“That’s it?” came Jeni’s voice.
Andrew leaned his head against the chair and closed his eyes.
“How long are you two going to do this?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Avoid each other. It’s been years, Andrew. You and Dad used to be close.”
“I know exactly how long it’s been. Do you think I like the way things are between us?” He cracked his knuckles. “But he refuses to support me in my decision to become an attorney. You know I tried coming home a few times after I moved away, but all he did was bitch at me the whole time, telling me I was avoiding the responsibility I had to the family business. He told me more than once how disappointed he was in me. He won’t let it go, and I’m tired of being hounded, so I stopped calling. What else is there to say?”
Jeni sighed. “I don’t know. I just hate seeing you two at each other’s throats.”
“We’re not at each other’s throats. We’ve moved on to complete avoidance.”
“That’s worse.”
“It is what it is, Jeni. If I’ve come to terms with it, you can, too.”
…
Despite a heaviness in his limbs, a sign of fatigue he was starting to get used to the week after chemo, Andrew spent Monday afternoon at the DA’s office. He put in twelve to fifteen hours per week, and with the Thanksgiving holiday the office would be closed the latter half of the week.
Todd Griffin, a seasoned prosecutor who had been with the Kansas City DA for fifteen years, took Andrew on to help with a domestic violence case. Though Andrew was disturbed by the information in the case file, he needed to be prepared to handle cases like this one.
Their client, Isla, was a woman in her thirties whose husband had a history of assault. For several years the police had responded to incidents at their home, but Isla had never wanted to press charges. Four months ago, Isla’s husband had attacked her and their seven-year-old son, which was the first time their child had incurred injuries. That, combined with Isla’s broken arm and ruptured spleen, had prompted her to move forward with protective orders and to file a lawsuit.
Each time Andrew worked on this case, he thought about his sisters and what he would do if he ever found out that a man had physically hurt them. Today, just like each time before, his blood boiled at the thought. People were meant to form partnerships and relationships based on mutual respect and love. Not out of a need to control or possess. He couldn’t understand the mind-set of people like Isla’s husband, and Andrew felt honored to be part of the team attempting to hold the man accountable for his actions.
During the first few months of the investigation, Andrew had attended client and witness interviews, drafted a few pretrial motions, and filed necessary paperwork at the courthouse. Todd was ruthless and detail oriented, but also patient as he’d walked Andrew through each step of the case process. He could also be laid back and funny at times, and Andrew got along with him well. He reminded Andrew of his father a little, truth be told. The way he used to be before Andrew had left home.
Andrew spent several hours that day drafting a response to a motion filed by the defense. The husband’s attorney was hoping to strike the testimony of a police officer who’d initially responded to the violent incident, and the prosecution needed that piece of evidence. Just as Andrew finished up, Todd approached the desk.
“I like the new look.”
Andrew cupped a hand over his bald head. This was one of the few places where it wasn’t appropriate to wear a hat. “Oh, yeah. Thanks. It was time…the patchy thinning spots weren’t doing it for me.”
Todd nodded sagely. “I remember when Helen finally broke down and shaved her head. She cried for two days.”
When Andrew had first told the staff about the lymphoma and treatment he’d been going through, Todd had pulled him aside. He revealed that his wife had gone through chemotherapy for breast cancer several years prior. He’d insisted Andrew tell him if he ever needed anything or needed time off. Andrew had thanked him but refused to approach the internship differently than any other third year law student. He was serious about making a good impression and networking as much as possible, in hopes there would be an open position by the time he graduated.
“It’s not so bad. I’m just telling myself it comes with the territory.”
Todd put a hand on his shoulder. “Keep up that positive attitude and you’ll do fine. Are you doing all right otherwise?”
Andrew wasn’t going to be honest with the man he was trying to impress. He ignored his churning stomach and the desire to lay his head on the desk and take a nap. “I’m doing great. I can barely tell I’m getting chemo.” He smiled for added emphasis, swallowing the lie.
Todd gave him a good-hearted thump on his upper back. “Glad to hear it. You’ve been an excellent addition to this case. You’re a quick learner, and you’ve done good work.”
“Thank you, sir.” He wanted to ask if there was any chance for an open position for a new graduate come summer, but he hesitated. It was only November, and graduation was a long way off.
A lot could change between now and then.
…
That evening Andrew trudged up the stairs to his apartment. When he moved into this complex he’d chosen a third-floor apartment, wanting a unit with a balcony. But since beginning chemo, he’d begun to loathe these stairs.
The apartment wasn’t much but was perfect for him while in law school—kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. He’d set up the extra bedroom as an office of sorts and didn’t have an extra bed for guests. It had worked out when his mom and sisters were in town, because he could pawn them off on Jeni and her two-bedroom house.