"Why is that?"
"Because Dave's client, unlike our two, hasn't got a pot to piss in. Mr. Milton is bankrolling his client all the way."
"You're kidding?"
"We kid you not," Dave said. "He saw a breakdown in the system and he went after it. That's his style."
"And that's why we're so successful," Ted said proudly, even arrogantly.
Kevin nodded and looked at his new associates again. They weren't knights and this wasn't the Round Table in Camelot, but they would become just as legendary, Kevin thought. He felt sure of that.
Miriam feared her face would remain permanently creased in a smile. She had been smiling and laughing since Kevin left. Norma and Jean were unendingly entertaining.
When one slowed down, the other picked up. At first Miriam thought those two had to be on something, uppers. How could two women be so energetic, so talkative, so ecstatic for so long a period without being juiced?
But their philosophies about life seemed to suggest otherwise. Both were health fanatics, which explained the sugarless muffins; and Miriam had to admit they looked like prime examples of the good life: trim figures, clear, creamy complexions, beautiful white teeth, bright eyes, positive self-images.
Although neither worked or pursued a career, both appeared to have full lives. They went so far as to schedule and organize their days in order to be able to do all that they wanted. Cleaning and cooking took place in the morning, followed by their aerobics classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tuesday was set aside for grocery shopping.
Thursdays they went to the museums and galleries; and of course, Saturdays and Sundays they went to the theater and movies. Most of their evenings were plotted out with dinners, shows, regular get-togethers.
Furthermore, it was immediately obvious to Miriam that Norma and Jean, along with the yet unmet Helen Scholefield, formed a close knit, self-sufficient group. They didn't talk about any other people. Apparently, the three couples went everywhere together, even taking vacations together whenever court schedules permitted it.
As Kevin had suggested, these urban women were continually on the go, their lives comfortable, interesting. She couldn't imagine them spending an afternoon leafing through magazines, watching soap operas, just waiting for their husbands to return from work, as she had been doing lately. It had become increasingly more difficult to get any of her Blithedale friends to come into the city for a show or shopping or anything.
It was always "such an effort to buck the traffic and crowds."
But these two were absolutely impervious, oblivious to any difficulties the city might present, and they lived just as well, if not better, here—no sense of insecurity or fear for their safety, no inconvenience, and, most importantly, perhaps for someone like Miriam who had been brought up on the Island, no feeling of being closed in. Their homes were just as spacious and bright as hers.
Norma's apartment was done in a traditional decor, much like hers and Kevin's back in Blithedale, only Norma and Dave's colors were more conservative. Jean's apartment was brighter, with light colors and wider spaces, her furniture ultramodern, lots of squares and cubes, plastic and glass. Although Miriam wasn't fond of it, it was interesting. Both apartments had the same beautiful views as hers and Kevin's.
"We've been talking and talking," Norma finally realized. They were sitting in her living room sipping white wine from large goblets. "And not giving you a chance."
"That's all right."
"No, it's impolite," Jean said, sitting back and crossing her legs. They were long and slim, and she had a gold ankle chain spotted with small diamonds on her left ankle. Miriam hadn't missed much about their affluence. Both apartments contained expensive things, from their oversized television sets and state-of-the-art stereos to their furnishings, decorations, and ornaments.
"To tell you the truth, I've just been sitting back and admiring your apartments. Both of you have such beautiful things."
"And so will you," Norma said.
She started to shake her head, her eyes tearing.
"What's wrong, Miriam?" Jean asked quickly.
"Nothing's wrong. I just can't believe how fast all this is happening. I feel as if I'm being ripped out of one world and placed into a completely different one overnight, not that it's not all wonderful... it's just.. . just..."
"Overwhelming," Norma said, nodding, her face serious. "It was the same for me."
"And me," Jean chimed in.
"But don't fret about it," Norma said, leaning over to pat Miriam on the knee. "You won't believe how quickly you'll adjust and enjoy. Right, Jean?"
