The Empire State Cat's Christmas Gift

by Nic Tatano

  “I know.” He didn’t look at the card.

  “How’d you know I’m a lawyer?”

  “Besides what you just said about reading back my comments, I saw you in court on Judge Winston’s first day. I was one of the attorneys in the back row making too much noise. Actually I was probably making the most noise talking to my partner.”

  “You remembered me from that?”

  He nodded. “Pretty hard to forget what I considered to be an inquisition of a witness. I must say, you’re really good. The Feds ought to send you to Guantanamo. You’d break those terrorists in no time. By the way, the chatter in the back of the room was about you, not the judge. You’re an impressive attorney.”

  “Well, I’m flattered. And I’ve also seen you in action.”

  “Oh, really? What trial?”

  “Not in court, at a restaurant awhile back. You saved a waitress from an obnoxious guy trying to get a free meal. Paid his check, tossed him two bucks for a hot dog and told him to get the hell out. A girl doesn’t see white knights very often.”

  “It was no big deal. Any guy would have done the same.”

  “Oh, bull. You don’t see guys sticking up for women like that anymore. Pretty hard to forget. That was incredibly nice of you, by the way.”

  “That was no way to treat a lady.” He looked at her card. “And speaking of our paths crossing, we actually met a long time ago.”

  “I think I’d remember you.”

  “I had this scraggly beard and it was several years ago. At NYU law school.”

  She furrowed her brow. “You went to NYU? Y’know, I thought your name sounded familiar.”

  “Not only that, I was in your class.”

  “Really? So when did we meet?”

  “First year, about a month in. I brought you a cup of coffee in the library and you told me you wanted to study alone, picked up your books and moved to another table.”

  Her eyes grew wide as she bit her lower lip. “Oh my God, that was you? I am so, so sorry.”

  “I was so devastated I couldn’t sleep all night.”

  “I’m really sorry—”

  “Turned out it was the extra caffeine from drinking two cups of coffee.”

  She laughed a bit. “Very funny.”

  “By the way, I was just trying to be friendly. I wasn’t hitting on you or anything.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Wouldn’t have done any good. I wasn’t interested in dating. And I wasn’t the nicest person to be around back then. I didn’t have a life other than law school. I’ll admit I had a rather abrasive personality. But I only take good clients so I guess they rubbed off on me. You know that feeling you get when you help the good guys win?”

  “Yeah.” Well, I used to…until…oh, hell, we’ve got Peter Brent as a client.

  “Gave me back my soul.”

  And the clients I took for money did the opposite for me. Okay, universe, I’m getting the message.

  Dear God, if she knows we’re representing Brent she’ll walk out of here.

  “Well, you’re obviously better for it. Unless you’re gonna pick up your menu and move to another table.”

  “Not a chance. I’m the one who invited you, remember?”

  “By the way, if the name sounds familiar, it’s because I’m the one you beat out for valedictorian. Though I will admit it wasn’t even close.” He smiled at her and got one in return.

  Damn, I wish she’d take off her glasses.

  Those eyes.

  A waitress arrived at the table. “Hey, Spence, how’s it going?”

  He looked up at the fiftyish woman with the pencil in her dark hair. “Very well, Jeannie. You doing okay today?”

  “Now that you’re at one of my tables.” She cocked her head at Tish. “So who’s your friend?”

  “That’s Tish.”

  She turned and smiled. “Hi Tish, welcome to our restaurant.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve been here before. So, my dining companion is a regular, huh?”

  “We fight to wait on him. Best tipper in the city. But also treats the staff like equals.”

  “I see.”

  She patted him on the shoulder. “I tell ya, if I were twenty years younger…”

  He blushed a bit. “Oh, stop it, Jeannie, you’re husband’s a great guy. Be careful, he might hear you from the kitchen.”

  The waitress turned back to Tish. “Well, honey, if you’re not attached, don’t let this one go.” She took their orders and headed back to the kitchen.

