Even if she’s telling the truth, these are nothing but excuses. It takes all of three minutes to pick up the phone and call me. Still, I’m not in the habit of antagonizing my clients, so I move on. “I have your papers ready. All you need to do is sign, and you and your husband—”

“My husband is here,” she cuts me off, pulling on the man’s arm. “This is Cedric. I’ve decided to give him a second chance.”

My jaw drops, and I stare at the man directly for the first time. I’ve never met him before, so I didn’t recognize him. All Cedric Thomas has ever been to me is a name on a page, a mysterious figure I needed to get my client away from with as little emotional and financial loss as possible.

Mr. Thomas flashes me a big smile. “She came this”—he brings his index and thumb together until they’re almost touching—“close to divorcing me. But I can’t complain; it’s only thanks to her bitch-face of a lawyer that we’re back together. If Mary hadn’t gone to her, we would’ve never met the wonderful couples’ therapist who works next door. Total chance, Mary and Dr. Keller bumped into each other in the elevator, and he convinced her to give our marriage a second chance. One hour with him put us back on track. Heck.” He side-hugs his wife—who by now has gone pale with mortification—and looks down at her adoringly. “We’ve never been happier.”

He pauses, then winces. “Sorry, I just realized how rude I’ve been, I haven’t introduced myself, Cedric Thomas, and you are?”

“Her bitch-face of a lawyer,” I snap. “So nice to meet you.” Mr. Thomas goes as pale as his wife, and neither says a word. I give them one of the fakest smiles I can muster, then turn on my heel and stride away, leaving them to wallow in their embarrassment.

After a block of speed-walking and venting to myself, I pull out my phone and call Leslie. She picks up on the third ring.

“Vivi. What’s up?”

“Hi,” I say.

“Are you running? You sound breathless.”

“No, just been power-walking all over Manhattan.”

“Oh, where are you?”

“Near Madison Square Park.”

“Really? I’m three blocks away; you want to meet for a drink?”

I remove my phone from my ear to check the time, and sigh. “No, I can’t, I promised Tegan we would have dinner tonight before she goes to the movies with her friends. And I’m also carrying your present for tomorrow night, still unwrapped.”

“Hm? Madison Square Park, you said… What special shops are there? I can’t think of anything.”

“Now, don’t you go Google-Earthing the entire block! Be patient until tomorrow night and you’ll love the surprise, trust me.”