Waiting for Cary Grant by Mary Matthews Read Free Book Online Page A

from their trip around the world, his Manhattan penthouse will be ready for them. And if she’s not happy with his penthouse, she can have any other one in New York. It’s so romantic. That’s why I’m not married. I’m waiting for this.” Lana gestured at Cary Grant on the screen.
    “You’re waiting for Cary Grant?!” Her Mom’s shopping bags clanked on the floor. She’d brought the cats their favorite tuna. They eagerly climbed in the first bag as if this time they could open it without a can opener. Or a human.
    “Keep waiting, Lana. You could create a club. The Waiting for Cary Grant Club. And they can put it on your tombstone. Because you’ll die waiting.”
    “Don’t be so negative.”
    “I just want you to be realistic. We all wanted Cary Grant. If I’d waited for Cary Grant, you wouldn’t be here today.”
    “How do you know someone like Cary Grant isn’t just around the corner?” Lana asked, reluctantly turning away from the screen.
    “Well, he might be just around the corner or close to it but you’ll never know because you never leave the house.”
    “Everyone I meet just seems to repulse me somehow.” That wasn’t entirely true. There was someone. But she couldn’t remember Cary ever being a lawyer.
    “There are so many dating services. You should be married. I should have grandkids. Before I’m too old.” Natalie clutched her chest like she was having a heart attack.
    “Well if I have to date for you to have grandkids, forget it.” Lana said.

Chapter Fifteen
    “I ’m not surprised Harlan Michaels won the motion to take Adam Banks’ deposition in France. I think there’s a conspiracy of judges against me in this town.”
    Stephanie couldn’t think of what to say. She’d heard once that even paranoids have enemies. Maybe in Mel’s case it was true.
    “You’re going to France.” He opened a desk drawer.
    “On Air France.” He leered.
    “I’m going to tell you something, Stephanie. European airlines still hire hot flight attendants. While our own country’s standards go to hell. Flight attendants aren’t even attractive anymore! Their uniforms go up to size twenty!” He snapped a paper clip in two.
    Stephanie had never heard him sound so impassioned. At last a cause Mel thought was worth fighting for, the good looking flight attendant.
    “And I’m not just talking about looking at these hags, Stephanie. At two-hundred pounds, they’re fucking safety hazards. What if there’s an emergency, and one gets stuck in the chute? Or the toilet?” Melvin shook his head.
    “So, what did you argue in opposition to Michaels’ motion?”
    She looked at the stack of resumes on his desk. Completely unsolicited, several arrived each day. She’d never find another job.
    “Judge Franklin asked Stanworth if he’d promised to produce the deponent and—”
    “—the judges favor plaintiffs’ lawyers. Michaels always gets his way. If I can’t convince a judge, you sure as hell can’t.” Melvin waved his hand.
    “There’s a rumor about him and a Victoria’s Secret Model. Have you heard anything, Stephanie?”
    “No.”
    “It’s probably just happening on the Internet.” Melvin smirked.
    “Next time, I see him with a laptop, I’ll notice if he’s typing with one hand. Au Revoir, Mel.”

Chapter Sixteen
    T he coffee smelled richly sensual. In France, ordinary smells became sublime. On the quiet clay terrace, looking at fields of lavender, Stephanie sipped coffee from a bright yellow cup. The hotel had flawless gardens.
    Forget the deposition. The mountains that inspired Cezanne and Van Gogh stood regal in the distance. Nature, at its most exquisite, looked back at her. She never wanted to leave this terrace. And the best part came when they gave her the bill. Just a swipe of her company card, and it was taken away. Corporate life came easy.
    Then she remembered Harlan. He was paying his own bill. He’d put his own money into this case. And he might never get it