Page 3 of The Lawyer's Quandary
“I get that. I was never much for sports. I have a leg that didn’t quite grow the way the other did. So especially as a kid, walking and running were difficult. As I grew up, the issue largely sorted itself out, but by then I was as coordinated as a flamingo on stilts. So I went to law school instead.”
“Dickinson?” Mark asked.
“No, Harvard. I was lucky enough to earn a place.” He thanked Lucy as she brought their drinks. “While most of my colleagues had their eyes on corporate prizes and huge payouts, I went into litigation and did a lot of defense work.”
“What was Harvard like?”
Greg rolled his eyes. “Upper-crusty. My father went to Harvard too. He was a great lawyer and even argued before the Supreme Court and won a number of important cases. So I had resources available to me that most people don’t have. My fatherpaid for my education, and I think he was disappointed at first that I decided to go my own way. But I had a trust fund and more money than I could spend in my lifetime. It’s important to me that I give back.”
“So you have your own firm?”
“Yes. I live on what I make, and a lot of the earnings of my trust are given to charity and to support various family properties that I inherited. People depend on them for a living, so I couldn’t just walk away.”
“Is that why you’re taking Steven’s case? Because he needs help?”
“Yeah. That’s part of it. My business supports not just me, but Angie and Regina. Next year, I’m taking on another lawyer from Dickinson. The business is growing, and part of what I believe in is paying things forward.” He grew quiet for a few seconds. “How did you become a swimming coach?” Greg asked.
“Well, in college I was on the swim team, and I was good. I even made the Olympic team. But I just wasn’t quite good enough. I mean, with Michael Phelps and Terry Baumgartner competing then, there wasn’t a lot of room for the rest of us. Still, it was an amazing experience, and when I got back, I found that I had other skills. I could help people reach their potential. So that’s what I do. So far, I’ve coached a few state champions and one guy who went to the Olympics the way I did. There are two guys on my team and a woman on the women’s team who have more ability than anyone I have ever coached or competed with.” He sounded excited, and his eyes were brimming with energy—so much so that Greg found it difficult to look away. “So many of these kids have so much talent, and it’s my job to help them realize it.”
“Me too.”
“Do you offer internships or hire recent graduates?” Mark asked, and Greg nodded.
“It was shocking to me, even as a Harvard graduate, just how much I had yet to learn once I left law school. They teach you the theory and the history of the law, how to research and analyze cases, but so much of the law is paperwork… tons of it. Petitions to the court, briefs, counterpetitions, filings, amended filings, forms—you name it. Angie is amazing with that sort of thing. She keeps a calendar for each case, as well as a master calendar, to make sure that we meet all the court-assigned deadlines. That itself is a huge job, especially once the number of cases grows.”
“I guess most of us who have never had to go to court don’t understand much about it,” Mark mused. When their sandwiches arrived, the conversation settled as they ate.
“I have to ask. I know you believe Steven, but why stick your neck out for him? It’s likely the college is going to close ranks to try to protect itself, and that could leave you on the outside. It’s happened before.” Greg sounded concerned.
“I’m aware of that. But I’m not going to be one of those people who turns a blind eye. If Coach Bates was inappropriate with Steven, then it’s happening to others, because if they get away with it once, then they do it again. He’s been part of the lacrosse team for nearly a decade.” Mark set down his sandwich, paling. “As much as I hate to see the college go through a scandal of this type, that’s preferable to the athletes being mistreated by someone with power over them.” Damn, the conviction in Mark’s eyes was attractive as all hell. His lips drew straight, and his face was serious as a heart attack. There was no doubt of his convictions.
Greg found himself smiling. “I’m glad he’s going to have your support, because he’s going to need it.”
“So you are going to take the case?” Mark asked.
“That isn’t up to me. I’ll put together a basic strategy and send it to Steven. He’s the one who will decide if he wishes to goahead.” He swallowed hard. “Bates is trying to take away some of his player’s choices. I won’t do that. It’s fully up to him.”
“I know Steven wants to move forward with this. But what I don’t understand is why he needs a lawyer in the first place. Shouldn’t he just report the incident to the school?”
“Given the history of these sorts of complaints? No. The past tells us that they get swept under the rug, and the players are the ones who pay, one way or another. So I’m thinking outside of the box.” He wasn’t willing to show his hand yet. “But our job is to keep Steven safe from harm.”
Mark nodded and began eating once again. The man was almost graceful in his movements. Greg had been on dates with guys who stuffed themselves or ate so fast that they were like human vacuum cleaners. Mark was not like that. He ate slowly, deliberately, like he’d been trained. Lord knows Greg had. His mother believed in etiquette and taught him table manners and how to behave in almost any social situation. Though she did probably leave out how to act when you were having lunch with a guy you thought was stunningly handsome.
“How much do you swim yourself?” Judging by the lean muscle, quite a bit.
“A couple miles a day, usually first thing in the morning.” His features were relaxed, and his lips seemed to naturally curl up in a smile. “Have you ever thought of swimming for exercise?”
Greg bit his lower lip. “I’m not very good in the water. Never have been. I can swim and stuff, but I never really learned how to swim the way you guys are able to. Mom and Dad had a pool when I was growing up, but because of my leg issue, I had problems other kids didn’t.” Greg smiled. “I love the water—I’m just not a super strong swimmer. Usually for exercise, I use the treadmill at the Y. A half hour a couple times a week and I’m good to go.”
Mark nodded, and they continued eating, growing quiet for a few minutes. But it wasn’t uncomfortable, more companionable. “I guess I have to ask, and feel free to tell me if I’m out of line, but I saw the flag on your desk. Do you get grief or find it hard to get clients because…?” Mark petered off.
“Because of the gay thing?” He shook his head. “Not really. I have quite a few gay clients, but plenty of business and contract ones as well. I don’t think it’s a big deal, not in Carlisle. Making a go of a private law practice is not easy, but it’s working for me. How about you? Does a gay swimming coach cause issues?”
“Not on my campus. In fact, it opened a door for me. Let’s say that the head women’s coach was much less concerned about working with me… and so are the swimmers themselves. I do have a few guys every year who decide they want to push, but they find out that I’m professional, I treat everyone the same, and I don’t fish where I live, and then we all get down to work. For younger people it isn’t such a big deal. It’s older, more traditional people who tend to have an issue.”
Mark finished his sandwich and picked at a few of the chips before settling back in his seat. Greg finished as well and hated to see this lunch end. It had been quite a while since he’d felt comfortable enough to open up to someone. Usually he was all business, much to Angie’s obvious dismay.
Lucy asked if there was anything else and left the check. Greg took it and handed her his credit card. “You can get the next time,” he said casually, hoping there would be a next time.
