The next afternoon, Steve pulled into Ashley’s driveway with a rented trailer attached to the Ark.
Ashley opened the garage door from inside the house.
“You could have kept your stuff here longer,” she said.
“I got lucky and found an office right away. Thanks anyway.”
“Can I help you load?”
“No, I’ll do it myself. I’ve put you out enough.”
“Really, I – – ”
“I’ll tell you when I’m done.”
It took him a little more than an hour to get everything packed right. Then he was ready to do it, really do it. In Verner he’d be able to start afresh and be a small-town lawyer. He had a client with some deep pockets and he could build an actual practice. He wouldn’t have to scrape for misdemeanor assignments or conflict cases.
Maybe he could become what he never was in Canoga Park — a respected member of the community.
Steve said good-bye to Ashley at the front door. For a fleeting moment she seemed to show the slightest wisp of sadness. Or maybe it was just his imagination bucking for a promotion.
“So this is really it?” Ashley said. “You’re making a clean break?”
“Clean,” he said.
“I really hope it works out for you.”
“You never know. I might actually not muck this one up.”
“You’re a good lawyer, Steve. Don’t forget that. Don’t let anything get in the way of that.”
Steve smiled. “You’re the great lawyer in the fam . . . the best one I know.”
Ashley looked at the ground.
“So anyway,” he said, “I guess we won’t be seeing each other again.”
“Steve — ”
“No, it’s best that way. Time for me to leave you alone.”
“We know where to find each other,” Ashley said.
“At the corner of Bedlam and Squalor?”
“Drive safely, will you?”
“Hey, the Ark is — ”
The sound of tires squealing into the driveway stopped him. A silver Lexus convertible.
Steve turned back to Ashley. “The Ark is not that car.”
In that car was a perfectly coiffed guy of about forty, who emerged with the strut and bearing of the Los Angeles superlawyer. Steve knew the look. It was as unmistakable as the downtown skyline.
The new arrival took off his shades as he approached, folded them, and held them in his left hand. He wore a white shirt with blue stripes and patterned blue tie.
“Steve,” Ashley said, “this is Ben Knight.”
Knight stuck out a hand and Steve caught a whiff of cologne. Steve shook the hand. Knight put the vice grip on it.
“How ya doin’?” he said.
“Great.” Not.
“That your Caddy? It’s a classic.”
“I could fit your car in my trunk.”
“No doubt.” To Ashley, Knight said, “I’m early. Can I pour us a drink?”
“Sure,” Ashley said.
Knight slapped Steve on the shoulder, the old frat-boy pat. “Nice to meet you finally.” He gave Ashley a kiss on the mouth and walked inside like he owned the place.
“Congratulations,” Steve said.
“We just started going out,” Ashley said.
“Oh? How many times? I don’t usually do the kiss-and-I’ll-fix-us-a-drink ’til the fifth date.”
“Steve — ”
“Are you up to fix-me-a-sandwich-and-take-off-your-clothes?”
“Don’t act this way.”
“Who’s he a partner with?”
“How do you know he’s a lawyer?”
“He almost tripped over his ego on the way in.”
“That’s not fair. You don’t know him. He’s a genuinely nice guy.”
“Unlike your former husband, right?”
“I’m not going to do this. We can be nice to each other, can’t we? You’ve said you’re changed, and I’m happy for you, and I hope you’ll meet someone who will make you happy too.”
“Let’s all be happy.”
“Yes.”
“Yeah. Well.” He didn’t know whether to shake her hand or give her a noncommittal hug or let her make the first move. They stood like topiary hedges, swaying a little in the breeze but fixed to the ground.
“Later,” Steve said finally. He walked past the Lexus with the black leather interior and out to his Ark with the coffee-stain interior and drove away.