Clive comes over to clear the air, a fortnight after getting head of chambers. Martha still isn't answering his calls, so he just shows up on her doorstep. For a moment she's tempted to shut the door in his face, but his eyes are so pleading that she stands aside to let him in. They sit at her kitchen table, Martha remembering other times that he was here in her flat. When she got so drunk celebrating their tenancy that he had to practically carry her home and tuck her up on the sofa, when she told him about the baby, when Daniel was here and Clive was being all weird and jealous.
"I'm not coming back to chambers," she says.
He nods slowly. "What will you do, then?"
"I'm not sure yet. I've got Sean's appeal to deal with before anything else."
"You still think he's innocent?"
"I know he is." Seeing Clive's expression, Martha continues. "Look, I know he's not perfect. Maybe he even beat up his ex-girlfriend, I don't know. But he's not guilty of murder. I can't let him rot in prison for something he didn't do."
"Do you love him?" Clive asks. He has no right to ask, gave up his right to ask questions like that when he banged Harriet in their office. Martha doesn't have to answer, but his vulnerable tone, plus the fact that she's always been honest with Clive, except in court, makes her answer anyway.
"Yes, I love him," she says. "He's a part of my past. A big part. He's part of who I am and where I came from." She looks at Clive, who nods again. "But I'm not in love with him. Not any more."
There's a glimmer of hope in Clive's expression, but it quickly fades. "I really was trying to help, finding the jacket."
"I know." She nods.
"So am I forgiven?"
She shrugs. "If you forgive me."
"For what?"
"Being too consumed with my work. Not being fair to you over Sean." Not saying that I loved you back.
"It's okay." He smiles.
"Congratulations, by the way, on the vote."
"Thanks for dropping out." He finally acknowledges, "I might not have got it otherwise."
"You probably would, with Harriet on your side." Clive looks away at the mention of Harriet.
"I didn't think about what switching to prosecution-only would mean," he confesses. "I was just so set on getting the job…"
"Clive Reader, letting ambition cloud his judgement?" Martha finally smiles at him. He smiles back, relieved.
They share a quick, tight hug before he leaves and Martha closes the door behind him softly.