Chapter 3

Philippians 1:29 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,"

"Oh, look at you, you're so grown up now. Remember when she was just a little thing, Jeff? It feels like it was only yesterday when I was holding you for the first time in the hospital." My aunt looked at me with admiration. In a flurry, everyone in our small group began hugging each other, my mother and uncle laughing together with large smiles plastered on their faces. "Anyways, how was your flight?" My aunt continued, pulling slightly away from our hug to get a better look at my face.

"It was alright." I gave my mother a knowing look. We all knew how much she abhorred planes.

"Alright? It seemed like every baby on board was determined to cry the whole entire way! I didn't get a wink of sleep." My mother sighed dramatically, unceremoniously falling onto the couch.

"I don't care for airplanes that much either. They're cramped and uncomfortable. Lucky for me, I never had a reason much reason to fly." My uncle quipped in. My mother's face darkened for only a moment at the implication of what he had said. Never had time to visit me in California, not even when my husband was dying.

"I think airplanes are wonderful." My aunt rolled her eyes toward my uncle who was now in the middle of the kitchen grabbing snacks and drinks.

It had been two days after flying in and we finally had arranged to see Uncle Jeffrey and Aunt Marcy. They were much different than I remembered them being, the image of what my six year old mind had remembered them to look like now washed away, replaced with a much older couple. Their hair now sprinkled with gray and the wrinkles in the faces etched in deeper.

We settled at the table and ate merrily, enjoying each other's presence. It wasn't difficult to enjoy being there, they were very outgoing people with a knack at welcoming their guests into their home. My aunt and uncle asked me about plans for the future, I would answer with short responses to satisfy their curiosity. I silently listened to my mother, uncle, and aunt exchange memories of the days when they would parade around Hell's Kitchen together as young adults, ready to face the world. If I had thought being in Hell's Kitchen changed my mother, being with her brother and sister-in-law made her a different person altogether. She was happy. She was home.

The day grew dark and the sounds of New York's night life could be heard outside.

"Ruth," my mother looked up from her game of cards with my uncle, her eyes once again lit with excitement, "I'm thinking about spending the night here. Jeff says that there's another bedroom that we could have. What do you think?"

"Um," how do I say 'no' politely? I had been having a great time but all I could think about was the bed back at the apartment that was calling out to me. "Well, I-"

"Don't pressure the poor thing into staying here with all these old folks, Julia." My uncle chuckled, shaking his head knowingly. "She's probably got some friends waiting for her somewhere." I didn't and no one in the room was convinced that I did; either way, I let that be my excuse.

"Are you sure you can make it back alright? Do you know how to get a cab?"

"Yes, mom. Don't worry, I'm an adult. I can do it. Please, don't worry about me," I spluttered, though I myself was not totally confident of my ability to get home. "You have a good time." I quickly grabbed my things and gave goodbye hugs to everyone before stepping out into the hallway and down the stairs.

The night air whipped around my body; my nose began to run from the cold. However, the chilly weather didn't seem to deter anyone from going out and having a good time that night. Groups of people briskly made their way down the sidewalks, no doubt looking for the next bar to hit up. Their behavior was to be expected ,though, being the weekend and all.

My eyes scanned every face that brushed past me, looking for anyone sinister to avoid. At least its crowded tonight, I thought. But of course, seeing as this was me we are talking about, something had to go wrong. Because I couldn't just have a quiet walk by myself without something happening. And no, dear reader, I wasn't mugged and I didn't see a mugging. No, something much worse. I was forced to converse with someone. And yes, I do realize that I'm being highly dramatic.

I could see my building in a distance, no so very far off, but before I knew what had hit me, I was suddenly lying flat on my face. A burst of hot pain rose from the skin of my palms that had made first contact with the grimy concrete, my knees not feeling much better. Oh crap, ow, oh goodness, everyone must think I'm such an idiot. I am such an idiot. Ow.

