MEETING THE UPPER CRUST

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Two weeks after New Years and things were back to normal. Anna was busy with her practice and Clay was in and out of town.  Whatever free moments they had they spent together.  There were so many things happening.  Neither knew what to deal with first.  However, the most important on Clay's agenda was bringing Anna to meet Porter.  He had gotten back into town earlier in the day and after a conversation with Anna drove to his mother's home.

WEBB RESIDENCE

"Hello Mother, how are you?" Clay asked leaning over and kissing her cheek.

"Just fine Clayton. Where have you been?" Porter asked.

"Business and the usual." Clay replied.

"No I don't think so; I know you have been in town the last 2 weeks." Porter stated.

"No mother, I just got back today." Clay said.

"You were gone two days Clayton, I still have my sources." Porter said.

"Well yeah that's true.  I've been otherwise occupied." Clay said with a smile.

"Yeah, since when do you say yeah?" Porter asked. "It's so common."

"I've picked up a lot of new things mother." Clay said.

"Have you? What's new in your life Clayton?" Porter probed.

"That's why I am here." Clay began. "I've met someone."

"Oh really? Anyone I might know?" Porter asked. "Is it the Barkley's daughter? I so hoped you would finally be receptive to her."

"No it's not her I don't think you know her.  She lives in Reston and is a lawyer…" Clay started.

"A lawyer did you meet her though your associates at JAG?" Porter asked.

"Sort of, she was the wedding coordinator at the place where Mac and Harm are having their reception." Clay advised her.

"And now she is a lawyer? How old is this woman?" Porter questioned. "Did she just graduate?"

"No mother," Clay laughed. "She is 36; she was a lawyer in New York before she came here."

"She's from New York?" Porter asked.

"Yes, Anna came down here to be closer to her nephews." Clay stated, no need in Porter knowing everything.

"Anna, is that her name?" Porter asked.

"Yes, Anna Paparini." Clay announced.

"Paparini? Is that Eye-talian?" Porter asked. "You girlfriend is a New York Eye-talian?"

"Yes, from a wonderful family…" Clay started.

"You've met her family? Were did she take you Brooklyn?" Porter said sarcastically.

"She grew up in Brooklyn Heights, but her family now lives in Manhattan. Overlooking Central Park."

"My son is dating a Brooklyn Eye-talian?" Porter said shaking her head.

"Mother it's Italian not Eye-talian." Clay said. "Why don't you let me tell you about her before she arrives?"

"She's coming here?" Porter asked.

"Yes tonight for dinner." Clay replied.

"Well then I guess you should tell me about her." Porter said. Clay told his mother about Anna and her family. He left out such details as to how her family amassed their fortune, but let her know they had one. "So her father was a Federal Prosecutor?"

"Yes, and very good at what he did.  So is Anna, she started her practice after Thanksgiving and she is doing very well." Clay said proudly.

"You seem very taken with this woman." Porter commented. 

Before Clay could respond, Porter's Major Domo walked in and announced, "Madam there is a guest to see Mr. Webb."

"Thank you Jonathan, please advise Cook there will be a third for dinner this evening." Porter replied. "Well, don't leave her standing out there."

Clay went to greet Anna.  She was stunning.  She was wearing a black silk dress with an asymmetrical hemline and V-yoke waist.  The subtle V-neck was trimmed with a hint of Battenburg lace.  The sleeveless dress had a Bolero style jacket which was delicately trimmed with Battenburg lace on the collar.  Anna wore her hair down, knowing that was how Clay preferred it.  She also wore the cross he had given her for Christmas, she never took that off.  In her ears Anna wore a pair of platinum hoops that had a diamond at the top, they were a gift that her father had given her mother and her mother gave to Anna after his death, they were good luck for her and tonight she needed all the luck she could get.

"You look beautiful." Clay said kissing her.

"Thank you, I hope this is ok." Anna replied. "I'm actually nervous.  Were you nervous at Christmas?"

"No," Clay laughed because he knew he was lying. "Come on, everything will be fine."  Hand in hand they walked into the study. "Mother, may I present Anna Paparini."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Webb." Anna said extending her hand. Stand up straight, smile act confident.

"My son didn't do you justice. You're lovely, rather exotic." Porter remarked.

"Thank you." Anna said. Breathe, inhale exhale.

"May I offer you something before dinner?" Porter asked.

"No thank you." Anna replied. Unless it's a shot of tequila.

"That will be all Jonathan." Porter said to the Major Domo.

"Yes, ma'am." Jonathan replied.

"Clayton tells me you're a lawyer. What is your specialty?" Porter asked.

"I am a criminal defense lawyer." Anna replied.

"Really, that must cause conflict when you are defending someone who has committed a heinous crime." Porter said.

