Thursday, April 28, 2005

Rainy Day - Chapters 1 & 2

Sorry, I'm way too tired to fix this tonight.

CHAPTER ONE
Kara Rogers stepped to the curb. She held a small umbrella close to her body as wind and rain whipped down the street. The mild sprinkle from the previous seven blocks had strengthened into a full-blown storm. She squinted through the downpour and saw the top of her office building. The light was beginning to change when a car sped through the intersection, hit a depression in the street and splashed water over the curb.
Kara could do nothing more than turn her face away. She sent a chain of expletives toward the car as she wiped droplets from her face. Still stunned, she stepped into the street and into the offending puddle, drenching her feet. Groaning aloud, she hurried across the intersection. The rain seemed to be pounding harder and a sudden flash of lightning startled her. Thunder began cracking across the sky and ended with an incredible crash that reverberated through Kara’s body.
She reached the main doors of her building only to find them locked. Fishing for her keys, a sudden gust of wind flipped her umbrella up. Kara turned the umbrella back into the wind and it reverted to its original shape as she pulled her keys free. She jammed the key in the door and opened it, skidding the foyer. Groaning, she climbed the three flights of stairs to the office.
Daniel Malone was a solo practitioner and employed Kara as his jack-of-all-trades. She answered the phones, made appointments, handled the finances, transcribed an endless pile of mini-cassettes, wrote memorandums and complaints, filed petitions and motions, and made the best pot of coffee in the city. He trusted her with every aspect of his life. Were it not for her, his wife, Maggie, would not receive a birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift. Any day he would be called "daddy."
Kara suspected he may finally make a move to a firm. They did reasonably well but the overhead in the old building, not to mention its location, did not help their business. His business, she reminded herself. She felt like such a part of him it was difficult to separate their lives. Kara was sure that if he went to a firm that she would be unemployed. The big firms kept pools of secretaries to be utilized by their attorneys. They would have no use for her.
The light blinked on the answering machine and Kara pushed the button as she hung her coat up to dry. Thunder drowned out the first message and she rewound the tape again. It was Agnes Jarboe, the client of clients. Although Agnes could afford a Rolls-Royce, she drove an ancient Volkswagen Beetle that Kara and Dan affectionately called "the Flintstone-mobile." Agnes did not talk, she screeched, mainly about the family she lived to infuriate. This time it was a property dispute with her older brother.
Kara was trying to wipe her legs off with a paper towel when she heard a deep voice. She jumped and whirled around, a flush creeping up her face. A well-dressed man stood holding a dripping umbrella.
Richard Ingram could not believe his eyes. It was the woman that he had splashed on the street this morning. Standing with her back to him, she was obviously trying to rectify the damage he had caused. She slid a paper towel up her muscled leg, a dancer’s leg, he thought. Russet ringlets hung from a loose ponytail and he watched mesmerized as she flung them once, twice away from her face.
"Excuse me." She turned and he could see that she was embarrassed to be caught in her private act. Her smile disarmed him, almost as though she was laughing at herself.
"Can I help you?" Her voice lilted with a faint southern twang and pecan-colored eyes danced at him. He offered his right hand to her and she accepted it with a firm, confident grip.
"I’m Rick Ingram. I have an appointment with Dan for 9:00. I believe I’m a little early."
"I see. I suppose Dan made the appointment because it isn’t on my book."
Rick nodded, "I spoke to him last night."
"Oh." She smiled again but it was more guarded than before. She gestured to the chairs beside the door, "He isn’t in yet. Would you like a cup of coffee? I was just getting ready to make some."
"That would be great. Thanks." She nodded and grabbing her paper towels, retreated to the back of the office. Rick took the opportunity to look around. The office was neat but needed a serious make-over. He was used to mahogany desks and oak facings not broken tiles and Formica. The top of Dan’s secretary’s desk was peeling and the computer looked to be at least five years old. His staff worked on the newest models. Rick noticed a nameplate. Her name was Kara. As the name rolled around his mind, the door burst open, startling him.
An older woman wearing a yellow slicker and a tattered hat stood in the doorway. Her hair was iron gray and what wasn’t covered stuck out at odd angles.
