Although she'd been divorced twice, both times had been by her choice and both divorces had left her exes despondent over losing her.
I didn't think less of my mother, because she gave as good as she got and didn't take anyone for granted, but I'd grown up striving for independence.
My right to say no was my most valued possession.
Minimizing my e-mail window, I pushed my personal life aside and went back to searching for market comparisons on fruity coffee.
I coordinated some initial meetings between the strategists and Mark and helped Mark with brainstorming a campaign for a gluten-free restaurant.
Noon approached and I was starting to feel seriously hungry when my phone rang.
I answered with my usual greeting.
"Eva?" an accented female voice greeted me.
"It's Magdalene.
Do you have a minute?" I leaned back in my chair, alert.
Magdalene and I had once shared a moment of sympathy over Corinne's unexpected and unwanted reappearance in Gideon's life, but I'd never forget how vicious Magdalene had been to me the first time we'd met.
"Just.
What's up?"She sighed, then spoke quickly, her words flowing in a rush.
"I was sitting at the table behind Corinne last night.
I could hear a bit of what was being said between her and Gideon during dinner."
My stomach tensed, preparing for an emotional blow.
Magdalene knew just how to exploit my insecurities about Gideon.
"Stirring up crap while I'm at work is a new low," I said coldly.
"I don't - " "He wasn't ignoring you."
My mouth hung open a second, and she quickly filled the silence.
"He was managing her, Eva.
She was making suggestions for where to take you around New York since you're new in town, but she was doing it by playing the old remember-when-you- and-I-went-there game."
"A walk down memory lane," I muttered, grateful now that I hadn't been able to hear much of Gideon's low-voiced conversation with his ex.
"Yes."
Magdalene took a deep breath.
"You left because you thought he was ignoring you for her.
I just want you to know that he seemed to be thinking about you, trying to keep Corinne from upsetting you."
"Why do you care?" "Who says I do? I owe you one, Eva, for the way I introduced myself."
I thought about that.
Yeah, she owed me for when she ambushed me in the bathroom with her catty jealous bullshit.