We carried our plates up the stairs to a small dining room where there was only one other couple. Nicholas found us a quiet place tucked in the corner behind the servers’ station.

“So what do you think of our party?”

“I feel a little out of place,” I said. “Everything is so nice.”

“You deserve nice,” he said. “Thank you for coming with me. Usually I just put in my time, eat a few shrimp, and bolt. It’s been really nice having you here.”

“I think everyone’s fooled,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“They really think we’re a couple.”

He ate a few more shrimp, then said, “You know what’s sad is that we might be one of the most authentic couples here tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“Charles, Blake, and Stephanie are having affairs. Phil and his paralegal Rachel have mysteriously disappeared at the same time every Thursday afternoon for the last three years, and Kurt is waiting for the optimum financial opportunity to divorce his wife. What we have might be more real than much of what we saw out there tonight.”

“Are Scott and Sharon happy?”

“Yes. They’re the real thing.”

“They seem happy,” I said.

Nicholas must have tired of the topic because he took a drink of eggnog and said, “I know I said it before, but you really do look beautiful tonight.”

“It’s the dress.”

“That’s like saying the Mona Lisa is beautiful because of its frame.”

We stole off from the party without saying good-bye. Nicholas took the long way back to my place, which I didn’t mind. I didn’t want the night to end. It was almost midnight when he pulled up in front of my apartment.

“I hope that wasn’t too painful,” he said.

“No. It was really nice. Actually, I haven’t been anywhere that nice for a long time. They treated me better than my own colleagues.”

“You can accuse us lawyers of many things, but we are civil. At least most of the time. Candace could have been nicer.”

“I’m afraid I drew first blood.”

“How’s that?”

“I asked her if she was a legal secretary.”

Nicholas grimaced. “Yes, that would definitely pull her chain.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“It’s all right. She’ll get over it.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Good night, Elise.”

“Good night.” I reached for the door handle, then looked back. “May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why are you so nice to me?”

He was quiet a moment, then said, “It makes me sad that you had to ask.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. “Good night, Nicholas. Thank you for a lovely evening.”

“It was my pleasure.”