asking that I call ASAP. I pick up the phone.
“Hi, Liesel. It’s Molly.”
“Did we get the papers yet?”
“No, Liesel. We’re not supposed to get them until the fifth, remember? We spoke about this yesterday.”
“Hey. A little sensitivity. My husband is trying to steal my cats.”
“I am well aware of that, Liesel.”
“Watch your tone. You know, client management is a big part of your job.”
I take a deep breath and force my voice to be even, calm. “I promise I will tell you as soon as we get the papers.”
“Oh, and also you need to call Stewart’s lawyers. I’ve decided I’m not making this month’s support payment as long as this motion is going on.”
I swallow hard. “Liesel, you can’t just not pay support. Wait one month and I’m sure you’ll be awarded counsel fees for this motion.”
“God, why do you always take his side? If he’s making this stupid motion, he doesn’t deserve any support.”
“I understand, but it helps our case if you haven’t defaulted on the terms of the agreement.”
“Molly. You know what lawyers are supposed to do?”
“Give their clients good advice?”
“No, Molly. You, as my lawyer, are supposed to zea-lous-ly ad-voc-ate for me.” She draws out the syllables as though I’m a toddler. “That means if something is important to me, it should be important to you. It’s funny. I used to not understand why people in finance were better compensated than lawyers. I mean, we all go to the same colleges and consider the same career paths. Now, though, I don’t know. Having worked in finance and going through this experience, I feel like, if anything, lawyers are overrated. People in finance have a head for business, you know? Lawyers just seem—a little…slow. Anyway, call Stewart’s lawyers and then call me right back.”
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. Then I walk down the hall to Lillian’s office, going quickly so that I get there before I lose my nerve.
__________
L illian is behind her desk, animatedly talking to Rachel and Liz. They’re perched on the couch, listening silently, identical wide impressed smiles on their faces.
“…And I told him that even if I represent the governor, it doesn’t mean that I get a tax break, so he should definitely take that into account.”
Liz and Rachel laugh in simulcast.
“What did he say?” Liz says as Rachel simultaneously says, “That’s too funny.”
“Molly! I was just about to buzz you. Congressman Larson sent over some chocolate-covered strawberries.” She points to a box on the table in front of the couch. “Take, take. What do yousay, girls? Should we do a little impromptu tea right now? I have about twenty minutes.”
“Of course!” “Great!” “Definitely,” we all say at the same time.
Wearing only nude trouser socks on her feet, Lillian pads over to the chair opposite the couch. She grabs a strawberry and bites off the bottom.
“Did I ever tell you girls about the time I represented Ben Brick?”
“No.” “I don’t think so.” “You represented Ben Brick?” Liz, Rachel and I are like Greek chorus misfits, unable to achieve unison.
“Well, I thought of it today because he has a movie coming out so I keep seeing his name. Anyway, it’s a great lesson….” She launches into the story, something about Ben Brick not telling her that he had a gay lover on the side and that fact coming up at trial, resulting in a big fight between Lillian and Ben Brick, during which she called him an asshole and he cried. I would have loved the story a year ago, but my mind is still preoccupied with Liesel.
When Lillian stops talking, we all murmur approvingly.
“Speaking of difficult clients, I have one now.”
Lillian turns toward me. “Oh Molly, I’m sorry to hear that.”
She doesn’t really sound sorry. She sounds a little steely, actually. I plunge in. “Yeah. It’s really difficult, right? When clients make it almost impossible to do your job. Sometimes
“Hi, Liesel. It’s Molly.”
“Did we get the papers yet?”
“No, Liesel. We’re not supposed to get them until the fifth, remember? We spoke about this yesterday.”
“Hey. A little sensitivity. My husband is trying to steal my cats.”
“I am well aware of that, Liesel.”
“Watch your tone. You know, client management is a big part of your job.”
I take a deep breath and force my voice to be even, calm. “I promise I will tell you as soon as we get the papers.”
“Oh, and also you need to call Stewart’s lawyers. I’ve decided I’m not making this month’s support payment as long as this motion is going on.”
I swallow hard. “Liesel, you can’t just not pay support. Wait one month and I’m sure you’ll be awarded counsel fees for this motion.”
“God, why do you always take his side? If he’s making this stupid motion, he doesn’t deserve any support.”
“I understand, but it helps our case if you haven’t defaulted on the terms of the agreement.”
“Molly. You know what lawyers are supposed to do?”
“Give their clients good advice?”
“No, Molly. You, as my lawyer, are supposed to zea-lous-ly ad-voc-ate for me.” She draws out the syllables as though I’m a toddler. “That means if something is important to me, it should be important to you. It’s funny. I used to not understand why people in finance were better compensated than lawyers. I mean, we all go to the same colleges and consider the same career paths. Now, though, I don’t know. Having worked in finance and going through this experience, I feel like, if anything, lawyers are overrated. People in finance have a head for business, you know? Lawyers just seem—a little…slow. Anyway, call Stewart’s lawyers and then call me right back.”
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. Then I walk down the hall to Lillian’s office, going quickly so that I get there before I lose my nerve.
__________
L illian is behind her desk, animatedly talking to Rachel and Liz. They’re perched on the couch, listening silently, identical wide impressed smiles on their faces.
“…And I told him that even if I represent the governor, it doesn’t mean that I get a tax break, so he should definitely take that into account.”
Liz and Rachel laugh in simulcast.
“What did he say?” Liz says as Rachel simultaneously says, “That’s too funny.”
“Molly! I was just about to buzz you. Congressman Larson sent over some chocolate-covered strawberries.” She points to a box on the table in front of the couch. “Take, take. What do yousay, girls? Should we do a little impromptu tea right now? I have about twenty minutes.”
“Of course!” “Great!” “Definitely,” we all say at the same time.
Wearing only nude trouser socks on her feet, Lillian pads over to the chair opposite the couch. She grabs a strawberry and bites off the bottom.
“Did I ever tell you girls about the time I represented Ben Brick?”
“No.” “I don’t think so.” “You represented Ben Brick?” Liz, Rachel and I are like Greek chorus misfits, unable to achieve unison.
“Well, I thought of it today because he has a movie coming out so I keep seeing his name. Anyway, it’s a great lesson….” She launches into the story, something about Ben Brick not telling her that he had a gay lover on the side and that fact coming up at trial, resulting in a big fight between Lillian and Ben Brick, during which she called him an asshole and he cried. I would have loved the story a year ago, but my mind is still preoccupied with Liesel.
When Lillian stops talking, we all murmur approvingly.
“Speaking of difficult clients, I have one now.”
Lillian turns toward me. “Oh Molly, I’m sorry to hear that.”
She doesn’t really sound sorry. She sounds a little steely, actually. I plunge in. “Yeah. It’s really difficult, right? When clients make it almost impossible to do your job. Sometimes
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