How does he think this revelation will help my agitation?
“Work on it. A lot.”
“I will work on it,” I assure him.
“And third…”
Oh God! Is there also a third point? I don’t think I can even do the first two!
“I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“Oh.”
I didn’t expect this, and I don’t react well to unexpected things.
“Please don’t cry again.”
“I’m sorry.”
The lawyer gives me a dirty look.
“Oh god! I’m so, so sorry!”
He shakes his head several times, but I could swear I see him lifting one corner of his mouth.
“I’ll calm down, I swear.” I take another tissue and blow my nose again. “I can’t control my tongue and tears when I’m agitated. I will do my best to be careful. I solemnly promise.”
“I’m not comfortable with tears.”
“Oh, sure, I understand. I’m not comfortable with tears, either. Especially if they are my own.”
This time, he laughs. He can’t hide it!
Although it was not my intention to make him laugh, I must say that I don’t mind him in this role at all.
There. Another point against me.
Mr Kennedy can laugh, and he does it well. I don’t know if it’s possible to do it badly. I mean, that’s something positive in itself, isn’t it? Unless he laughs at me, then it becomes something else entirely.
“Why don’t we start with something simple?”
“Simple. Sure. I can do that. Simple things are my speciality.”
Not true. Complicated is my middle name.
Why don’t I stop bullshitting?
“Tell me something about yourself.”
He holds a pen, ready to take notes.
Me. Easy peasy.
That I can’t take my eyes off you, does it count? I think you’re not like all the other lawyers—who, for the record, I usually detest—and that under that armour of muscle and discipline, you hide a soul—I’m sure you’re very disciplined and love to impose discipline in others…
That’s a thought I really shouldn’t entertain, especially not about my lawyer, not with a lawsuit looming that could take everything I care about.
Mr Kennedy clears his throat and I immediately return to planet Earth, unable to avoid blushing at my impure thoughts and my poor ability to keep them hidden.
