AND LOVE CHAP 112

Feelings

Davenport, Erickson and Jackson

It's 12:25, Jamie steps up to the receptionist's desk. "Hi, I am Lt. Reagan, NYPD. I believe Annie Davenport is expecting me?"

"Yes, she is. Just a moment," the young lady picks up her phone and talks softly. "Please take a seat, Annie will be out momentarily."

He sits in a plush armchair, in a 3-chair setting. He has no more than relaxed and Annie is there to escort him back to her office.

She is the epitome of an assured, confident professional. Her chignon is impeccable; her makeup under-stated; her dark grey pencil skirt ending 3" above the knee is paired nicely with a sleeveless, light blue silk blouse. Her black footwear – he doesn't know shoe brands, so what.

'Why am I noticing all this?'

She grasps his free wrist and leads him back to her large office. Not a corner office, as she said at Sunday dinner. In the corner is an arrangement of dual loveseats, with a fair-sized table in between. He takes one love seat – praying that they don't share. They don't.

He hands her the sandwich he got for her. She starts to unwrap it, and smiles. "You did remember, how nice."

"I wracked my brain."

"And came up a winner, thanks Jamie."

His stomach again! Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

"Water, ok?" She suggests.

"Yes, thanks."

She rises demurely, and gets 2 bottles of San Pellegrino from a small fridge, giving him one. She retakes her seat, crosses her legs and they begin.

"Our daughter Cassie-

"Cassandra, you mean?"

"Yes. She has a good friend in school-

Jamie proceeds to share with Annie the friendship; the issues with Ibrahim; the school surveillance; the budding relationship with him and the sheriff; Ibrahim going 'home' to Iraq; now the rest of the family following.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"You mean to keep Eli on the playing field for Cassie?"

"Well, yes. I guess that's what I'm asking." 'Right to the point, aren't we'.

"Jamie, I'm not a family law attorney. Neither do I do immigration law. But . . . it sounds like the father is well within his rights to take his family home to Iraq. You probably assumed that I would say that, yes."

"Yes. Eddie and I are just so distraught for Cassie. She doesn't deserve this on top of everything else she has suffered in her short life."

"Jamie, we have 20" more. Tell me about Cassie."

He shares that part of the story too.

"A stow-away! She was brave . . . and desperate!"

"She was. She has developed into a very nice, smart, kind young lady."

"I could see that. Well, as I said, I recorded all this. May I share it with my dad; he has more contacts than I do. Though I have a lot. He may have an idea or two."

"Surely. Is he in? I'd like to say hello."

"No, he's in court. Sorry."

As they part, she pulls him in for a quick hug.

"Bye, Jamie. I will let you know what my dad says. By end of day tomorrow."

"Great, thanks Annie."

He lets himself out, and walks toward the front office. As he passes one of the corner offices he hears voices. He swears one of the voices is Mr. Davenport's. He pauses, but keeps walking.

Behind him, unseen, Annie sees him pause. 'DAMN, he doesn't know our code.' Jamie is gone. She goes back to her office and sits at her desk. Holding her head in her hands, she sighs. "This is nuts!" She whispers.

Annie sends her dad a PM:

AD: talk 5:30?

RD: K

5:20

Richard Davenport* enters his daughter Annie's office and takes a seat. "What's up Syd?"

She glares, "DAD!"

"You will always be my little Sydney! Get over it."

She sighs, "I heard that Darren is leaving."

"Yes, December 31."

"What are we going to do? Marsha can't take on more work."

"You mean she won't."

"Same thing, dad. We will be down 1 excellent paralegal!"

"Part time."

"Ok, part time. So?"

"Any ideas?" Her dad posits.

"Not off the tip of my tongue, sir." She spits out.

"Advertise? Train?"

"Ah . . . train. I'll be stuck with that, as usual."

"Climb the ladder, sweetheart."

"The rungs above me are filled with fat asses! Move out of the way!"

"Any other words of sweetness, my dear?" He smirks. "Oh, by the way – it has been 5 years, correct?"

"5 years? Oh, shit!" Now she glares.

"Your left 4th finger remains bare. Nerves?"

"Not your business!"

"Greg's, or yours? Oh, was Jameson here today? I thought I heard his voice?"

Silence.

"What the hell are you doing, Sydney?" He's working his way up to a shouting match.

"He wanted some advice, if you must know."

"He asked to meet? With his ex?"

"Yes."

"For what?" Dad's radar lights up.

"Advice out of field. I was just a sounding board."

"A shoulder-

"NO! Good night dad." She stands, obviously ending the talk.

He leaves, then so does she.

'DAMN, s/he can be so difficult!'

8888888888

ON THE ISLAND – HOME OFFICE

Eddie is hard at work; she has a stack of files to her left. When finished with the work each one requires, it goes on the pile to her right. She is so absorbed that she doesn't even notice Nicky sitting in the other office chair, observing her aunt working. Nicky is reading a book, sort of. After a while, she speaks. "Aunt Eddie-

Eddie jumps a little "God, don't scare me like that Nick!"

"Sorry, I thought you knew I was here."

"Next time hum a tune. Play AJ's harmonica, or something." They laugh. "Yeah, Nick?"

"I've been watching you for a while."

"Ah, and?"

"I'd like to explore becoming a paralegal."

"Ok, but what would your mom and dad say abut that? Both of them being lawyers, you know?"

"It's beneath me, I'm sure."

"And?"

"It's my decision, my life!"

"True, but-

"But what?"

"Well, I think you really should at least talk about it with them. Nick, Jamie and I are more than willing to advise you . . . have you live with us for a while. But-

"Do you want me to move out-

"NO! I am just saying that a pretty, smart, talented young lady like yourself might want to, you know . . . hell, let's start over." Eddie places her head in her hands.

"Aunt Eddie, I'm very happy here for now. I am working though things, I really am. Career is #1 for me. After I get a good start on that, I'll look at housing. If you and Jamie don't-

"NO, NICKY! We love having you here, we really do. Forget about it. Now about paralegal-

RING

Eddie's cell – it's Annie.

"Annie! Eddie here, what's up?"

"Hi, Eddie. Can we talk about paralegal services?"

88888888888

TBC

Google has no name, first or last, for Sydney's father. I've seen one in another story, I forget where. So, I chose one. Ideas?

About that father / daughter talk. I can imagine that two high-powered lawyers, related, in the same office might be challenging.