Page 16 of Just for Her
Chapter Seven: Allison
“Have you heard anythingyet?” I asked Miriam as I slid the plate of scrambled eggs in front of her.
It was nearly noon, but I figured it qualified as breakfast because she’d just woken up. I took every opportunity I could to ply her with proteins and healthy carbs. With her creative brain free and firing, mundane things like eating regularly sometimes took a backseat. A brief inventory of her small kitchen had revealed six open boxes of crackers, a crusty-tipped can of imitation cheese, and an assortment of frozen dinners, so I’d felt fully justified in running to the grocery store for eggs, bread, butter, and juice.
She shook her head and put down her phone. “I’m sure he’s very busy.”
I thought about the state of Paul Cerasino’s office and had to agree. However, hehadsaid to make an appointment. I’d called first thing yesterday morning and been told that someone would get back to us. No one had. Busy or not, my time in Cecilton was running out. I was due back in Boston soon and wanted this resolved or at least in motion before I left.
I made up my mind. If we didn’t hear anything by the time Miriam left for the bookstore, I was going to go back to his office.
“Don’t even think of going back there,” Miriam warned. She knew me so well.
I focused on slathering my toast with whipped butter and said nothing because, one, I was not going to lie to my sister, and two, I didn’t make promises I couldn’t keep.
“I’m serious, Ally. Don’t be a pest. He’ll answer if and when he can.”
I sat up. “You think I’m a pest?”
“You can be”—she hesitated, as if searching for the right word—“determinedwhen you set your mind on something.”
Determined, driven, goal-oriented, focused—those were words people used when describing me and my work ethic. I didn’t see them as negatives.
“You need to be prepared, just in case.”
“I know. It’s just not as high on my priority list as it is on yours. Things have been quiet. I really think we’ve turned a corner.” Her eyes widened, and I swore, if we were cartoon characters, a lightbulb would have appeared over her head. “Unless, of course, you have an ulterior motive for going to see him.”
“What ulterior motive could I possibly have?”
“Well, heisextremely handsome. And the way he was looking at you ...”
My mild irritation instantly took a backseat to curiosity. “How was he looking at me?”
She smirked. “Like he wanted to see yourlegal briefs.”
I tossed a napkin at her and scoffed, but inside, a thrill ran through me. I’d be lying if I said similar thoughts hadn’t crossed my mind once or twice, but those were personal, private thoughts and not meant to be shared. “You’re delusional.”
“Not delusional. Imaginative,” she corrected. “Comes in handy. You know, for writing.”
“Right.”
I was determined, and she was imaginative. We were as different as night and day.
After eating, Miriam set off for the bookstore. She said she wrote better there; plus, it felt more like a “real” job when she left her apartment and went somewhere else to do her thing. She’d invited me to go along, but I was too restless to sit in one place for hours. I was used to being active. I needed todosomething.
I did the dishes and tidied up the apartment. Miriam was on the messy side, and I was slightly OCD when it came to having everything in its place. That didn’t take long, and I once again found myself looking for something to do.
I decided to go for a walk. Specifically, I headed downtown—toward Paul Cerasino’s office. I hadn’t actually told Miriam that I wouldn’t, so I didn’t feel too guilty.
When I got to the Wilkins building, however, I hesitated in the lobby, Miriam’s earlier words echoing in the back of my mind.WasI being a pest, or was I simply being a good sister and following up?
While I was standing there, trying to answer that, Paul Cerasino entered the lobby, briefcase in hand, and made a beeline for the café like a man on a mission.
A tingle ran through me. My first thought was,That man can fill out a suit like nobody’s business.The second was,He looks like someone who has something important on his mind.I wondered if he’d just come from court.
