said, stroking his beard for a moment before going on. “I don’t know if you’d be interested, but if you want, I’ll take your case.”
I glanced at Calvin, who lifted his eyebrows in a well-isn’t-this-interesting kind of expression.
“Why? Every lawyer I’ve talked to says it’s a lost cause.”
“Yeah, well.” Trey shifted his shoulders. “I kind of specialize in those. I’m not saying we’d win. I’ve never taken on a huge corporation, so you’d probably be better off with someone who has more experience. But if nobody else will represent you, I will.”
“Wow. That’s . . . That’s incredibly nice of you.” I bit my lip, feeling awkward about asking the next question. “Can I ask how much you’d want for a retainer?”
“How much have you got?” I swallowed hard and Trey grinned. “Just kidding. If we win, I’ll take thirty percent of any damages. If we lose, I’ll only charge you for out-of-pocket expenses—mailing, copying, filing fees, and stuff like that.”
“But why would you do that? You’d basically be volunteering your time. I mean, you know I’ve got almost no chance of winning, right?”
“I know,” he said simply. “But I’m just dumb enough to believe that everybody deserves their day in court. In all honesty, it might be smarter to take the severance. I’ll understand if you do. But if you decide to fight, I’m willing to help.”
He got to his feet and said his good-byes, saying again how sorry he was about Aunt Calpurnia. Calvin’s eyes followed him as he walked away.
“There goes the nicest and worst-dressed lawyer in Charleston.”
I couldn’t argue with that. But he did have nice eyes.
Chapter Ten
You can’t think on an empty stomach,” Calvin had argued. “I am not letting you skip dinner two nights in a row.”
“Honestly, Calvin, I’m not hungry.”
“You will be by the time we get to the restaurant. Trust me.”
He knew me so well. When the server put the appetizers down on the table between us, I realized I was starving.
“So much for dieting. Guess I’ll start my transformation next week. So good,” I said, groaning after taking a bite of fried tomato, topped with a sprinkle of tangy goat cheese and savory-sweet candied pecans.
Poogan’s Porch, known for taking classic southern dishes and kicking them up a notch, is one of the oldest restaurants in downtown Charleston. The two-story Victorian was painted a sunny yellow and had wide piazzas on each floor where diners can people-watch and catch a breeze. But Calvin and I were seated inside, in a dining room with beamed ceilings and wide-planked wooden floors.
“This is amazing,” I said, pointing at the plate with my fork. “New York chefs have no idea how to fry a tomato. I wonder why that is.”
“Not enough lard?” Calvin asked, tipping his head to one side.
“Shut up.” I laughed and took another bite.
Our entrees arrived just as the door of the restaurant opened to admit two women, one older and one younger. Happy Browder was dressed to the nines in a blue St. John knit suit with a white silk scarf at the neck, her attire very much at odds with that of her companion. The younger woman, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, was wearing faded denim shorts, black tennis shoes and black stockings that hit her above the knee, a green-and-black flannel shirt over a black T-shirt adorned with an image of a handprint that said “Talk To The Palm,” and a green knitted beanie on her head, with two long brown braids hanging down. It wasn’t a look that I could have pulled off but I thought she looked darling. Happy didn’t appear to share my opinion.
The girl removed her flannel shirt, revealing a large, colorful tattoo of a dragonfly flitting near a lily that covered most of her forearm. Happy turned toward her. The stormy look in her eyes and twisting of her lips made it clear she was about to snarl an instruction to put that back on right now! But before Happy could speak, she caught sight of me watching the scene. Though it obviously required an effort, she smiled at me and waved. I waved back.
“Don’t look now but we’re about to have company.”
Calvin glanced over his shoulder and saw Happy crossing the room. “Who’s that with her? And why are they coming over here?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s her daughter. And they have to come over. She saw me looking at her and so now they have to come and say hello.”
Calvin gave me