THE SUITOR

by David Klein

Below is the first chapter. Want the full novel? Get your copy of The Suitor here.

ART

Art didn’t love the idea of Anna spending the summer in Porter Lake, but he kept this opinion to himself.

“I need to do something totally different this year,” Anna said.

She had arrived home last night after finishing her last semester of college, woke up early this morning, and ambushed her parents with the news of her plans.

“We don’t want to do anything related to school or career,” Anna said. She and her friend, Kristen, from Colgate. They were in on this together.

“What are Kristen’s plans after graduation?” Deb asked.

The three of them sat at the kitchen counter, drinking coffee. Art was dressed and ready to leave for work. His first meeting started in forty-five minutes.

“I just said—Kristen and I are going to Porter Lake together. When summer’s over she’s returning to Hamilton. She has a position in the admissions office as a recruiter.”

“Is she still seeing that professor?”

“They’re going to live together now that Kristen is graduating,” Anna said. “But that’s in the fall. We both need this summer as a way to recharge. Especially me. We want to get away and swim and relax and avoid stress for a few months.”

Deb drew in her lips the way she did when working out an equation. “It’s definitely been a challenging year. There’s no question of that. Maybe some downtime before law school starts is a good idea.”

Art stiffened at Deb’s suggestion. They often talked about needing to be on the same page when it came to Anna, providing a united, consistent, and stable presence for their daughter, but they hadn’t time to work out their position on Anna’s intentions for the summer.

“Not just downtime,” Anna said. “We’re going to work, too.”

“I would hope so,” Deb said.

“What kind of work can you do in Porter Lake?” Art asked, finally joining the conversation.

“It’s a resort town,” Anna said. “We’ll find jobs there or in Lake Placid.”

“Seasonal, low-paying work. Do you think you’ll like that?” Art said.

“We’ll find out. But whatever we do, it’s only for the summer.”

Art shrugged, as if none of this were consequential. “If that’s what you want to do, we’re fine with it,” he said, aligning with what Deb had said.

Although, there was one other thing to consider: Anna, you’ve met Judge Kohler from the appellate court? Well, coincidentally, Art and Sam Kohler had been in line together at the coffee kiosk, and the judge made a point of asking how Anna was doing, and Art saw an opportunity to put in a good word for his daughter. Now there’s an internship at the appellate court lined up for Anna—if she wants it.

“Working for Judge Kohler?”

“It would be a gem on your resume.”

“That was so nice of him to offer,” Anna said. “But I just can’t right now. I can’t. I already got into Columbia. My resume deserves a break and so do I.”

The last two summers, Anna had worked minimal-pay internships, one at the U.S. Attorneys’ office, and last year at a private law practice.

“I can use this summer to make sure I’m rested and ready when the semester starts,” Anna said.

Art believed interning at the court was a better way of preparing for law school. Anna had already dropped hints that Columbia would be extremely stressful for her.

Of course it would be stressful—it was law school. But if Anna could manage her anxiety, as she had this past year while finishing at Colgate, she’d be able to handle the rigors of Columbia. Art had managed law school well enough in his day, and he hadn’t near Anna’s academic record or test scores.

“It’s a great opportunity, but I understand if you’re not up for it,” Art said.

“I wish you had asked me first.”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. We were just standing there chatting. But don’t worry, I’ll think of something to tell Judge Kohler.”  

“You don’t have to tell him anything,” Anna said, cat-quick in her response. “I’ll take care of it. I want to at least thank him for considering me. I can tell him that you didn’t know I’d already made other commitments.”

Clever girl, their Anna, in so many ways. She saw how to make a positive impression on Sam Kohler while turning down a prime internship—and still getting to do what she wanted this summer. Ninety percent of young people wouldn’t know how to successfully navigate the situation she just breezed through.

They shouldn’t worry so much about her. She’ll make an excellent attorney someday.

Art never once pushed her toward the law. She came to the decision on her own. The extent of Art’s involvement, other than bringing Anna to several take-your-daughter-to-work days, was answering her questions and explaining the variety of career options, the myriad types of clients you can encounter—all of them demanding, all of them in need if they’re speaking to an attorney—and about a good attorney’s ability to help them, not only in a legal manner, but in easing their fears, because one thing an attorney always had to remember was that behind every legal transaction, embedded in every contract and agreement, and driving every defense strategy, was an element of client distress. Art worked as a senior partner in a law firm that negotiated mergers and acquisitions among hospitals and physician practices, where the fears centered around financial control, job security, and adhering to regulatory requirements, yet his clients were every bit as anxious as the man on trial for murder.

