Litigators developed powerful voices. "Good evening! Thanks to all of you for coming to help inaugurate my new offices. Enjoy the crab balls and smoked salmon, serene in the knowledge that they're all deductible." As people laughed, she surveyed the crowd in the former church sanctuary. Though events had made her wish she had scheduled the open house for later in the year, now that the party had started she was having a fine time. She had picked a Friday afternoon from 5 till 8 p.m. to catch the TGIF crowd. The turnout was impressive, aided by the publicity about Daniel's case. In the interests of safe driving, she wasn't serving anything stronger than wine and beer, but the munchies were first class. She tried not to think of how much this was all costing her. After a few more comments, including thanks to her former colleagues at Crouse, Resnick, she said, "Now it's time for the grand unveiling. Behind this curtain is a really splendid artwork created by my mother, Callie Covington, one of the finest fabric artists in America.