  “So, the waitress has a crush on you?”

  “I think it’s more like moms who want me to date their daughters. I get that a lot.”

  “Ah. Well, that was a nice recommendation. Moms do know best.”

  *

  Tish leaned back in her chair and sipped her coffee, fat and happy.

  And relaxed. All the anxiety she’d had walking into the restaurant had been melted away by his smile and the way he looked right into her eyes.

  And, unlike many men, he actually listened to her without giving her the vacant head bob.

  The conversation was fresh and easy, like they’d been friends for years. Not too much about law, either, as it was clear Spence from the block had interests other than the law. She was totally comfortable with him and he seemed the same way with her.

  She noticed the bus boys cleaning up the table next to them and looked around the restaurant. It was mostly empty. She looked at her watch and saw it was almost two. “Wow, I guess we’ve been here awhile. Looks like they’re getting ready to close up the place to get ready for dinner.”

  He looked at his watch. “Geez, you’re not kidding.”

  She noted he wore a silver watch that looked very old. “That’s a cool watch. Is it an antique or some sort of reproduction?”

  “Found it at a yard sale and had it fixed. The jeweler said it’s about a hundred years old. I got hooked on old watches and have about five of them I wear. I know most people use cell phones to tell time but I like old-fashioned stuff.”

  “Well, you seem like an old fashioned guy, so it’s appropriate.”

  “Speaking of time, you gotta get going?”

  “Not really. Things are slow since I lost my biggest client. Clint Davies.”

  “Oh, no. I read about that. I loved his products. Are you working in a firm, by the way?”

  “No, all by myself. Sort of my only option since I had alienated everyone in law school and wasn’t exactly great at interviews. Actually I was a disaster at interviews. Every firm thought they wanted to hire me, until they actually met me. When you’re the valedictorian and don’t get a single job offer after fourteen interviews, it told me I needed to work on my people skills.”

  “Well, obviously you’ve changed. Y’know, speaking of job offers, my partner and I have been talking about adding another lawyer to our firm, and when we saw you in action—”

  “I like working for myself, but thanks.”

  “Well, we are a little overloaded right now. I could throw you some work. How about that? Nothing major but might help you pick up the slack until you build your client list back up.”

  She nodded. “I’d appreciate that. But remember, I only take clients who are decent people.”

  Yeah, I used to represent them in the DA’s office. Before I became money mad and took every client who walked in the door. “I’ve got some cases that would meet with your approval. Anyway, since we work in the same building, may I walk you back?”

  “I’d like that.” He grabbed the check and reached for his wallet but she waved her hand. “Uh, I asked you to lunch, remember?”

  He whipped out a credit card and put it on top of the bill. “Sorry, not up for discussion. Besides, you said you lost your biggest client.”

  “I can afford lunch, Spence.”

  “You can get the next one.” He flagged down the waitress and handed her the credit card.

  “Does next one mean you’d like to see me again?
”

  “For someone who was a valedictorian, you should have figured that out. You get the next one means there will be a next one. Of course, if I’m not being presumptuous and that’s okay with you?”

  “Yeah, I’d like that.”

  The bright sunshine and comfortable fall temperatures let them take their time walking back to the Empire State Building. Tish was energized after two hours with a really nice guy who seemed as interested in her as she was in him.

  They arrived at the building and he held the door for her, then walked her to the elevator. “Here’s where I get off, Tish.”

  “I thought you were going back to your office.”

  “Gotta go to court.”

  “That’s in the other direction.”

  “It was a clever ruse to walk you back.”

  “Well, I’m glad I fell for it. This was really nice.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, about that next time… I’d love to take you out on Saturday but I have a wedding to go to, so how about the following Saturday?”

  “Small world, I’ve got a wedding this weekend as well. But yeah, next Saturday would be great.”

  “Maybe we can sneak in another lunch before then.”

