Survive and Conquer

by Andrew Grey

  “Leaving so early?” Hank Reynolds sneered as Chase passed his office door. The first time in weeks, and this asshole had to remark on it. “I hear the partners were talking about a big case….” The weasel was trying to insinuate that he’d lose out on it if he left. “I talked to Milton about it.”

  Chase chose to play dumb. “And what did he say?”

  “That they were making up their minds,” Hank said with a sly smile.

  Chase nodded and turned to leave, then decided he couldn’t leave things like that. “Then I guess I know what my meeting with him tomorrow is going to be about. Thanks, Hank.” He smiled and turned away, knowing Hank was going to be fuming to no end. Chase purposely didn’t look back to watch the smoke come out of his ears. Hank was a self-centered, more than a little egotistical man who tended to think the sun rose and set on his lily-white ass. Chase knew the color because he’d seen it once at the gym. Shudder. He also acted as though he were the world’s best attorney, mostly because the guy was an ass, not because his track record was all that good.

  At the elevator, Chase pressed the call button and rode down from the twentieth floor of Milwaukee’s tallest building, got into his car, and drove out of the city. He was hoping to be able to drive home and change, but he’d been delayed, so he slipped off his jacket and pulled his tie off to loosen the collar of his shirt. At least he didn’t look quite as buttoned-up. Before he reached Newton’s home, he stopped in a parking lot, grabbed his kit from the glove compartment, and added a spritz of cologne. He also ran a comb through his hair. After checking himself in the mirror, he wondered if he should shave, but decided against it. Putting things away, he drove the rest of the way to Newton’s and parked.

  Chase was nervous and couldn’t figure out why. They were only having dinner. It was stupid for him to get all worked up over a meal. He had them all the time and didn’t sweat like a pig, but dang, it was suddenly warm, and he pulled his shirt away from his skin. Chase knocked on the door and stepped back a little. Newton opened it, and Chase gasped softly. Up until now, he’d seen Newton in casual clothes, as well as what he wore to work and court, but this…. Newton looked stunning in gray dress slacks and a plum polo shirt.

  “I didn’t know where we were going, so I wanted to look nice.” He lowered his gaze. “Come on in. I need to get my shoes, and I’ll be ready to go.”

  Newton moved away with his cane, and Chase wandered the room, nodding when he stepped over a pile of Legos and a doll poking out from under the sofa. He retrieved it and set it in one of the chairs, smiling as he remembered little Rosie and her grin.

  “It’s strange not having the kids around,” Newton said when he returned. “I get so used to the level of noise they generate that I forget what real quiet is like.”

  “I suppose,” Chase agreed softly.

  “I bet your life is quiet.”

  Newton’s comment got Chase to thinking how quiet his life was. The office bordered on dead silence. Everyone’s work was intense, so talking was done in whispers. Most conversations held some level of confidentiality, so they were handled in conference rooms or behind closed doors. At home, he was alone much of the time, so the television on low was the usual level of sound, and when he brought work home, he kept it off, so there was no sound at all.

  “Yeah. Sometimes too quiet,” Chase half mused.

  Newton chuckled. “Well, if you want noise, occasional squabbles, and drama, you’re welcome to visit any time. After a few hours of them on their normal behavior, you’ll go running from the room and wish you were back at home with some peace and quiet.” He motioned to the door. “There are times I swear they’re still and quiet only when they’re in bed. Otherwise, it’s a constant supply of sound.”

  “Is it really that bad?” Chase followed Newton outside and waited while he locked the door.

  Newton smiled slyly and shook his head. “The first time Eric told me he loved me and never wanted to leave, I dang near cried….” He sighed. “And I’m man enough to admit that I did cry the first time he called me Daddy, and danged if I didn’t do the same thing when Rosie did it too.” Newton’s voice grew deeper. “I always let the kids decide how they feel and what to call me.”

