Chapter 3
The Monday after graduation, Brenda returned to her summer associate job at the criminal defense law firm where she would eventually work full time. It was a congenial atmosphere with a slightly sexist undertone that bordered on misogynistic. The few other women who worked there were kind and friendly, from the receptionist, Corinne, to one of the few women lawyers, an older woman with a hairy chin and thick glasses named Margery.
The partners in the office were middle-aged men, married, and slightly stogie who reminded Brenda of her father. The others were a combination of friendly nerds and cutthroat trial lawyers who looked upon any newbie as a threat. But Brenda Lipinski hired in as a clerk, so they didn’t feel threatened by her, yet.
Her new life would include two features; working during the day, Monday through Friday, and being with Larry Babula the rest of the time. It was a one hundred and eighty degree departure from what she’d imagined her life would be.
That first date cinched it. The sex was indescribable. Desire building from his first touch, with a slight detour during his almost clinical examination of her body, at the finish she was crying out for him.
Kneeling in front of her, he slowly lifted her skirt. The garter belt was pink and lacy, unnecessarily feminine because who else would use such a thing but a woman? Fondling the garters for a while, he ran his fingers under the elastic bands until he reached the legs of her underpants. He looked up at her, smiling.
“No thong?”
“No, no thong,” she said. “My butt is too big.”
Inserting his fingers into the legs of her underpants, he went underneath, and then moved them aside so he could see her. Gasping, Brenda had never allowed such intimacy in any relationship.
“Okay, you have to take these off,” he said, standing up, pulling at the crotch of his trousers.
Taking her hand, Larry led Brenda to his bedroom where he undressed her. She stood in front of him in her little padded bra, full-coverage underpants and garter belt.
“Stay right there,” he said, pulling his shirt over his head and then unbuckling his belt, unzipping, stepping out of his pants. He was wearing sparkling white cotton, utilitarian underwear, and his erection strained at the cloth. Brenda shut her eyes, knowing that very soon that thing would be pressing up against her body. She waited for him to pull them off, but he didn’t, not right away.
“I want to look at you more,” he said, standing in front of her.
Reaching around to her back, he unhooked her bra and pulled the straps down.
“I don’t have much up there,” she said, embarrassed.
Her breasts were virginal, with small pink nipples on little mounds of flesh high on her chest. They didn’t do much for Larry, but he wanted her to be comfortable, so he kissed them, and made a fuss about them for her sake, and it didn’t take long before he found her small breasts alluring and desirable after all.
“Can you leave the garter belt on and take your pants off?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, giggling at his use of the word pants to describe the lacey panties she wore. “I’ll have to detach the nylons.”
He nodded and she did as he asked, and soon she was standing naked except for the belt and stockings.
“You don’t shave,” he noted, pointing to her blonde triangle. “And you’re a natural blonde.”
She’d discovered that his narrative about her body was having a negative effect on her desire for him.
“Do you like it shaved?” she asked, wishing he’d stop talking.
“I do, but I’ll do it for you,” he said, smiling. “Now turn around.”
Cringing, she did as he said. Larry sat on the edge of his bed and smoothed her buttocks with his hands. “You have a nice ass,” he said, reaching up to unhook her garter belt. “Now take this off and I’ll shave you.”
She wanted to protest, but knew it was because she was embarrassed, not that she didn’t want him to do it. So he led her to the bathroom and lifted her in the tub. Turning the water on to warm, he got out his razor and even shaving crème.
Brenda leaned back and laughed. “I can’t believe we’re doing this on the first date,” she said, shaking her head.
“It’s the best time to do it,” he said, smiling.
He knelt down at the side of the tub and reached for her knees. “Bring them up,” he said in a low voice, and she began to shake. “Are you okay?”
“I’m nervous,” she said, not adding that his touch was making her crazy after all, the switch from discomfort to desire complete.
“Just relax,” he whispered.
Spraying her off with warm water, he lathered between her legs with shaving crème and began the process of shaving, adding strokes and probing that succeeded in Brenda forgetting to be embarrassed. Then he motioned for her to flip on her side, and a new wave of heat pulsed through her body as he shaved her backside, the sensation amazing to her.
