Character Witness

by Rebecca Forster

  ''Money, schmoney,'' Louise scoffed. ''It's the principle of the thing. I want what's mine. I want it if it takes forever. Honey,'' she poked Kathleen with the pads of her fingers for fear of breaking a nail. ''You watch. I'll get what's mine. You take note. Now, let's get the ball rolling.''

  ''Well, if you insist.'' Gerry stood up and gave Louise a little bow, walked around the desk and was at the door with his hand on the knob when she shrieked at his back.

  ''Gerry! I want to get started now.''

  ''Of course, Louise,'' Gerry said sweetly as he slipped through the door. ''I'm leaving you in the best of hands. Kathleen Cotter? This is Louise Booker, your client. Louise, this is Kathleen Cotter, one of the best attorney's on the face of God's green earth and the newest associate of O'Doul & Associates.''

  There were five Styrofoam cups on the desk in front of Kathleen. Four sported perfect pink lip prints. The hue had an underlying neon glow that undulated against the white spongy stuff. The fifth was still untouched and filled with cold coffee the color of bark. Even a more-than-healthy serving of cream couldn't make the coffee palatable. Fortunately, the client's taste was a little broader. She seemed to love the stuff.

  The coffee suited Louise just fine as did the chair in which she sat. Louise Booker had made herself right at home while Kathleen was still trying to get over the shock of being railroaded by Gerry O'Doul. She had tried to object but Gerry had flown the coop. She could hear Louise in the private office squawking that time was awastin' so Kathleen returned, vowing only to take notes so Gerry could pick up where she left off. After the third hour, Kathleen stopped taking notes and started wondering how she was ever going to stop Louise from talking.

  ''Did I tell you how we met?'' She popped another breath mint.

  Kathleen shook her head, trying to regroup and keep her eyes from crossing. Her eyes itched. She wanted to rub them but resisted the urge knowing she would only succeed in annihilating the eyeliner on one eye while leaving the other intact. Unfortunately, Louise took that negative little shake and the quick blink of Kathleen's eyes as a sign that she had somehow missed a really important part of her story. Once again, she launched into the saga of Lionel and Louise.

  ''We met in college.'' She slipped off a shoe, crossed her ankle over her leg and checked out her pedicure. Her skirt rode up high enough to give the impression it was nothing more than a wide belt. Obviously satisfied she slipped the shoe back on, propped her feet on the chair opposite and gave her Styrofoam cup a kiss before sipping at her sixth cup of coffee. Kissing the lip of the cup before drinking was a sure fire way to keep your lipstick intact according to Louise wisdom. There was enough wisdom to fill volumes. Kathleen was sure she'd heard it all.

  ''Well, I wasn't really in college. I was waitressing at What a Dish Pizza just around the corner from where Lionel was living. He used to come in all the time. A cheese man. Simple, you know. I swear, I think of it now, the place where he lived, and I think it really wasn't more than a flop house. But he was a college man. He seemed so romantic. Suffering before conquering the world, you know,'' she waved her hand in the air and Elvis went flying. Mesmerized, Kathleen watched - the pink lips, the pink nails, the blue shaded eyes that never left hers. She had to give Louise credit. She looked you in the eye when she talked.

  ''Anyway, I thought it was just damn romantic. This guy with long hair was so pretty. Kind of slim with those hip huggers they used to wear in the sixties. He was like, from another time. I wasn't that old when I met him so that's probably what marred my judgment about Lionel.'' This time the painted Elvis found its way beneath the beehive hair-do and gave her head a little scratch. Kathleen decided this was Louise Booker's equivalent to Pinocchio's nose growing.

  ''Mrs. Booker, I think. . . ''

  Kathleen's voice seemed to strike a chord. Louise leaned forward. She wasn't about to lose her audience. The nails danced on the wood. Kathleen sat up straighter, her posture even more perfect in defiance of Louise's proposed domination. It didn't help. Louise could talk faster than Kathleen could become indignant.