"Where’s Kara?" The woman’s voice sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Rick was ready to answer when Kara, alerted by the voice, walked from the back on bare feet. She smiled at the older woman. They made an odd coupling. Kara, tall and thin with an impish grin on her face and the other woman, short and squat, scowling from under the hat’s crumpled brim.
"Good morning, Mrs. Jarboe."
"I don’t see what’s good about it. Damn weather makes my rheumatism flare up," she rubbed her generous rump with her hand, "and my feet are wet from all the water laying in the streets."
"Yes, Ma’am, my feet are fairly soaked as well. What can I help you with?"
Rick liked her style. She was calm, quiet and professional and didn’t back down when Mrs. Jarboe insisted on seeing Dan. Kara reiterated the need for Mrs. Jarboe to make an appointment and gestured toward Rick as proof that Dan was busy for the morning. Mrs. Jarboe groused for a few moments longer and then stated she would call the following day. Kara saw her out the door then turned on her heel and went into the back again. She returned with two steaming mugs of coffee, still barefoot.
"We don’t have any cream or sugar. Dan and I drink our’s black."
"This is fine. One of your more colorful clients I presume?"
"Yes, although Mrs. Jarboe is quite loyal." She sipped her coffee and then placed it on a mug warmer. Rick took his first sip.
"This is excellent coffee. Where did you get this?"
Kara looked up from her computer which was trying to boot up.
"Piggly-Wiggly. It’s not the coffee. It’s the way it’s made that makes the difference."
"Oh, is it a secret?"
"Yes." She looked at her computer as another roll of thunder hit the office. The lights blinked twice then stayed off.
Kara had tried to quiet her quaking stomach by staying with her routine of messages and coffee. "The" Rick Ingram was sitting in the office. She had no doubt now that Dan was looking for a firm. Ingram, Sutton and Johnson were one of the biggest personal injury firms in the city. Dan had attracted some Phen-Fen clients and Ingram, Sutton and Johnson had handled the class action suit. Kara had hand delivered the files to their offices. It reminded her of a museum with its marble, mahogany and art prints.
Kara could not believe that he had caught her wiping her legs off. Her shoes squished with water as she walked and finally she kicked them off. Rick Ingram or not, she couldn’t stand cold, wet feet.
She had never met Rick Ingram before but he was certainly something to look at. His shoulders appeared as broad as the door and his salt and pepper hair was brushed away from his face. He reminded her of Michaelangelos’s David, maybe it was the lift of his chin. He was a handsome man.
Kara heard the door open and Agnes Jarboe demanding to know where she was. How could this morning get any worse? Agnes, for once, was calmer than normal and left without too much of a hassle and Kara was able to return for the coffee.
When the lights blinked and then stayed off she shoved her chair back in frustration.
"Shit. I thought this day could not get any worse," she grumbled. Dreary light spilled in from the old windows and shadowed her face.
"Oh? Has your day been bad?"
"Well, first my car is in the shop so I decided to walk to work." She went on to relate the remainder of her morning.
"I have to confess that I believe that I was the one who splashed you this morning. Actually, I’m quite sure. I’m sorry." Kara stayed silent and Rick searched her face for some hint of what was going on in her mind. She smiled and laughed from her stomach.
"That’s funny."
Rick smiled, "I will pay for any dry-cleaning. I should have watched where I was going."
"Oh, no. That’s all right. I have wash and wear specials." Kara almost winced at her own words. She thought it made her look poor and hokey. His impressions of her mattered for one very important reason - employment. The phone rang.
"Malone Law Office. How can I help you?"
"Hey there." Dan Malone’s voice resonated through the receiver.
"Hey. Mr. Ingram is here to see you."
"Yeah, I know. But Maggie’s in the hospital and it looks like today’s the day."
"Wow! How long have you been there?"
Rick watched her smile spread to her eyes and into her voice.
"About an hour now. She’s been in labor since three this morning. The doctor says it could still be a while. Tell Rick I’ll have to reschedule or you can show him our files and I’ll meet with him later this week. I’m sorry to tell you this way but I’m considering moving to their firm."
