Chapter 2

 

Betty used the speed dial to call Evander. She had known him for some time, but they had only started dating recently. While she’d noticed he was always courteous to the other shoppers in the bakery she stopped at in the mornings, he would never so much as make eye contact with her. Not only had it not bothered her that he didn’t look at her, she’d preferred it. She was focused on the brass ring in her career and didn’t need diversions. Then, out of nowhere, he’d sent flowers to her office. When she’d called to thank him for the gesture, he’d made some conversations, which had come as a complete surprise to Betty. He was gregarious when he made jokes with customers and was often loud in the mornings when she came in for her pumpernickel bagel schmear. Evander was also more than ten years older than she, so the shy routine did not add up. But two weeks later he’d called back, and since then, when she was not at work on the Lopez case, the two were inseparable.

On their first date Evander explained to Betty that before he had become a baker, he’d worked in the construction field. He’d worked construction because he’d dropped out of college after the birth of his son. Evander and his son, whom everyone called Junior, had been constantly together on weekends. While Evander and his child’s mother were never close, he’d looked forward to taking him to the movies, the playground, and even miniature golf. But one night Junior’s mother had called and told him she had been offered a promotion and would be moving to Los Angeles. Now, outside of one summer his son had spent in Florida, his only contact was a weekly phone call.

After losing Junior, Evander had decided to improve himself and had taken the job in the bakery because he had gotten tired of the cyclical drywall business. Since the owner of the business was a friend of the family and needed a manager, it was an easy solution to his career dilemma.

“Hello, Eastside Bakery. Would you like to try our new chocolate twirlers today?”

“Hi. Is Evander in?”

“Yes. Is this Betty?”

“Yes, it is, Mr. Ferguson. How are you today?”

“I’m fine. Evander’s been on pins and needles all day worrying about that case.”

Betty smiled. “Really?”

“Yep. Let me get him. One second, okay?”

“What happened? Did you win?” Evander asked as soon as he got on the phone, his dark voice filled with youthful excitement.

“Yes, sweetie, I won.”

“Damn! That’s great,” he said with pride. “One second, okay? Hey, everybody, she won. Again! Oh . . . damn, I forgot to ask her. One second.”

“Tell them one point five million,” Betty replied in anticipation of the question.

“Dollars? One point . . . five million . . . dollars? Are you serious? But he was drunk and didn’t have a seat belt on the baby in the front seat.”

“Hey, the jury listened. They looked at the facts and did what they felt was right.”

Betty could hear a voice in the background that screamed, “Did you say one point five million dollars?”

“Yeah,” Evander said. “My baby tough.”

“Hey, Evander? I need to ask you a favor.”

“Anything, dear, but before I forget, could you come over tonight, about nine o’clock? I special-ordered the rack of lamb you like so much, and I have a few other surprises as well. That wouldn’t interfere with anything you had planned for this evening, I hope? All those night meetings regarding the case are over now, right?”

Damn, Betty thought. She hadn’t spent any quality time with Evander in weeks. Between the case and moving into the house, she’d had little free time. And now she was going to spoil his special evening with another Murphy, Renfro and Collins commitment. “Did you say nine?” Betty said, thinking fast.

“Yes. Is that a problem? I know you still have a lot of unpacking to do in the house. If you like, we could have dinner a little earlier?”

“No. No, honey, nine o’clock is fine.”

“Good. I can’t wait to see you, and if you like, I’ll follow you home to help. Oh yeah, what did you want to ask me?”

“Oh, umm, it’s so funny. I was gonna invite you out to dinner with me.” Betty had never put personal affairs before business in her six years with the firm, but she felt no guilt for doing so tonight. She had devoted all of her time to the firm since she had become an associate, but on this night Betty just wanted a little time to herself and this man in her life. She would call and cancel with Murphy, although she knew that politically, with a partnership in the offing, it would not be the wisest move. But tonight she did not feel like being Betty Anne Robinson, Esquire. Being congratulated and reviewing all of the steps that had brought in the large civil award was the last thing she needed this evening. She just wanted to be Evander’s Betty. As she drove into the parking lot of Murphy, Renfro and Collins she said, “I miss spending time with you too.”

“So nine o’clock it is. I hate to hang up, sweetheart, but we’re in rush hour here for some reason. Can I call you back a little later?”

“Ah, yeah,” Betty said. “Try me at Jacqui’s or at home. I just got to the firm, but I didn’t get much sleep last night, so I think I’m going to check on my messages and then head out for the rest of the day. I should be out of here no later than two o’clock.”

“Okay, I’ll call you then. Also, Ferguson told me a great lawyer joke today. I bet this one is better than Jacqui’s.”

With a smile Betty replied, “Thanks. I could use it.” As she pressed the off button on her flip phone and returned it to her purse, Betty leaned back into her taupe leather seat and turned on the radio. She was not ready to go inside the firm. Once there, she knew she would be beset by congratulations, some insincere, from the partners, associates, and support staff. News like this traveled through the firm in the wink of an eye. Although she wanted to feel their adulation, for now, she wanted to savor this time alone. The moment she had worked so hard to attain had arrived. The moment she had sacrificed and disciplined herself for had come. Since the day she’d enrolled in law school, she had envisioned walking into a courtroom with the odds against her and leaving the room abuzz. She had dreamed a victory would feel special, but she still felt the same.

All aspects of Betty’s life were where she wanted them to be. She was not married, but she had convinced herself that she was not looking for matrimony. So why couldn’t she smile inside? Why did she feel empty? Why didn’t she feel as delighted as Jacqui, Evander, or even Jack Murphy at her accomplishment? Why, after she’d received the verdict, had she not been able to enjoy it before critiquing herself? At one time she’d thought she would be happy when she graduated from college. Then her happiness had been delayed until she’d graduated from law school. She’d thought she would feel fulfilled when she was accepted by a prestigious firm, but she was not. And then she’d felt she would not feel ultimately satisfied until she won a case in which all the odds were stacked against her. Now, as she sat in her car, she released her tight grip on her steering wheel and pondered what her next “until” would be.