"Hi," Michael said at the same time.
"Hello," Linda greeted them back, not missing the way the greeting had tumbled out a little nervously.Mmm, something is definitely going on here. "Is everything okay? You’re both acting weird, and I'm starting to get creepy vibes here."
They both laughed. A laugh that brought pictures of nervous teenagers caught in the act.
Michael held the leather folder up for Linda to see.
"Maggie's divorce is signed," Michael said. "Kevin signed the papers this afternoon."
Linda was on her feet before he finished the sentence.
"Maggie," Linda said. "Oh, Maggie, that’s huge.”
She came around the desk and pulled her best friend into a hug so tight that Maggie let out a soft squeak that reminded her of one of those squeaky toys.
"It's really done," Maggie told her. "It's over."
"Oh, Maggie," Linda breathed. "I am so happy for you."
"It feels like I've been holding my breath for two years," Maggie said quietly, "and somebody just told me I could let it out."
"You can," Linda told her, pulling back to look at her face. "Now you can live your life again free of that man hanging over you like a dark cloud.”
"The best news is that Kevin is getting nothing," Maggie’s grin widened. “Not even Toby”
"Nothing?" Linda repeated. “Oh, thank goodness. How did you get Kevin to sign?” Linda asked curiously. “Without you having to give him half of everything you owned.”
"It's a longer story than we have time for right now," Michael answered. "But the short version is, Maggie set him up with a trap this morning. Vanessa walked right into it. We've also retained Maggie's celebrity client as a separate client of mine, and we're closing Kitsch Couture by the end of the week."
Linda gaped at him.
"You're closing Kitsch Couture," Linda repeated. She blinked, then glanced at Maggie, amused. “Oh, no, wherever will I buy my fake couture from now?”
"I suggest you stock up quickly,” Maggie responded with a snort. “I have it on good authority that everything is probably going to have a huge markdown because all things have to go.”
Linda sat down on the edge of her father's desk. She pressed her hand to her chest and let out a long, slow breath.
"Maggie," Linda said. "We have to celebrate this. Tonight. Properly. This is not news we can just not have a small gathering for.”
"That sounds wonderful," Maggie answered. “But that’s not all the news we have to tell you.”
Then she nudged Michael in the ribs. Linda watched it happen.
She watched Michael look down at Maggie. She watched Maggie tilt her head at him and widen her eyes in a gesture clearly meant totell her. Then Michael responded by widening his eyes and tilting his own head toward Linda. She watched Maggie shake her head furiously and glare at him. It was like a game of head movements and face-gesturing charades.
Linda folded her arms.
"What?" Linda said. “I know something is going on, so out with it.”
"N… Nothing,” Maggie swallowed and then tried to subtly nudge Michael with her elbow once again.
"Uh-huh.” Linda’s eyes narrowed some more as she eyed them out, seeing them start to squirm under their intense gaze. “Nothing, huh? Then what's this?" Linda asked, splaying her fingers and moving her hand in a small, slow circle around her brother and her best friend. "Something is happening here. I have known both of you my entire life. I know when something is happening."
"That's the other thing we have to tell you," Maggie admitted.
"Okay," Linda said. She leaned back, folded her arms tighter, and perched against the side of her desk. "Spill. What's going on?"
"Well, uh," Michael started, and then he was nothing but nerves. He glanced at Maggie. Maggie looked up at him with a soft, undeniable expression that Linda had been waiting forty years to see on her best friend's face. Then what they were trying to tell her suddenly clicked.