  “Did it take long?” Chase asked, curious. He remembered the amount of time it had taken him to relate to anyone after…. He pushed the long-locked-away memories down. There had been a very good reason why he had gone into family law. But, dammit, his reasons were his own, and they weren’t to be talked about or brought up with anyone. Even when the world was falling apart and the wolves were howling at the door, he had to be strong and show no weakness. That was when disaster could strike and everything he’d built could come down around him.

  “No. I loved those kids from the day I got to bring them home, and I think they knew that. With Rosie it happened faster because she heard Eric.” Newton smiled. “I can complain about a few things, but I wouldn’t change my decision for anything.” He went around to the passenger side of Chase’s BMW and got in, while Chase slid into the plush driver’s seat. “I always wanted one of these.” A cloud passed over Newton’s expression.

  “Before you had kids?” Chase supplied as he started the engine, and it purred to life. Or maybe it was before whatever had happened to his leg. Chase was curious, but he didn’t want to ask in case he came off as silly. He was pretty sure people asked Newton about his leg all the time, and it was really none of his business. And if he were honest, it wasn’t a big thing. To Chase it meant that Newton had been through something pretty difficult and survived to come out the other side. That in itself was pretty cool.

  Newton nodded. “Before a lot of things.” He sat back, and once they were both belted in, Chase pulled away from the curb. “I promise not to talk about the kids all night.”

  Chase couldn’t help laughing. “It’s okay. I asked you to dinner because you interested me, and the kids are part of who you are.” There was something about Newton as a parent that Chase found attractive. Maybe it was his nurturing nature and that Chase hadn’t had that sort of influence in his life in quite some time. It was difficult for him to tell.

  Newton narrowed his gaze. “Doesn’t the age difference give you pause?”

  Chase shrugged. Honestly, he hadn’t given it any thought. “You aren’t that much older than I am.” He glanced at Newton, noticing the thin lines around his eyes and the light color at his temples for the first time. The fact that Newton was older than he was had barely registered.

  “I’m forty-two,” Newton said.

  “And I’m twenty-nine, though I feel like I’m going on fifty sometimes.” Chase pulled to a stop at the sign and then continued on. “My best friend Drake says that life begins at thirty. Though he said that same thing about twenty-five. He changes with every milestone he reaches.” Drake was a stitch most of the time. “But I never gave much thought about things like that. I’m younger than a lot of the people I work with and many of my clients.” He didn’t want this to be an issue. “Is it a problem for you?”

  “No. It just surprised me that a guy like you, with so much energy and vitality, would show any interest in someone as old and….” Newton stopped. “How about we forget it? This is just my own insecurities and ridiculousness taking over. You asked me out for a nice dinner, and I don’t mean to bring down the conversation.” He shifted slightly in his seat, seemingly trying to get comfortable. “What do you do for fun?”

  “I’m trying to make partner. There isn’t a lot of time for fun. Since I graduated from law school and joined the firm, I’ve been working at least sixty hours a week. There are clients to meet, documents to create, billing to facilitate, and then court and hearing time, which can be so danged slow. Very little starts on time—unless you’re stuck in traffic, and then everything runs exactly on schedule… except you.” Chase smiled. “I’m never late for court because I always leave earlier than I think I need to, but I have cut it close a few times, and there is nothing worse than
standing in a hearing sweating like a pig.” He chuckled. “Though the second time that happened, the other attorney thought I was nervous, but I ended up wiping the floor with him.”

  “Is that how things work?”

  “Yeah. It’s an adversarial system to a large degree. You make your argument and do your best to poke holes in the other side. I like to think I’m very good at it.”

  “Angela certainly thinks so. She was singing your praises when I talked to her today.” Newton glanced out the window as they zipped down the freeway toward downtown Milwaukee. “I really appreciate you helping her. It meant a great deal to her and to me.” Newton grew quiet, and Chase figured there was something he wanted to say and was hesitating. “I wish I could get attorneys like you for more of my clients. So many of them are lost in a bureaucratic nightmare of denied benefits and delays that cause them grief on top of hurt.”

