“If it makes you feel any better, I was a total disaster, and Jake’s partner managed to get me custody of Hank. But if there are any skeletons in your closet, you’d better tell Jake now. He doesn’t react well to surprises. Can I ask you something?” I nodded. The idea of personal questions and my privacy seemed of no concern to anyone. “Have you always been faithful to Elliott?”

I looked at Henry. “Damn, Henry, I was only married nine months.” He looked back at me and waited. “Yes!” I said loudly enough for the receptionist to look at us. Henry looked a little surprised, and I tried not to hold that against him. “Do you have such low expectations of me?”

“No. I have really big expectations of you. With your clean record with Elliott, Jake should be able to make it rain for you. Jake loves that saying: make it rain. That means he’ll be able to get you a favorable outcome.”

“But Henry, you don’t understand how little there is to split. Elliott has nothing but my money. Hard to garner much rain from that!”

Shortly after, Griffin appeared and took a seat next to Henry. I had purposely sat at the head of the table. I was still finding my footing with my men. Maybe it was because they were the men in my life. I felt a potent blend of disappointment, love mixed with a desire for independence.

“Thank you for coming to get me, Griffin,” I started formally. “Please don’t take this the wrong way. I appreciate you both.”

“Oh no, here she goes,” Henry said.

“You know me. I don’t want your pity. I don’t even want to be taken care of.” I briefly looked at Griffin before I continued, “I am coming home on one condition. I hope you will meet my condition. You will let me redesign VERT. I’m not even asking you to give me the job. But think about it: VERT needs a facelift. What other restaurant designer do you know who has logged as much time in that restaurant as I have?”

“Your sister really is a kind of terrorist, isn’t she? Talk about no good deed goes unpunished.” Griffin managed a small smile.

“I don’t want to be your project. After Jake gets paid, I can get an apartment of my own,” I proposed.

“Just how much do you charge?” Henry asked.