Zach parked in front of a rambling store that sold beach items. It had warmed up during the day, and I left my jacket in the car. Zach was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans.
“Let’s walk on the sand,” he said.
We stepped onto the beach south of the pavilion that had been busy during the summer. It was largely deserted today. Zach kicked off his shoes and stuck his socks in his pocket. I slipped off my shoes and held them in my hand. The sand above the tide line was cool and dry. Pieces of shattered shells lay strewn about.
“Why aren’t there any whole shells?” I asked.
“They’re beaten up beyond the surf. Early in the morning, it’s possible to find a few nice ones when the tide comes in. Let’s see what the water feels like.”
Zach rolled his jeans up above his knees and turned toward the ocean. He had the well-developed calf muscles of a former soccer player.
There was a breeze blowing off the water. I’d not brought a hat and my hair splayed out behind me like an untamed bridal train. I followed in Zach’s steps. My footprints fit easily within his. He reached the water and kept going until he was knee-deep. I stopped at the edge. The next wave came farther up the beach and washed over my feet. The water was cold.
“This is as far as I go,” I said, stepping back.
“You should feel the Pacific,” Zach said as he jumped higher to avoid a wave. “This is like bathwater.”
Zach waded out of the water with a huge smile on his face. “When are you going to visit California with me?” he asked. “During Christmas break would be perfect. My parents would love to meet you, and my sister will be home from Africa.”
“What?” My mouth dropped open.
“Do you want me to repeat it slowly?” Zach answered with a smile.
“No, I heard you. I mean, I’m not saying no, it’s just the idea that I would go to California.”
“It’s a four-hour plane ride. I’d like to buy the tickets as soon as possible so I can look for a good discount.”
“I’ve never flown in a plane.”
“It’s a bus with wings,” Zach said with a straight face. “My mother was excited when I mentioned it to her. I guess she’s been worrying I’d never find someone I like enough to bring home.” He paused. “Truth is I hadn’t, until now.”
Although I was standing still, I felt slightly breathless.
“I’d need to ask my parents.”
“Sure, that’s why I brought it up. But please do it soon. If I’m going to get any kind of deal on plane tickets, I need to book the flight as soon as possible.”
My mind was spinning at the thought of traveling across the country. We didn’t talk as we continued walking toward the south end of the island where Tybee Creek emptied into the Atlantic. We were completely alone when we reached the tip of the island.
“Would you be able to swim across?” Zach pointed to the shore of Little Tybee Island.
“Maybe, but I’m a much better runner than swimmer.”
“Last summer, Julie said you claimed to be able to walk on water.”
“She told you that?”
“Yeah, but she said it with a smile on her face.”
I dug my toes into the sand at my feet.
“I saw Julie and Maggie this afternoon.”
Zach turned toward me. “You went by their office?”
“Yes. I didn’t know they would be there.”
“What’s it like?”
I told him about it and concluded by saying, “The spot they have for me isn’t nearly as nice as the office the firm has available for me down the hall from you. It doesn’t even have a window.”
I dug my toes a little deeper into the sand, but as soon as I popped them up, the sand gave way.
“Did seeing them and their office help you make up your mind?” Zach asked after a few moments of silence.
“Yes. Working for Maggie and Julie would be a lot like building a house directly on this sand.” I paused. “And we both know what the Bible says about that.” The wind shifted and I brushed my hair away from my face. “It was a big relief. I didn’t say anything to Maggie. I’ll send her an e-mail later in the week.”
“Do you want to go by the office and see if Mr. Carpenter is there? It would be great to tell him in person.”
It was a much easier decision than whether to fly to California.
“Yes,” I said. “It would be nice to talk to him in person. But if he’s not there, I can call him later this week.”
We retraced our steps. I held my hands behind my back while we walked. Zach was intent on finding an unbroken seashell larger than a fingernail.
“Here’s a decent one,” he called out from where he stood ankledeep in the surf. He brought the shell over and placed it in my hand. It was a nice semicircle with ridges that mimicked the waves. Underneath, it was smooth with a beautiful purple color along the edge.
“It’s pretty. What kind is it?”
“A clam. They have tougher shells than most, except for oysters, of course.”