"I figured. I know with the baby and all you probably need a little more stability than what we have here." Kara did not appreciate the way Rick Ingram appeared to have no compunction about listening to her end of the conversation.
"I have to get back to Maggie but I want you to know I’ll do everything I can to have you come with me. I can’t live without your coffee," he laughed.
"Sure. You’d better go."
Dan sensed the change in her and although he wanted to say more he decided it could wait.
"I’ll call as soon as I can."
"Well, the electric is out so I’ll be sitting here with my feet on the desk doing nothing." Kara teased him.
Dan laughed, "I’ll call soon."
"Tell Maggie good luck from me."
"I will. Bye."
"Bye." Maggie placed the receiver in the cradle and looked up at her visitor, "Maggie’s in labor. Dan said I can show you the files or you can reschedule for next week sometime."
"Does it bother you that he’s considering moving his practice to our office?"
"Of course it does." Kara snapped the sentence off. Rick drew back from his relaxed pose. She didn’t apologize for her curtness and Rick thought she was justified in her irritation. Dan had mentioned bringing Kara with him. It was obvious she handled every aspect of his practice but Rick and his partners had enough paralegals and secretaries, more than they probably needed.
"I understand why he’s doing it. I guess I would too if I were in his position."
"I hope you don’t see me as an enemy Kara. I went to law school with Dan and I always admired his skills. I know that he’s done well for himself but you need money to make money. Overhead on big cases can drain a small firm and that’s what firms need to keep on their feet."
"You don’t have to justify anything to me. I’m well aware of how much babies cost and I know Dan would rather Maggie stay home with the new addition." Kara wished she could take that statement back. It brought too many memories floating to the surface. Her hopes of her comment being ignored foundered with his next question.
"You have a child?"
Kara gritted her teeth, "Joseph was born premature. He only lived a few hours."
Rick watched her face blush, "That must have been very difficult. I’ve never experienced anything like that."
"I hope you never do Mr. Ingram. I’d rather not talk about it though. I guess we need to decide whether we’re going over the cases or not." Lightning flashed and rain beat against the windows.
"It doesn’t look as though it would be a good idea to brave the weather at this point. I would like to go over some of the cases."
Kara shrugged as if indifferent, "Sure. Can I freshen your coffee?" Rick handed over his mug and she disappeared.
Rick wished he could take back the end of the previous conversation and wondered how she felt about Dan and Maggie’s new baby. It must be difficult to watch others have what was cruelly taken from you, although she seemed to be genuinely happy and excited for them.
"Are you ready?" Kara had appeared in the doorway.
"Yes."
"In here." She leads him into the rear of the office. A small conference room sat at the end of the hallway. It was barely large enough for four people to sit in. Files were already spread on the table. Without delay, Kara sat down and picked the first file up.
"This is Nathan Angelou. He’s a car wreck case."
Rick and Kara sat at the tiny table while the storm ebbed and sunshine finally poked its head out of the clouds. The power kicked back on, flooding them with artificial light sometime before 11. The two surfaced from their work right after one o’clock.
Rick was impressed, not only with the strength of their clientele, but also with Kara’s in-depth knowledge of each client’s personality, where the case was and their projections for settlement. The blouse she wore was tasteful but offered him glimpse after glimpse of the tops of her breasts. The hungrier he became the less he was able to ignore the beautiful distraction. He finally pushed away from the desk.
"How about some lunch? I’m starved. How many more cases are there?"
"Fourteen but I’m hungry too." To prove it, Kara’s stomach picked that moment to rumble loudly.
"Was that thunder I heard?" Rick teased.
"It’s just that you’re a slave driver." She tossed back with a smile.
"Giovanni’s is close by. Let’s get out of here while the sun is still shining."
Kara stood up and Rick followed her through the office. She stopped so suddenly he ran right into her back. He grasped her around the waist to catch her. Rick felt her heat as he steadied her. The electricity surged through him as she turned to look up at him. She was pressed against him and her mouth parted until he could see her tongue slide across the edge of her top teeth. He had the sudden urge to kiss her and bury his hands in the auburn ringlets.
