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Date Posted: 14:21:38 06/21/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 75
In reply to: Repost Fairy 's message, "Burden of Proof - 68 and up" on 11:17:24 06/21/02 Fri

When the telephone rang, Marina called out to Joe, who was busily supervising Molly’s dinner, “I’ll get that.” Smiling at the sight of her husband as he attempted to convince their daughter that a bowl of mashed parsnips was just what she wanted to eat, Marina picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Hi, Marina. It’s Nikita. I hope I haven’t called at a bad time?”

“No, not at all.” Marina waved a hand to get Joe’s attention. “Would you like to speak to Joe?”

“I’d like to talk to you first, if that’s all right?”

“Of course.” Marina shook her head at her husband, who had started walking toward her, and covered the mouthpiece with her hand. “Sorry, not yet.” She tossed him an impudent smile. “Nikita obviously wants to speak to the brains of the family first.”

Joe clutched at his heart and staggered backwards in mock agony. “Betrayed by counsel and wife.” Giving her a wink, he returned to his seat next to Molly.

Grinning, Marina turned her attention back to their caller. “Sorry about that. I just had to tell Joe you didn’t want to talk to him at the moment.”

“I hope you broke it to him gently.”

Marina wriggled her eyebrows at her husband, who was watching from across the room. “I did my best, but you know what these intellectual types are like.”

Nikita chuckled. “Well, I’m pleased that your sense of humour is still intact.” There was a brief pause. “I know we’ve only met once, but I’ve heard so much about you and Molly from Joe, I wanted to see how you were holding up.”

Warmed by the genuine concern she could hear in Nikita’s voice, Marina smiled into the receiver. With every passing day, she became more and more convinced they’d chosen their new solicitor wisely. “Not too bad. Some days are better than others.”

“Did you hear all about the mediation?”

“I certainly did.” Marina frowned at the memory. “In spite of everything, I really can’t say I’m sorry Joe’s not working for that man anymore. What a nasty piece of work he turned out to be!”

“Oh, yes,” Nikita agreed dryly. “Salla Vachek is definitely out of the running for any ‘Boss of the Year’ awards.” Another pause. “How’s Joe?”

Marina glanced at her husband, making sure he was absorbed in the fight to get more food in Molly’s mouth than on the floor. She walked through to the living room, speaking quietly. “He’s pretty unhappy, Nikita.” Marina sighed, automatically straightening picture frames on the mantelpiece as she talked. “But at least he’s talking to me about it a lot more now…told me a few things that he’d been keeping mum about.”

Nikita’s reply was studiedly casual. “Oh?”

Appreciating the reason behind Nikita’s wariness, Marina hastened to reassure her. ”It’s all right. I know he told you before he told me, and I wanted to thank you for giving him that little lecture.”

Nikita sounded faintly self-conscious. “I’m very glad he’s told you. I did manage to drag it out of him the day before the mediation, but only because I badgered him half to death.”

Marina had to smile at that. “Oh yes. He may seem meek and mild, but he can be annoyingly stubborn when he wants to be.”

“I’m actually surprised he told you as soon as he did.”

“Well, I forced his hand somewhat. Last Friday, after I picked Molly up from daycare, I thought a car was following us. When I got home, I told Joe about it, and that’s when it all came out.”

Nikita sounded subdued. “Was there a car following you?”

Marina shrugged. “To be quite honest, I’m not sure what to think. I may have just imagined it. Nothing unusual has happened since, and that was five days ago.”

She heard Nikita take a deep breath. “Marina, can you let me know if anything else like that happens?”

Marina felt her heartbeat quicken. “Of course.” She walked back through to the kitchen, instinctively seeking out her family. “How worried should I be?”

“To be completely honest with you, I’m not sure. You said nothing’s happened in nearly a week?”

“That’s right.” Marina sat down beside her husband at the kitchen table, slipped an arm around his waist, and hugged him tightly. Joe turned his head to drop a quick kiss on her forehead, then went back to wiping Molly’s sticky hands.

“Well, hopefully there won’t be anything else to worry about, but be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re walking home alone or with Molly. Just to be on the safe side.”

Marina reached across the table, and lovingly brushed her daughter’s unruly hair back from her little face. “I’ll definitely remember that.”

“Good.” Nikita’s voice brightened slightly. “Now, I have some news for your husband.”


~*~*~*~*~


Joe gladly exchanged Molly’s damp face washer for the telephone. “Hello?”

“How are you, Joe?”

“Not bad, considering I’m covered in mashed parsnips.”

There was a startled pause, then a soft chuckle. “Well, hopefully I can take your mind off your grungy state. I have the names of a few people who are interested in seeing your resume. Would you like me to email their details to you?”

Joe felt his mouth open and close, but he didn’t hear any words come out. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Pardon?”

Nikita spoke casually, as though trying to play down the significance of her gesture. “You don’t have to get in touch with them, of course. It’s totally up to you.”

“You’re serious.”

“Definitely.”

He squeezed Marina’s hand, trying not to sound like a teenage boy who’d just been presented with a new video game. “Who? More importantly, how?”

“Two different law firms that are looking to expand their IT divisions. Both reputable firms, I might add.” Nikita paused briefly, as though for dramatic effect. “And I’ve been assured that their Human Resources Managers are prepared to consider your application on its own merits, and not on the testimonial of your last employer.”

Excitement fluttered through him, making him feel as though he was floating two feet above the ground. “Nikita, I don’t know what to say…”

Nikita laughed. “Well, don’t get too gushy on me yet. Counting chickens, and all that. You’ve still got to impress them at the interviews, remember?”

“Yes, of course.” He took a few long breaths, trying to get his thoughts together. It seemed a long time since he’d applied for a job with anything approaching optimism. “When do you think I should get in touch with them?”

“As soon as you get my email.” Nikita sounded more than a little pleased by his reaction. “I believe they’re expecting your call.”

After saying a few more garbled ‘thank yous’ to Nikita, Joe ended the call, and carefully placed the cordless handset on the kitchen table. Marina was watching him, her beautiful hazel eyes filled with both apprehension and hope. “Well?”

If he were capable of carrying a tune, Joe would have burst into song. Instead, he rose to his feet, scooping Marina up out of her chair as he stood up. She let out a very un-Marina-like yelp of surprise, and threw her arms around his neck. “Joseph Duskovic, what are you doing?”

He dropped her onto her feet and gave her an enthusiastic kiss that had her clutching at his shirtfront. When he lifted his head, he grinned at her dazed expression. “I’m counting my chickens before they hatch.”

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Replies:

  • Chapter 76 -- Repost Fairy, 14:24:40 06/21/02 Fri
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