"Well I look at it this way; I am defending the Constitution and our rights, not necessarily the criminal." Anna replied.

"Yes, spoken like a true Democrat." Porter replied.

"Actually, I'm more of a Republican." Anna said with a smile.

"Mother, Anna is an avid rider." Clay said getting the topic off politics fast.

"Really, did my son tell you he went to the Olympics?" Porter said.

"No ma'am, he never mentioned that." Anna replied.

"Yes he did. Did you ever compete?" Porter asked.

"I never did better than the Maclay Finals." Anna said.

"Really, at Madison Square Garden?" Porter was shocked.

"That's were the event is held. It was about 13 years ago, right before I graduated from Columbia Law." Anna stated.

"You never told me that." Clay stated.

"We all have our little secrets." Anna replied with a smile. "You never mentioned the Olympics."

"Very true," Clay laughed.

"You attended Columbia? What made you chose that school?" Porter asked.

"I did my undergraduate there and it was close to home." Anna replied.

"You are close to your family." Porter stated.

"Very, you know how those large ethnic families are." Anna said with a smirk. Stop that!

The Major Domo entered the room, "Dinner is served, Ma'am."

"Shall we?" Porter asked.  They retired to the dining room and sat for dinner.  Clay and Anna sat across from each other and Porter sat between them at the head of the table.  "My dear that is a beautiful necklace," Porter said admiring Anna's cross.

"Thank you it was a gift from Clay." Anna replied with a smile.

"Clay I didn't know you had such taste." Porter mused as the meal was served.

"I had inspiration." Clay said winking at Anna, which did not escape Porter.

"Clayton tells me that your father was an attorney." Porter stated.

"Yes, he was a Federal Prosecutor for the Southern District of New York." Anna said.

"He must have had some very interesting cases." Porter said.

"Actually, the most interesting was his work against Organized Crime." Anna said.

"And what does he do now? Has he retired?" Porter asked.

"He retired in 1996, he past in 1998." Anna said.

"And your mother?" Porter asked.

"Well, she enjoys being a grandmother, doing charity work and basically bumming around the city." Anna replied.

"Bumming around?" Porter questioned.

"Yeah," Anna replied, she had kept her hands folder in her lap but as she started talking about her mother she started waving them. "You know, just spending the day without a plan and seeing where it takes you."

"I see," Porter said.

"Didn't you ever just go anywhere without an itinerary?" Anna asked.

"No, I keep a strict calendar." Porter replied.

"You should try it sometime." Anna said with a smile.

"Anna, what do you do when you are not defending the Constitution?" Porter asked.

"I spend time with my nephews, my horses, your son and bumming around. Of course not in that order." Anna replied.

"Mother; Anna and I are going to the stables." Clay stated now that dinner was over.

"Isn't it too dark?" Porter asked. "Won't you be cold?"

"I think we'll be safe." Clay joked. This also didn't escape Porter; my son's making a joke?

"Anna, was the wine to your liking?" Porter asked. "I know most New Yorkers prefer red over white."

"No more than most southerners prefer bourbon over gin." Anna said with slight sarcasm.   Clay looked at her and smiled.

Clay and Anna excused themselves and walked the grounds.

"Well that was interesting." Anna said.

"You handled it all rather well." Clay replied.

"And what was that crack about wine?" Anna asked.

"I don't know, but I liked your response." Clay laughed and kissed her.

"Clayton, please what would mother think?" Anna mocked in a very proper tone.

"I seem to recall asking you that same question at Christmas." Clay laughed.

"Well, that was different." Anna said with a smile.

They walked down to the stables and looked at the horses as well as Clay's ribbons. They stood there talking and laughing, Anna had Porter's number.  "She's not thrilled with her son having a New York Eye-talian as a girlfriend is she?" Anna joked.

"I don't know about that and what makes you say Eye-talian?" Clay laughed.

"It's common down here." Anna replied.

"Well, the only thing that matters is if I am thrilled with a New York Eye-talian." Clay said kissing her.

That little kiss turned into a lot more.  Clayton Webb was a very changed and bold man since Anna entered his life.  Things he would have never considered doing in the past now seemed very normal to him.  He picked Anna up, walked into an empty stall and gently laid her down.

"Clay! This is more risky than my mother's house. At least there we had a locked door." Anna protested.

"Hmm, is my tough New Yorker being a chicken?" Clay teased.

"No, she's trying to make a good impression on your mother." Anna stated.

"You are so cute." Clay said changing the subject.

"Thank you, but I don't think your mother would agree right now." Anna said changing the subject back.

"What happened to the I don't care what people think attitude." Clay joked and tapped her nose.

"She's not people, she's your mother." Anna said.

"Forget about my mother." Clay said kissing her neck.

