They’re over at the bar. C’mon. I know they’d love to see you.”
Spencer kept looking around the room as the group shared stories at a table but he didn’t see Tish McKenna. “Hey, does our class valedictorian ever show up at these things?”
Everyone laughed as Jim shook his head. “Seriously, Spence? Mrs. Spock? She had no friends in school, why would she ever come to a reunion? Who would she reunite with? A law book?”
He shrugged. “Y’know, people change.”
“Who cares? And not sure she could change her personality since you need one to start with,” said Denise, a corporate attorney. “I mean, talk about a cold fish. I invited her for lunch once and she blew me off. Said she couldn’t spare the time and had to study. Maybe that’s why she was valedictorian. Personally I’d rather have friends than that designation.”
“Wonder what ever happened to her,” said Frank.
“I saw her in court the other day,” said Spencer. “The woman was amazing. She absolutely destroyed a witness. By the way, you wouldn’t even recognize her. Looks very professional now. I was shocked when I found out she was that frumpy girl in our class.”
“Someone in my firm went up against her awhile back,” said Denise. “She wiped the floor with him.”
Carrie nodded. “I had a trial against her last year. I thought my case was a slam dunk but the woman kicked my ass. I mean, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what hit me, and I was well prepared. She’s a damn chess player. It was like she was three steps ahead of me the whole time. Cited a whole bunch of obscure cases and I found myself painted into a corner. Oh, she’s no longer Mrs. Spock. She’s got a new nickname around the courthouse.”
“What’s that?” asked Spencer.
“Jaws.”
“Why Jaws?”
“Because a tough lawyer is a shark and she’s the deadliest shark in the ocean. Just like in the movie. The bailiff said when she walks into the courtroom you can almost hear the theme music.”
*
Tish actually felt like some sort of stalker, but her friends had insisted she at least try to run into the cute white knight. But she had to know if the guy was attached. Men like that didn’t grow on trees.
She decided to look her best without going overboard. While she wouldn’t go so far as to put on makeup to go running, she did at least pick up a new pair of sweats, a cute red sweatshirt with the hotel logo and a Mets baseball cap. Bright sunshine and a cool breeze greeted her as she headed out of the hotel lobby on Tuesday morning, early enough that she could hang around for a while if he was there. She spotted the drink cart across the street and headed for it.
No white knight in sight.
Still, she might be able to find out who he was or if he was a regular.
The guy running the cart looked up and smiled as she approached. “Morning, young lady, what can I get for you?”
“Some orange juice, please.”
He handed her a container and she paid for it. “Hey, by any chance do you remember me from last week?”
He studied her face and smiled. “Though I am a happily married man I’m not dead. I do tend to remember the pretty women. You’re the one who forgot her cash.”
“Right. And there was a guy in an expensive suit who paid for it. Dark tousled hair, olive green eyes, slender, mid-thirties. You know who he is?”
“I do. He stops by just about every morning for coffee.”
“Ah. Well, I was hoping to pay him back.”
“I don’t think he’s the type to miss a dollar. But I’ll be happy to pass it on if you like.”
“I was hoping to thank him personally.”
“What, you don’t trust me with a buck?”
“No, it’s not that. I, uh…”
He smiled and nodded. “I see what’s going on here.”
“Nothing’s going on. I just want to say thank you in person—”
“Young lady, I may look like a guy who runs a soda cart, but I’m a hopeless romantic. If you’re interested in meeting him, just say so.”
“Why do you think I’m interested?”
“The way you described him. Very detailed. And you got this dreamy look.”
She shook her head. Busted. “Fine, I’m interested. Nice guys don’t grow on trees and I actually saw him doing a good deed in a restaurant. So what’s he like?”
“Extra cream, two sugars.”
“Very funny. I meant what is he like as a person? What can you tell me besides how he takes his coffee?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Like I said, he’s a regular. Name’s Spencer but likes to be called Spence. He works on this block, and he’s a helluva tipper.”
“You get tips running a soda cart?”
“Only from him. He told me his dad did this for years and he knows how hard I work. Every time he buys a dollar-fifty cup of coffee he gives me five bucks and tells me to keep the change. He actually talks to me, unlike most of my customers who act like I’m the hired help. He could probably buy and sell me ten times over but he treats me like an equal.”
“Nice to hear. You know if he’s married?”
“Nope. But just for you, I’ll be sure to bring it up in conversation next time I see him. Or at least check for a wedding ring.”
“The lack of one wouldn’t necessarily mean he’s single.”
“True, but he doesn’t strike me as the cheating type if he was married.”
“Good to know.” She looked around to see if he might be coming. “But listen, don’t be, you know, too obvious.”
“What, you think I’m gonna say, Hey Spence, some blonde babe wants to hook up with you. And how convenient, we’re right near a hotel. Give me some credit, will ya? I don’t look it, but I can be subtle.”
“Sorry. I appreciate any information you can get.”
“Consider it done.”
“And thank you for referring to me as a babe, but I’m not.”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh, you’re one of those women.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Offended by the term babe.”
“That doesn’t bother me. I’ve just