  “Newton… I….” There was no way he could take on any more clients for Newton. Not with Milton looking at him so closely.

  “I wasn’t asking you to take on any more. I know you aren’t able to, and it isn’t fair of me, but I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate what you did.” The smile Newton sent his way was radiant, and Chase basked in its glow for a second, keeping his attention on the road. “Where are we going?”

  “There’s a great place called Lincoln’s near my building. They opened a month ago. It’s been popular for lunch, and the food is amazing. I helped the owner with all the paperwork and licensing that was required, so they owe me a few favors.” Chase made the turn off the freeway, and they spent some time in stop-and-go surface traffic before pulling up to a converted Third Ward storefront that had been given new life with a redesign and amazing lighting.

  He found a place to park, then came around to Newton’s side of the car to open the door for him while he got out. It took him a few seconds to unwind his legs, and he winced as he took the first few steps.

  “Sometimes it seizes up on me.” Newton leaned more heavily on his cane, and Chase held the door open for him. The interior space was rich and warm. They had kept the original woodwork of the building, using paint to brighten up the rest of the space.

  The hostess greeted Chase by name. “How are you? It’s been a few weeks.”

  “I’m well, Charlene, and you?” He smiled and introduced Newton briefly. “I’d like one of the more private tables. I called Garth and told him we were coming. He said he would prepare something special for us.” He handed her a tip and thanked her for her help. Charlene smiled, and Chase knew she’d make sure they were well taken care of.

  Chase waited until Newton was seated before taking his own place. “I really hope you like Italian. This area of town was an old Italian neighborhood, and when Garth opened the restaurant, he worked with the local community to develop dishes that reminded them of home. You won’t find pizza on his menu, but you will find Roman and Tuscan staples, such as Amatriciana and carbonara. Though he’s put his spin on each dish. I did ask him for his version of Tuscan steak, so we’ll see what he comes up with.”

  “That sounds lovely.”

  Chase leaned over the table. “I wasn’t sure if you ate seafood or had allergies yourself.”

  “There are things I have to be careful of.” Newton chewed his bottom lip. “I can’t eat eggplant, and I have to be careful of dairy to a degree.” He wiped his eyes and turned toward the kitchen, putting his napkin over his mouth. A strong scent wafted into the dining room and then dissipated quickly. Newton excused himself, making for the restroom as quickly as he seemed to be able to move. Chase wondered what that was about, but shrugged it off as Newton needing to go.

  The server stopped at the table, and Chase asked him to come back in a few minutes, watching for Newton. When he returned, he seemed pale, and his right hand shook a little.

  “Are you all right?” Chase stood when Newton approached. He seemed unsteady on his feet, and Chase steadied him until he sat back down.

  “I will be.” Newton sipped his water and appeared to be working to try to get himself under control. Chase didn’t understand why Newton was acting this way, and he ran through their conversation in his head, trying to think if there was anything he’d said that would have upset him. But nothing came to mind. “I’m okay.” Newton smiled and took another drink of water.

  “If you’re sure,” Chase said, and sat down again. “If it’s the food, we can go somewhere else or just order off the menu.”

  “No,” Newton countered quickly. “The dinner you described sounds heavenly. I eat way too many chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. I’ve been looking forward to this since you asked.” He smiled and let out a deep breath.

  The server took their drink orders, and by the time he left, Newton’s color seemed better. “Where did you go to school?”

  “I went to law school at UW–Madison. I used to watch reruns of shows like LA Law and thought it would be fun to be a lawyer. I was able to argue anything when I was a kid, so I figured I would be good at it. I was recruited by Howard and Lickman right out of college. They were a top firm in the state with a great reputation for excellence. We’ve been able to grow quite a bit in the last four years. We didn’t have anyone who practiced family law before I joined the firm, but now it’s becoming more and more lucrative for us.”

  “Is that what you always wanted to do?”

