Fucking In Manhattan 1
Thursday, February 25th, 2010Toni Lindroth, once Toni La Rocca and now Toni Lindroth again, passed the last of the newly signed documents back across the desk. “Is that it?” Anita Ruger, her counsellor in law, nodded. “All signed, sealed and delivered. Your divorce is final and you’re a free woman again. Welcome to all the joys of being a single NBCR female in Manhattan.” “NBCR?” “No birthday candles required.” Toni smiled ruefully “Over the hill or not, I’ll take a break before I start picking up the threads. I’ve been promising myself a good long holiday in Europe when the chance came. But before I start packing I’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done, Anita. You’ve been a great lawyer and a true friend.” Anita tapped the papers together in a neat pile with her long fingernails. “I hope you feel the same way when you get my bill. Divorce is always an expensive option.” “Is that why you’ve never married yourself? It seems odd that a gal as good looking as you has never gotten herself hitched.”
Anita had a set answer for such questions – one delivered with just the same sort of painful smile as Toni’s. “Earlier on I guess I was too busy building a career. And now – well, now is now.” “But you like men?” “I like them fine – for one thing they’re all so predictable. They make a pass at me, they find out I’m a female lawyer specialising in divorce settlements and they all respond the same way: one hand over their wallet, the other one over their balls and then backing off towards the nearest exit as fast as they can. It doesn’t help either that my legal associates keep on referring to me as the Wicked Witch of the East Side.”
“Well that’s your own fault for boasting about your apartment’s history. But there’s something I’d like to talk about with you before I go. I guess I’m finding it hard to open the subject up – I feel kind of shy about it.” The lawyer raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. Toni was tall and darkly beautiful with a very strong personality and a track record of running her own highly successful public relations business. She’d also gone after her ex-husband’s assets with an aggressiveness which would have made a starving shark look shy. All in all, it was difficult to believe that Toni Lindroth could be diffident about discussing any kind of subject.
“You see, Anita, I’m going to ask you to do something for me which sounds as if I’m asking a favor from you, but it’s not quite what it sounds like on the surface. I can’t tell you anymore though – I’d just like you to trust me the same way I’ve trusted you all through the divorce.” Anita held her hands out to show her willingness to go along with whatever Toni wanted. After all, it was true that she’d become a friend as well as a client.
“No problem. What can I do for you?” “I’d like you to look after Beech for me while I’m away, please.” Anita tried to hide her true feelings. As dogs went Beech was about as good as they came, a placid natured basset hound with the permanently mournful expression of all his breed. But as far as the lawyer was concerned dogs, cats and anything else in the way of domestic animals could pass straight through without stopping anywhere near her. And especially not in her beautiful apartment. “I’m not really a pet person, Toni. Not in the city, anyway. My horse upstate is good enough for me.”
“Believe me, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Beech is totally house trained and you wouldn’t have to walk him. My dog person would stop by every night about seven p.m. to do that. And it’s only for a week or two.” Anita gritted her teeth, decided to add an appreciable amount to Toni’s settlement bill and eventually conceded defeat: “OK, but just remember that I didn’t push myself forward for this job. Is your dog walker usually on time?”
“To the second. Tristan’s always on time. I’ve got to dash now but the pair of them will be around to the park tonight to drop off Beech. OK?”
