have some ideas that we’ll explore.”
“What makes you think I was going to apologize?”
“Because,” Jake grinned at me, “you like me. You really do.”
“Jeez, you sound like Sally Field.” I looked inquisitively at his ruddy face. “So – we’re okay? No hard feelings?”
Jake palmed his thumb and pinky while holding up his hand. “Scout’s honor.”
“Were you a scout?”
“No, but I’m always prepared.” He gave me a cheesy grin. “We’re fine. I never take anything you say personally any-o-how. Now let’s stop this touchy-feely stuff before I begin to cry. You cry enough for the both of us.”
Jumping Jehosaphat, I thought, what a crummy morning. Feeling like a cranky old biddy, I did what I was told – for once.
8
Matt and Shaneika were seated very solemnly at my Nakashima table with their expensive briefcases open and files spilling out. Shaneika put on her lavender reading glasses, which clashed with her short red dreadlocks. I guess the platinum crew cut wasn’t working for her anymore. Both were doing their best not to stare at me.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” I asked.
“No, thank you,” answered Matt, flipping his briefcase open and placing it between us.
“No, thanks,” murmured Shaneika, hiding behind some manila folders and glancing furtively in my direction.
“Okay, everyone put down the files and folders and take a good gander. Really, I mean it. I’m open for inspection.”
Slowly two pairs of curious eyes, one a languid dark blue, the other a bright hazel, slid up my torso and finally rested on my face. Shaneika’s eyes widened while Matt’s remained passive.
“It is what it is. What do you think?” I asked, keeping my voice light.
“It’s amazing,” replied Shaneika. “When I saw you in Key West, you were still pretty swollen and black-blue. You look great. I mean, not just how they put you back together but great, really good, pretty even. Matt, doesn’t she look awesome? Who would have thought after they pulled you up from that ledge that they could have repaired the damage to . . .”
“I don’t want to talk about that night – ever. Josiah, you look the same,” Matt said.
“I do? I thought I look better, even younger. Shaneika, don’t you think I look younger?”
“Yes, now that you mention it, you do look younger.” Shaneika cocked her head in amazement. “I think you look fantastic. You really got this Scandinavian look going for you.” She looked over at Matt. “You need to quit being so traumatized, Matt. Josiah looks . . . ”
“Put together?” I remarked.
Matt opened his notebook. “Let’s move on to why we’re here. Shaneika, you start with the lawsuit and I’ll finish on the farm.”
Shaneika shot Matt a protesting look and then raised an eyebrow at me. “Okay. The city has offered us 1.2 million to be paid in four yearly payments.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“What are my medical bills up to now, including everything?”
“You’re getting close to $900,000.”
Jake, who was sitting behind me, let out a long low whistle.
“Does that include the doctors, house in Key West, the RV rental and Jake?”
“Everything up to two weeks ago. That’s when I got the last invoices.”
I swiveled towards Jake. “How many more months of recovery do I have?”
“For an accident like yours, I would say you’ve got another year to go. You will probably need some more minor surgery. After that, it’s as good as it’s going to get.”
“Will I recover 100 percent?”
Jake shook his head.
“What about the limp and the loss of hearing?”
“I’m not your primary doctor, but I would say these injuries are permanent.”
“Might I have complications in the future?”
“Yes, but it is hard to predict which system might be affected first. Anything could blow up – stroke, renal failure. Your body could even reject the new hip prosthesis and phosphocalcic ceramic bone replacement. I know this
“What makes you think I was going to apologize?”
“Because,” Jake grinned at me, “you like me. You really do.”
“Jeez, you sound like Sally Field.” I looked inquisitively at his ruddy face. “So – we’re okay? No hard feelings?”
Jake palmed his thumb and pinky while holding up his hand. “Scout’s honor.”
“Were you a scout?”
“No, but I’m always prepared.” He gave me a cheesy grin. “We’re fine. I never take anything you say personally any-o-how. Now let’s stop this touchy-feely stuff before I begin to cry. You cry enough for the both of us.”
Jumping Jehosaphat, I thought, what a crummy morning. Feeling like a cranky old biddy, I did what I was told – for once.
8
Matt and Shaneika were seated very solemnly at my Nakashima table with their expensive briefcases open and files spilling out. Shaneika put on her lavender reading glasses, which clashed with her short red dreadlocks. I guess the platinum crew cut wasn’t working for her anymore. Both were doing their best not to stare at me.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” I asked.
“No, thank you,” answered Matt, flipping his briefcase open and placing it between us.
“No, thanks,” murmured Shaneika, hiding behind some manila folders and glancing furtively in my direction.
“Okay, everyone put down the files and folders and take a good gander. Really, I mean it. I’m open for inspection.”
Slowly two pairs of curious eyes, one a languid dark blue, the other a bright hazel, slid up my torso and finally rested on my face. Shaneika’s eyes widened while Matt’s remained passive.
“It is what it is. What do you think?” I asked, keeping my voice light.
“It’s amazing,” replied Shaneika. “When I saw you in Key West, you were still pretty swollen and black-blue. You look great. I mean, not just how they put you back together but great, really good, pretty even. Matt, doesn’t she look awesome? Who would have thought after they pulled you up from that ledge that they could have repaired the damage to . . .”
“I don’t want to talk about that night – ever. Josiah, you look the same,” Matt said.
“I do? I thought I look better, even younger. Shaneika, don’t you think I look younger?”
“Yes, now that you mention it, you do look younger.” Shaneika cocked her head in amazement. “I think you look fantastic. You really got this Scandinavian look going for you.” She looked over at Matt. “You need to quit being so traumatized, Matt. Josiah looks . . . ”
“Put together?” I remarked.
Matt opened his notebook. “Let’s move on to why we’re here. Shaneika, you start with the lawsuit and I’ll finish on the farm.”
Shaneika shot Matt a protesting look and then raised an eyebrow at me. “Okay. The city has offered us 1.2 million to be paid in four yearly payments.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“What are my medical bills up to now, including everything?”
“You’re getting close to $900,000.”
Jake, who was sitting behind me, let out a long low whistle.
“Does that include the doctors, house in Key West, the RV rental and Jake?”
“Everything up to two weeks ago. That’s when I got the last invoices.”
I swiveled towards Jake. “How many more months of recovery do I have?”
“For an accident like yours, I would say you’ve got another year to go. You will probably need some more minor surgery. After that, it’s as good as it’s going to get.”
“Will I recover 100 percent?”
Jake shook his head.
“What about the limp and the loss of hearing?”
“I’m not your primary doctor, but I would say these injuries are permanent.”
“Might I have complications in the future?”
“Yes, but it is hard to predict which system might be affected first. Anything could blow up – stroke, renal failure. Your body could even reject the new hip prosthesis and phosphocalcic ceramic bone replacement. I know this
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