  Chase shrugged. “I wanted to help people. Most of my classmates gravitated toward corporate law because that’s where they thought the money was. I went where my heart seemed to lead me, and I really love it. I get to help people like Angela and my other clients through some of the toughest times of their lives. Divorce is ugly, really ugly, but custody fights and….” He was going down a road he didn’t want to travel.

  “You try to do what’s best for the children,” Newton supplied, to Chase’s gratitude.

  “Yes. But I don’t always get to choose the side I’m on. I have represented people I know are completely despicable, and I have to present their case to the best of my ability. That part of my job pretty much sucks.” He paused while the server brought their sodas. They had each ordered a Diet Coke. “They teach us that in law school, but it isn’t until we get out into practice that we really come to understand what it means.” He rarely got to choose the clients he received. That was often done by the firm, so there had been times when he’d found himself on what he thought was the “wrong” side of a case.

  “I can see that. I don’t get to pick the people I work with either. Part of my job is to try to weed out those people who are trying to game the system or get benefits they aren’t entitled to. Mostly I work with families and as an advocate for the children. They’re the most important and often overlooked piece in this puzzle.”

  “Chase!” Garth said as he came over to the table. He was a large man, like he’d eaten too much of his own cooking, with a jolly face and intense eyes. The man loved to cook and took it seriously. “You made it.”

  “Yes. Thanks for finding a place for us.” He greeted him with a warm handclasp. “This is Newton,” Chase said.

  Newton nodded and shook hands with Garth. “I’m really looking forward to dinner. Chase has said you’re doing something special.”

  Garth clapped his hands in delight. “Oh yes. The first course is coming out in just a minute. A few antipasti and then some pasta. I’ve made a version of Amatriciana with a little kick, and then I have a steak that I got today. It’s gorgeous, and I’m going to cook it Florentine-style. You will love it.” He looked at both their glasses. “You sure you don’t want some wine?”

  “I’m driving.” Chase turned to Newton. “You feel free if you’d like some.”

  “I don’t drink.” The words seemed forced. “But thank you.” The paleness had returned, and Chase thought he had a pretty good idea what was going on.

  “I appreciate you doing this for me.”

  Garth grinned. “Anytime. You helped make all this possible.” He
motioned all around the room, which had filled up even more since their arrival. “We are booked solid on weekends and most nights.” It seemed he was really making a success of the place. “I need to get to the kitchen, but I will be back to check on the food and see how delighted your taste buds are.” He breezed away with more grace than a guy of his size should be capable of.

  “He’s something else,” Newton said.

  “You better believe it. He and I were in the same dorm freshman and sophomore year. It wasn’t for him, so he left college and went to culinary school. It’s where his passion was—still is. The man is a genius with food.” Chase leaned over the table. “And he says he owes it all to his grandmother. She was the one who first taught him to cook.”

  The plate of appetizers arrived: olives, prosciutto, salami, peppers. It was amazing, as it always was, and Newton really appeared to enjoy it. After they had finished that course, Newton exchanged a few texts with his sitter and seemed happy.

  “They’re doing fine. Eric is so incredibly active, but we have to be careful after one of his attacks. So he’s under strict orders to rest and stay still, not that he’s likely to have much energy for another day or so. I got him some Lego building sets, some of the larger ones where he has to read the instructions step by step in order to put it together. The sitter told me he’s done one completely and is working on the second one.”

  “That’s good, isn’t it?” Chase asked.

  Newton chuckled. “God, yes. It’s something other than running around the house like a banshee or sitting in front of a video game. He has some reading and comprehension issues that we’re working on.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to turn the conversation back to the kids.” He sipped his soda. “It’s just that they’re what my life revolves around when I’m not at work. I used to garden and spend a lot of time in the yard, but now I’m lucky if I can get it mowed so it doesn’t look like a hayfield. If I can keep the house somewhat clean and the yard from looking like it’s something out of Fright Night, then I think I’m doing pretty okay.”