Chapter Four
After rechecking her work one more time, Chrissy emails the finished memorandum to Reggie for review. A few months ago, Reggie began relying on her more with preparing court filings, and she loves it. Loves learning more about the legal system and the practical aspects not taught in paralegal school. Loves earning Reggie’s compliments when she does a good job.
It’s taken her all week to write the memorandum about whether responsibility attaches to a landlord when he fixes a leaking gas boiler instead of hiring a company to deal with the problem. She researched the assumption of risk tenants take by not raising any objections, how common it is for landlords to repair property themselves instead of hiring professionals, the duty of care landlords have to their tenants, and any resulting liability, whether it be monetary, emotional, physical, or some combination. Reggie met the defendant, Frank Hogan, while volunteering as a Lawyer for the Day at the Boston Municipal Court. The negligence action is coming up for a pretrial hearing in a little over a month, but Reggie isn’t confident she’ll be able to help him.
If anyone can help him, it’s Reggie. Sometimes Chrissy watches her in court while taking notes. Always respectful to the person on the stand, her straightforward style gets to the crux of the matter, often eliciting the truth in a way the judge or jury can follow. Not that Reggie’s always warm and fuzzy. She can be quite ruthless in court. If she makes a witness cry, or a heart break, or a person betray another, that’s all part of the job.
And it’s damn sexy. Nearly as sexy as the way she struts into the courtroom, head held high and high heels clicking. Chrissy wants to do whatever she can to help Reggie prepare, even if that means hours of research. The gleam of appreciation she sees in Reggie’s eyes provide all the incentive she needs.
Chrissy knows she’s failed to get rid of her attraction for her boss. Not like I have a shot in hell. Since the harbor cruise, she’s noticed a shift. More personal conversations. More smiles. More thoughtful gestures. Gathering up her belongings, Chrissy logs off the firm’s secure server and rises from the desk. She can hardly believe Ben starts school next week. I can’t believe how fast the years have passed. Next month he’ll turn fourteen.
“Done for the day?” Reggie asks, reading glasses perched on her nose, when Chrissy stands in the doorway to her office.
This woman is alluring without trying. “Yes. I’m picking Ben up from his friend’s house. Are you staying for much longer?”
“Not much longer. Ben starts back to school next week, doesn’t he?” Reggie sits back in her chair, crossing her legs and showing some skin through the slit of her tight skirt.
“Sure does. Ninth grade. It’s crazy.” Chrissy shakes her head to clear her thoughts of Ben’s age. Of Reggie’s toned legs.
“I have a little something for him.” A blush emerges on Reggie’s cheeks.
“You didn’t have to.” Chrissy steps closer to Reggie’s desk to receive it.
“It’s nothing.” She waves her hand, but the expression in her eyes negates her words. She opens a side drawer and retrieves a gift bag, handing it to Chrissy.
“Thank you, Reggie. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.” Chrissy wants to look in the bag, but she tightens her grip on it.
“You should look at it. Make sure it’s okay.” A hesitant look crosses Reggie’s face. It’s different. Charming.
The gift is in a black rectangular box and Chrissy gives Reggie a reassuring smile. She can’t imagine Ben not liking whatever he receives from her. In the box is a pewter sports pendant of a basketball player about to dunk the ball in the hoop. Above the design are the words, ‘Guardian Angel,’ and underneath the player are the words, ‘Protect Me.’ Turning it over, she sees engraved, ‘Never give up on your dreams, Ben.’
“Ben told me one time, you’re his guardian angel.” Reggie shifts to lean on her forearms against the desk. “He said you always make him feel safe, invincible, like the superheroes he reads about in those comic books. He’s worried once he starts school he won’t be around enough to protect you. He views it as his responsibility. I told him you’d never want to hold him back. I thought this might help, symbolize how you’re always with him while he’s reaching for the sky. Remind him you want him to live his life and fulfill his dreams.”
Chrissy stares at the necklace, eyes narrowing as she runs her thumb over the front of it. Although Reggie’s only known him for two months, they’ve gotten close. I wonder when they had this conversation.
