Chapter 12 #2
“I suppose not,” she said. Roxanne felt confused. Her throat constricted again. Her momentary pleasure and pride faded. She studied Brian’s face as he looked at her. She licked her lips.
“I’m sorry, Brian. I know it’s going to be hard for you. But if it’s any consolation, I think you’re doing the right thing.” She paused, then smiled. “I’m glad there was some decency left in you. I kind of thought there might be.”
He quirked his mouth in a faint version of his lopsided grin.
“You mean in spite of everything you’ve heard about me?
I’ve turned down these charity things before, except a couple off-season things and whatever the organization insists on.
Maybe Lindy has a stronger hold on me than I thought.
Maybe I am more than an uncle-daddy. It’s impossible to say no to something that might benefit her.
“One thing I know for sure. It’s going to be a hell of a fucking season. I’m not at all sure I want to venture a guess at the outcome. If the start’s been any sign, I’m in for a roller coaster ride.” He stared at the saltshaker he’d been tossing up and down with one hand.
Roxanne certainly had nothing to add to that comment.
She was in for a ride herself. The next six months didn’t look to be a walk in the park for her either.
Between the Dr. Oki Fund, trying to do two jobs, not to mention the notion of Penelope having a detective snooping around, she had her own problem with balls in the air.
Roxanne shifted uneasily in her seat as she joined Brian in watching his methodical toss of the saltshaker.
The waitress approached the table and stood, clearing her throat before either of them looked up.
“Can you get me a pack of cigarettes please—and a cup of coffee.” Brian looked at the waitress with those brilliant blue eyes and Roxanne saw the girl fairly gasp.
She didn’t know if it was his blazing stare of his request for cigarettes that startled the girl, but she scurried away before Roxanne could ask for a thing.
Not that she wanted anything. She was decidedly unhungry.
“Now you’ve blown your secret.”
Brian looked at her and snapped his fingers in a gesture of mock regret. She laughed and he looked at her with that lopsided grin that would forever hold a treasured place in her memory. No matter what else happened, she decided.
“I can’t say I’m surprised.” Harry didn’t smile when Roxanne threw the signed contract on the small round table for Laura and him to see. Laura flipped to the signature page to see Brian Dennis’s scrawled name across the bottom.
“This is great. I’ll start getting on the phone right away and put things in motion now that we have something solid to push. It will make my job a lot easier,” Laura said. She began to rise, taking the contract with her.
“Wait. You said you had some things for me relating to my holiday benefit party,” Roxanne stopped her. Laura’s smile faded and she looked away.
“Oh, that. You don’t really want that stuff now.” Laura started to walk toward the door.
“Bills?” Roxanne guessed. Laura nodded. “How much?”
“The invitations, the catering deposit, miscellaneous linens, postage, et cetera. So far it comes to about thirty-five hundred dollars.” Laura wrinkled her nose as she stood looking at Roxanne.
Roxanne raised her eyes skyward, blew out a whistle and put her chin in her hand.
“Shit.” She looked at Harry who was now frowning.
He looked like he was about to say something, but Roxanne wasn’t going to let him try.
She was prepared for this eventuality, not that she had the money sitting in the bank waiting to pay the bills.
This was only the beginning of the bills for this party.
She expected it to run her about ten thousand dollars altogether.
And she knew what she had to do to pay for it. She stood.
“Time for me to go see Al again.” She pushed back the sleeve of her sweater and ripped the diamond-studded Rolex from her wrist. She heard Laura gasp and looked at her friend’s stunned face.
“Don’t worry, Laura. I have a Timex at home.”
Al was a partner in a successful law firm in Government Center and their offices were duly impressive, Roxanne noted as she pushed open the heavy wooden door. The receptionist greeted her and buzzed Al immediately. They’d been expecting her.
Roxanne didn’t bother to sit in one of the low upholstered chairs. In site of her earlier bravado, the fact that she had to sell her Rolex bothered her. Not that she would miss the watch, but it was the last thing she had left in her jewelry box worth much.
What would she do now in a pinch? Her paycheck from the studio covered the barest of living expenses.