“How am I going to keep this up?” she said. “I can’t see back there to shave.”
“I’ll be your barber,” he said, making her laugh.
Handing her a towel, he helped her out of the tub. Drying off, she realized as embarrassed as she was, her body had responded and she was as ready as she’d ever be.
“Now it’s my turn,” she said, holding on to him.
“You want to shave me?” he asked.
“I want to see you,” she answered, taking his hand.
They moved back to the bed and she sat down while he stood in front of her. Looking up at him, Brenda reached for the elastic of his underpants, Larry smiling in anticipation. Slowly pulling them down, she hadn’t decided what she was going to do once it was uncovered, but she wanted to have the upper hand and the best way to do that was to take it in her mouth. He was big, not huge, but sizable, and she was grateful for that. It was the first time she was ever eye to eye with a guy’s balls, too. They had been neglected in her prior repertoire, but for Larry, she’d make an exception, proceeding to do things to him that she heretofore had not done to anyone. His response was priceless, she even wondered if he was faking it a little bit, it was so theatric, words of love spoken in Polish with grunts of pleasure that had to be authentic.
“Well, this was a first for me in several ways,” she said afterward. “I’ve never been shaved by a man and I’ve never done that to a man.”
Moaning, he lay down and pulled her over on top of him. “This is where I want you,” he said, sliding inside her. “Right here, for the rest of my life.”
***
In September, the firm hired Terry Kovac who would become Brenda’s lifetime friend. The minute they laid eyes on each other, they bonded.
“Have a drink with me after work,” Terry said.
They went to a local pub that first day, sharing the intimate details of their lives like long-lost friends.
“Are you going to clerk first?” Brenda asked, sliding onto the bar stool.
“A Guinness,” Terry told the bartender.
“Me, too,” Brenda added.
“No, I’m jumping right in,” Terry answered Brenda. “I clerked for a circuit court judge during the summer and I’m ready to be on my own now. What about you?”
“I’m not ready,” she said. “They offered me a clerk position, and I jumped at it.”
“That’s okay,” Terry said, holding her glass up. “You’ll know when you’re ready.”
“Will I?” Brenda asked. “I can’t believe I passed the bar, that’s how not ready I am.”
“You’ll know,” Terry said, confident. “Trust me.”
“All I want to do right now is keep house for my boyfriend,” Brenda confided. “Never in a million years would I believe I’d say such a thing. I’m wondering if the relationship isn’t responsible for the sudden lack of self-confidence.”
“No offense but keeping house for a guy is the last thing I ever want to do,” Terry said, trying not to snarl.
“When you meet the right guy…” Brenda singsonged, smiling. “I’m nesting. I want to bake bread and hang curtains.”
Looking at Brenda carefully, Terry wondered if she lacked a homemaking gene. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve never even had a serious boyfriend.”
“Not even in high school?” Brenda asked, feeling sad for her new friend.
“I went to Girls’ High, so especially not high school. Not a boyfriend in undergrad, and especially not in law school. No one was vaguely interested and I can’t say I was interested in anyone.”
“I have someone for you!” Brenda cried, slapping her thigh. “He’s a co-worker of my boyfriend. He’s so much fun when we’re with him, and easy on the eyes, too.”
“What’s your boyfriend do?” Terry asked, worried her snobbery was showing.
“He’s an ER doc,” she said, smiling proudly. “He loves it that I’m an attorney. He said he never wanted to date a girl who’s smarter than he is, but since I’m fifteen years younger…”
“Ha! Got it. The age difference balances the education,” Terry replied. How bad could a doctor be? “He sounds like a good guy.”
“He is. Anyway, let me know if you want to meet Arvin. That’s the co-worker’s name.”
“What can it hurt? Sure, I’ll meet him,” Terry replied. “I’ll have to come back downtown. I still live with Mommy and Daddy up in the northeast.”
“Oh no,” Brenda replied, laughing. “That might be putting a crimp in your dating life.”
