The Lawyer

by Olivia Saxton

  “I opened the bedroom door to find her naked and bent over the bed with George Young behind her.” He stopped and leaned back in the booth.

  “Oh my God, David. That had to be…I don’t know what to say,” Trish stuttered.

  “Yeah, I didn’t know what to say at the time. But, I felt it. I’m standing in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers in my hand like a fool, and she’s screwing one of the partners- with my ring on her finger. I must have dropped them at some point, but I don’t know when because I had never been so angry in my life. I don’t know how long I stood there watching them, but Young saw me first. I believe he said, ‘Oh, shit.’ He had the decency to stop what he was doing. She looked in my direction. The shock on their faces would have been comical if I wasn’t so enraged. Young pulled his pants up and started buckling them. Heather grabbed a pillow and covered herself. A pillow,” David scoffed. “Well, it was probably the only thing that was close enough to her at the time. She said something when I entered the room, but for the life of me I don’t know what it was. My ears were ringing. My face….felt so hot. Then, all of a sudden, Young approached me. His mouth was moving, but I didn’t hear a word. But, I felt. I felt it. I hit Young so hard that he stumbled back and hit the floor. I did hear Heather scream and shout my name. I walked over and grabbed him by the throat. I wanted to kill him. Blood dripped from his mouth. I started to come back to my senses, and I let him go. I turned my back and left the apartment as Heather screamed my name.”

  Trish fought back tears. She wasn’t crying for herself. She was crying for him. She could tell how he told the story that he was devastated by this woman. No wonder he was an infernal grouch when she first started working for him. A woman like Heather made all women look bad. She wanted to kill these two people for what they did to David.

  “I knew I was fired. There was no point in trying to keep my job. Even if there was a chance of me keeping my position, I’d be damned if I was going to work under Young and see Heather every other week. I went back to the firm that day and packed up my personal things. I walked out and never looked back. Within a day, I decided to move back to Clary. I wasted no time. I only found out months later that I broke Young’s jaw with that hit. My old secretary tracked me down. She told me. She said no one blamed me for my actions and urged me to move back to New York. She was convinced that I could rebuild my life there. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to try. I stayed in Clary and slipped into my own little world for two years.” David looked up to see a tear stream down Trish’s face.

  She grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and dabbed the tear away.

  “I- I didn’t mean to upset you,” David said.

  “No, it’s okay,” she croaked. “I completely understand. I don’t blame you for wanting to kill that guy. You know, I threw a glass full of orange juice against a door when Robert walked out on me. Actually, I broke a lot of glass in my kitchen that day. Granted, I didn’t catch him in the act, but it’s upsetting when someone you love and trust betrays you like you were nothing to them,” she said and cleared her throat.

  “Here you go, kids,” Dee Dee said and sat their food down. “If you two need anything else just-” She stopped when she noticed the somber mood. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, ma’am. We’re just talking about a heavy topic,” Trish said.

  “Oh, okay. I’ll let you finish your talk. If you two need anything else, give me a shout,” she said and quickly walked away.

  “So, now the vixen of NYC is in Clary, Pennsylvania,” Trish said.

  “Not anymore. Yes, I knew it was her when you gave me the card and described her. I went to The Wingate to see what she wanted. I couldn’t fathom what she wanted - especially since she married Young six months after we broke up.”

  “What did she want?”

  “She wanted to start over. She asked me to return to New York with her. I couldn’t possibly, not after what happened. Not after what I saw.”

  “What about her husband?”

  “Died of a heart attack six months ago.”

  “Hmm. She didn’t wait long,” Trish said and took a bite of her sandwich.

  “She claimed she never stopped loving me and that what she did was a maneuver for money and power. Her original plan was to take me along with her. She’d marry Young, and I would be the lover who came along for the ride.”

  Trish swallowed. This woman didn’t know David at all. There was no way a man like David would allow himself to be treated like a gigolo. “You’re kidding. She actually had the gall to admit that to you.”

  “Yes. She was always blunt when it came to me,” he said and sipped his coffee.

  “Why didn’t she tell you about her master plan before you walked in on them?”

  “She claimed she never got a chance, but whether it’s true or not, I’m finished with her.”

  “Are you sure?”

  David looked into her eyes. “Absolutely. I don’t want to be with a woman who manipulates and uses her body to gain wealth and social status. I was long finished with her before I went to see her. After humiliating me like that.” David shook his head. “Another thing, she hoped to talk me into being second in her life. Expecting me to go along for the ride like a little lap dog waiting for treats.”

  “That was an insult to you.”

  “I told her flat out that it was over between us, and we had no chance.”

  Trish took a sip of water.

  “You believe me, don’t you?”

  “I do. Especially, after the way she betrayed you. You have too much pride and self-respect to go back to her. What I’m concerned about is how you feel about her. It seems like you loved her a lot. You were going to marry her.”