  “That would be nice. Today was the best lunch I’ve ever had.”

  “Hey, if you really liked the chicken, you should try their shrimp diablo.”

  She locked eyes with him. “I wasn’t talking about the food.”

  He gave her a soft smile. The bell on the elevator dinged and the door opened. “Tish from the hotel, it was a pleasure.”

  “See you soon, Spence from the block.”

  *

  “Caught screwing off, again. And here I thought you were working late.” Ariel stood in the doorway to Spencer’s office shaking her head as he played with the cat from the vent, dangling a catnip mouse from a string.

  “Hey, it relaxes me and I needed a break after two hours of research. And I figured she might be bored being an office cat. I mean, she could be stuck in some corporate firm with a bunch of stuffed shirts who ignore her all day.”

  “You really think someone like that would bring a cat to work every day?”

  “I was just concerned for her well-being. I read that an indoor cat needs exercise that mirrors the wild. They’re natural hunters.” The cat jumped up and grabbed the mouse, so he let go of the string. “She is seriously fast and can really jump.”

  “So this is part of your duties now. Amusing the vent cat.”

  “Hey, she comes here often enough.”

  “And you want her to keep visiting you.”

  “Sure. She’s a sweet cat.”

  “I cannot believe you went out and bought her toys. And you know what catnip does to them. It basically gets them drunk. She’s going to stagger back to her owner looking like she spent a night in a bar.”

  “Oh, I’m just having fun with her. And she obviously wants to play.”

  “Here’s a wild concept. Why don’t you just go to a shelter and get your own cat?”

  “I’m going to do that after we clear some of those big cases out of the way. But now that you mention it, she’d have someone to play with.”

  “Geez, Spence, I didn’t mean we should have an office cat. I love them but not in a place of business. And from the looks of things you’d never get any work done. Go adopt one for your home, then you’ve got a cat at two convenient locations to serve you.”

  Suddenly the cat stopped playing. Her ears perked up and she dashed behind the bookcase into the vent. “Well, off she goes.”

  “Hope she can find her way back to her owner. You got that cat so loopy she might end up in the boiler room.”

  *

  Tish entered her office with Shelley right behind her, surprised that Socks was not at her usual spot on the desk. “Socks, where are you? Kitty, kitty, kitty… c’mon out.” She crouched down to look under the desk just as a flying ball of black and white fur sailed by her head. “Whoa. There you are, you devious little thing. Launching a sneak attack at your owner.” She reached out for the cat but it did a sideways hop away from her, arching its back, fur all standing on end. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Shelley started to laugh. “She wants to play with you. The poor thing is probably bored. This isn’t exactly a natural environment for a cat. She needs more attention.”

  “You’re probably right. She doesn’t get much exercise in here. I brought her toys but I forget to play with her when I get busy.”

  “Poor neglected kitty.”

  Tish got up and pulled one of Socks’ favorite toys from the box, a stuffed chipmunk on a string. She tossed it near the cat, then slowly pulled it back. Socks crouched down and started to stalk the toy, wiggled her hindquarters, then launched herself into a perfect jump, landing on the chipmunk. Tish released the string as the cat began to toss the thing in the air. “It’s got catnip in it. It’ll wear her out and she’ll sleep the rest of the day.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “I really don’t feel like going to a wedding,” said Tish, as Madison worked on her makeup.

  “Oh, stop it, you and A.J. will have fun. Now please hold still while I’m doing your eyes.”

  “Pretty sad that I have to take another woman as a plus one. Sure wish the white knight wasn’t tied up.”

  “Well, from what you told me that situation is looking up. Who knows, maybe you won’t need a plus one ever again. Too bad he won’t see you tonight. You look terrific. Of course with these eyes it would be hard not to.”

  Tish heard the doorbell ring. “Ah, my date’s here.” She heard Nick answer the door and heel clicks heading toward the guest room.

  A.J. poked her head in the door. “Hey guys. Tish, you look smokin’ hot.”

