Page 31 of Just for Her
“Oh. Mama C’s. The C is for Cerasino, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
I encouraged her to sample a little bit of everything. I didn’t tell her that my mother had made my personal favorites. Allison loved it all, just as I had known she would.
“You were right. Everything was fabulous. I understand now why Mama C’s is so popular. Did you work there when you were younger?”
“We all did.” I laughed. “It was a requirement. We’re still expected to help every Sunday when we get together for dinner.”
“Do you have a big family?”
“Big enough. Three brothers and two sisters. Countless aunts, uncles, and cousins. And my grandparents.”
“And you get together every week?”
“Every week,” I confirmed. “We all live in the area, so it’s not an issue.”
“That’s awesome.”
It really was. I sometimes took my family for granted. Not everyone was as fortunate, as the wistful look on Allison’s face reminded me.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you choose to become a paralegal? Why not go to law school? You’ve obviously got the smarts for it.”
She took several long moments before she answered. “That was the dream, but I had Miriam to take care of,” she said finally. “I had to work. I couldn’t afford college, let alone law school. So, I did the next best thing. I worked during the day and took online courses at night until I earned an associate’s degree in paralegal studies.”
“What about now?” I asked. “Do you still want to be a lawyer?”
“I don’t know. I thought I did. But then I think about going back to college with all those young kids fresh out of high school. About the immense debt I’d accrue over four years of undergrad and three of law school, probably longer since I’d have to continue working and I wouldn’t be able to attend full-time. I’d be pushing forty by the time I finally finished, and chances are, no one would want to hire me.”
“I’d hire you,” I said.
She smiled. “You are a good man, Paul Cerasino. I wish there were more like you. Thank you so much. For everything.”
It felt like she was saying good-bye because she was. I didn’t want her to leave, but what could I do?
“You’re very welcome.”
She began cleaning up, and I could delay the inevitable no longer. I wrote out a check and handed it to her. Her eyes widened when she saw the amount.
“This is way too much.”
“I consider it a bargain. I meant what I said. If you change your mind, you call me, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, but in my heart, I knew she wouldn’t.
