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easier.
It’s just… it’s just too hard for me to be here.
Too many memories. Some right in this office,” I say with a
little smile, and I’m surprised when Matt even smiles a little
over my reference to the times we’d gotten down and dirty in
here.
    “There’s
nothing I can do to change your mind?” he asks. His eyes peer
hard into mine, trying to determine if there is a loophole he can
work his way inside of.
    If
he could really read my thoughts, he’d see that my heart is
screaming, Yes. You can tell me you’ve
made a huge mistake—that you miss me, love me, and you’ll
die without me.
    But
that’s too much wishful thinking. So I say, “I’m
sorry. This is for the best.”
    He
stares at me for a long moment. I can practically see the wheels and
cogs spinning in his brain. But then I see the moment when
resignation takes over his face, and he accepts what I say. “All
right then. I’ll accept your resignation, and I’ll take
the two weeks’ notice. That’s very professional of you to
offer that. Since you’ll only be here two more weeks, obviously
I won’t be transferring you over to Bill. You can help me wind
up some stuff.”
    “Okay,”
I tell him, not sure if I’m relieved or sad that he didn’t
beg me to stay. “Sounds like a game plan.”

“You
resigned?” Cal asks with astonishment as we move through the
cafeteria line. He pulls a turkey sub onto his tray, and I make a
grab for one of the last Caesar salads left.
    “Yup,”
I tell him, also grabbing a cupcake. I think I’m entitled since
I’m eating rabbit food for lunch.
    When
we get to the cash register I open my wallet, but Cal beats me to it
by handing his credit card over to the cashier.
    “Hey,”
I say in exasperation. “I’m supposed to be buying. I
invited you.”
    Cal
glares at me, and I close my wallet. “I’m buying because
you’re getting ready to be a poor, unemployed lawyer. You need
to be saving your money.”
    We
take our food and easily find an empty table. The lunch rush is
starting to wane, but that’s because we didn’t get here
until about 1:30 PM because Cal was running late. The crowded nature
of this cafeteria is one of the reasons I try to avoid it. Yes, it’s
super convenient having it in our building, but I hate having to
battle for a table.
    We
sit down, and I pull my cupcake toward me. I love eating my dessert
first, although, sometimes I feel self-conscious about it. I don’t
feel that way with Cal, which is again a testament to what a good
friend he’s become to me.
    “I
can’t believe you just quit,” he mutters. “You know
the job market sucks out there for attorneys right now.”
    “I
know. But I have an idea.”
    Raising
his eyebrows at me, Cal takes a bite of his sub and waits for me to
explain.
    Licking
a chunk of frosting off my finger, I say, “I’m going to
open my own firm. And I want you to be my partner.”
    Cal
pauses chewing and just stares at me. I hold his stare, so he knows
I’m not kidding. He quickly swallows his food and wipes his
mouth. Pushing his sandwich aside, he leans across the table toward
me. “Are you serious?”
    Okay,
at least his tone isn’t mocking me but he is in disbelief, so I need to convince him. “Yes. My mom was well
insured when she died. I’m willing to put some of that money
into opening up my own firm. And you are always telling me how you
want to switch from doing defense work to plaintiff’s work. So,
now is your chance. Plus, I have a really huge case, and I need help
with it. If we win it, it will be worth millions. And if we lose it…
well, I’ll need someone’s shoulder to cry on.”
    Cal
takes a deep breath and leans back in his chair, his lunch completely
forgotten. “Let’s say I even entertain this idea. When
would you want to do this?”
    “In
two weeks… I’m ready to start as soon as I leave
Connover and Crown.”
    “Jesus
Christ,” Cal mutters, scrubbing his hand through his hair.
“This case you’re talking