“Christina,” Reggie says, a hint of pleading in her voice. “Did I overstep? Is this inappropriate?”
“No.” She looks up, knowing Reggie will see tears in her eyes. “It’s thoughtful. I knew you two hit it off, and I’m happy about that. He’ll love it.”
A black cord is attached to the pendant, long enough for him to tuck it under his shirt. Chrissy is touched by Reggie’s effort. The space between them vibrates, the silence full.
“He told you he wants to try out for basketball?”
“Yes. He’s afraid he’s too short.”
“Yeah. He’s fast, though, and he doesn’t know how to give up on something once he sets his heart on it.”
“Sounds like a Kramer trait.”
Chrissy chuckles. “If it’s something I think I have a chance at, then I can be pretty persistent.”
“I see. So, if you think it’s an impossible goal, you don’t try?”
Forehead crinkling, Chrissy wonders whether this is an idle question or something more. The glimmer in Reggie’s eyes makes her pause. “Not necessarily, but I might take more time to gather my courage. I mean, it took me years before I took the plunge of going to paralegal school. Before I did, I visited court and sat in the gallery, watching different proceedings. I memorized lists of courts, their jurisdictions, and different types of lawsuits. I even watched court procedurals on tv. Stupid, huh?”
“On the contrary. It reinforces my belief of how fortunate I am to have you here.”
Biting her lower lip, Chrissy shrugs away the compliment. “Thank you, Reggie. For the gift. He’ll cherish this. I know it.” She wants to hug Reggie. She gets a dangerous idea and tries to ignore it. But Reggie has gotten Ben a gift, and she’s talking to her like a friend instead of a boss, and Chrissy aches to learn more about her. Don’t do it. “You know, we’re eating out in the North End.” You’re fucking crazy. “Why don’t you join us for dinner, and you can give this to him yourself?” She’s going to say no and ignore you for weeks if she doesn’t find a way to fire you. Chrissy sees the conflict on Reggie’s face. “You haven’t seen him at all this week since he’s been finishing up his summer job, and he’d love to see you.” You’re a moron. This is ridiculous. She doesn’t want to spend time with you.
Chrissy ignores the voice in her head screaming at her. A work-related event is one thing. Inviting her to spend time outside the office is a bad idea. Their recent exchanges probably mean nothing more than Reggie relaxing more around her. I’m so stupid.
Another thought crosses her mind—maybe she has other plans, perhaps with Ashford. “Unless you have other plans? It’s Labor Day weekend, after all. Are you going away with Ashford?” Chrissy winces at her tone of voice, disapproving despite her best intentions. She watches Reggie, afraid her question is too personal. She’s about to apologize when Reggie answers.
“No. No plans. It didn’t work out with him.”
“Oh. Are you all right?” She does her best to smother the surge of joy singing through her veins. She doesn’t feel bad about the breakup, not by a long shot, but she doesn’t want Reggie to be in pain.
“Well, I ended the relationship.” Reggie shrugs.
“Maybe it’s me, but whenever my relationships have ended, regardless of who broke it off, I always find myself grieving a bit. I tend to dwell on the good times, the things I liked about the person, the little things. I question myself, wondering whether I could have tried harder, done things differently.”
“Self-
reflection is a noble trait, but could you really think of something to miss for that last guy you dated? What was his name? Dick?” Reggie teases with twinkling eyes.
“Drew,” Chrissy says, as her cheeks flush.” I’ll have you know he taught me how to wear eyeliner the right way,” Chrissy jokes, glad to hear Reggie’s chuckle.
“Ah, yes. I can imagine. He’s certainly metrosexual.”
“No kidding. He knows the best places to get manicures. All right, then. You absolutely must go with us. It will get your mind off what’s-his-name, and Ben loves spending time with you.”
“And do you, Ms Kramer?”
“And me,” Chrissy confirms after a loaded pause, ignoring the formal address. Reggie’s teasing her. She didn’t start calling Chrissy by her first name until after the three-month trial period ended. Chrissy grins, and when Reggie nods, it broadens into a smile. I hope this will become a more common occurrence.
“Give me five minutes. I can drive us, so that will save some time.”