"Mmm, forgotten." Anna murmured 

Not before long they were giving the horses a lesson in human nature.  While they both had most of their clothes on there was no mistaking what they were doing. 

"Clayton what in heaven's name are you two doing?" Porter said walking in on them.

"Hello," Clayton said not knowing what else to say.

"Please make yourselves a bit more presentable." Porter said shaking her head and walking away.

"Oh this was good blue blood." Anna said sarcastically. "She probably thinks I have corrupted you."

"Not exactly how I would have imagined the evening to go." Clay replied.

"So much for endearing myself to your mother." Anna laughed.

"Shall we?" Clay asked picking some hay out of Anna's hair. "Time to go."

"This is entirely my fault isn't it?" Anna laughed. "Before me you weren't as adventurous were you?"

"Yes, it is." Clay teased. "There are a lot of things that have changed since I met you."  They walked back to the house.  Jonathan was in the kitchen when they returned.

"Jonathan where's my mother?" Clay asked.

"She's in the study; she said she does not want to be disturbed." Jonathan replied. "Unless it is by Ms. Paparini."

"Is this where she offers me a million dollars to never see her son again?" Anna joked.

"Would you take it?" Clay laughed.

"In a heart beat." Anna teased. "Well here goes nothing." Anna said as she walked to the study.

"Come in Anna." Porter said.

"Mrs. Webb, allow me to apologize.  We got a little carried away; we haven't seen each other…" Anna began.

"Anna, sit down." Porter instructed and Anna obeyed. "You are a very interesting young woman."

"Thank you?" Anna said.

"It was a compliment." Porter said. "I pride myself on being able to judge a person upon the first meeting.  You are confident, exciting, a ball of fire. I like that."

"Was this a test?" Anna asked.

"Somewhat," Porter smiled. "You were very polite, but your answers were sharp."

"I try." Anna said. "Again Mrs. Webb, we meant no disrespect."

"Anna, please while no mother ever wants to walk in on that." Porter began, "I see something in my son that I have never seen before."

"I'm sure you just saw a lot of things you have never seen before." Anna replied. Not a good time to be smart-alecky.

"Yes, that is true. I like you Anna.  You make my son human.  Don't tell him I said so, but his father and I always found him a bit stuffy." Porter said. This comment made Anna cover her mouth with her hand and chuckle. "Or should I say stiff."  This made Anna laugh aloud. Porter realizing the humor in her comment began to laugh as well.

"Mrs. Webb, you are also an interesting woman." Anna said as her laughter subsided.

"I think you are wonderful for Clayton. You've loosened him up a bit." Porter said. "But let's not tell him I think so."

"Why Mrs. Webb, aren't you the sneaky one." Anna laughed.

"Now let's really make him squirm, come talk to me." Porter laughed. "What is all this bumming around?"

"Mrs. Webb what are you doing tomorrow?" Anna asked.

"I have to check my calendar." Porter replied.

"Well forget whatever you have to do.  I'll take the day off.  Do you own comfortable shoes?" Anna said.

"What did you have in mind?" Porter said.

"We are going to bum around Washington." Anna announced.

"It is safe to come in?" Clay asked opening the door.

"It's fine." Porter replied.

"Clay your mother's giving me fifteen thousand dollars to leave you alone.  I told her the show in the stables alone was worth at least twenty-five." Anna said.

"Anna." Clay said in shock.

"It's true Clayton; my original offer was five thousand. We had to haggle." Porter said with a straight face.

"You're playing with me. You both think this is funny?" Clay said looking at the two women who were trying not to laugh.

"Clayton you are a fuddy duddy." Porter announced. "Anna is a good influence."

"Thank you Mrs. Webb." Anna said.

"Now if you will both excuse me. I need to get some sleep, tomorrow I'm bumming." Porter said.

"You're what?" Clayton asked.

"We are spending the day together." Anna announced.

"Anna, it's been a pleasure." Porter said giving her an embrace. "And Clayton next time you plan on taking a roll in the hay; lock the stall door." Porter added with a laugh.

Porter left the study, leaving Clayton and Anna standing there.

"You are amazing." Clay said.

"Moi?" Anna said.

"Yes you, you get caught in a compromising position and not only to you have my mother joking about it, but now you are buddies." Clay said.

"What can I say?" Anna asked with a shrug.

"This is going to be trouble." Clay laughed. "It's getting late, I'll follow you home."

They left Porter's and Clay followed Anna home.  Once they were there, he walked her to the door and Anna reminded him they had some unfinished business.  Clay ended up spending the night.  The next morning Clay went to work; Anna and Porter spent the day bumming around Washington.  Porter had an exhilarating time; Anna took her to places in Washington she would have never considered going to.  Anna was going to be a good influence on the entire Webb Family.