“I’m informing them,” Judge Silverman said, “that it is within their province to set any amount they feel is justified.”
Thirty minutes later the jury filed back into the courtroom. The foreman announced they had found in favor of the plaintiff. The amount of damages she was entitled to was six million dollars.
It was the largest personal injury award in the history of the State of New York.
20
When Jennifer walked into her office the following morning she found an array of newspapers spread across her desk. She was on the front page of every one of them. There were four dozen beautiful red roses in a vase. Jennifer smiled. Adam had found time to send her flowers.
She opened the card. It read: Congratulations. Michael Moretti.
The intercom buzzed and Cynthia said, “Mr. Adams is on the line.”
Jennifer grabbed the telephone. She tried to keep her voice calm. “Hello, darling.”
“You’ve done it again.”
“I got lucky.”
“Your client got lucky. Lucky to have you as an attorney. You must be feeling wonderful.”
Winning cases made her feel good. Being with Adam made her feel wonderful. “Yes.”
“I have something important to tell you,” Adam said. “Can you meet me for a drink this afternoon?”
Jennifer’s heart sank. There was only one thing Adam could have to tell her: He was never going to see her again.
“Yes. Yes, of course…”
“Mario’s? Six o’clock?”
“Fine.”
She gave the roses to Cynthia.
Adam was waiting in the restaurant, seated at a back table. So he won’t be embarrassed if I get hysterical, Jennifer thought. Well, she was determined not to cry. Not in front of Adam.
She could tell from his gaunt, haggard face what he had been going through, and she intended to make this as easy as possible for him. Jennifer sat down and Adam took her hand in his.
“Mary Beth is giving me a divorce,” Adam said, and Jennifer stared at him, speechless.
It was Mary Beth who had begun the conversation. They had returned from a fund-raising dinner where Adam had been the main speaker. The evening had been an enormous success. Mary Beth had been quiet during the ride home, a curious tension about her.
Adam said, “I thought the evening went well, didn’t you?”
“Yes, Adam.”
Nothing more was said until they reached the house.
“Would you like a nightcap?” Adam asked.
“No, thank you. I think we should have a talk.”
“Oh? About what?”
She looked at him and said, “About you and Jennifer Parker.”
It was like a physical blow. Adam hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to deny it or—
“I’ve known it for some time. I haven’t said anything because I wanted to make up my mind about what to do.”
“Mary Beth, I—”
“Please let me finish. I know that our relationship hasn’t been—well—all we hoped it would be. In some ways, perhaps I haven’t been as good a wife as I should have been.”
“Nothing that’s happened is your fault. I—”
“Please, Adam. This is very difficult for me. I’ve made a decision. I’m not going to stand in your way.”
He looked at her unbelievingly. “I don’t—”
“I love you too much to hurt you. You have a brilliant political future ahead of you. I don’t want anything to spoil that. Obviously, I’m not making you completely happy. If Jennifer Parker can make you happy, I want you to have her.”
He had a feeling of unreality, as though the whole conversation were taking place underwater. “What will happen to you?”
Mary Beth smiled. “I’ll be fine, Adam. Don’t worry about me. I have my own plans.”
“I—I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s no need to say anything. I’ve said it all for both of us. If I held on to you and made you miserable, it wouldn’t do either of us any good, would it? I’m sure Jennifer’s lovely or you wouldn’t feel about her the way you do.” Mary Beth walked over to him and took him in her arms. “Don’t look so stricken, Adam. What I’m doing is the best thing for everyone.”