“I’m going to my sister's engagement party, remember?” I leave out the part where I’m going to convince Selena to call off the wedding. Although, I’m sure Richard would praise me for that too.
“I didn’t even know you had a sister. How am I supposed to remember her engagement party?”
“Richard, if Van and Wendtz Law can’t survive one afternoon without me, I think I need to renegotiate my pay.” My killer instinct tells me to add, “Or demand I finally become a partner.”
My breath hangs in the air with my words, waiting for his response. I’ve been working my butt off for five years. I started as an intern and graduated to lead counsel. The next stop is partner, a position I definitely deserve. Van and Wendtz is my entire life. I live and breathe divorce cases, and if they don’t reward my efforts soon, I’ll threaten to leave the firm. It’s not personal. Just business.
His silence has me doubting my instincts, but then there’s a heavy sigh, like he’s relenting. “On Monday, perhaps it’s time we discuss your future with our law firm.”
My head falls back, and my eyes close with relief, but my voice remains calm. “Good choice, Richard. It’s the smart thing to do.”
“Yes, I suppose.”
I approach my gate just as they prepare to shut the door to the gangway.
Right on time.
“But for today, Mark will have to handle things.”
The desk agent smiles, though there’s a bit of annoyance painting the edge of her lips.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t mess anything up,” Richard mutters.
“It’ll be fine. I can fix whatever Mark does or doesn’t do.” I give an apologetic grin to the agent. “Anyway, I need to board my flight, so we’ll talk Monday.”
“Fine. Safe travels.”
The call ends, and I swipe to my boarding pass. “Sorry about that,” I say to the gate agent, but she’s all business as she takes my phone and holds it over the scanner.
Stars appear in the corners of my vision, prompting me to grab the counter for a little support. But as quickly as they come, they disappear, so I stand up straight, making a mental note to be sure to take out a protein bar from my carry-on before I sit down.
“Have a nice flight.” The agent returns my phone, not even bothering to look me in the eyes.
I get it. She’s just trying to do her job. To her, I’m late and rudely talking on the phone. I’d be the same way if I were in her position. That’s why I flash a kind smile and wish her a good day as I pass. Women in the workforce need to band together. It’s a man’s world out there.
But on Monday, this woman might become the first woman partner at Van and Wendtz Law.
First, I just have to call off my sister’s engagement.
Hess
I have the entire row to myself.
Too bad it’s a short flight from Sonoma County to Phoenix. Whenever I have long flights, I’m sandwiched between old men who smell like they’ve forgotten to change their adult diapers.
I thought doors were closed and we were preparing to pull back from the gate, but a woman rounds the corner, dragging luggage behind her as she walks down the aisle. I know she’s headed to my row. I can feel it—the disappointment that comes from seeing your row partner looming down the aisle. It’s fine. It’s not like I was about to lie across all three seats. I’d never fit. But I did look forward to having the extra space just in case I wanted to manspread or something.
As she gets closer, she becomes recognizable.
Thin body frame. Flawless skin. Dark-brown eyes. But the most signifying feature: her curly black hair.
It’s my long-lost wife.
She stops in front of me, dropping her purse into the aisle seat. Her brown eyes briefly stop on me, and I’m ready for the dawn of recognition to hit her, but there’s nothing.
Nothing.
I know five and a half years is a long time. My hair is a lot longer now than it was then, and I have scruff on my face, but we did get married. You’d think you’d keep a small memory in the back of your mind of what your spouse looks like, just on the off chance you bump into them on a flight.