“I’m sure it is,” Terry sighed. “But I’m so comfortable there. I haven’t met a guy who’s worth leaving the nest for. Anyway, I’m saving up to buy a place in Mount Airy.”
“Mount Airy? Why on earth up there? You might as well move out of the city,” Brenda said, wrinkling her nose.
“I love it up there,” Terry said, her eyes shining with excitement. “It’s like a different place, but still in town.”
“As soon as I can I’m moving right here, within walking distance of the office,” Brenda said, stretching. “I’ll talk to Larry tonight about fixing you up. We’re not living together; my father would have a fit. But we still see each other every night.”
“I guess I’d better get going,” Terry said, stifling a yawn. “I take the subway home and I don’t like to be on it too late.”
“Yikes, good luck,” Brenda said, frowning. “Be careful.”
“It’s fine,” Terry said, reaching for her briefcase. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Thanks for the warm welcome, too.”
They parted ways, Terry walked to the subway entrance and Brenda waited for the crosstown bus. Taking the bus helped Brenda to decompress after a hectic day. Her law school roommates had moved out of the apartment and she was living there alone now. The debate over making it her own home after her roommates had left months before was stalled. She didn’t need to live close to Penn since graduating, but it was convenient for Larry, who lived within walking distance of her apartment and the hospital.
A hint of autumn was in the air, the light at an angle it only achieved in late September. Prone to melancholy, the atmosphere would do it for her if she wasn’t careful; the temperature so perfect it was undetectable, the low, pearly light at dusk, an almost indiscernible wind rattling the few leaves that had begun their transformation. Sliding the key into the lock, the doorknob turned with ease. The hallway was dark, but a light was on in her apartment. Tonight the space was a little depressing, a student’s room with shabby furniture and cheap artwork. She was ready for a real home, but didn’t want to make any moves that would put pressure on Larry. If she moved into Center City, Larry might use it as an excuse not to see her as often as he did. They hadn’t talked seriously about a future, but she hoped he felt the same way she did. They spent every free minute together and she was afraid he could ostensibly carry on like this forever.
Of one thing Brenda was certain, soon she planned on wearing a white lace wedding dress to walk down the aisle of Saint Brigid Polish Catholic Church, with Larry waiting at the altar.
***
On the subway headed north, Terry closed her eyes, forbidding the events of the day to do more than make a perfunctory entrance. The first day on the job was filled with activity, meeting the other lawyers, the support staff, and trying to navigate the politics of the office. She would not allow herself to dwell on every word spoken, or to focus on innuendo.
Unlike Brenda, autumn was her favorite time of year, and tonight there was a hint of it in the air. That she was actually working at her dream job during the most wonderful time of the year made her happy.
Although the firm was the most highly sought after in the city - its defense history well-known, and those charged with criminal offenses who had the money to spend on defense prayed their cases would be accepted - its history included several in-house sexual harassment cases settled out of court, and a known sexist dress code and pay scale. In spite of that, Terry wanted to work there, to make a name for herself, and to change the system if she could, by becoming a partner. From day one, that was her goal.
Taking the stairs up to the street, the first sign of exhaustion setting in, she promised to bring sneakers to change into from now on; high heels, a requirement in the office were too difficult to walk in after standing all day.
The routine at home hadn’t varied since graduation. Elizabeth Kovac, Terry’s mother, had a home-cooked meal on the table ready at six. Her father, Harry, newly retired, would be waiting at the door for Terry’s return. Today was her first day at work; like her first day at kindergarten, her parents were both up at the crack of dawn, breakfast made, coffee poured, even a lunch bag prepared, more tongue in cheek than anything else.
“I love you two,” she said, laughing.
Now, coming home, tired, seeing her father waiting for her brought tears to her eyes. As much as she needed to be out on her own, she would miss the daily interaction with her mom and dad.
“Do you want to change before dinner?” Elizabeth asked.
“Do I have time?”
“Of course,” she answered, patting her daughter’s back. “All the time in the world. Meatloaf tonight.”
