“To say the least,” he muttered.
I watched as he made his way behind his desk and then took a seat. He didn't seem distracted by all the papers that had taken over his space.
“I got a call today from Pratt, Richards, and Cook. You had apparently called them this morning, asking to help take over the majority of my caseload.”
“Yes, sir.” I was nervous what was going to come next. I didn't want to upset him, or make him think I was ungrateful for the opportunities he had given me.
Frank looked me in the eye and muttered the opposite of what I was expecting, “Thank you.”
I had run a million excuses through my head since making that call; how I would explain that I had called, but him thanking me was never what I expected. “Sir? Come again?”
“I said thank you. I needed you to make the call. Listen, I know how ridiculous it sounds. And it does. I’m a grown man who had years of education and ran a successful attorney practice for over thirty years. My pride stood in my way.”
“So what does this mean?”
“It means I’m retiring.”
“I’m happy for you, I think…I guess I need to look for me a job then, huh?” I smiled but wanted to panic at the same time. I knew that was a real possibility, but hell…
“No, you don’t, Mr. Pratt agreed to keeping you on staff and you can work from home, and then drive in when needed. You go to most people anyway. You have always been good about getting everything entered into the computer, and they have a large database, much more up-to-date than mine. You’ll be fine. I told him you are the best assistant I have had in my thirty years.”
“I am speechless. And so thankful for everything you have done for me.” My eyes were filling with tears and I didn't want to let them fall. I was afraid to blink.
“I am thankful for you, Breigh. It is the least I can do. You have become like a daughter to me, although it pains me to say I sure didn't act that way the majority of the time.” He paused. “And yes, I am having some health issues, but I’m an old man. It is to be expected. I just have worked too much for too many years. It takes its toll on you.”
“That is exactly why I was starting to panic. I was working more than sleeping. Plus your clients…I just felt like…”
“I know how you felt. You have always looked out for their best interests.”
“I felt like I was betraying you and felt so bad.”
“You didn’t. I was really struggling with what to do. My wife was no help, and I couldn't talk to any of my colleagues. A lot of times they are vultures. But I knew you would do what you could for as long as you could. I should be apologizing to you for all the trouble I’ve created for you. I should have called it quits a year ago but instead was holding on.”
“You deserve to retire, sir. You can spend your days now doing whatever you please.”
“I hope so. Lately all I feel like doing is sleeping, and watching golf. I don't even have the energy to play it.”
We laughed together briefly until he began coughing.
“Sir, what do you want me to do with the work that has been waiting for signatures and final look-throughs?”
“How about I come to the office Monday, and we will go through everything? It will be our official last day together.”
“The end of a great run, right?” I commented, seeing the pain in his eyes.
“Exactly.” He smiled but I could tell he was emotional about it.
WYATT
Today was exhausting and I couldn't wait to pick up a pizza, crack open a beer, and watch some football. My brain had been running a million miles an hour, trying to put the puzzle together what had been plaguing me for two days now. The case I was on was something that had really struck a chord with me, and it was all I could think about. I was determined to find the sorry son of a bitch who had beat up two elderly ladies and took their purses. That kind of crime didn't sit well with me. I had their battered pictures sitting in front of me on my coffee table starring at them in frustration.
Headlights shined through my front windows and I sat a few minutes, assuming that it was a lost driver. It was hard to see our house numbers and it sometimes confused people. They usually figured it out though.
I took another bite of my pizza, and a swig of my beer before I heard a car door. It was past eight and I was spent.
“What now?” I stood up to look out my front window. I saw Breigh walking up with a smile on her face.
I met her at the door, pleased to see her. “What are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to see you.” She hugged me and I smelled the top of her head before placing a kiss on it.
I lifted her chin up to see her face and moved her hair slightly away. “Everything okay?”
“Fabulous, actually. I just left Frank’s house. He’s retiring.”
“Your boss? And is that good news?”
“Yes! It solves my overworked issue. I was working myself into an early grave.”
“Does that mean you won’t have a job though?” I look at her confused, trying to compute how I was supposed to be acting.
“That is even better…he…”
“Come in and have some pizza with me. I just sat down.”
“I’m sorry I interrupted but I just wanted to see you. You’re the first person I think about when I want to share something.”
She smiled and then took a seat, grabbing my beer and taking a sip. I watched how her lips shaped over the bottle.
“So Frank arranged for me to work with another