  David looked down at his food, exhaled, and then looked back up. “Yes, I was, but I don’t love her anymore. I stopped loving her over a year ago. I continued to carry that pain around like a stone, though. But, I let that go when I was in her hotel room. I want my life to be different now. I want to….I actually want to be able to laugh and smile again. Enjoy the pleasures of life again. I didn’t realize that until you came along. Trish, you being in my life helped me see how depressing my life has been for the past two years. You’ve awoken something in me that actually wants to live, not just go through the motions.”

  “Oh, David, I think you’re giving me far too much credit.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “So, the first few weeks of our bickery and zingers, made you want to come out of your shell.”

  He laughed. “Yes.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “Strange therapy.”

  “Yes, but it worked. I…can’t have you disappear out of my life without a fight. Anyone that puts up with me in the office is patient, kind, caring, and spunky. That’s you. You’re beautiful, which I always thought you were, even when you hated my guts,” he said and took a hold of her hand.

  “What makes you think I still don’t hate your guts?” she asked playfully.

  “You really want me to prove that to you, here? I don’t think Gus would appreciate me propping you up on the table,” he flirted.

  She giggled. “I was just kidding.”

  “I was too…sort of,” he said and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “I meant what I said. I’ve really grown to care for you, and I want to start seeing you. I’m willing to give you the time you need to think about it. I just wanted the chance to explain the blonde in the office and make it clear to you that I want you and no other woman.”

  Trish’s cheeks warmed. She always liked it when a man was direct about his intentions. “Okay, you’ve given me a lot to think about. I would like some time to do so. I promise I won’t take long.”

  He smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  “Now, let’s eat our food, it’s getting cold.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  Trish smiled and shook her head.

  *******

  It was one-thirty in the morning when David pul
led his beamer into the Jacobs driveway. It was an older model from his lawyer days at Lakedale. He would have loved to get the newer model, but he couldn’t afford it.

  “Your home, Ms. Truman,” he announced and cut the headlights off.

  “Thank you for a surprising, yet lovely evening,” she said.

  “Don’t thank me, yet,” he said and slowly put his hand on the side of her face. “I haven’t walked you to your door.”

  “You don’t have to do that. The porch light is on.”

  “Actually, I do. You have my coat,” he said as he caressed her face.

  She smiled and leaned against his hand. Trish closed her eyes.

  He moved his hand to her hair - shoving his hand into her thick soft strands, and she responded with a moan. He couldn’t help himself; he grabbed her by the waist and positioned her in his lap. Her legs hung over to the passenger’s side.

  She kissed him. Her soft lips were warm and wanting. David took control, moving his tongue into her mouth as he slid his hand down to the lever next to the seat. He lowered them about two inches to give them room away from the steering wheel. Then, he wrapped one arm around her and shoved the other one through her hair. He pulled his tongue back, and hers followed after it. He groaned and slid his hand down the back of her dress to her bottom – and squeezed. She moaned against his mouth and wiggled against his growing manhood in response.

  He tore his mouth away and started kissing her cheek. “Mmmm, I knew I should have taken you back to my place,” he said against her cheek.

  She smiled. “I thought it was too soon. Besides, this is nice, isn’t it?”

  “It’s more than nice,” he said and started to kiss her cheek again. He kissed his way down to her neck as he lifted her up against him. His head was at her chest. Her chest rose and fell with each breath as he kissed and nuzzled her cleavage.

  ******

  Trish cupped the side of David’s face. Her other hand ran through his hair. She was about to close her eyes as David kissed her chest and squeezed her breast when she noticed headlights coming down the street through the back window.

  It looked like a sports car. It parked across the street from the house. Thanks to the street lights, Trish was able to see that it was Phillip. He got out of the sports car and closed the door. Then he walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and helped Darlene out of the car. They linked arms and walked to the front of the car.

  Then, an SUV came barreling down the street. It came to an abrupt halt, just an inch from hitting the sports car’s bumper. The driver cut the engine and the headlights off. Teddy leaped from the driver’s side and slammed the door. He started marching towards Darlene and Phillip.

  *******

  David lightly bit the curve of her breast. He was fully erect, and he pushed himself against her bottom.

  “Oh uh,” she said.

  He groaned and kept up his seduction.

  “David,” she whimpered.

  “Mmmm, yes, sweetheart,” he said with his lips against her cleavage.

  “Shouldn’t you get out there and keep Teddy from beating Phillip to a pulp?” she breathed.

  David’s body tensed, and he looked up at her. She was looking out the back window. “What did you say?

  “Across the street,” she said and squirmed backwards.

  David quickly moved his head to the right and looked in the rearview mirror. Ted had Phillip by the collar as Darlene looked on helplessly with her hands on her cheeks. “Argh, damnit,” he scowled.

  Trish squirmed towards the passenger side as David reached around her for the door. He got out as fast as he could. Leaving the car door open, he ran across the street. “Ted!”

  When he reached them, David tried to push his body in between them. He grabbed Ted’s hands. “Damnit, Ted, let him go.”

  Ted let go of Phillip’s collar with a shove. Phillip stumbled a couple of steps back yet stayed on his feet.

  David wasn’t sure when Trish crossed the street, but she was there with her arm around Darlene’s shoulders.

  “What is this about?” Trish asked.