  ''Well, it doesn't matter how old I was, does it? I married him. We did it in a field - I don't mean did it,'' she guffawed at this seemingly hilarious double entdre and Kathleen saw beneath the flamingo pink lips Louise Booker had a charming over-bite. She smiled. A mistake. Louise, egged on by Kathleen's obvious distaste for her humor, charged ahead. ''And don't call me Mrs. Booker. Where was I? Yeah. Okay. I meant we got married in a field. I had this great dress. Spent every last dime I had on it. Figured, what'd I need money for? Lionel was about ready to graduate with a degree in business management. He was going to graduate school while he worked. It was going to be wonderful!'' Storm clouds darkened the horizon of her memory. ''The jerk. The idiot. He promised me the world - right there in our wedding vows - the world!''

  Louise flopped back against the chair, her lips pulled tight. Her overbite now seemed predatory. She was mad. Kathleen was fascinated. Riding Louise's emotional roller coaster was an eye opening experience. Kathleen ran her fingers through her spiky, almost-platinum bangs then let her head rest on her hand.

  ''Well, Lionel had a pretty funny view of the world. I thought he meant we'd be on easy street, you know? Stuff. Clothes and traveling. Maybe go to Graceland. Maybe get me a diamond. Maybe even a house. I didn't really want kids, but what the heck. If he held up his part of the bargain and wanted a few little yard monkeys I'd oblige. But noooooo. Lionel wanted to be part of the world. I mean really part of it! Geez, can you imagine? He wanted to commune with it. Every hour he wasn't working he was out listening to the sound of the wind, reading poetry, walking in the damn fields. It was one thing to be married in one; I didn't want to live in one.''

  Louise closed her eyes, thinking back and back, her edges softening with each memory that presented itself. Kathleen thought Louise was like one of those weird puzzles where plastic squares were moved around until the picture was whole. But Louise Booker's pieces moved in the wrong direction and every time Kathleen thought she was ready to click the last piece into place, she was fooled.

  ''I don't know, I think I really did love him at first. I mean, there were so many things. He was gentle. He was kind. He thought of others before himself. I liked that. Always others before himself.'' she smiled sweetly, her eyes still closed. Then they opened, narrow little slits through which sparkled eyes that had been opthamologically altered to match her shadow. ''And then that all got so damn annoying, if you know what I mean. Ever had anyone do everything you wanted?''

  ''No, I haven't.''

  Thrown off guard, Kathleen's intent to dominate deflated. Her memories were of an overbearing and didactic father and a mother so cautious and needy that Kathleen had caught her fear of everything. Finally there was Jim Farley, her fiancé. Like a boy, he was easily satisfied, preferring to be led rather than lead. Kathleen had mistaken that quality for maturity and contentment. She was an idiot. She had waited and waited for the kind of passion Louise talked about. This woman scoffed at it, Kathleen just now understood that she would kill for it.

  ''No, I've never had anyone want to give me the world,'' Kathleen said quietly.

  She was half out of her chair when Louise waved her down. Kathleen stood up.

  ''Figures.'' Louise wasn't ready to let her go. ''It was a war of the wills. You don't know how awful it can be. Lionel would be listening to his whale noise recording and I'd say 'how can you listen to that stuff?' Next thing, there'd be country western on the stereo. He knew I liked country western. He'd put the whale noise tape away in its own little place 'till I'd go out shopping or something. He'd fix dinner. I'd say, 'aren't we ever going to have anything except vegetables?' Next night there'd be a big steak. That sort of thing just bugged me, you know? I know he didn't get any pleasure out of that kind of stuff. I think he just did it 'cause he was a worm.''

  ''Maybe he loved you,'' Kathleen suggested impatiently.

  Louise snorted and eyed Kathleen. There was
a challenge there, but Kathleen didn't know what game they were playing. She tried again.

  ''Maybe he was afraid of you?'' Kathleen understood that.

  ''Me?'' Louise chortled as if that alone was enough to debunk such a theory. ''There'd be no reason. I never hit him. I yelled a lot, but Lionel just told me he loved my spirit. Hey, I gave him spirit. I gave it to him for ten years. The best years of my life. Now look at me. Used goods. That's why Gerry could get me that insurance policy. He knew what was what. He's a good attorney. Gerry's A-OK. A smart cookie. I hope you're going to be just as good. I don't know. You sure you've been practicing long enough. You look kind of young to me.''

  ''I'm old enough,'' Kathleen sighed. ''But I don't think I'll be handling this matter. I'm helping Mr. O'Doul out today. . .''