" I forgot my shoes." Kara pulled away and skirted around him. Rick breathed again. What was he thinking? This was his colleagues’ secretary for God’s sake! It dawned on him that it was his colleague’s secretary and not his. Fair game, he thought.
Kara chided herself back through the hallway. She thought he was going to kiss her! And she would have let him! She loved talking to him. His knowledge about law surprised her. Some of the attorneys she dealt with probably shouldn’t have graduated from law school, much less passed the bar. His insights were refreshing and she had tried very hard to keep her attention on the files before them. That had been next to impossible.
Rick’s muscles were gripped by his creamy starched shirt. The humidity had climbed steadily in the office and he had loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt giving her a glimpse of curly sable chest hair. Kara mind had wandered to wondering what it would feel like beneath her hand and several times she pulled herself back from daydreaming to answer one of his pointed questions.
Kara remembered the feel of his hands on her and blushed. She had noticed that he wasn’t wearing a wedding band. Not liking where her thoughts were going, she mentally shook herself and went to have lunch with him.
CHAPTER TWO
Both being famished, they ordered too much food and then sat looking at the leftovers.
"I’ll get a to-go box. I can eat two more meals out of this," Kara said. Rick leaned back in his chair as a wave of sleepiness rolled over him.
"I love Italian but it makes me sleepy in the afternoons."
"I try not to eat anything too heavy for lunch. The afternoons can get a little dreary if Dan isn’t around." The waiter stopped by and Kara requested a box.
"Are you ready to finish up?"
"Sure," Kara replied and stifled a yawn. Rick grinned at her and she thought she had never seen anyone quite as sexy. She liked the way he was cordial with the waiter and had pulled her chair out for her. Kara admired his trim hips as he paid for their meals, waving away her suggestion of "going Dutch." They returned to the office and forced themselves to continue reviewing the cases. At 3:30, the phone rang.
"Hey! We have a baby boy!"
Kara wavered. "Congratulations! Is everything o. k.?"
"Oh yeah. Seven pounds, five ounces, 18 and three-quarter inches long. He’s got a little bit of dark hair. He’s gorgeous Kara, really gorgeous."
"What did you name him?" Rick watched her and pantomimed his congratulations.
"If its okay with you, we’d like to name him Christopher Joseph." Tears flooded her eyes and she turned her back to Rick. It took her so long to answer Dan’s worried voice came over the line.
"I’m sorry Kara."
"No," she cut in, "I’m thrilled." It came out as a halting whisper through her tightening throat.
"Rick said to tell you congratulations."
"Thanks, thanks so much. I’ll talk to you soon."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye." Kara returned the phone to its cradle.
"It’s a boy I gather."
"Yes." Kara replied softly.
"What did they name him?"
"Christopher."
"‘Christopher’ what?" Rick prodded.
"Joseph." The barely whispered word hung between them. Rick looked away while she wiped tears off her cheeks.
"If you don’t mind, maybe you and Dan can finish these later."
Disappointment jumped in him. "I don’t see a need to finish. You have more than briefed me on the cases. A few more isn’t going to make a difference." He wished she would turn around.
"I promised myself when the baby came that I would take time off and go shopping. I’ve been saving for this moment for six months." She continued like he needed an explanation.
"I had 250 saved but my car is going to eat up a 100 of that. I’ll have to skip the flowers."
"Flowers for Maggie?"
Kara whirled around and gave him a questioning look.
"Who else would I buy flowers for?" Rick realized he had misjudged her. He thought she was talking about shopping for herself. Some people drowned their sorrows in booze, others in shopping.
"I’ll take care of that." He picked the phone up and dialed.
"June, Rick here. I need you to order some flowers for me, a nice bouquet for a new mother. I need it sent to Maggie, or rather, Margaret Malone at, oh, hold on," he covered the mouthpiece.
"What hospital?"
"St. Marks."
"What room?"
Kara shrugged and he turned back to the phone.
"Call St. Marks and get the room number. Spare no expense June, these flowers are for Dan Malone’s wife. Oh, and have the card say ‘Kara and Rick’. Kara with a ‘K’. Thanks." After hanging up he found Kara studying him.
"I suppose you’ll want to go shopping with me next."
"Would you mind?"
Kara tried to appear nonchalant.
