Page 22 of Feared

“Then you’ll write another one, or another job offer will come up, and either way, we’ll have each other and a beautiful little baby girl.”

Anthony managed a smile, a welcome shadow in the dark car. “Hold on, I thought you said it was a boy. You said it felt like a boy.”

“I changed my mind.” Mary smiled back. “At this point, I don’t care if it’s a girl or boy.”

Anthony recoiled. “What? You want a girl.”

“Not anymore. Either way, it’ll get sued.”

Anthony laughed.

“You still want a boy?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“Truly, I’ll take either. That’s the kind of mom I am.”

“Please, I’ve had enough gender politics for one day, with this litigation.” Mary let her thoughts cycle back to the Answer, which they had spent the afternoon drafting. “I’ll probably have to go in tomorrow to do some research on the case.”

“But it’s Saturday.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Mary said, not wanting to fight. She and Anthony got along so beautifully, but the only thing they fought over was how much she worked, yet another role reversal.

“So Machiavelli’s really suing the firm?”

“Yes, did you see the press conference?”

“I caught it online, and yours, too.”

“Oh that must’ve been terrific.” Mary shuddered. “Can we not talk about it? It was a debacle. The whole thing is a debacle.”

“On the plus side, you looked pretty. So did Bennie. Less Amazonian than usual.”

Mary smiled. “Anne made us up. Like my new dress?”

“How much did it cost?”

“The firm paid for it.”

“Then I love it.” Anthony sighed. “You really have to go in tomorrow? Can’t you slack? It’s been so long since we’ve had a lazy weekend. There’s not that many more left before the baby comes.”

“I can’t, honey.” Mary put her hand on his leg. “This lawsuit is too important. He named us as individual defendants, did you know that?”

“Wait, what?” Anthony braked at the light, and Mary could see his alarmed frown.

“He’s suing us under a law that enables him to sue the three partners personally.”

“Does that mean what I think it means? If you lose, we pay it? Personally?”

“Yes,” Mary answered, kicking herself. She knew that Anthony worried about money, which she understood, but she was in no mood.

“How would we pay? How much? What damages are they asking?”

“It’s unclear at this point.”

“But they have to ask for damages in the Complaint, don’t they?”