"Aw, I'm so sorry. Totally my fault... Here, let me help you." A voice from above me said. Raising my head slightly to see who the cause of my unfortunate fall was, I was surprised to feel two soft hands grab my arms and hoist me up to my feet. Slightly disoriented, and extremely mortified, I spun around to meet the cause of my tumble face to face. In the dim light, I perceived the man, for it was a man, to be as mortified as I was. His hair was light, on the longer side, but well kept. He was dressed for business, not so very tall, yet still taller than me, of course. He was also a bit on the thicker side, but I could tell that it contributed to his all too apparent cheery personality.

"My big feet are always getting in the way," he smiled goofily at me, still a bit embarrassed.

"No, no, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention."

"Ah, well, I feel bad either way," his hands moved to his pockets and he shrugged. "Maybe I could make it up to you?"

"Oh, no, no thanks I'm totally okay. No need-"

"No really, I half killed you," he chuckled at this. "Foggy Nelson," he shook my hand heartily, we had now moved off to the side as to not block the flow of traffic.

"Oh, um... I'm Ruth Collins," I know that name... Nelson. Why does that name sound familiar?

"No broken bones right? I know a pretty good lawyer if you do. Unfortunately that lawyer would be me so...that'd be a bit awkward."

"A lawyer?" Wait a minute. He's a lawyer. His name is Nelson... Of course.

"Yeah, Nelson & Murdock." He had whipped out a business card in a matter of seconds, eagerly laying the simple white card in my hand. I stared at the plain black font neatly printed on the small card stock. Of all the people who I could possibly have run into, it would have to be Matthew Murdock's business partner.

"Huh..." My brows furrowed as I concentrated on the words. What were the chances that I could have run into this man out of all of the strangers in New York. Well, at least this Nelson is a bit more approachable than the other man I met.

"You don't like it?"

"What?"

"The card. Yeah, I guess it's a little boring but I was thinking it had a professional, dare I say, elegant look to it."

"No, no, the card's fine. I just... I just met your business partner a couple days ago. Matthew Murdock, right?"

"What? Really? You know Matt?" His voice rose about two octaves higher.

"Well, I don't actually know him, we just-"

"This is great then. I was just on my way to Josie's to have drinks with him and Karen. It's sort of a mini office party. You should come along." He spoke like we were old friends, not strangers who had collided only two minutes before. Is this how all New Yorkers are or just this guy? He's nice, a little too excitable maybe, but he seems to have a good enough motives. I think.

"Uh, um, actually-"

"Aw, come on! If I buy you a couple of drinks I might not feel so bad about sending you nose first into the concrete. We don't bite. If it helps, there'll be another girl there. Actually, Karen might bite so never mind about that." He giggled at this, looking at me expectantly for an answer.

My mind raced a million miles per second to come up with a rejection that wouldn't come off as rude. Just say no. Saying "no, thank you" isn't rude, especially with the thank you part. Be strong. Stand your ground. You don't even need to give an excuse. You don't even know this guy. He might seem nice but he could actually be a murderer who preys on I unassuming women. JUST SAY NO!

"Um... Well... I... Okay... I guess?"

"GREAT!" Suddenly I was walking arm in arm with the man (I think he said his name was Foggy?) towards a run down bar in the opposite direction of my apartment building, all the while still trying to figure out how I had gotten myself into my situation in the first place. "You're gonna love Josie's. I mean, mostly, anyways. Just don't eat the olives in the martinis. Unless you've already been there before?"

"No, no... I just moved here a couple days ago." We had now reached the entrance to the bar and I suddenly realized just what I had gotten myself into. I would now not only have to converse and try to reject drinks from this man, but also converse with a man who I'm sure doesn't like me and a women who potentially bites. Whatever that's supposed to mean.

I closed my eyes tightly, said a prayer, and followed Foggy Nelson into the bar.

Author's Note:

It's been too long, friends. Thank you for anyone reading and I'm hoping I'll get the next chapter out sooner!