"She speaks truth," Jean said, and the two of them laughed. Miriam had to smile, her anxiety slipping back again.
"Anyway, getting back to you. What have you been doing with yourself while your handsome young husband has been burning up the legal turf in—what did you call it
—Blithedale?" Norma asked.
"Yes, Blithedale. Small community, but we love it. Loved it, I should say." She paused. "Funny, it's almost as if I've left it and been here for months," Miriam said softly. The feeling made her bring her fingers to the base of her throat. Both women stared, similar smiles of amusement on their lips. "Anyway," Miriam continued, "for a while, I tried to do some fashion modeling, but all I did was a department store show here and there. I quickly realized it wasn't the career I really wanted for myself. I helped my father..."
"Who is a dentist?"
"Yes. I worked as a receptionist for nearly six months and then I decided to concentrate on Kevin and our home life. We intend to have children this year."
"So do we," Norma said.
"Pardon?"
"Intend to have children this year," she said, looking at Jean. "In fact. . ."
"We've been conspiring to have them about the same time, although the boys don't know it." They laughed. "Maybe you'll join us now."
"Join you?" Miriam's smile widened in puzzlement.
"Actually, Mr. Milton suggested it to Jean at one of his parties. Wait until you see the penthouse. He's bound to have a party any day now, since there's a new associate in the firm."
"Oh, he gives wonderful parties, gourmet catering, music, interesting guests . .."
"What do you mean, Mr. Milton suggested it?" She turned to Jean.
"He has a wry sense of humor sometimes. He knew we were planning on starting our families this year and he pulled me aside and said wouldn't it be something if Norma and I had our children about the same time, maybe even the same week. I told Norma, and she thought it was a great idea."
"We've been planning it like a campaign, marking days on our calendars when the forays will begin," Norma said, and they both laughed again. Then Jean stopped abruptly.
"We'll show you our plans and maybe you'll join us, unless you and Kevin have already ..."
"No, we haven't."
"Good," she said, sitting back.
Miriam saw they weren't kidding. "You say your husbands don't know?"
"Not all of it," Norma said.
"You don't tell your husband everything you do, do you?" Jean asked.
"We're very close, and something as important as this . . ."
"So are we, close," Norma said, "but Jean's right. You've got to have some personal, woman secrets."
"We three have got to stick together," Norma said. "Men are wonderful, especially our men, but they are, after all, men!" She widened her eyes.
"You should say four," Jean corrected. Norma looked puzzled. "We
four
have got to stick together. You're forgetting Helen."
"Oh yes, Helen. It's just that we see so little of her these days. She's become ... very introspective," she said, throwing her hand up dramatically. Both she and Jean laughed.
"What do you mean?"
"Actually, we're being unfair. Helen had something of a nervous breakdown after Gloria Jaffee's death and went on medication. She's into therapy, but she's a wonderful, kind person, and very attractive," Norma said.
"Gloria Jaffee?"
Norma and Jean looked at each other quickly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Jean said. "I just assumed you knew about the Jaffees." She turned to Norma. "Put my foot in my mouth again, huh?"
"Seems you did, partner."
*
"Who are the Jaffees?" Miriam asked.
"I don't see how you wouldn't find it all out very soon anyway. It's just that I didn't want to be the one who threw some cold water on the fires of excitement and happiness here," Jean said.
"That's all right. I need something to bring me down. It's naive to think everything will always be peaches and cream," Miriam replied.
"Very good attitude," Norma said. "I like that. It's about time we had someone in our group who had some perspective. Jean and I get carried away sometimes, and with Helen so depressing these days, we just tend to avoid anything unpleasant."
"Tell me about the Jaffees," Miriam insisted.
"Richard Jaffee is the attorney your husband is replacing. He killed himself after his wife died in childbirth," Jean said quickly.
"My God!"
"Yes. They had .. . everything to live for. The baby was born healthy, a son," Norma said, "and Richard was brilliant. Dave says Richard was the sharpest attorney he'd ever met, including Mr. Milton."
