Dumplings

“I had an interesting visit with a FORMER client this morning…Travis McGee.”

“Travis came to see you?” Toni asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, well I called him in I was handling his case with Tee. We almost came to blows and probably would have if his man hadn’t stepped in and pulled the son-of-bitch out of my office.”

“Oh Richie, how awful, what was it about?”

“You.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” he reached in the fridge for a beer, “what ya cooking?”

“Chicken and dumplings…Richie there was never anything between us I didn’t feel that way about him, not really.”

“So it was all on his side is that what you’re saying?”

“Well…yes, I liked him but not…not enough do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I think so,” he rolled his eyes and kissed her quickly and sat at the table while she dropped dumplings in the broth.

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about this, past was past.”

“You never told me you were staying out at his place I thought you were at your Dad’s”

“I stayed two nights in the guest house…by myself,” her voice rose a bit

“We aren’t going to fight about it, simmer down, I just wondered why you didn’t tell me.”

“You never asked and besides we said we weren’t going to talk about it…ever again and here you are talking about it.”

“You know what I think, I think you had a thing for him, probably still do,” he ducked but not quite quick enough a big glob of dumpling batter hit him on top of his head. “Jesus Toni!”

“Now you know what I think.” She plopped the next dumpling into the broth.