Having gotten Cormac's story, it was time for the holiday break. I took a short trip to Windenburg to celebrate the New Year.

 

 

And then hosted the Swinger's Club's traditional Yule festival. It was one of the best yet, a veritable orgy.

 

 

When the winter weather broke for an early heat wave, I got an invite to visit Vicente Lombardo, founding partner of Galway & Lombardo, as he opened his pool for the first time in the season.

 

"Cormac tells me he's already told you the story of our firm."

 

 

"Yes, but I want to hear multiple points of view. I also want to hear how this all ties into the growth of Newcrest. This was a sleepy little suburb when you two started out."

 

 

"This is true. Our firm was a major economic force long-term. We still occupy the entire second floor of the oldest commercial building in town. G&L was for a long time the center of it all here."

 

 

"Cormac said you divided the practice in two, and you focused on business, while he focused on public matters, and that's how you grew so fast."

 

 

"Yes, although we couldn't do it alone. We hired great associates who were pivotal to our growth. Like Domnall. Did Cormac even talk about Domnall?"

 

"Honestly, I don't recall him having much to say about him at all. He's already on my list of contacts, but Cormac spent more time talking about Calrton."

 

"Yes, Carlton is great. Cormac's best hire, by far, and the man who will lead this firm into the future. But Domnall was my hire, and he was our first associate, and our first junior partner, and he turned out to be an incredible manager. The firm wouldn't be where it is without him. Of course, he's basically retired, now. Only works with a few old big-money clients of his, and still shows up at partner meetings. But mostly he keeps to himself."

 

 

"And spends his time helping raise his grandchild."

 

 

"Or with his lovely wife, Siobhan, whom he is still so very much attached to."

 

 

"Sounds like a great guy."

 

"Yes, although let me say that I loved my wife deeply, too. Sofia was the light of my life."

 

 

"And she bore me my only son and heir, Ercole." (He pronounced it like "Eckley.")

 

 

"Now, you have to remember, all three of our families were living in Bridgeview. It was a wholly Italian and Irish neighborhood at the time. So, we didn't just work together. Our families socialized, too. Barbecue day at he park was a hit in every household."

 

 

"So here's the thing about Domnall. I'm sure Cormac already acquainted you with the rather libertine air of our office?"

 

 

"He said his secretary has also been his girlfriend for decades."

 

 

"Yes, and I have had the same relationship with my secretary, Rose."

 

 

"And this is a point on which I must agree with Cormac. It is good to have a long-term lover."

 

 

"And it does not mean you love your wife any less. Sofia was my true love, and I still visit the cemetery each year on our anniversary to mourn her passing."

 

 

"But Cormac has this weird wife-mistress model of the perfect life that I find choking. And a bit hypocritical, since he never passed up a chance to travel out west to do business with Sook. You know Sook?"

 

"I am intimately acquainted with her."

 

"Good man. Anyway, that brings me back to Domnall. See, we had sort of a tradition at G&L for many years. Any time an associate was going to be made into a junior partner, we scheduled his first major out of town business trip to Oasis Springs to meet with Sook. It was sort of a promotion bonus, you might say. But we were also interested in seeing how they responded."

 

"You did this with every partner?"

 

"Oh yes. Ercole took the trip."

 

 

"And so did Eoghan."

 

 

"So don't let Cormac try to tell you it's a surprise how our boys turned out. In hindsight, it was only natural considering the environment we put them in, and how we pushed them. But, as I was saying, Domnall. Domnall was the only partner we ever sent who came back with full fees. Didn't even get a handy. I think he's never been unfaithful to Siobhan in his entire life."

 

 

"Seems admirable, in a way."

 

"Yes," Vicente chuckled. "It does. Like I said, not the life for me, but I respect it. No, the life for me was to always have Rose on the side, and after Sofia passed, I must admit that I let my inhibitions go and found other outlets, as well."

 

 

"Of course," he said with a smirk, "these romantic games we play can lead to entanglements. I have not mentioned that Antonio, my grandson, is thirteen. And yet, suddenly, he is to have a sibling. Francesca is expecting again. Due this summer."

 

 

"That's great," I told him.

 

"Indeed. I think Antonio will make a fabulous older brother."

 

 

"But there is more. I said I am still with Rose, and despite my dalliances on the side, that is true."

 

 

"And now, it seems, life has thrown me a curveball, because Rose is also expecting. My son and I will both be raising our second children at the time."

 

"Wow, congratulations is in store again, I guess?"

 

"Indeed. Thank you. At any rate, I said I do not share Cormac's feelings entirely on these matters. I do not judge my son quite so harshly for his ways, nor do I think he is totally useless. Neither do I think Cormac's son is, to be honest. But I agree that it is better that Carlton will be in charge. But that's only because he's a better lawyer and a smarter man. Not because I think Ercole's fondness for the Russian whorehouse a few blocks from here disqualifies him."

 

 

"After all, if that were the case, I'd have to disqualify myself!"

 

 

"But one more bit about Cormac's obsession with sticking to a single mistress. He recently hired a new secretary, and I later discovered, the sole purpose, in his mind, was to find a woman that would keep Ercole's attraction and focus, so that he might stop galavanting around town! Can you believe it?"

 

"Did it work?"

 

"Well, for the galavanting? Too early to say. But I am sure she kept Ercole's attention."

 

 

"He has been spending more time in the office, so I guess that's really what Cormac wanted!"

 

At this, our conversation came to an end. I went home to compile my notes and get ready to meet with this upstanding citizen named Domnall Finn.