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I googled, found no link, read on.
The primary conflict was supposedly money, specifically the division of “substantial” assets claimed to have been “primarily generated” by each litigant. He, due to being an “active venture capitalist,” she, from a “prominent family” and asserted to have “seeded” every one of his endeavors.
Nothing about Derek Ruffalo until a two-line paragraph at theend containing the boy’s name, sex, and age and the fact that his custody status “remains undetermined.”
A boy about whom I knew nothing, but I’d found myself thinking about him and that led to wondering what I could do for him. I put the documents back in the envelope, left it on my desk, and moved on to a stack of reports in progress. Cases where I’d been useful.
Wondering about the boy reentered my head when I woke at three a.m. I tried to convince myself that with more information I’d figure something out. It took me a while to slide back into sleep.
Four hours later, as if the thought stream had nagged at me while my brain cycled, I woke up with a sense of futility.
Time to put it aside until he showed up. Just as I filed the envelope, Robin came in with Blanche.
“You around for breakfast, handsome?”
“You bet.” We kissed. “Omelets?”
“Sounds good. Our girl here will enjoy a few eggy bits.”
—
We ate and drank coffee in the kitchen.
Robin said, “So what’s up?”
“About what?”
She placed her hand on mine and smiled. “You’ve been a bit thoughtful.”
That’s tactful for spacy. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for, I didn’t say neglectful, just…contemplative.”
I said, “When did you buy the Dictionary of Euphemisms?”
She laughed. “There’s my guy.” A couple of sips. “Am I reading it wrong?”
“You never do. Been thinking about that poor kid no one wants. Can’t figure out any solution.”
“Maybe there is none.”
“Exactly.”
Neither of us spoke for a while. Then Robin said, “You had a shitty childhood and mine wasn’t award-winning. We turned out okay.”
“So hope for the best.”
“Don’t you always tell me not to take on problems I didn’t cause?”
I nodded. Poured a second cup for her, a third for me.
She said, “No obvious solution is what Milo’s faced with when he calls you in. And those seem to work out.”
All those years with my best friend and I’d never thought about that.
“You’re right.”
“Think of all the times you’ve helped him. If anyone can help this kid, it’s you.”
