He emerged wearing the jacket of silk and cotton weave, two shades of blue and one of grey. Slate grey gabardine trousers. White shirt with matching grey stripes. Navy tie with grey diamond designs. The saleslady had packed his old clothes in a second bag. He carried those and his other purchases to the Starbucks and treated himself to a hot chocolate and melted cheese sandwich. When it was time, he ordered an Uber and was outside the main entrance when it pulled up.
Celeste was already seated in the waiting room when he entered Roland’s law offices. She was dressed in a rich amber-colored suit of rough silk. She watched him set his shopping bags by the receptionist’s desk and gave him a careful up and down. Then she said merely, “Well now.”
“I’ve lost so much weight.” Colin took the seat next to her. He knew the receptionist was watching them and pitched his voice low. “I never really saw it until just now, buying these clothes.”
“You did good,” Celeste said. “I started to say something yesterday, then decided not to add to your worries.” She leaned back so as to survey him again. “This look, it’s right for you.”
The compliment warmed him. “You look pretty.”
She huffed a quick laugh. “A lady of my size and years, pretty don’t cut it.”
“I don’t know a better word.”
“Well, it’s nice that you said it just the same.” She seemed ready to speak, then stopped herself.
“What is it?”
“Nothing that can’t wait.”
“We’re here, we’re waiting, when could be better than now?”
“Thing is, I’ve got a girl in college and a boy …” She shook her head. “Truth be told, I don’t know what’s going to happen to my son.”
Colin had no idea how to respond.
“I’ve got me some savings, see …”
“You want me to invest for you?”
“Are you making another investment?”
“Any day now. Soon as the stock dips.”
“You explained all that, but I didn’t really understand.”
“You don’t need to. That’s my job.”
She still looked worried. “You think it would be all right with those other people, me putting my money in?”
“Celeste …” He found his throat constricting. The lady had seen him through so much. “Of course it’s okay.”
“You sure about that?”
“After everything you’ve done for me? I only wish I had thought to ask you yesterday.”
Her face crimped with an almost-smile. “You had other things on your mind.”
The receptionist chose that moment to set down her phone and announce, “Mr. Perez will see you now.”
CHAPTER20
Nine days later, Roland drove Colin to Greenville in order to pick up Celeste. Then the three of them traveled on to an upscale strip mall between Rocky Mount and Raleigh. Colin had insisted on Roland billing him for the hours. This was an attorney-client issue. Friendship had to be set aside. Roland had disliked it intensely, but in the end reluctantly agreed.
When he tried the same argument on Celeste, pay her as a consultant, she had threatened to hang up the phone.
The mall was very upscale, with sidewalks fashioned from multicolored paving stones. Integrated planters sprouted a riot of blooms. Storefronts bore signs hanging from metal poles attached to brickwork above the entrances. His father’s place was a double unit, four glass windows in all.
“No use in arriving early,” Roland said. He left the motor running for the AC. Ten o’clock in the morning, the heat and humidity were very intensive. “Let’s run through strategy once more.”