“Mama never taught us about seashells.”
“You have a few things left to learn in life,” Zach answered with a smile. “That part of your education will be one of the jobs the firm won’t have to pay me for.”
We returned to his car.
“Should we go by Mrs. Fairmount’s house so I can change into nicer clothes?” I asked as I brushed the sand from my feet before getting into the car.
“No, you look fine. If Mr. Carpenter is at the office, he’ll be wearing casual clothes.”
A combination of excitement, anticipation, and nervousness built inside me as Zach drove us back to Savannah. I silently rehearsed my speech, particularly the part about making clear that I wouldn’t be forced to work on cases that violated my conscience and convictions.
“What chance is there he’ll be there?” I asked at one point.
“I’m not sure. He’s not required to get my approval of his work schedule.”
I punched Zach in the arm.
“Hey, that hurt. Did you get that left jab from your mother?”
“No, that comes from having two brothers.” I paused. “And the need to get rid of a little bit of anxiety.”
We reached the office. A prominent white sign in front of a two-story structure announced Braddock, Appleby, and Carpenter— Attorneys at Law. The main entrance was guarded by a set of small stone lions. Everything about the place spoke of prosperity and attention to detail. I’d been afraid the first time I entered the building. That fear was born of the unknown. The nervousness I felt today came from the momentousness of the decision. I quickly scanned the cars in the parking lot.
“Mr. Carpenter’s car isn’t here,” I said with a sigh of relief.
“Yes, it is,” Zach replied, turning into the parking lot and pulling next to a shiny black Mercedes. “He bought a new one.”
I flipped down the car visor and inspected my hair in the tiny mirror.
“I look like I stuck my head in a clothes dryer.”
“Tami, you look great. Don’t be vain. It’s a sin.”
I raised my fist to punch him again, but Zach held up his hand.
“And don’t give in to anger. Sorry. I was uptight when I met with Mr. Appleby to accept the job. I’ll be good if I can take you out to dinner to celebrate after you talk to Mr. Carpenter.”
“Okay.”
We walked past the lions and through the front door into a spacious lobby with a two-story ceiling. The floors were covered in dark wood, and a curving staircase led to the second floor. Oriental rugs and ornate furniture were arranged throughout the area. It oozed prosperity.
“I’ll find him and let him know you’re here,” Zach said.
“If he’s too busy, it’s okay. I can—”
Zach held up his hand. “Just let me check.”
He left me in the lobby. There was a much broader selection of magazines available than at Maggie and Julie’s office. The firm included publications that might interest clients who actually had money to pay for a lawyer. I paced back and forth. After a couple of minutes, Zach returned. Mr. Carpenter was beside him. The tall lawyer with gray hair and well-trimmed goatee was wearing a golf shirt and khaki slacks.
“Tami!” he exclaimed. “What a pleasant surprise.”
He quickly came over to me and shook my hand.
“Good to see you, Mr. Carpenter.”
“I hope you’re having a pleasant weekend in Savannah,” he replied. “This place gets in your blood and draws you back.”
“Yes, sir. Zach was kind enough to pick me up in Athens and bring me. I’m staying with Margaret Fairmont.”
“How’s she doing?” Mr. Carpenter asked, then continued without waiting for an answer by saying, “Come to my office so we can chat.”
I looked at Zach, who pointed up the staircase toward his office on the second floor.
“I’ll be upstairs,” he said. “Come see me when you finish.”
“I won’t keep her from you too long,” Mr. Carpenter replied smoothly.
The principal partners in the firm had offices on the first floor. Mr. Carpenter led me down a hall covered in a thick carpet and through his private reception area, then held open the door to his office. The litigator liked boats. The walls were covered with pictures of yachts. The one in the picture that hung over his credenza belonged to him. Mr. Carpenter sat behind a large desk with a leather inlaid top and motioned for me to sit across from him.
“How’s your family?”
“Fine,” I responded, not remembering a time Mr. Carpenter had previously asked about my family. “I saw them last weekend. I also went by to see Oscar Callahan.”
“Oscar’s a fine lawyer.” Mr. Carpenter nodded. “I always thought his talent was wasted up in the mountains, but he liked to play the gentleman farmer role. To each his own.”
