Chapter 12: Dinner

"Could you get an extra chair from the other room?" Casey called to her son.

Charlie went into his room and came out with the chair he used at his desk and placed it at the table. Charlie sat down and motioned for Bombay to sit next to him. Gordon hesitated for a minute and then encouraged by a smile from Charlie, took his place next him and across from him.

DING

Casey had been keeping an eye on Gordon the entire time. Two days ago she was cursing his name and now she was about to break bread with him.

DING

Casey turned her attention to the oven. Hastily, she put on a pair of oven mitts and pulled the lasagna out of the oven and placed the casserole dish on the table.

Sitting down to eat, her and Bombay's eyes met for a brief second and she felt uncomfortable. Casey immediately shook the uneasy feeling and caulked it up to having supper with someone. Normally it was just Charlie and his mother for supper every night. Occasionally Charlie would invite one of his friends over. Never with another adult her own age.

Charlie immediately dug into the lasagna. Next to pizza, lasagna is his favorite food. It wasn't until Charlie was half way though his first serving that he noticed the deafening silence.

"Good, huh?" Charlie pipped up.

Gordon shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He had to admit that it was delicious. Just like his mother used to make him years ago.

"Good. Very good," Bombay acknowledged.

Casey smirked. She knew it was good. She worked in one of the best dinners in the city. She got all the recipes from the head cook.

"So Charlie, how was school today?" Casey asked her son.

"Okay I guess," Charlie shrugged.

"You guess?" Casey probed.

Charlie thought for a moment. "Peter and Karp got detention for letting the class pet go free." Charlie turned to Gordon. "It's a rat."

"Good. They should have," Casey said after finishing her lasagna.

"Why? It's not like there isn't like a thousand other rats wondering free around the school. Besides, Connie and Guy were able to capture another rat. It didn't look at all like the previous one but Mrs. Kopple didn't seem to care."

"She didn't?" Gordon inquired.

"Naw," Charlie said. "She said she'd rather a rat than anything else because it reminds her of her ex-husband."

Gordon laughed. Casey shot Gordon a scolding look.

"That's not a very charitable thing to say," Casey said.

"She spends most of the class complaining about him. He's a lawyer. Do you know him?" Charlie asked Bombay.

"Kopple? " Bombay shook his head.

"Anyway," Charlie said. "She said she likes rats better anyway because they're plentiful, you can get attached to them unlike her ex and that there are somethings a rat won't even do."

"Charlie!" Casey exclaimed.

It suddenly dawned on Charlie. "Sorry…" Charlie blushed. "But she does say that."

Bombay chucked. "Not the worst thing I've been compared to."

Casey smiled to herself as her son and Bombay chatted away. Two weeks ago she considered Bombay to be one of worst people in the world. Yet here he was sitting at her kitchen table talking to her son like nothing had happened.

Charlie was one of the most forgiving people she knew. An admirable trait. Unfortunately it often lead to him getting hurt. Casey tried to protect Charlie from it as much as she could as she too was hurt many times.

Casey cleared the table and washed the dishes. By the time she was done, it was almost nine o'clock. By the looks of it, Gordon had enjoyed himself. Charlie had as well as he did not often get enough attention. Casey was just thankful that Charlie didn't go about the wrong way of seeking it out like some of his friends did. She was planning on having a talk about randomly inviting people for super without checking with her first.

Gordon stood up. "It's about time I leave. Um…thanks for dinner again."

"Your welcome," Casey said handing him his coat. For a brief moment, their hands touched and their eyes met. Casey blushed hoping Bombay did not notice. He didn't. Or at least did not lead her to believe that he did.

"Tell all your friends to meet me at Hans sports shop at 8 am on Saturday."

"I will," Charlie promised.

Bombay nodded and left. Casey locked the door and spun around quickly.

"Charles! What were you thinking?"

Charlie smirked. Bombay may have not noticed her blush but Charlie had. "You didn't seem to mind the company..."

"Bed. Now."

Gordon arrived at the offices of Ducksworth, Saver and Gross early the next morning. He was a man on a mission. It has not escaped Bombay that his team needed new hockey equipment. That much was for certain. He also knew that most of his team could not afford it either. So he was going to do what he did best.

Ducksworth was pleased to see Gordon. He had heard that Bombay was still drinking but that morning Bombay looked like he was refreshed, relaxed and almost happy.

"Mr. Ducksworth, there are two reasons I came by ," Gordon said. "First off, I want to let you know that things are going well. I'm learning a lot about teamwork, fair play and all that junk."

"Good. the second thing?" Mr Ducksworth inquired.

"Well sir," he began, "fair play doesn't come cheap. These kids…my team.. have no money. They can't afford rink time…safe equipment… proper uniforms which makes it hard for them to compete."

Gordon looked out at the city though the glass pained windows as Mr. Ducksworth tended to his plants.

"Now imagine sir, being ten years old and stepping onto that ice with old copies of enquirer taped to your shins instead of pads. The point I'm trying to make sir, is that you wouldn't be taken seriously and neither are these kids. "Gordon paused. "So I thought, maybe the firm can help them out."

Ducksworth gave Gordon a look. "How much are we talking about?" he asked.

"Fifteen thousand dollars." said Gordon. He knew it was a lot of money and if anyone had the money, it was Ducksworth.

Mr. Ducksworth shot it down."No way."

"Wait a of the goodwill. We name the team after the firm, and suddenly we're the good guys. Ducksworth, Saver and Gross: the firm that gives back to the community."

Ducksworth paused to consider.

"I'll get you your own jersey," added Gordon.

Ducksworth was impressed. He was his best lawyer. He would have to check with his accountants and see if the contribution could be used as a chartable tax exemption.

"I'll talk with Dave in accounting this afternoon. If we can write it off as an exemption, the money is yours."

Gordon clasped his hands together. "You won't regret this sir," Bombay promised.

"Speaking of promises, how is AA going?"

Gordon cringed. He had missed the past two meetings. "They're….okay. "

Mr. Ducksworth raised an eyebrow. "Just okay."

"Not really my thing. I don't' seem to get anything out of them. You just stand at the front of the room and tell people you have a drinking problem. It's like going to a shrink but in front of a group of strangers," Gordon explained.

eyed Gordon over. "Regardless, it seems to have helped . I'd like you to continue to go."

"I will. Anything else?"

Mr. Ducksworth shook his head. "Not at this time Gordon."

Gordon smiled. He left the office feeling great. He even offered to pour his old assistant a cup of coffee. Jeanie was so shocked that she couldn't believe it.

"I wonder what happened to Bombay," Jane whispered. "It's like he's a whole new person."

"I know," Jeanie said in agreement. "I haven't seen him like this…ever."

Bombay leisurely walked up to them. "Good Morning ladies. "

"Good morning Gordon," Jane said a little awkwardly. It was going to take a while to get used to this new Bombay. She just hoped it would last.