With a nod, Chrissy returns to her desk and sits down. She sends a text to Ben to let him know Reggie’s joining them. The string of emojis he sends make her laugh. She hears Reggie step out from her office and spins in her chair. “Ready?”
Reggie flicks off her light. “Sure am.” Chrissy falls into step with Reggie, and they stop in front of the elevator, waiting for a car to arrive. “Which restaurant are we going to?”
“It’s on Hanover. We like three of them, so we go to whichever has seats available. Do you have a favorite place you’d like to go to? We’re always looking for good restaurants.”
“I do know one I think you’ll both like. It’s called Gino’s.” Reggie removes her cell phone from a side pocket of her purse and after a moment of scrolling, she calls someone. “Hi. This is Reggie Esposito. I’d like a table for three at six tonight.”
The elevator opens, and Chrissy enters, holding it open while Reggie finishes her call. With a smile, Reggie disconnects and enters the car. “All set. You’re going to love this place. I represented them a few years ago, and I have an open invitation to eat there anytime.”
“Wow. If I’d known that, I would’ve invited you out a long time ago,” Chrissy jokes. Her face heats up when she realizes what she’s said. “I mean…” The elevator dings and the doors open to the parking garage.
“If I’d known that, I would have mentioned it a long time ago.” Reggie struts out of the elevator while Chrissy stands motionless. “Coming?” Chrissy hears the amusement in Reggie’s voice and hurries to catch up.
They stop at a silver Mercedes-Benz, and Chrissy whistles through her teeth. “Nice ride.”
She doesn’t know much about cars, but this one screams wealth. It reminds her how out of reach Reggie is. They live in different worlds, and no matter how attracted she is to her boss, this is a good reminder of how hopeless it is to harbor romantic feelings for her. This isn’t a date, and you’re a shithead if you think she’ll ever want one with you. Get it together, Kramer. Take what you can get.
“Thank you. Hop in.”
Once they’re settled, Chrissy gives Reggie the address where Ben is, and Reggie starts the car. “I was never one for fancy cars, but my parents taught me that for better or worse, sometimes you have to look the part. Once I became a partner, I got the fancy car, the brownstone, and the vacation home.” She shrugs, pulling the car out of the parking lot. “I can’t say I don’t like them, but I never thought of myself as materialistic.”
“Still, if you have the money, why not enjoy the finer things in life?”
“Well, I will admit I love shopping for clothes.” She chuckles.
Chrissy looks out the window, noting the pedestrians filling the sidewalks, talking and laughing. She wants to ask Reggie silly questions like where she shops, what size she wears, and what designers she prefers. Maybe if they were close friends she could. “You like going to stores and trying on tons of clothes?”
“Yup. I’m one of those odd women, I know. It’s better than ordering clothes online, though. With my body shape,” Reggie waves her hand from head to her lap, “it’s better for me to try on the clothes to make sure they fit right. Otherwise, I end up returning things. Especially blouses.”
That’s because you have beautiful breasts, Chrissy doesn’t say. She swallows, her throat dry. When that doesn’t work, she clears her throat. Reggie purses her lips, eyes shining. Shit! Great. She can read minds.
“I’m surprised you don’t have a personal shopper.”
“No, thank you. No need to throw money away. Bad enough I have to bring clothes to a tailor for altering.” Reggie stops at a red light and looks over. “I get the impression you think I have a lot more money than I do.”
“Oh, I have no real frame of reference.” Chrissy looks down at her lap, wringing her hands. She flattens her palms on her thighs and looks up. “We’ve come a long way, but living in the city is expensive. Ben earned a scholarship for his school, and I imagine he’ll have to do the same for college. Of course, I’ll give whatever I can…”
A hand on her knee stops Chrissy from saying more. “You raised Ben to be a fine young man. He’s smart and hard-working. Money can’t buy those attributes. He has all he needs, and that’s you.”
“Thank you.” Chrissy looks out the window once more, blinking several times. Her leg is on fire, and it’s the hardest thing in the world to keep it still. Reggie squeezes her knee. Chrissy dares to look over and is met with a gentle smile. She loses her breath, but she keeps their eyes connected until Reggie must watch the road. She doesn’t remove her hand until she pulls over at the address Chrissy provides.
