Gabriel had spent the entire time on his phone, typing e-mails and checking messages. I kept telling him I was fine and he could go back to the office, but he stayed--and kept working, without so much as a grunted answer when a question came directly his way.
I finished my tea. "Okay, we should get over to my place--" I looked into Ricky's cup. "Oh, sorry."
He drained his cup in one gulp. "Done."
I got to my feet and turned to Gabriel. "Go back to Chicago. I promise to stay in Cainsville and behave myself until further notice. Okay?"
His jaw twitched. "Are you saying you want me to leave?"
"No," Rose snapped. "She's saying you've been on that goddamned phone since you got here, and you're making her feel like she's imposing."
He looked at me, startled. "I've been working."
"Right," I said. "Exactly my point. You don't need to babysit me. Especially if I'm paying you by the hour."
Ricky turned on Gabriel. "You're billing her?"
"Of course he isn't," Rose said.
Gabriel addressed me. "If I left that impression, I apologize. Basic legal services are covered, as a benefit, under your employee contract."
"Can I speak to you, Gabriel?" Rose said. "In the kitchen, please?"
"It's okay," I said. "We're going."
We hurried into the hall. TC was on the stairs. Before he could escape, Ricky scooped him up and stroked his head. TC flattened his ears and glowered at me as if to say, Fix this.
"He, um, doesn't like being picked up," I said.
"He's just not accustomed to it. I'm going to change that."
He lifted TC toward me. The cat kept his ears flattened, and slitted his eyes, looking like a grumpy little old man. I stifled a laugh, shook my head, and reached for the doorknob. My phone buzzed with a text. It was Gabriel.
We need to speak to Rose.
I replied, I know. But not while Ricky's here.
Tell him to stay at your apartment.
I gritted my teeth, sent back, He's not a dog, and stuffed the phone in my pocket.
"Gabriel's texting you from the parlor?" Ricky said. When I looked surprised, he said, "I can tell who it is by the way you replied. Like you were poking someone with a sharp stick."
I shrugged and grumbled under my breath. We walked out and down the front steps.
"Want to know the trick to dealing with Gabriel?" Ricky said. "Three words. Don't take offense. No matter what he does or what he says. He probably doesn't mean it the way it sounds, and even if he does, he intends no actual offense. You'd know if he did. Now, let's get a coffee."
"We just had tea."
"Which we both gulped so fast we burned holes in our esophagi. What you need is a mocha. Come on."
Ricky started down the sidewalk, TC still in his arms.
"Um, cat?" I said.
"A field trip. He'll love it. We'll get him a saucer of cream."
--