Happy Father’s Day by Curiousbusiness..,

A clutter of glassware, including an empty coffee pot, two empty water pitchers, and a few dirty cups, had gathered on Larry Windham’s coffee table over the course of the day. The drinks fueled him and his paralegal Jenna Holmes as they combed over their most recent pro bono case, a veterans’ association scammed by renovation contractors. While deep in their reading, Larry’s telephone rang and he picked it up without thought, his mind distracted by the pages in front of him.

“Windham and Associates, Larry speaking,” he greeted.

Upon recognizing the voice on the other end, he sat up straight and devoted all his attention to the caller. It was his daughter, Anne.

“Anne!” he exclaimed, “How are you Sweetheart?”

Jenna stopped reading the pages in front of her too and rose out of the chair on the opposite side of Larry’s desk. She gestured with her hands, saying silently that she would leave the office to give Larry privacy, but Larry waved her down to sit. Jenna did just that.

“That’s right Sweetheart,” Larry said with the brightest smile Jenna had ever seen, “Tonight at six-thirty.”

There was a pause as Larry listened intently.

“Oh no, Sweetheart,” Larry said, touching a hand to his greying hair, “No, no. That’s OK. You have to do what you need to. We’ll catch up some other time. OK. Love you lots.”

Although she only heard half of the conversation, Jenna could already assume what had happened.

“Anne cancelled?” Jenna asked apologetically.

“Yeah. She’s got a big case she’s working on and she really wants to get this one right. Good on her,” Larry said sincerely.

“On Father’s Day though? Did she forget?”

“Oh, she’s just so dedicated to her work.”

Jenna felt even sadder for Larry, because he seemed so genuinely happy for his daughter. His love and pride for his daughter outshone any disappointment from knowing he wouldn’t be celebrating with his daughter tonight.

“Well,” Larry said, “I think we’ve put in an honest day’s work. We should both get home.”

“What about the reservations you asked me to make at Beaumont’s?”

Larry sighed, “Thank you for doing that for me, Jenna. A shame, really. Maybe next time.”

Jenna mused as Larry gathered his papers into a pile.

“I heard they have the most wonderful gratinéed scallops. Just imagine that with a white Burgundy. It really would be a shame,” she said.

“You know your stuff young lady!”

“We should keep the reservation and go. We’ve got time still. I’ll run home and get dressed up, and I’ll meet you there!”

Larry was amused, “Are you sure? You want to hang out with an old guy like me?”

“Oh, please! Of course! I’ve got nothing going on tonight.”

That’s right, Larry remembered. Jenna never knew her father. It’s no surprise she had not plans tonight. He responded quickly, hoping his moment of realization wasn’t too obvious.

“I would be honored if you joined me,” he said.

~~~

Larry arrived at Beaumont first. When he learned from the hostess that his new dinner date had not arrived yet, he politely waited outside for her. Not long later, a yellow cab pulled up to the restaurant. He could just make out through the passenger window of the cab that Jenna was inside. He stepped forward to get the cab door. A few passersby turned their heads as Jenna stepped out, taking the hand that Larry offered. Her head of blended blonde and brown hair was curled into wavy locks, dangling past her shoulders. The beauty of her face was elevated by modest makeup. Most attractive of all was the beautiful gold sequin dress she wore.

“You look lovely!” Larry complimented.

“Thank you! Let’s head inside. I’m hungry!”

The gratinéed scallops were as delicious as rumored. The white Burgundy was indeed very complementary, so much so that the waiter was already pouring the second bottle. Jenna collected herself from a laugh she was having as Larry recounted a story of how he bungled his first case as a lawyer.

“Oh I wish your daughter could be here tonight.”

“Thank you, Jenna. I do as well, but then you and I wouldn’t get to have so much fun together!”

“I can cheers to that!”

Larry and Jenna touched their glasses and drank. After setting down his glass, Larry seemed to gaze off into a distant memory.

“You know, Anne and I used to have so much fun together when she was a kid. After Claudia, my wife, died, my little Sweetheart just changed a little. I think she misses her mother a lot. She wanted to do everything she could to be an ambitious lawyer, just like her mother. She’s come so far, achieved so much at such a young age.”

Jenna sighed, “She is impressive. We’re the same age but she’s opened her own firm and I’m still a paralegal.”

“Hey, hey. Don’t be like that. I shouldn’t have said that,” Larry comforted, “Being a paralegal is fantastic. I’m proud of you. You know, Jenna, you’ll get there too one day if that’s what you want. I’m sure of it. Whatever help you need, just ask me.”

Jenna could almost cry. Those were the kind of words she didn’t get to hear much growing up. She raised her glass, and Larry raised his to meet hers.

~~~

Jenna exited the cab first, and it was her turn to offer a hand to help Larry step out.

“Really, Jenna, you really didn’t have to chaperone me home. I can hold my own pretty well,” Larry said.

“Is that so? Looks like someone is fumbling a little with their keys.”

Larry opened the door to his home. From outside the door, Jenna peered inside. A warm glow shone from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Larry noted Jenna’s curiosity.

“You want to take a look? I’ve never had you over, have I?”

Jenna accepted the invitation. She stepped into the foyer and was in awe of the height of the ceiling. The chandelier lighting the room looked like a sculpture made of tiny floating stars. A half spiral staircase across the hall led upstairs.

“It feels like a ballroom,” Jenna gasped.

“You got that right! Claudia loved ballroom dance. I wasn’t very good but she always tried to teach me right here in this foyer.”

Jenna spun to face Larry and she extended her hand.

“May I?” she asked with a smile.

“Of course.”

Larry took Jenna’s right hand with his left. He placed his right hand gently on Jenna’ shoulder blade. Jenna rested her left hand onto Larry’s shoulder. Once in position, Larry led them away. As Larry said, he wasn’t very good, but he was the expert of the two in this situation. They tried to sway and waltz and tango, laughing and tripping over two pairs of feet uncoordinated feet. They even tried a twirl, which went surprisingly well. Larry tried to recite the step counts, just as his wife had done, but he could not help but laugh at his own confusion. In all the fun, Jenna became ambitious, and let herself lean back into a dip. Heels and alcohol wasn’t a good mix, and she began to loose her balance. Larry was caught off guard by Jenna’s lunge backward. He gripped her and pulled her back into him. In his worry for her safety, he overcompensated and pulled her too hard into him. Their faces got close.

“Sorry,” Larry said, letting Jenna go.

“No, I’m sorry. I got carried away.”