“Yes, sir. You like Savannah; he loves the mountains.”
Mr. Carpenter put his fingers together in front of his face. “But the important question is whether you like Savannah, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes, sir. I like Savannah. And I want to come to work here.”
It wasn’t the way I had intended to give my acceptance of the job, but the words were out of my mouth before I could edit them.
“Splendid.” Mr. Carpenter clapped his hands together so sharply that it made me jump. “You and Vince Colbert make the best pair of young lawyers who’ve joined the firm in years, maybe ever.”
“Thank you. It’s very kind of you to say that.”
“And I’m sure you’ll prove me right.” Mr. Carpenter glanced down at a legal pad on his desk. “Well, I don’t want to interrupt too much of your weekend fun. Ms. Patrick will be in touch with you about your schedule upon graduation. Of course, we’ll allow ample time for you to prepare for the bar exam and won’t expect you to start until after the test.”
Mr. Carpenter stood. I remained seated.
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
“Uh, I want to make sure that I work on cases that I think are just, the kind that I can put my heart into without compromising my ethical beliefs.”
Mr. Carpenter stared down at me with a slightly puzzled expression.
“No lawyer who’s worked here has ever been reprimanded or sanctioned by the state bar for an ethics violation. If an ethical issue comes up, we’ll go to the rules and find the answer. I might even ask you to develop extra expertise in that area so you can be the firm’s de facto ethics expert.” Mr. Carpenter paused. “Yes, that would be a very helpful niche. We all get rusty over time about some of the nuances of the rules and opinions.”
“Yes, sir, but I was thinking more broadly than that—”
Mr. Carpenter dismissed my comment with a wave of his hand. “Don’t jump ahead to hypothetical problems. The practical issues that come up in real cases will provide enough stimulation.”
Mr. Carpenter looked at his watch. “I’m so glad you could stop by and give me this good news in person. The reason I came to the office today was to participate in a conference call that’s scheduled in a few minutes, and I have to get ready. We’ll have plenty of time to talk ethics once you’re here on a permanent basis. See you in a few months. You’re going to be a great addition to our litigation team.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mr. Carpenter went to the door and held it open for me. There was nothing else I could do now but leave. I backed out of the office. He shut the door behind me.
I returned to the lobby and trudged up the stairs and down the hall to Zach’s office. He was on an Internet sports site.
“That was quick,” he said when he saw me standing in the doorway.
“Mr. Carpenter had to prepare for a conference call.”
“How did he take the news?”
“Oh, he’s glad I’m going to be part of the litigation team. And he may turn me into the firm’s ethics expert.”
“Ethic’s expert?”
“You know, the lawyer who knows all the ins and outs of the disciplinary rules and advisory opinions. If you have an ethics problem, send Tami a memo, and she’ll tell you what to do.”
Zach pulled his ponytail. “How did that happen?”
“When I was trying to get his commitment not to ask me to work on a case if I believed it violated my ethical convictions.”
“And he knew what you meant.”
I nodded. “Anyway, I accepted the job. I guess I’ll have to work out any problems as they come up.”
“That’s the way it is in law practice. You can’t anticipate every scenario. And there’s still reason to celebrate.” Zach stood up. “Do you want to go to that French restaurant on Greene Street?”
“Sure. Vince took me there one time. It’s very nice.”
W
E HAD A WONDERFUL MEAL.
T
HE UNHURRIED PACE HELPED ME
calm down. And Zach made no attempt to hide his excitement that I’d decided to work at the firm. He talked about the future with as much animation as I’d ever seen in him.
“You’ll have a generous budget to decorate your office,” he said as we finished the main course. “It makes sense considering how much time you’ll be expected to be there.”
I told him about the contrast between Maggie’s and Julie’s offices.
“That’s a recipe for resentment,” he said.
The waiter arrived and we ordered dessert. After the meal he drove me the few blocks to Mrs. Fairmont’s house.
“Do you think you’ll live here when you come back?” he asked as he pulled alongside the curb.
“Mrs. Fairmont brought it up last night. I’d love to start out here.”
“It makes sense.” Zach turned off the car’s motor. “Are you going to Sister Dabney’s church in the morning?”