Page 16 of Pursuit of Happiness

“Will you be needing me later, Senator?”

Meredith looked up and saw they were parked outside her townhouse.She met Erica’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “No, I plan to stay in for thenight.” She started to open the door, but paused. “Erica, may I ask you apersonal question?”

“Sure.”

She plunged ahead before she could change her mind. “What are thecharacteristics you’re looking for in a president?”

Erica laughed. “Not exactly personal. I suppose I look for thingslike drive and intelligence. The ability to play well with others withoutabandoning core values.”

“You’ve given this some thought.”

“Something tells me you have too.” Erica grinned. “You mind if Iask you a question?”

“Go for it.”

“Are you going to run?”

Meredith chuckled. “Something tells me you’ve been playing talkradio while you’re waiting for me.” She shook her head. “If I ever run, you’llbe one of the first to know.” She exited the car before Erica could ask anotherquestion. As she walked up the steps, she made a mental note to have Jenprepare some scripted answers for questions like Erica’s until she knew exactlywhat she planned to do.

Once inside, she shucked off her suit jacket and tossed it on thearmchair just inside the foyer and kicked her shoes to the side of the chair.One of the joys of living alone was the ability to make small messes withoutconsequence. She wandered her way to the kitchen and poured a glass of winefrom the bottle she’d opened the night before. It was an earthy red, and herfirst thought was how well it would go with a burger, and her second thoughtwas she was starving. She reached for her phone to order a delivery, and as shescrolled through the options on the app, she thought about Stevie and theburger they’d shared at The Saloon.

She’d sent a box of chocolates to Stevie’s office with a noteapologizing for ducking out of the wedding, but the better part of a week hadpassed with no acknowledgement. She knew it had been a jerk move to abandon herdate, but Stevie’s silence was a clear message she wasn’t interested inforgiving the slight, and Meredith really didn’t have any business datingsomeone who had a problem with her chaotic schedule. So why was it so hard forher to stop thinking about Stevie?

She knew the answer. Stevie was the first woman she’d met in whoknew how long who was willing to speak truth to power. Most of the single womenMeredith crossed paths with were either jockeying for favors or her money.Stevie was different. Outspoken, opinionated, and intelligent—Stevie challengedher and she liked it.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she nearly jumped out of herskin at the sound. She glanced at the display and smiled at the text, taking itas a sign that her fondness for Stevie wasn’t entirely one-sided.

* * *

Stevie walked in the door to her office and sighed at the pile ofwork on her desk that had grown in the three days she’d been away. The NACDLseminar in Chicago had been chock full of great information, but when it camedown to it, she and the other public defenders were so busy trying to keep upwith the load they had, it was hard to think about adding new skills.

She sank into her chair and tried not to let the stack of filesoverwhelm her when she spotted a box from Harper Macaw, well-known DCchocolatier. She shoved the files aside and pulled the box toward her, spottinga card with her name penned in lavish script.

She was still staring at the box when Joe poked his head in thedoor, and she crossed her arms over it, unsure why she was bothering to hide itfrom him.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

She jerked her chin at the files. “Getting a head start ontomorrow. I see you didn’t do all my work while I was away.”

He waved a hand. “Forget all that and come out with us. Hannah’sholding a spot at Quarry House and she won’t be able to fend people off forlong.”

“I can’t. I’ve got a hearing on Friday, and I’ve got to playcatch-up with all these files.”

“Who’s the boss?”

“Depends. Are you going to tell the judge why I don’t have asolid argument to suppress this evidence?”

“Tell you what. You come out with us tonight and I’ll carve outsome time tomorrow to go through the case file with you. Deal?”

She shouldn’t, but maybe a reset was what she needed to bridgefrom inspiring conference to back to the grind. “Okay. I’ll meet you there.”She noted his dubious expression and she crossed her heart. “I swear I’ll bethere. I just need to take care of one thing.”

Stevie waited until the door was shut and his footfalls fadedaway before slitting open the card. Unlike her first delivery from MeredithMitchell, this one was on personal, rather than official stationary. The notewas simple and short.Awoman should never leave a date at a party, no matter what the reason. Pleaseaccept my apologies and assurance it won’t ever happen again. Oh, and here’s alittle something to sweeten your day.

She read the card three times before reaching for the box andsurveying the contents. Her favorite chocolates. How could Meredith know shehad a weakness for these bars? Before she could second-guess the action, Steviereached for her phone and typed a quick text.

You made myday.

She’d barely set the phone back down when it buzzed.

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