  “It’s about Teddy being a crazed neanderthal,” Darlene cried out. “You stay away from me, you jerk,” Darlene said and jogged across the street. She was staggering. Trish jogged behind her.

  Phillip gave Ted a crooked smirk.

  Ted raised his finger at Phillip. “You better get that smug look of your face, fish and chips, before I punch it off.”

  David stayed his hands against Ted’s chest.

  “Don’t be mad at me because you made a muck of it. American men, always resorting to brute force. Don’t you know a lady likes it when you can handle it like a man?”

  Ted tried to lunge towards Phillip, but David held him back. “Get out here, before I decide to let him go,” David said angrily.

  “Later, boys.” Phillip hopped in his sports car and sped off.

  “Can you believe that bastard?” Ted yelled and pointed down the street.

  “Keep your voice down. Do you want to wake the whole neighborhood?” David sneered.

  “I think it’s too late for that.”

  Before David could say another word, they heard a muffled hurl. They looked across the street and saw Darlene on the porch, on her knees, throwing up in the bushes. Trish quickly walked away from Darlene with her hands in the air. He wasn’t sure if Trish was giving Darlene some space or if she was disgusted.

  Chapter 26

  It was ten o’clock Sunday morning when Trish made her way up the walkway of the Jacobs house. She had woken around eight and had gone to the grocery store and bakery.

  Mr. Jacobs stood on the end of the porch with his hands in his pockets. He was looking down at the scene of the crime from last night.

  The nerves in Trish’s shoulders tingled. “Umm. Hey, Mr. Jacobs. Are you on your way to church?”

  “Hey, Trish. Come over here, honey, and look at this,” he said with curiosity.

  Trish walked over and stood next to him. “Eww!” It was too dark to see last night, but she could see Darlene’s accident in the morning light. A faint smell of booze and chili invaded her nose like an allergic reaction.

  Because of Darlene’s condition last night, Trish thought it would be best to walk Darlene through her basement entrance. She spent the night in Trish’s apartment. Darlene would’ve died if her father saw her sick and drunk. After David convinced Ted to leave, David was sweet enough to help Trish get Darlene in the house. Poor guy didn’t even get a goodbye kiss for his efforts.

  “Uh huh, what do you think that is?” he asked as he fidgeted with the brim of his tan wool cap.

  “Looks like a big dog with diarrhea to me,” Trish said and quickly walked up to the porch with her bags.

  “You know, I bet that boy up the street let that Rottweiler out in the middle of the night again. What in God’s name does he feed that dog?”

  Trish’s eyes widened. “I don’t know, but it looks like a lot of it.”

  Mr. Jacobs shook his head in disapproval. “I’ll shovel it up when I get back from church.”

  Trish shook her head. “Okay, Mr. Jacobs. Drive safe.” She quickly went in the house.

  *******

  Trish prepared her hangover remedy as she thought about David. She wondered what he was doing today. Was he thinking about her, too? With the blender going and her deep in thought, Trish didn’t notice Darlene staggering into the living room.

  “Will you please shut that thing off?” she asked with just an edge of nastiness.

  Trish jumped and cut the blender off.

  Darlene exhaled. “Thank you.” She was wearing one of Trish’s nightshirts. Her short, thick blonde hair stood up like a porcupine hair. She stumbled towards the couch and plopped down.

  Trish couldn’t help but smirk. “I have to say, you look like hell.”

  “I feel like hell. I feel like I died, went to hell, and came back,” she complained.

  Trish bit ba
ck laughter. She poured her remedy into a tall white cup, picked up a plate of croissants, and then tucked a glass of orange juice under her arm. She picked up her remedy with her free hand and walked to the sofa.

  She handed the glass to Darlene. “Here. It will make you feel better.”

  Darlene turned her nose up at the red liquid. “What is it?”

  “I call it the Hangover Recovery.”

  Darlene took the glass. Trish sat the plate of croissants on the coffee table and held her juice as she sat down next to Darlene.

  Darlene sipped the remedy. She frowned at the taste. “Eww, what’s in this?”

  “Can’t tell you that. Hold your nose and drink it.”

  “No way.”

  “You want to feel better, right? So, it’s either this or what some other people do.”

  “What’s the other thing?”

  “Drink more alcohol.”

  “Ugh,” Darlene groaned and held her nose for a healthy swallow of the remedy. “I’m sorry I ruined your evening.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything. It was great until the ‘brawl for all’ and that wasn’t your fault.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I know you,” Trish said and grabbed a croissant.

  “So, tell me what happened between you and David last night.”

  “Not until you tell me what happened after I left the club.”

  “Well, we ate. Phillip went to the bathroom - leaving me and Teddy alone. Ted said he was sorry that I saw what I saw. I asked him why he shamelessly flirted with me two weeks ago if he didn’t like me. He said, he does like me, but he likes other women too; and if I was more experienced, I would know that, but he likes my innocence. That’s what makes me so attractive to him.”

  Trish frowned. “What the hell did that mean?”

  “I don’t know, but I didn’t like it,” Darlene said and took another sip of her drink.