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“She didn’t. I did. At which point I became the first lawyer in history to plea-bargain a sentenceup.”
And she explained to Jimmy why she had decided to delay treatment, telling him what kind of treatment would be involved.
“Finally,” Jimmy said, “a way to shut you up.”
At least she smiled.
“You need to tell Ben.”
“When the trial is over.”
“Because…?”
“Just because.”
They sat there in silence after that. All their history in the room with them, all that they feel for each other.
All that they mean to each other.
Jimmy thinking:Even love doesn’t properly describe it.
Even love doesn’t seem to do the job when it comes to what we have.
“Get some sleep,” Jimmy said.
“That’s supposed to be my line,” Jane said.
He waved her to come closer then, and she did, leaning in, tilting her head down. Jimmy kissed her on the forehead, neither one of them moving for what felt like a minute. Or more. As if neither one of them wanted to pull back.
When Jane finally pulled back, Jimmy said, “Like everything else, we fight this together now. Understood?”
“Yes, boss.”
“And in the end we kick cancer’s ass together.”
Jane managed to build another small smile, but somehow Jimmy thought she might start crying again.
In a voice that Jimmy could barely hear, Jane said, “Who’s better than us?”
After that, he was alone.
But as tired as he is, he doesn’t sleep right away. Thinking about her. And them. The two of them. He had Mickey as his partner, and then Jane.
Now Mickey is gone.
Jane has just told him she’s dying.
The girl he’s always thought of, with total love, as much as he has in him, as Jane Effing Smith.
Suddenly Jimmy Cunniff is the one who can’t stop crying.
Ninety-Nine
THEY RELEASE JIMMY FROMthe hospital on Sunday. I’m there to drive him home. He says that when I give my closing argument in the courtroom, he wants to be there.
“To be determined,” I say.
“By what?”