"Not at all."
Kara grabbed her things, put the phone on night ring and followed Rick to his car.
"Yep, this is the offending automobile."
Rick looked over the top of the car at her observation.
"She promises to watch where she is going." Kara settled back in the leather seats. The Mercedes made her eight-year-old Cavalier look like a Yugo. She imagined Dan trading in his Wagoneer for one of these. It drove so smooth she barely realized they were moving.
"Where to?"
"The outlets. I’ll get more bang for my buck out there." Rick grimaced.
"The outlets?"
"Yes," Kara eyed him unappreciatively, "what’s wrong with the outlets?"
"At the risk of sounding like a snob, I hate the outlets."
"You do sound like a snob. Are you too good for them?"
"I spent enough time at the outlets when I was a kid. I swore if I could afford it I’d never go back."
"I thought your dad helped start Ingram, Sutton and Johnson."
"He did but that doesn’t mean I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth." Kara watched the muscles clench in his jaw.
"I didn’t say you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth."
"You might as well have."
"Why does it upset you that I think you’re rich? You don’t really go out of your way to hide it. You wear tailored clothes, drive an expensive car and I bet you have a membership to an expensive gym to keep those impressive biceps pumped up." She could tell she was infuriating him. A blast of color had risen above his neckline.
"I guess you’re right. I don’t try to hide my wealth."
"So where are you taking me?"
"I’m now in the mood to take you home but I don’t know where you live so you’ll just have to come to the mall with me."
"Whatever."
"Are my biceps really impressive?"
"Just drive." They didn’t speak again until he slid the Mercedes into a spot at Briarwood Mall.
"I’m sorry. I misjudged you. I hate it when people do it to me." Rick grasped her white flag.
"I jump to conclusions myself. Let’s just have fun spending money."
She flashed him a wide smile, "Let’s go."
They spend the remainder of the afternoon hopping from store to store, arguing over prices and what they should buy. Kara gushed over a beautiful seersucker outfit then pouted when she saw the price tag of 50 dollars.
"Geez, I could buy ten of these at the outlet mall."
"They don’t have those at the outlet mall. Get it."
"No, it’s too expensive." Rick plucked it from her fingers.
"It’s not now." Kara didn’t know whether to laugh or smack him. "Enjoy it. It’s not about you anyway."
Finally they settled on a bench outside Eddie Bauer. Rick had stuffed his tie in one of the bags, his jacket slung over the back of the chair and cuffs shoved up on his arms. Kara kicked her shoes off.
"Are you ready for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes, dinner. Once again you have succeeded in starving me."
Kara didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t remember when she’d had so much fun.
"I’d like that."
"How about Russell’s?" Russell’s was an upscale steakhouse on Shriver’s Boulevard. She had never been there.
"My mouth is already watering." They stashed their purchases in the trunk of the Mercedes. Rick lowered the top and night air sifted through Kara’s hair. The parking lost was almost full but they found a spot in the last row.
The waiting area was standing room only. The harried hostess placed their name on a list and then mentioned there were a few places left in the bar area. Rick looked down at Kara and she nodded. Grasping her hand, he lead her through the throng of people, found two seats at the bar, and helped her into one. The bartender came over and asked for their drink order.
"Red wine, burgundy if you have it."
The bartender nodded, "and for you Miss?"
"I’ll have the same," the bartender walked away, "I haven’t had a glass of wine forever."
"They say it’s good for you in small doses."
"I think everything is good in small doses."
The stool made her dress ride up on her legs and Rick studied her muscled thighs.
Kara followed his eyes and realized what he was staring at.
"Like what you see?" Rick startled at being caught and Kara bursts out laughing as the bartender reappeared with their drinks.
"Are you ready to order?" Kara snatched up a menu as Rick took great interest in his. They decided on rib-eyes marinated in a Jack Daniels’ barbeque sauce, medium well, with twice-baked potatoes and grilled vegetables. Rick ordered another wine for dinner and Kara decided on a beer. They tore into a mini-loaf of fresh baked bread. Both reached for the heel.
"Don’t tell me you’re trying to take my heel." Kara’s hand stopped midair.
"You like the heel too?"