"How tragic." Miriam thought for a moment and then looked up quickly. "They lived in our apartment, didn't they?" The girls nodded. "I thought so . .. the nursery..."
"Oh, I feel so bad about depressing you," Jean moaned.
"No, it's all right. How did Mr. Jaffee die?"
Norma smirked and shook her head.
"He jumped off the patio," Jean said quickly. "There, now I've told you all the horrible details, and if you're unhappy, Ted's going to blame me."
"Oh no, I'm sure .. ."
"Dave's not going to be ecstatic about my part in this, either," Norma said.
"No, really, it's all right. I'll deal with it. Kevin should have told me right away, that's all."
"He's just trying to protect you," Norma said. "Like a good husband. Dave and Ted are the same way, right, Jean?" .
"Right. Can't fault them for that, Miriam."
"But we're not children!" Miriam exclaimed. Instead of being upset with her response, the two laughed.
"No, we're not," Norma said. "But we're loved, cherished, protected. You might not realize how important that is just yet, Miriam, but believe me . .. believe us, after a while, you'll see how wonderful it is. Why, Jean and I don't even ask about the grisly details of our husbands' cases anymore, and the boys don't talk about them around us."
"Isn't that thoughtful?" Jean added.
Miriam looked from one to the other. Then she sat back. Maybe it was thoughtful; maybe if she hadn't been so involved in the details of the Lois Wilson case, she wouldn't have been so upset about the way Kevin had handled it, and she could have taken more pleasure in his success, a success that had contributed to all this.
"After all"—Norma continued to pound home the point—"they're working hard to make things wonderful for us."
"The least we can do," Jean concluded, "is make it easier for them to do so."
They laughed in unison and sipped some wine.
Miriam said nothing for a moment. "Tell me about Helen Scholefield," she said.
"How is she?"
"Oh, she's improving. Therapy has helped a great deal. Mr. Milton recommended someone as soon as he heard she was having problems," Norma said.
"She's been painting again, too, and that's helped as well," Jean added.
"Oh yes. And she's good. I'm sure she will be happy to show you her work."
"Actually, it's very good. Reminds me of Chagall, but with a touch of Goodfellow. You remember that abstract artist we saw over at the Simmons Gallery in SoHo last month," Jean said. Norma nodded.
Miriam shook her head and smiled at them.
"What's wrong?" Jean asked.
"You two seem ... so cosmopolitan," she said, thinking of Kevin's words. "You take everything so calmly and you're not afraid of doing things. It's wonderful. I admire you both."
"You know, I think you've actually been the one kind of cloistered out there in your Long Island world," Jean said, her face growing calmer and more serious-looking. "Am I right?"
Miriam thought for a moment. Sometimes she felt that way. Her parents had sent her to a private school when she was twelve and from there she went on to an exclusive junior college and then to college and modeling school, always pampered, always protected. Kevin had certainly treated her that way since they were married. Now she even believed he had joined Boyle, Carlton, and Sessler and designed a life for them in Blithedale only because she had wanted it. Had she been holding him back? Could he have gotten them into this world even sooner? She hated to think that she had been selfish, and yet.. .
"I suppose that's true."
"Not that either Norma or I have had a rough time. Norma's father is a plastic surgeon on Park Avenue. She's lived on the exclusive East Side all her life, and I come from affluent parents in Suffolk County." She sat back. "My father's a broker and my mother's a real estate agent who probably could sell the Brooklyn Bridge," she added.
"She could. I met her," Norma said.
"But don't you worry," Jean said. "In a matter of days, you'll be just like us, doing many of the same, crazy things. Whether you want to be or not," she added prophetically. There was a moment of silence and then Norma laughed. Jean joined her, and just as Jean predicted, Miriam started laughing too.
6
Outside the conference room, the associates parted, each off to work on his own case.
Kevin said his goodbyes and walked to his office while he looked over the case file Milton had given him. He sat down in the comfortable leather desk chair and continued reading through the folder, formulating tactics and making notes as he went along.