It didn’t pay the tax bill for the house that was due in less than a month.
She was standing there chewing her lip contemplating the next unforeseen financial disaster when Al walked out to the reception area.
“Roxy, it’s good to see you. Come right in—I only had to kick out a bigwig from New York, but it’s worth it to see you.
” The receptionist looked at him skeptically and Roxanne laughed, pushing the worries to the back of her mind with another Scarlett O’Hara promise. She would think of what to do later.
Roxanne stood in front of Al’s desk with her hands on her hips, refusing to be intimidated. She glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the close, dark brick buildings of Boston’s North end. The harbor was visible in the distance.
He came to stand behind her. He stood close without touching her, but his proximity felt uncomfortable. She stilled. He put his hands on her hips and tugged her toward him.
“Al, don’t. It’s strictly business between us,” Roxanne said as she spun away from him. If he hadn’t been helping her out with Penelope’s lawsuit and selling her jewels, she might have let her anger out. She stepped around him and flopped into one of the visitor’s chairs to calm down.
He turned and stood with folded arms and watched her sitting there while she bounced her leg up and down over her knee to relieve her tension. He stood in front of her. She continued to hold her tongue and her judgment. She watched him watch her.
“Why?” he finally asked.
“I don’t know. Because you’re married?” she said.
There was no way he could possibly argue with her.
He half sat on the edge of the desk, his arms still folded, still watching her.
She supposed he was disappointed, but she didn’t care.
She couldn’t remember giving him a particular reason to feel entitled.
“I’m sorry. I… never mind. What business brings you here today?”
She reached in her bag and pulled out her watch, dangling it in front of him. Her anger still simmered. His apology sounded small. He hesitated before taking the watch from her. She could tell he wanted to comment, but knew better. She gave him a wry smile, then pushed herself out of her chair.
“Ten thousand?” She looked down at him as he remained poised on the edge of his desk.
“Should be no problem”
She sighed, reminding herself he was really a good guy. What was it with men? She had to give Al credit. He was handling the rejection admirably. No whimpering. No whining.
Roxanne smiled again. This time she got his full attention when she stood and reached out her hand to pat his cheek. “Don’t ever go over the line again.” She spoke the words quietly, but with finality. Then she turned and walked across the room to the door. He stood when she turned to him again.
“I don’t understand you at all,” he said. She laughed and this time he smiled.
“That must be the attraction.” She didn’t wait for a response.
She stepped out the door and pulled it closed behind her.
She rode down the elevator, contemplating the option of finding another lawyer.
If only she had money. Al was doing her a favor because he felt he owed her.
His firm had a long-standing relationship with the hospital’s fund-raising league.
She figured he would have gotten his son into the experimental program one way or another even without her help.
She went to him when she began divorce proceedings although they never went very far.
Being the only lawyer she really knew he seemed the likely choice.
When she had the issue with Penelope and the will, she went to him with the understanding that he’d be paid when she finally sold her house. Whenever that might be. She was stuck.
As she stepped out of Al’s building onto Tremont Street in downtown Boston, she couldn’t bring herself to call up another Scarlet O’Hara affirmation. Instead, she thought of Brian Dennis and found his image more comforting by far.
Unfortunately, Roxanne arrived late to the studio.
It was one thirty p.m. on the Wednesday before her holiday benefit party and traffic was unbelievable.
She knew it would be like this as thousands of college kids made a mass exodus.
She’d left early, but Al had called her cell and she pulled over to talk.
She was surprised to find it had taken only two days, marked most notably by one dinner date with Brian Dennis, to sell her watch.
Al wanted to deliver the check over dinner with her, but she said no.
The crew was busy when she walked into the studio, but thank goodness the talent hadn’t arrived yet.
She ducked around the corner and down the short corridor to the makeup room.
If anyone noticed her late arrival they weren’t saying anything.
People seemed preoccupied. Even the usually talkative woman who was doing her makeup remained silent.
Now all she had to do was get this interview perfect first time so she could get out of there and finalize the details of her benefit.