Chapter 3

© Copyright 2006 by Roy E. Proctor

“So, this is your first assignment with Anderson, Kennedy and Holms?” Jim asked, as he handed the menus back to the waitress. “You must have great credentials. They don’t take in just any lawyer, you know.”

“Well, I hope you don’t think I’m bragging, but my grade point average in law school was in the to top 10th percentile. And I have a solid ten year track record as a successful defense attorney, especially in cases involving youth.”

“So, that’s why they chose you. I gave my team strict orders to find the best defense attorney available for my ... well, I think of him as my prize.”

“I’ll do my best, Jim. Your prize seems like a decent kid who deserves every break he can get.”

“But you said that he hasn’t opened up to you, yet.”

“Oh, you can call it woman’s intuition, I guess. Men call it gut feeling, I think. It’s a knowing that goes much deeper than emotion.”

“You’re in the best position to separate that from emotion. Me? In this case - “

“Your coffee, sir,” the waiter interrupted. “Do you take cream and sugar?”

“Oh, yes, I do. Thanks.”

“Jim, I bet it’s been a long time since a smiling woman waited on you.”

“More of your woman’s intuition, I presume?”

“Let me put your cream in ... there is that enough?”

“That’s it.”

“Sugar.”

“One lump, please.”

“Okay, I’ll stir this up ... and my touch will do the trick. There, try that.”

“Mm, that’s delicious. Rose Ann, you sure are a master at making coffee.”

“I was a secretary for a few years. Had a lot of practice at making coffee for those ... men bosses, you know. But tonight, I do it because I want to. You know, maybe put a smile on your face.”

“Oh thank you, I appreciate your concern. Uh, tell me. You went from being a secretary to becoming a lawyer?”

“Yes, I volunteered to work, after hours, in a program of youth offenders. You know. Shop lifting. Breaking into a school coke machine. Heavy stuff.”

“Let me guess. You got involved in the lives of teens. You started defending them. And that was your motivation to become a lawyer.”

“Why, yes.

“Reminds me of my youth.”

“Really? Don’t tell me that the greatest District Attorney this city has ever known was a delinquent youth?”

“Sure was. Got caught too. It was the turning point in my life.”

“Jim, that’s hard to believe that you were ever in trouble. I’m sure you were into some “big time” stuff.”

“Sure was.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Jim. I hope it wasn’t too serious.”

“I got caught stealing windshield wipers from cars.”

“James R. Watkins, you played on my sympathy. I thought this was to be a professional meeting.”

“Rose Ann, don’t you ever get tired of just dealing with cold hard facts?”

“So, your asking, shall we savor this moment?”

“Yes, let’s do.” Jim was deeply impressed with Rose Ann. Talking with her was like coming home, to comfort, to refreshment. “So peaceful, she is,” he commented to himself. “I wonder what it would be like walking with her on the beach, the wind softly blowing her hair?”

“A walk on the beach,” Jim blurted out, without thinking.

“What?”

“I was thinking that we could take tomorrow, Saturday, right, maybe? Maybe we could ‘hang out’ a bit. It might be easier to get down to some cold hard facts.”

“Oh, do tell.”

“Oh, I don’t believe I said something like that. I’m so embarrassed. The facts of the case, of course.”

“Well, Jim. As your son’s lawyer, I’ll have to make sure we stick to the cold hard facts concerning his case.”

Jim and Rose Ann ate most of their meal in silence, as they visually studied each other’s faces.

“Peaceful,” Jim Sr. thought.

“Fascinating,” Rose Ann mused. “Tomorrow night, the beach.”

* * *

Jim and Rose Ann just fell into place beside each other as they strolled together on the beach. Neither of them seemed to take notice of their closeness to each other, with an arm around the other’s waist. They walked in step with one another as if the two of them were actually one. The pace of their stride, in sync with the small waves, added to the peacefulness of the scene. It was as if the destiny of romance made a place for them, and their right to come together was self-evident.

“I bet they are in love,” a boy commented to his mother.

“Hush,” she admonished. “You could embarrass them by talking like that.”

Jim and Rose Ann heard the boy’s voice but neither of them perceived the content of his words.

“You know what I like about you?” Jim asked, tenderly.

“Let me guess. I’ve been told that I have cute feet. Is that it?”

“Well that too, now that you mentioned it. But actually ... well ... what I see goes much higher than that.”

“Higher? Mm. Tell the truth and nothing but the truth now. No bull.”

“This is the truth Rose Ann Sharone, no bull. I saw it the minute you walked into my office. You have a lot of poise and peace shines from deep within you. And right now, it does help to keep me going.”

“Peace, you say. I use to be the reason why the word ‘depression’ was put into the English language. But then came the revelation that I was a product of God’s workmanship and that I was fearfully and wonderfully made, by Him.”

“And the depression never returns?” Jim inquired.

“Oh, there are times occasionally, yes. It’s like a suffocating heaviness that tries to descend upon me. But I pray in the Spirit and it flies away. Zoom. We are born to be free, you know.”

“Yes, I know that for sure.”

“You have good qualities yourself, you know.”

“I display all the aspects of male splendor. See my bodybuilding stance? Just look at all these muscles.” Jim’s sudden burst of clowning caused the two of them to erupt in laughter.

“Well,” Rose Ann responded, with laughter. “I would picture you as having more of the swimmer type. There you are, James R Watkins, flowing through the water with the grace of a seal. Then your sleek body arches upward above the surface. And – “

Suddenly, Rose Ann’s own clowning stopped and she became serious. Looking intently at Jim’s face, she continued. “Jim, you seem like a rock of faith with whom one could stand. The two of them moved slowly, yet resolutely within each other’s intimate personal space. Jim found himself gently clearing Rose Ann’s beautiful hair from her face.

“You’re making my job harder, Jim,” Rose Ann barked, as she moved away from his touch. “Lawyers are not to be emotionally involved in their work. You know that, and I know that. Rose Ann turned and started walking off.

“Rose Ann,” Jim pleaded. It hurt him to see her move away. “I guess this beach thing was not the best idea. Selfish of me, wasn’t it?”

“I went along with it, Jim. So we’re both to blame, I guess.”

“I’ll not stand in the way of something that you are suppose to do,” Jim replied. “So ... I hope we can get on with the cold hard facts of this case?”

“James R. Watkins, you’re all right. I will meet you Monday morning and get started.”




HEY! and don't forget to e-mail Roy E. Proctor if you have a comment! He would really like to hear from you.





Return to A Father's Discipline

Cybergrace Banner Exchange 2000