  “I probably look like a streetwalker. I’ve never worn this much makeup before.”

  “It’s not much at all,” said Madison. “Besides, just getting you in practice for the white knight.”

  A.J. shook her head. “And here I’ll be on a Saturday night while she’s pining away for someone else.”

  Tish smiled at her. “A.J., I really can’t thank you enough for coming with me. I couldn’t go to one more wedding with my usual plus one.”

  “I don’t blame you. He’s nice, but beyond boring. Dating him would be like reading the Wall Street Journal.”

  Madison pulled the tissues from Tish’s collar. “Okay, young lady, you are done. I now pronounce you gorgeous.”

  “Very funny.” She stood up and looked in the mirror, surprised at what Madison had done. “Wow. I mean, my eyes have never looked so good. Thanks, Madison.”

  “My pleasure. Like I said, it’s just a little makeup.”

  “Well, let’s hit the road,” said A.J. They headed toward the door, passing Nick who was reading in a reclining chair.

  He gave Tish an approving nod. “Whoa, babe alert.”

  Tish couldn’t help but smile. “Nick, you are the world’s sweetest man.”

  A.J. moved closer to him and folded her arms. “So what am I, chopped liver?”

  “I was referring to all three of you.”

  “See,” said Madison, “I’ve got him well trained.”

  *

  Spencer knew bringing a blind date as a “plus one” was a bad idea the minute she’d opened the door and he’d gotten a good look at her. If only he’d met Tish before a lawyer buddy had set him up with this “nice girl named Jennifer” who had spent the entire ride to the reception looking in her compact mirror and talking about how drunk she got at her last wedding. All the while drinking a beer.

  Nice girl, my ass.

  And showing up with a party girl in a too-short red bandage dress, too-big peroxide blonde hair, and false eyelashes that could swat a fly would get him more than a few raised eyebrows from the crowd of legal eagles. As his sister had once told him, “A woman shouldn’t out-do the bride on her wedding day.”

  Too late now. If the bride wasn’t such a good friend he
would have feigned a sudden attack of food poisoning and driven his date home. Then again he worried the bride would never speak to him again after bringing such a bimbo along on her big day. He pulled into a parking spot and took a deep breath, knowing that every single one of the three hundred guests would think he’d showed up with a hooker.

  He opened the car door for her and she stepped out onto the sidewalk, a five-foot-two extra from a porn movie teetering on five-inch platform heels.

  Everyone else in the parking lot stopped to gawk as they headed toward the reception hall.

  I want to dig a hole all the way to China and jump in it.

  They started heading up the stairs. “So, everyone here is a lawyer?” she asked.

  “Well, since the bride and groom are both attorneys, I’d say most of the people probably work in the legal profession.”

  “Wow.” She took his arm as they walked through the front door. “Lotta people here. Lotta money, I’ll bet. Hope there’s not a line at the bar.”

  “I’m sure everyone will get a glass of champagne when the newlyweds arrive.”

  “That’s it? No open bar? And how long do we have to wait for the bride and groom?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know, Jennifer. We’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Well, we can always leave early if there isn’t an open bar.”

  Yeah, I’d like to leave now and drop you at home.

  But sadly, as they entered the hall his date spotted the bar. “You find out where we’re sitting and I’ll go get the drinks. You want anything?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She made a bee line for the bar, leaving a batch of dropped jaws in her wake as Spencer stood in line to get his seat assignment.

  An hour later that food poisoning idea was looking awfully good.

  *

  After a few glasses of champagne on an empty stomach, Tish had loosened up. And it helped that her usual plus one was not boring her to death with tales of his accounting business. Of course A.J.’s running commentary on the various inappropriate fashions worn by some of the guests had those at her table in stitches. It made for a warped kind of “red carpet” and helped that everyone at the table was a lawyer with a wicked sense of humor.

  All’s fair in love and fashion faux pas.