Chrissy texts Ben, and a few seconds later the phone chimes. “He’s on his way down.” Chrissy opens her window so Ben will see her. Once he approaches, she waves. Ben gets in the back, already talking.
“Hi, Reggie. Nice car. I’m starving. Are we going to the North End?”
Chrissy grins. “Hello, Ben. Great to see you. Yes, I’m fine. Work was good. Thanks for asking.” Chuckles fill the car.
“Sorry, Mom.”
“I hope you don’t mind, Ben, but I’m bringing you to one of my favorite restaurants in the North End.”
“Cool. Mom, have we gone there before?”
“Nope. It’s called Gino’s.”
“The best Italian you’ll ever eat.” Reggie pulls into a parking garage off of the waterfront. “I hope you don’t mind walking from here.”
“Not at all. It’s a nice night.”
They walk up the hill to the North End and follow the road until it intersects with Hanover Street. It’s a warm summer evening. The sun won’t set for at least another hour, and its warmth makes it unnecessary to wear anything over her short-sleeve blouse. She brought her sweater in case it cools off while they’re at dinner, but she doubts she’ll need it. The streets are crowded. Several cars are double-parked. She’s glad they didn’t attempt to navigate the congested one-way streets.
Chrissy tries to shake off her nervousness. At least Ben can serve as a buffer. She keeps reminding herself not to take Reggie’s hand as they make the short trek to the restaurant. It’s not a date, no matter how much she wishes otherwise.
Once they arrive at Gino’s, a restaurant they’ve seen but never tried, a middle-aged, dark-haired, stout fellow smiles. “Bella, you look stunning. Too thin, though. You don’t come here enough.” He leans in and delivers air-kisses on both of Reggie’s cheeks. “And who are your friends?”
“Christina and Ben, meet Bruno. He owns this fine establishment. It’s their first time here.”
“Well, then, let’s get you settled. You have two choices: a table near the front windows or upstairs.”
“Upstairs, please.”
Chrissy looks around the restaurant, noticing several hanging pots filled with colorful flowers. On the walls are murals of Venice, Pisa, and Rome. The tables are packed into the small space, but no one minds how little room is between them. She ca
n smell marinara, and her stomach growls.
With a nod Bruno leads them to a circular metal staircase. It’s surrounded by brick, and toward the top a large sign warns customers to watch their step. Once they reach the top, Chrissy sees several tables filled with couples. Bruno stops before an empty table next to a railing on the edge of the rooftop. White fairy lights illuminate the area, wrapped like ivy around the black metal fencing. Thick white linen tablecloths cover the tables, cutlery, cloth napkins, and lit candles creating a cozy atmosphere.
They sit, and Chrissy watches the stream of people meandering down the street below them. They have a fabulous view of the Tobin Bridge. She looks forward to the sun setting, as the purple lights of the bridge will be visible.
A server hurries over to take their drink order. “Would you like a glass of red?” Reggie asks Chrissy.
“Yes. That sounds great.”
“We’ll have a half carafe of the house red.”
“I’m fine with water,” Ben says to the server.
“Please bring over a black napkin for me,” Reggie says before the server turns away.
Glancing at the white one in her hand, Chrissy asks, “Do I need one, too?”
“I’m wearing a black skirt, and the white napkin can leave white lint on it. Since you’re wearing a light-colored dress, you don’t need to worry about that.”
Nodding, Chrissy takes her napkin and places it on her lap while raising an eyebrow at Ben. He takes the hint and places one in his lap, too.
He looks at Reggie, a wide smile on his face. “This is awesome. Thanks for bringing us here.”
“You’re welcome. I wanted to give you this.”
Chrissy watches Ben open the present, and she smiles when his eyes widen.
“Wow. This is great.” Much as Chrissy had, he rubs his thumb over the engraving, his brows puckered. When he reads the words on the back of the pendant, he grins. “Thank you. It’s perfect.” He lifts it from its box and fastens it around his neck. “I really like it.”
You Matter Page 4