Page 7 of The Gift of the Maltipoo
“Yes. But if it’s a gray area for us, it is for them too, and I can exploit it.” They paused their conversation and ordered drinks.
“You really seem happy.” Anthony really did have an amazing smile.
Anthony chuckled, and Tyler loved that happy sound. “I love to win, I really do. Losing in court sucks, especially when you believe in your client. I don’t always. Being a defense attorney means that you sometimes have to take on people you know are guilty and still do your best for them. Anyway, that’s enough of that sort of talk. I’ve got some news on the office party.”
“Did they cancel or something?” Tyler asked. He’d been looking forward to it.
“Oh, no. But there is always a charity involved, and this year it’s a dog rescue. I’m not sure which one, but it could be where you got Daisy. Anyway, I wanted to extend to her an invitation as well. She is a rescue, after all, and if that’s what we’re supporting, then she should be able to come.”
“Really? You want Daisy to come? You know she’ll want to see everyone.”
“That’s okay. We can get her a Christmas collar with a pretty bow, and she can be as festive as everyone else. Besides, it will give us an excuse to sit out the Chicken Dance.”
“Oh my God… no.” Tyler leaned over the table. “You have to be kidding me.”
“Nope. Richard insists on playing that song every year, and he waits until everyone is well lubricated before doing it.”
“Fine, we’ll stay with Daisy, and I can take video so we’ll have a record of this. Can you imagine the blackmail potential?” He put his hand over his mouth and giggled like a kid. “Oh my God. You could use that alone to make partner.” He was kidding, and thankfully Anthony got it.
“I really hate that sort of childish stuff. It’s like he does it just to show that he can strong-arm people into it. The associates feel intimidated, and… it’s just wrong.”
“Then we’ll sit it out this year, and I’ll even let you hold Daisy so you have a visible excuse.” Tyler was more than willing to have Anthony’s back.
“It’s this sort of thing that makes our profession seem stupid. It’s like it’s a frat house all over again, and everyone is trying to make the grade. You’d think we’d all have grown up a lot by now, but nope.” Their server arrived and took their orders. “What do you do for fun?”
“Not much at the moment. I’ve been very busy. My mom was diagnosed with liver cancer six months ago. They operated and removed the cancerous tumor, and she’s been undergoing chemo. They believe that they got it early enough that she is going to make it through, but the chemo has been really tough, so I spend a lot of my spare time at her place. There’s a lot she can’t do right now, so I’m pitching in. She has just one more treatment to go, and we’re hoping that’s the end of it and she’ll start to get stronger.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. What about your dad?”
“Oh… he’s in Hawaii with his much younger wife, desperately trying to turn back the clock. He’s a surgeon, so he used some of his connections to have himself youngified for his nubile wife. They just had their second baby. So my dad has children who are young enough to be his grandchildren. He and my mother don’t speak much, and he’s too busy with his new life to get involved.” The only bright spot was that the court had ruled that since his mom had supported him through college and medical school, he had to pay her a portion of his income for the rest of her life. “What about your folks? I bet they’re really proud of you.”
“They are.” Anthony smiled. “They live in the mountains of North Carolina. They wanted a place that wouldn’t get too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. They found a really nice, relatively small community there, and they love it. I go to visit them a couple times a year. They’re right outside Cherokee.”
“Sounds nice. What are they like?”
“Well, Mom was a kindergarten teacher, and my dad started out teaching third grade. In his forties he was made a principal, and in his fifties he became superintendent of schools in the Little Spring School District. They retired a few years ago and got out of town. I think that after all those years of raising meand staying in this area, they wanted something different. I just want them to be happy and live a good life. They deserve it.”
Tyler found himself nodding. “Mom deserves it too.”
THE FOODwas amazing and the conversation lively and fun. They stayed away from serious topics for the rest of dinner. Tyler found out that Anthony had a great sense of humor and that once he came out of his shell, he could laugh at a joke and even at himself, which was a rare trait.
Their dessert was gorgeous, a mint and chocolate mousse in a dark chocolate shell. They shared one, and Tyler almost wished he could have another. But he was full and happy. Best date he’d had in a very long time. The two of them left together and got into Anthony’s car before slowly riding through town.
“When I was a kid, Mom and Dad used to pile us in the car so we could go look at the lights. Let me show you something.” Anthony headed east out of town and turned past the Giant. As they neared the freeway, they entered a fairyland of lights and motion. “These homes always go all out.”
“How did I not know this was here?” Tyler asked. Six houses were fully decked out with thousands of lights, inflatables, and even dancing lights set to music. It was amazing. They watched the display for a while before turning around and heading back through town and out to their development.
“I think I need to put up some lights of my own,” Tyler said. “I never have, but after seeing those, I think we need a little more festiveness around here. I know I have lights around somewhere, and the tree on the side of the front yard would look good with lights on it.”
“Yeah, it would. The previous owners left the brackets on the house, so I can light the eaves.” Anthony sounded as excited as Tyler felt. “You want to see what we have and put things up tomorrow?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Tyler said as Anthony pulled into his drive and up to the garage. “Would you like to come in for a drink?”
“That would be nice, but I haven’t left Daisy alone for very long since I got her. So if you don’t mind, we could go to my place. I have beer and the mixings for some basic cocktails.”
“Then cocktails it is.” Anthony got out, and they walked through the yard to Tyler’s door. Daisy barked on the other side as he unlocked it, and then she stood there wagging her tail. As soon as Tyler got inside, she bounded around until he picked her up. She wriggled and gave him kisses before settling in his arms. She definitely was his dog.
“Come on.” He set Daisy on her blanket on the chair and took off his coat. “What sort of cocktail do you like?”