would want nothing more than to work with her again.
"What makes you think that?" she casually lifts her drink again.
"You'll be my first call," he promises and he notices her slight nod, as a promise for the future, that he can still count on her, whenever.
o-o-o
"I thought I ask if everything's okay."
It simply feels good to call Diane, just to ask if she's doing fine, but in the light of their Friday night in the bar and what she told him about their fight with Kurt, he feels like it's also his duty to call her.
"We are not killing each other, don't worry," she replies and it's nice to hear her joke and in a much better mood.
"I was hoping you know better than that," he smiles, making her chuckle.
"Thank you for the company," she refers to their meeting, after which they took a cab and he made sure she got home safe before he did.
"You would have been fine without me," he remembers what he saw when he entered the bar, Diane in a seemingly enjoyable conversation with a man he didn't recognize at first.
"What do you mean?"
"The process server," he states.
"Jack? Told you we were just catching up," she repeats what she said that night and he didn't ask any details, but it was obvious Diane hadn't only meet the guy when he'd served her with a subpoena.
"Be careful," he warns her, even though he knows it's none of his business and Diane probably doesn't need his advice, but he gives it to her nevertheless.
"I'm always careful," comes the confident answer, that is so like her, but he knows what he saw and with Kurt's kid in the picture, he is aware that their marriage is probably suffering more than Diane would admit.
"William."
He turns to the voice, coming from his office door, where his favorite boss is standing.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go, talk to you soon?" he mutters to the phone.
"Yes, bye."
"Do you need me?" he flashes a smile in Patti's direction, who steps inside.
"Yes, there's a client in my office I want you to meet. He requested a male lawyer."
Will can't help laughing at this statement, but when he notices that Patti doesn't find it funny, he stops.
"I'm coming."