At least seeing Parker would be a pleasant way to end an otherwise abysmal day.

It was not, however, the face of Mary Catherine Parker that she saw across the table. Lindsey McDonald, of all people, had joined her. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you, too, Lilah." He grinned that cocky grin that made her want to slap him or kiss him. She had never done either.

"Where's Parker?"

"I didn't think you'd come to see me, so I sent the fake email from her. I wanted to talk to you."

"How the devil did you know about her?"

"Come on, Lilah. You spied on me, I spied on you. As if either of us had any secrets from the other. As I said, I wanted to see you. I thought I should tell you myself. I'm getting married."

"Oh, really! You found someone who would actually have you. Is she blind or just totally stupid? Or both?" Lilah could feel her throat tensing up. This couldn't be. She took a sip of water from her glass.

"No, maybe a little lacking in judgment to love me, but she's very intelligent and has 20/20 vision. It's Kate Lockley."

"Kate the butch cop? I thought she liked women. Or Angel."

"No, she's 100 % heterosexual and she loves me. She did have a crush on Angel at one time, but I understand that that sort of thing has been going around lately." He gave Lilah a penetrating stare, as if he had seen her with Angel on Wesley's desk. Of course it wasn't really Angel but some old guy in Angel's body. Still. . .she pushed that thought out of her mind. He couldn't have known. Could he?

"So what do you expect? Congratulations? A wedding gift? His and hers handcuffs?"

"No, that's not why I'm here. We had been friends once upon a time. I actually came to tell you that there is life away from Wolfram and Hart. Get out while you have some trace of your soul left. And stay away from Wesley. He needs to get his head together and somehow get back with Angel's group. We need him."

"We?"

"Kate and I work with them when we're needed. He's not evil, Lilah, and you know it. Don't corrupt him. He has a destiny to fulfill and you're not part of it."

"So what about you? What's your destiny aside from marrying Robocop and having a bunch of dirty-faced kids?"

"Kate and I are working for David Nabbitt. I'll never make the big bucks that I made at Wolfram & Hart, but I can sleep nights and look at myself in the mirror. Can you?"

"Absolutely. I once told Cordelia that I'm not Lindsey McDonald. I don't change sides when things get tough."

"Did you ever think about the future, Lilah? What happens when you really screw up? If I hadn't left, you'd be long gone. Remember Robert Price? There's no real future in Wolfram & Hart. And afterwards? I heard enough about the flames of Hell when I was growing up. And I've read Dante's Inferno. Is that what you want?"

"So what do I do? Just leave?"

"You have those files you stole, and I'll bet you've collected more. You should be safe."

"And I do what? Join another firm? Who would have me with only Wolfram & Hart on my resume? I can't count on people giving me a job out of charity or loyalty to Angel."

"I earn my pay, Lilah. You'd find something. Write that book you used to talk about. Be a fashion consultant. Marry Brett and go away with him. He's a pretty good guy."

"Sorry, Lindsey, you're wasting your breath. I'm not leaving. I'm just where I've always wanted to be, where I've worked and sacrificed to be. I hope you and your cop are happy together. Now get out of here."

Lindsey rose. "I tried. If I can ever do anything for you, Lilah, I will. Just let Wes alone, please." He came around to the other side of the table and, before she could react, kissed her softly on the lips. "Goodbye, Lilah. I do wish you well."

"Get the hell out of here now!" She noticed people were staring. He gave her a brief, sad look, turned, and walked out of the restaurant.

Kate was waiting for him outside. "Any luck?"

"No. We're going to have to work on Wes if we have any hope on getting him back on our side. She was adamant." He shook his head. "I wish I could get her to leave, but maybe it's too late."

"It's never too late, Lindsey, but you can't make her change. She has to want to." She took his hand and they headed down the street toward Angel Investigations.

Lilah gestured at one of the waiters, who hurried to her table. "Damn it, I want service. Bring me a glass of your best Chablis." Then, as her pent-up tears flowed down her face, she let the dreams of Lindsey that she had kept hidden from everyone but herself dissolve into dust.