Shoe Strings

parents.   It always made him uncomfortable and he
usually avoided talking to one about the other whenever possible.   The fact that he’d brought it up made
Kerri Ann worry.   And she knew that
if he hadn’t been trapped in the car with her for another few miles, she’d
never get the whole story.   “I saw
him the other day in town when you were dealing with the vegetable delivery
guy,” he said.
    “And he told you I was on your dad’s case?”
    “No, I told him you were in a pissy mood and he suggested it
had something to do with Dad.”
    “Oh really?”   Well, wasn’t that just perfect.   “I don’t appreciate you discussing my moods with Bryce Jenson.   As a matter of fact, I don’t want you
discussing my moods with anybody.   And since you’re entering the time of your life when you need to know a
thing or two about women, you’d be smart to never discuss a woman’s mood with
anyone.   Got it?”
    “Loud and clear,” Ty said under his breath as she pulled up
to the curb of the high school.   He
hopped out of the car the second she brought it to a stop.  
    “I don’t even get a good-bye?” Kerri Ann shouted out the
window.
    “Bye, Mom.”  
    His waiting friends snickered, making Kerri Ann all but sure
he’d rolled his eyes.   Men.   They were the bane of her
existence.   Why hadn’t God given her
a girl, an ally?   No, he had to
surround her with men, none of whom understood the workings of a woman.   Well, one thing was for sure, she was
going to let one particular man know just how she felt about him discussing her
behind her back.  
    When the tires squealed as she pulled away from the school,
she should have known it wasn’t a good time to confront a friend.   But, most of the time, logic didn’t take
hold of Kerri Ann until her temper had cleared.   And her temper was a long way from clearing.  
    It didn’t help that she was forced to parallel park in front
of the quaint house that held the offices of Bryce Jenson, Attorney at
Law.   Although it sat along Main
Street just a few blocks down from the Pizza Den, she was too full of steam to
risk using her reserved spot behind the restaurant and getting caught up in
work before giving Bryce a piece of her mind.   So she inched the old sedan back and
forth along the curb until she was sure it wasn’t sticking too far out in the
street and stuck a quarter in the meter before storming up the steps to his
office.    
    “Well, Kerri Ann.” Misty Allen sat behind the desk where she
spent more time talking on the phone than doing actual reception work.   “Haven’t seen you around in awhile.   How’s your mama and pops doing?”
    “I need to see Bryce.   Is he in?”
    Misty sat upright in her seat, looking equal parts insulted
and curious as to why Kerri Ann had ignored her question and seemed to need
Bryce so urgently.   “He’s in court
this morning.   Mr. Freeman’s suing
Tom Barber for the shoddy roof job he did on his store last year.   He lost a butt load of merchandise after
the roof caved in this winter.”
    Kerri Ann didn’t even acknowledge Misty before turning on
her heel and heading back out.   She
jingled the keys in her hand before deciding to hoof it the four blocks to the
courthouse.   It would do her good to
work off some of her anger.   She was
huffing as she entered the century-old building, nodded to Sheriff Dunmore, and
strode right through the courthouse doors, ignoring the court in session sign
posted outside.   Court be damned,
she was going to have her say.  
    The room was quiet, despite the dozen or so people watching
from the seats on either side of the aisle.   Heads turned when the door clicked
behind her, but then quickly turned back to watch the show being played
out.   When the bailiff whispered for
her to sit, she eased into the closest chair.   That’s when she saw Bryce as he stood up
and called Clyde Freeman to the stand.   Bryce’s black hair was neatly gelled, his crisp navy suit perfectly
pressed, and for a moment she couldn’t reconcile the man before her with the
childhood friend she’d come to argue with.  
    Bryce seemed to tower over Clyde in the witness chair,
despite the seat’s elevated platform and Clyde’s bulky build.   His stance was so sure, so confident,
that Kerri Ann’s breath caught in her throat.   Had she ever seen him in court
before?   Sure, he’d regaled her and
Ty with the crazier points from his cases, and she even