  ''I meant you just looked young for a lawyer. That's all.'' Louise ignored the last part of Kathleen's statement. Elvis and her four other fingers were back in her hair. This time she was patting it around, fidgeting with all the nooks and crannies. She was a too-sexy-for-the-world-and-not-ready-to-go-over-the-hill babe and she seemed to find Kathleen Cotter less than acceptable.

  ''Hey, look Kathleen, I know it's tough for someone like you to understand, but I spent a long time trying to make Lionel happy. The judge knew that. Everybody knew I didn't have anything to fall back on after we divorced. I wasn't any college educated person who could just go out and call up a good paying job just like that.'' She snapped her fingers and made a lovely little pop. ''I just wanted a little insurance for my old age in case I didn't find the right guy for me, in case something happened to Lionel and he couldn't pay the alimony. I just want a little bit for myself. I deserve it, know what I mean?''

  ''I do, Louise. I truly do,'' Kathleen said, never taking her eyes off the other woman. Kathleen had lived her whole life with people who deserved one thing or another.

  To look at them they were different as night and day, but that one word, 'deserve' made them sisters in an odd sort of way. Louise Booker was greedy and lazy. Kathleen pulled her own weight but both of them thought they deserved something from the men in their lives who had made the future look bright.

  ''Fine,'' Louise picked up her purse. ''Long as we understand each other.''

  ''Good.'' Kathleen looked toward the door. No one appeared to bail her out and Louise was hanging out expectantly.

  ''So, what now? I deserve that money and they're saying Lionel killed himself too early. How can someone kill themselves too early, I ask you? The judge said I deserved something if Lionel died. I have a court order.''

  ''I'll discuss this with Gerry. In fact, I'll discuss it with him right now,'' she said tightly.

  ''Okay.'' Louise hitched her bag and gave Kathleen the once over. ''If you're going to be in court you may want to spruce up a bit. Nobody's going to notice you dressed down like that.''

  Louise gave Kathleen the once over, not quite sneering when she reached the two toned, high-heel, career girl sling-backs on Kathleen's feet. She shivered. There was nothing more to say so Louise Booker left, throwing a 'bye' at Becky as she sashayed past the girl's desk

  Kathleen followed on her heels, barely waiting until the door was closed.

  ''Where's Gerry?''

  ''In his office?''

  Becky blinked. Becky nodded. Ms. Cotter didn't seem quite as nice as when she arrived but then she'd spent a few hours with Mrs. Booker. That was enough to make anyone a little testy. Kathleen headed into Gerry's office, Becky got up. She rifled through the file drawers that happened to be right next to the door of Gerry O'Doul's office. Kathleen hadn't closed the door.

  ''Here are the notes on Louise Booker, Uncle Gerry.'' Kathleen slapped the legal pad in front of him and stepped back. .

  ''Thank you, Kathleen. Interesting woman, that.'' Beaming, he studied the notes through his bifocals. ''Ah, I see she told you all about Lionel. A thorough job, Kathleen. All the high points.''

  ''She told me everything including the best place to get edible underwear in Santa Monica. Uncle Gerry, this woman can't go to court with this and you knew it two hours ago. I think you better make it very clear to her that this is a lost cause.''

  ''Nothing is ever quite a lost cause, Kathleen, if the client is intent.''

  ''Then I'm sure you'll find some wonderful twist to make this all come out right.''

  ''But, Kathleen, I thought we decided you would lead on this one?'' Gerry sat back, his wizened face a play of astonishment and disappointment.

  ''We didn't decide anything, Uncle Gerry.'' Kathleen stood so straight she looked as if she might break. Her voice shook, more out of frustration and disappointment than anger. ''Louise Booker was very interesting. I'm sure you have many very interesting clients, but I can't stay here. This would be so wrong. I was expecting something,'' she actually shivered, ''different. And it's not you're fault I didn't find it,'' she added quickly. ''I'm so happy we're going to be talking again, but I just don't see that this is really going to work - you know, as far as work goes. I want one thing, you another. Our perceptions are different. We'll become bitter, miserable people if we try to do this. I know because I've already gone through this with my mom and dad. I don't want to be bitter, Uncle Gerry. I just wanted something really different than what I had. I've got to kind of rearrange my thinking, Uncle Gerry. You can see that, can't you?''

