Unintended Consequences - By Marti Green Page 0,41

sad.

But the note left on Tommy’s car? She didn’t understand why anyone would try to stop their helping George. She’d have to think about it. Later, though. Now, she knew, she had her work cut out for her, trying to get a court to hear HIPP’s appeal.

She walked to Bruce’s and Melanie’s offices and filled them in on the news. “I’m going to do the brief,” she said to Melanie. “I need you to work on the record on appeal.”

Melanie looked at her soberly. “Do you really think it’s possible? That Angelina is alive?”

For a moment, Dani let her fantasies run wild and pictured Angelina Calhoun, now a grown woman, accompanying them to the Supreme Court and smiling beatifically as she told the nine justices, “Of course I’m alive, thanks to the enormous sacrifice of my parents. It’s horrible what they’ve had to endure. If only I’d known, I’d have come forward sooner.” The picture in her head faded and she answered Melanie, “Probably not. The doctor said her condition was grave. Even with the best care—I just don’t know. But if we can find someone who remembers a child with leukemia abandoned at the hospital, that would be a home run. And even though it’s twenty years later, it’s not something they’d likely forget.”

They finished their conversation and Dani settled in to work. She glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was five o’clock. Damn. She hadn’t called Katie to let her know she’d be late, and Jonah no doubt wondered where she was. At least Dani liked to think he wondered. More likely, he’d lost himself in his own world of music, playing the piano as he composed new sonatas, preparing himself for his summer at music camp. Although he hadn’t received official word on his application, the camp director had assured Dani there would be room for him.

She called Doug. “Want to stay in the city for dinner tonight?” she asked when she reached him at the law school.

“Sure. What’s the occasion?” Doug knew she usually preferred eating at home during the week.

“I thought it’d be nice for a change. Besides, I’m still here at the office. With this god-awful rain, traffic will be a mess now.”

“Well, I have about an hour’s worth of work left. Let’s meet at Cuccina’s at 6:30, okay?”

“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”

Dani hung up and called Katie to let her know about the changed plans.

“No problem, Dani. You deserve a night out. And don’t hurry home. Whenever you get back is fine with me.”

Yes, she acknowledged to herself once again, Katie was a godsend.

Despite its being early on a Thursday evening, well before the hour fashionable New Yorkers dined, every table at Cuccina’s was full. The smell of garlic permeated the air, and the walls vibrated with the sound of conversation mixed with the bustle of the wait staff. They had to strain to hear each other at times, but the outstanding food, the reasonable prices, and the location convenient to Columbia Law School kept them coming back. When Dani and Doug found themselves staying late at work, they usually ended up at Cuccina’s.

Dani’s second glass of wine had gone straight to her head, and she felt somewhat woozy. She sat back in her chair and only half-listened to Doug’s ramblings about a trip they could take while Jonah was at summer camp. With the lines on Doug’s face blurred by her hazy vision, he still looked youthful and, with or without the lines, handsome. She’d met Doug on her first day of work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She had been staring dumbly at a photocopy machine, trying to figure out its various buttons, when Doug walked by, coffee cup in hand. He smiled at her and Dani could see the dimples in his cheeks widen, the green flecks in his eyes sparkle, and she was instantly smitten. After that, she made up excuses to seek him out until he finally invited her to a friend’s party. They’d been together ever since.

“So, what do you think?” Doug asked, bringing her back to the present.

“Um, I’m not sure.”

“You didn’t hear anything I said, did you?”

She shook her head. “It’s the wine. You know how I get.”

“It’s okay. You’ve had a hard couple of days. I asked what you thought about sailing through the Greek islands this summer.”

Instantly, Dani’s mind pictured billowing white sails surrounded by azure waters. She sat at the bow of the boat, her hair swirling