The Case of the Killer Divorce by Barbara Venkataraman Page B
Authors: Barbara Venkataraman
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instance.
As we sat down, I suddenly remembered something.
"Hey, are you going to be okay eating here? Or will you have to chew on Rolaids the rest of the day?"
"I'll be fine," she said. "I only need Rolaids when I'm dealing with th at client who stresses me out. Food doesn't bother me, just him. I can't wait for that case to be over."
"I bet!" I understood about difficult clients . I had a few, myself.
We were the first of the lunch crowd to arrive , so we got our food fast. Falafel sandwiches are really messy and it was all we could do not to drop food on our clothes.
It wasn't until we were sipping coffee and splitting a baklava that Grace said, "Don't you want to know what my news is? It's not like you to be so patient. Are you feeling okay?"
I laughed. "Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf . People can change, you know."
"Not a chance. What's really going on?" Grace looked skeptical, but I kept my face blank as long as I could.
"Okay," I said , "I'll tell you. I have a date on Saturday."
"No way! Who's the lucky guy? Do I know him? You've been holding out on me , Jamie. Spill it!"
"Well, he's wonderful and totally adorable, and we're going horseback riding at Tradewinds Park."
Grace looked exasperated. "But how did you meet? What's his name? Wait--did you say horseback riding? Is that a good idea? I mean, you're not the most athletic person. No offense."
"Don't worry . Kip said he'd teach me," I said, waiting for Grace's reaction.
"Kip? As in Kip Simons your high school boyfriend? How in the world--?"
"I love it when you're speechless!" I said, laughing. "I actually ran into him at T.Y. Park, he's the new Director of the Parks department! Isn't that fantastic? I didn't recognize him at first, but we hit it off again right away."
Grace shook her head. "Incredible! But, what were you doing in T.Y. Park? Trying to get your old job back?"
" Very funny! I was exercising, I'll have you know. I do that occasionally."
"I am so happy for you, Jamie, I really am. And it's about time. Now I get to give you advice about your love life! I can't wait."
" Hang on, Grace. I don't have a love life yet. But go ahead, give me some advice."
"Oka y, I have three words for you."
"Take it slow?" I guessed.
"No," she laughed, "Wear--a--helmet. I can just see you falling off the horse!"
"Yeah," I said, "Me too."
Chapter 22
"Okay, Jamie, that was a bombshell, but I can top it. Do you want to hear my news now?" Grace asked , leaning forward. She was very excited.
I nodded . I couldn't imagine what she was going to say, but I suddenly had butterflies in my stomach.
"I spoke to my friend at the D.C. Consulate about your dad," Grace said. "And he did some research for me."
I sat there, twisting my napkin, waiting for the news.
Grace reached over the table and squeezed my hands. "He's alive, Jamie!"
"Oh, my God, my dad's alive!" I was so overwhelmed, I thought I would faint, or throw up. My hands were shaking like crazy and tears were streaming down my face.
"Here's what happened, you're not going to believe this story! Your dad escaped from a Cuban jail in 2005 and swam to a U.S. naval base where he waited four years for political asylum. When it wasn't granted, they flew him to Nicaragua with fifteen other Cubans. My friend called someone he knows at the Nicaraguan Consulate who pulled some strings and found out your dad is still in Nicaragua. They are trying to get you an address for you, Jamie; you just need to hang in there. Isn't that totally freaking awesome?!"
I practically jumped across the table and pulled Grace into a hug. We were laughing and crying and carrying on like maniacs. A lifetime of grief over my lost father seemed to melt away in an instant. I felt weightless, like a dancer in mid-air, or a balloon about to float away.
A woman at another table caught my eye and grinned, our joy was contagious. She turned around to the waitress taking her order and joked, "I'll have what they're
As we sat down, I suddenly remembered something.
"Hey, are you going to be okay eating here? Or will you have to chew on Rolaids the rest of the day?"
"I'll be fine," she said. "I only need Rolaids when I'm dealing with th at client who stresses me out. Food doesn't bother me, just him. I can't wait for that case to be over."
"I bet!" I understood about difficult clients . I had a few, myself.
We were the first of the lunch crowd to arrive , so we got our food fast. Falafel sandwiches are really messy and it was all we could do not to drop food on our clothes.
It wasn't until we were sipping coffee and splitting a baklava that Grace said, "Don't you want to know what my news is? It's not like you to be so patient. Are you feeling okay?"
I laughed. "Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf . People can change, you know."
"Not a chance. What's really going on?" Grace looked skeptical, but I kept my face blank as long as I could.
"Okay," I said , "I'll tell you. I have a date on Saturday."
"No way! Who's the lucky guy? Do I know him? You've been holding out on me , Jamie. Spill it!"
"Well, he's wonderful and totally adorable, and we're going horseback riding at Tradewinds Park."
Grace looked exasperated. "But how did you meet? What's his name? Wait--did you say horseback riding? Is that a good idea? I mean, you're not the most athletic person. No offense."
"Don't worry . Kip said he'd teach me," I said, waiting for Grace's reaction.
"Kip? As in Kip Simons your high school boyfriend? How in the world--?"
"I love it when you're speechless!" I said, laughing. "I actually ran into him at T.Y. Park, he's the new Director of the Parks department! Isn't that fantastic? I didn't recognize him at first, but we hit it off again right away."
Grace shook her head. "Incredible! But, what were you doing in T.Y. Park? Trying to get your old job back?"
" Very funny! I was exercising, I'll have you know. I do that occasionally."
"I am so happy for you, Jamie, I really am. And it's about time. Now I get to give you advice about your love life! I can't wait."
" Hang on, Grace. I don't have a love life yet. But go ahead, give me some advice."
"Oka y, I have three words for you."
"Take it slow?" I guessed.
"No," she laughed, "Wear--a--helmet. I can just see you falling off the horse!"
"Yeah," I said, "Me too."
Chapter 22
"Okay, Jamie, that was a bombshell, but I can top it. Do you want to hear my news now?" Grace asked , leaning forward. She was very excited.
I nodded . I couldn't imagine what she was going to say, but I suddenly had butterflies in my stomach.
"I spoke to my friend at the D.C. Consulate about your dad," Grace said. "And he did some research for me."
I sat there, twisting my napkin, waiting for the news.
Grace reached over the table and squeezed my hands. "He's alive, Jamie!"
"Oh, my God, my dad's alive!" I was so overwhelmed, I thought I would faint, or throw up. My hands were shaking like crazy and tears were streaming down my face.
"Here's what happened, you're not going to believe this story! Your dad escaped from a Cuban jail in 2005 and swam to a U.S. naval base where he waited four years for political asylum. When it wasn't granted, they flew him to Nicaragua with fifteen other Cubans. My friend called someone he knows at the Nicaraguan Consulate who pulled some strings and found out your dad is still in Nicaragua. They are trying to get you an address for you, Jamie; you just need to hang in there. Isn't that totally freaking awesome?!"
I practically jumped across the table and pulled Grace into a hug. We were laughing and crying and carrying on like maniacs. A lifetime of grief over my lost father seemed to melt away in an instant. I felt weightless, like a dancer in mid-air, or a balloon about to float away.
A woman at another table caught my eye and grinned, our joy was contagious. She turned around to the waitress taking her order and joked, "I'll have what they're
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