Monday night, meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Tuesday, spaghetti. Wednesday, Salisbury steak. Thursday, roast chicken. Friday, shrimp scampi. Saturday, pizza. Sunday, in honor of Harry’s Jewish heritage, brisket. The routine never varied, and Terry loved it, promising herself that if she ever had a family of her own, doubtful, but possible, she’d follow her mother’s prescribed menu. The conversation with Brenda about homemaking reminded Terry that those things could be done for oneself. She was worth cooking for, even if she never got married.
Sitting around the table in sweatpants and a T-shirt, dinner was a companionable, relaxing time, as it always had been. “I love being here with you guys,” she said. “This is so nice and peaceful.”
“Coffee?” Elizabeth asked, holding the pot. “I have apple pie, too.”
“Sure,” Terry said, “Although I shouldn’t. Tonight I need to get more than an hour of sleep.”
“Are you going to move downtown?” Harry asked.
“Harry!” Elizabeth gasped.
“I only ask because that busybody across the street said now that Terry’s working in Center City, she’ll probably move.”
“Are you going to move?” Elizabeth asked her, shocked.
“Eventually,” Terry answered. “But not to Center City. I want to live in Mount Airy.”
“Mount Airy!” they echoed, distaste clear on their faces. “Why Mount Airy?”
“I love it there,” she said, dreamily. “I hope you’ll visit me.”
“Of course we’ll visit you,” Elizabeth said, kicking Harry under the table. “When do you think you’ll start looking?”
“I need to save some money first,” she said. “Thanks for letting me stay here, by the way.”
“I’d have charged you rent if I knew that was where your money was going to end up,” Harry said.
Terry stood and bent over to kiss his forehead. “Oh Dad, you’ll love it, just wait and see.”
“It’ll prevent the drop-in, that’s for sure,” Harry said.
“Bingo!” Elizabeth shouted, laughing.
“Now I just have to find the right place. I want it to be in a safe area…”
“Good luck with that,” Harry said.
“…and with a view,” she continued, ignoring him. “A view is key. So an upper floor, facing south.”
“It sounds so romantic,” Elizabeth said, putting a slice of apple pie down on the table in front of Terry.
“In a house, too, not an apartment building.”
“Won’t that be hard to find?” Harry asked, forgetting to be sarcastic for a moment.
“It might take some doing. But I read those big old Victorians are being subdivided into condos all the time and that’s what I want.”
“Daddy and I can give you the down payment,” Elizabeth said, with Harry nodding in agreement.
“Oh, I couldn’t,” Terry said.
“You’ll get it when we die,” Harry said. “I’d rather see you safe and housed now, when I have some control over where you’ll be.”
“Gotcha,” Terry said, laughing.
So the hunt began and ended with the first place she found, a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on a busy street, a bus stop at the front stoop, with a view all the way to Alden Park Manor, a beautiful prewar apartment building halfway to Center City.
She called Brenda as soon as she made the offer. “Are you sitting down?”
“Oh my God, you found a place!” Brenda cried.
“I did! I can’t wait to show you. It’s exactly where I wanted to be, about two blocks from the train into town.”
“Now I have to find a place,” Brenda stated with determination. “With you in a grown-up house, I can’t stay in this dorm apartment anymore.”
“Honey, it’s not a dorm. You just need to fix it up,” Terry said.
“Forget it. Can you come down this weekend? I’m ready to look and Sunday is the day for open houses in Philadelphia.”
“Shouldn’t you ask Larry to go?” Terry asked gently.
“I could. Larry and Arvin both and we can make a date of it.”
“Oh, Arvin,” Terry laughed. “He’s hopeless.”
Arvin was just as Brenda had described him, fun, and good looking. But he didn’t have an ounce of commitment for Terry in him, regularly standing her up, forgetting to call her when he said he would, and generally being a nuisance in spite of insisting she stay monogamous. But the trade-off was some of the most memorable nights she’d ever had. He was fun, that much was true.
Having a boyfriend who really wasn’t gave Terry the time she needed to throw herself completely into her job, and it wouldn’t be long before she would be trying difficult cases on her own.