"My favorite part of the bread."
"Good thing there’s two of them." Rick caught the twinkle in her eye and sliced the other end of the loaf.
"So," Kara said through a mouthful of bread, "you know about my interesting clients, I’m sure you have some war stories." Rick was sharing an anecdote about one of his first criminal cases, an overdue parking ticket, when dinner arrived.
"Why did you become an attorney?"
"Actually, I wanted to be an architect. I was working as a gopher at the firm and I watched my dad argue a case. I decided then I wanted to be a lawyer. What about you?"
"I’ve wanted to work in law my entire life. I never could decide what part. I got my Criminal Justice degree and worked in a prison for a while until a job opened in parole."
"Where was this?"
"In Georgia. I dealt with the same people mainly. Then I moved here, I met Dan and I’ve been with him ever since."
"How did you meet?"
"I was applying at the Courthouse, he overheard our conversation and offered me a job on the spot."
"That was luck."
"Maggie called it karma. I called it desperation. He was desperate for a secretary. I was desperate for a job."
By the time they stood to leave, Kara decided she had one too many beers and forced herself to walk steadily out of Russell’s to Rick’s car. He could tell she was tipsy.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just haven’t drunk that much in a while."
"You barely had two beers."
"And a glass of wine. The air is cool and that makes me feel better."
"Where do you live?"
"209 East 42nd."
"You walked from East 42nd Street this morning?"
"I thought it would be good for me."
"You’re a brave woman."
"Or foolhardy."
They found a spot to park almost in front of the building.
"I’ll help you with the bags."
"You don’t have to do that."
"Yes, I do." They each grabbed a handful and Kara lead him through the front door, into the elevator and pushed four. She stopped outside of 4A, stuck the key in and turned it and the doorknob.
Cold air flowed out and three meowing cats descended on them.
"Hello babies," Kara cooed to them, "you can set those down there." Rick deposited the bags next to the door and then closed it. The apartment was sparsely furnished. An overstuffed chair sat before a TV with an antenna. A set of folding wooden tables in a rack sat against a wall. The plants made the living room utterly charming.
Ivies hung from the ceiling. Cacti, mini-roses and a several other types of plants sat on a highly polished oak floor, on wooden plant holders and in baskets around the room.
He followed the sound of her voice into a glaring white kitchen with oak doors and facings. She was trying to reach a bowl in the upper part of the cabinet and Rick admired the shapely calves as she stood on her tiptoes. Kara carried on a litany with her felines as her outstretched arm threw her breast into repose.
"Let me get that." Rick advanced and she stepped away. He grasped a bowl and handed it to her. A large grey cat with yellow eyes stared at him from the counter top.
"That’s Stormy. He’s the alpha male around here." As Rick reached out, Stormy tilted his head and rubbed against his hand. The bowl clattered as she placed it on the floor and Stormy lost interest in being petted. Two almost identical black and white cats began lapping milk from the white flat bowl.
"That’s Cleo and Rio. They came from the same litter."
"This is a really nice place. I love your plants."
"My second love, gardening. Maybe I’ll be the Martha Stewart of law someday." She turned and put the milk back in the refrigerator.
"Could I use your bathroom?"
"Oh sure, it’s down the hallway, first door on the right."
The light was on the right-hand side and as he flipped it on he was once again assaulted by pure white and oak. Nothing hung on the shower curtain, and a tasteful brass and flower ensemble hung on the wall beside the mirror. He met her in the hallway. A small closet door stood open and she tossed her shoes inside. Kara closed it and stood with her back to it.
She wasn’t sure what she wanted to happen. All she knew was that she didn’t want the day to end.
Rick clasped his hands together, "I guess I’d better go."
"Yeah, you have a whole day to make up tomorrow. I had a really good time today."
"Me too." Neither of them moved. A furry body rubbed against Rick’s leg and he looked down into green eyes. It was either Cleo or Rio.
"That’s Cleo." She answered the unspoken question.
"She’s pretty, like her owner." Kara didn’t think she breathed for a full minute. She only stared up at him, even as he moved closer and pulled the scrunchie from her hair. She drew a sharp breath as his hand slid down the side of her face.

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