  Gerry O'Doul sat back and eyed his niece. He tented his fingers. He wore a signet ring that looked too large for his finger. He put those fingers against his forehead and Kathleen hoped he wasn't going to make a scene. When he raised his eyes Gerry O'Doul looked straight at her without judgment.

  ''Yes, I understand. Crossroads are a serious matter and you must be very careful now. A young woman like you has so many options. To stay here and help me might not be the most advantageous move for you. I should have made my situation clearer. I should have told you that I was counting on your help, rather than misleading you into thinking this was an opportunity. I only wanted to make up for all those years between us. I wanted to leave you a legacy. I simply couldn't do it without help.'' Gerry O'Doul sighed. He seemed to shrink inside his clothes. He touched his maroon silk tie. ''Who else would have understood what it was I wanted to accomplish. 'Tis my fault, Kathleen. My fault, indeed, that you've traveled so far and been so put upon. I can't apologize enough.''

  He was shaky when he stood up. Kathleen almost reached out for him. Gerry let his fingers trail across the desk as he shuffled toward her. He stopped a pace away, a full headed shorter than her, and put his hand on his niece's shoulder.

  ''I appreciate you coming for me, Kathleen Cotter. You've made this old man proud and given me a moment of hope again. I'll always be grateful for that. Thank you, dear girl. Now,'' he bucked himself up, but it seemed to take all his energy. ''Will you be driving back tonight?''

  Kathleen stared at him, stunned by the turn of events. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was supposed to do something now but she couldn't figure out what it was. Gerry started again.

  ''Do you have enough gas? Would you like to stay for dinner? Sure wouldn't I be honored by that? Ah, but how selfish of me, you probably want to get a head start on traffic. And I'll have work to do looking at Louise's problem. Poor thing needs money, I'm sure. I only hope I can manage this for her. Long days can be so tiring. But, there, that's none of your concern, now 'tis it?''

  Sometime between Gerry's inquiry about traffic and his self -censure he had gone over to the door of his office and was standing next to it. Kathleen looked at him then back at the notes on his desk. Slowly she followed him to the door, unable to effectively part the waters of confusion that were bubbling in her brain.

  ''I - well - I guess I'll just drive back now.''

  ''Fine. Fine then.'' He nodded and spoke quietly. Like a priest. The next touch on her arm was light, as if she was just a memory and already gone. ''We'll at least stay in touch, Kathleen. I don't want to lose the only family I have. Losing a business partner is har
d but losing you again,'' He shook his head sadly, ''my only living relative. Ah, that would be such a terrible thing.''

  Kathleen nodded, ''No. I mean, yes. Of course we'll stay in touch.''

  ''Fine. Fine.'' Gerry kissed her cheek. ''So lovely, Kathleen. What a pleasure it would have been.''

  Before she knew what was happening she was being ushered through the outer door. Before it closed, Kathleen heard her uncle ask Becky for the address of 'that old folks home' that had sent him some information. Then the door shut and Kathleen faced the elevator. If she went in, she had the funny feeling she would drop off the face of the earth.

  ''Wow,'' Becky breathed, looking at the closed door. ''That was really sad.''

  ''Yes, 'twas,'' Gerry agreed. ''Sad, indeed.''

  'I know how much you wanted her to stay, Mr. O'Doul. I'm sorry she didn't. She seemed like a nice lady.'' Becky crumpled her mid-morning snack trash in deference to the solemn mood.

  ''Oh, indeed. The best,'' Gerry agreed cheerily.

  He walked back in his office and retrieved the champagne bottle and the silver bucket, ''Would you be kind enough, Becky to do something with this?''

  ''Sure, Mr. O'Doul.''She scurried toward the bathroom and, when she returned, Gerry handed her Kathleen's notes.

  ''And, Becky, two copies if you don't mind?''

  ''Two?''

  ''Yes. Two will do nicely.''

  Gerry said just as the door opened. Kathleen stood there, resplendent in her simple sheath with the white piping and the champagne stain, her well cared for spectator shoes, her purse and her miserable expression.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The sun came through the trees like God's fingers nudging the earth awake. It was a precious moment, one he had always loved. She had watched him through this same window as he lost himself in the morning moments before getting into their little car and heading off to work.