But Art could never speak this way to Anna now, not about client fears.

Anna had said she wanted to aid women who were underrepresented and unheard—immigrants and refugees, the poor, transgender women, the domestically battered and abandoned. He wondered if she was still interested in such a client base, but again, they weren’t talking about that now or looking that far ahead.

So, okay. If she had her heart set on spending the summer in Porter Lake with her slutty friend (no, don’t use that word, you stupid ape; free-spirited is what you mean), then that’s what Anna should do. It was her decision. She was an adult, and once your children became adults—even long before then—you had little control over them, and could not steer them away from mistakes. Most times, all you could do is help clean up the mess after the shit hit the fan. At least that kind of dirty work shouldn’t be required here. A summer living in Porter Lake and working next door in Lake Placid sounded fairly tame.

“When are you thinking of going up?” Deb asked.

“Right after graduation. We have to be out of our apartment by the fifteenth.”

They were all returning to Colgate for commencement next weekend, and Art will get choked-up watching Anna receive her diploma. Then he and Deb were heading to Europe for a five-week odyssey through England, France, Germany, and Switzerland to celebrate their thirty-fifth anniversary. It will be their longest vacation ever, made possible by Deb declining to teach Calc II for the summer session and Art calling in favors from colleagues to cover his clients at the firm. Art had already penciled in Anna to house-sit for them while she interned in Albany at the appellate court, but now the Bethlehem house would sit empty for a month, although the house in Porter Lake wouldn’t.

As if Anna were tuning into his thoughts, she said, “We were wondering about staying at the house. If that’s okay with you. We could save money that way.”

“Of course you can stay there,” Deb said. “That’s why we have it. MJ will probably come up for a week, though. She usually does. So coordinate with her.”

“That would be great.” Anna looked at Art. “What’s that face for?”

“No face.”

“You did. You grimaced.”

“I wrenched a muscle in my back,” Art said. “It’s sore when I move the wrong way. But I’m fine with the house. Really. Mom’s right. It only makes sense that you stay there.”

They’d owned the waterfront property on Porter Lake adjacent to the village of Lake Placid and its larger lake since MJ was born—a lavish gift from Margaret, who could afford to fulfill her son’s dream of having a lake house in the Adirondacks. When the girls were young and Deb not working, they would spend most of the summer up there, with Art joining them on weekends. Now that Deb was teaching again at the university they haven’t gone up as much the past few summers. And they’d both given up downhill skiing, so last winter they used the house only once, just after New Year’s for a weekend getaway, and this summer they were going to be in Europe for a month. They’d talked about selling the property, but Deb wanted to hang onto it for Anna and MJ, and for the grandkids, Dylan and Sophie, and the grandkids still to come. There were a lot of precious family memories created in Porter Lake—and a few memories Art wished he could forget.

He contracted now with a management company that maintained the property and arranged short-term rentals. He’d have to call to have the listing removed, and any deposits from renters returned.

He got up to clear their cups and he felt a pinch deep inside. He’d like to say he injured himself serving an ace out wide on the deuce court or driving a golf ball three-hundred yards down the fairway, but he wasn’t that level of athlete. All he’d done was reach to turn off a floor lamp yesterday and he felt a sudden tug that hasn’t gone away. Last night, after the muscle tweak, he was uncomfortable in bed, with the pain creeping into his shoulder and chest. He’d slept poorly and was bleary this morning, and Anna’s summer plan wasn’t helping his mood.

“I’ll give you the number of Northern Property,” Art said. “Tell them when you’re coming and they’ll send you a code for the lock.”

“I still have a key.”

“We’ve gone to a programmed lock with all the renting.” He drew in a long, careful breath. He should call his massage therapist; she’d be able to rub the knot away. “Unless you change your mind and want to work for Judge Kohler. He’d be a great mentor. It’s totally up to you.”

“I’m not changing my mind,” Anna said. “But I appreciate you trying to help me.”

The appellate court—that would be a safe place to work. There were armed guards at the entrances. There were security checkpoints and metal scanners. He wondered if he should point this out to her. Better not.

But why shouldn’t he have advocated for Anna with Sam Kohler? Art was a father who saw an opportunity to help his child. That’s what parents do—it’s called putting your loved ones first, above all others, at all times. He’d do anything for his daughter. Both daughters. You don’t like it? Sue him.

David Klein

Published novelist, creative writer, journalist, avid reader, discriminating screen watcher.

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