Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela by Felicia Watson

loved needs only to
    be seen.
    —John Dryden

    LATE Tuesday morning, Nick had just finished making a pot of coffee
    when Trudy, loaded down with file folders, a coffee cup dangling from
    two fingers, cruised into the break room. While aiming a cheery smile
    at Nick, she thumped the cup down on the counter and started shuffling
    through the folders. ―Good morning.‖ With her chin, she pointed to
    Nick‘s freshly filled mug. ―How many cups is that?‖
    ―Who keeps count?‖ shrugged Nick as he held the pot over
    Trudy‘s mug. ―Want some?‖
    ―Of course. Listen, I‘m glad I ran into you. I have two new cases
    for you.‖ It took monumental effort for Nick to contain an audible
    groan; apparently the sound effect was unnecessary, since Trudy could
    read either his mind or face. ―I know how swamped you are, but—‖
    ―But, that‘s the way it is around here, you don‘t need to tell me.‖
    He accepted the folders and started flipping through the first one.
    ―Marta going to be a resident?‖ he absentmindedly confirmed.
    ―Yes.‖
    ―The extra work wouldn‘t be so bad, but I just decided to add
    another finance module; I think the group‘s getting too big to be
    effective.‖ He scanned the contents of the second folder and noted the
    home address of the new client. Hmm, looks like we have a high-rent
    abuser here…. ―Mt. Lebanon, huh?‖
    ―Yep. Not the first client we‘ve had from there.‖
    ―Yeah, I know. And I‘ll bet anything Mr. Palmer has a high-
    priced lawyer and tons of connections.‖
    68
    Felicia Watson

    ―You‘re probably right. But let‘s worry about Sheila Palmer right
    now, and we‘ll worry about what we can do about Dean Palmer later.
    Okay?‖
    ―Okay. Where‘s Sheila living now?‖
    ―She moved in with a cousin. I spoke with her yesterday, and
    while her physical condition is relatively good, emotionally she‘s very
    fragile. I couldn‘t even get out of her what triggered the final break. I
    think she‘s going to need extensive counseling, a few sessions a week
    to start. You up for this?‖
    Nick was already mentally adjusting his schedule. ―Absolutely.‖
    ―Now, admit it. Aren‘t you glad you‘re only seeing Norah
    Seebold once a month?‖
    ―Yes… and no. Sometimes I think….‖ Nick took a sip of his
    coffee to help him find words for his nebulous thoughts, but nothing
    came. ―I don‘t know.‖
    Trudy patted his arm sympathetically. ―It‘s hard to let go of some
    of them, I understand. But according to your last report, she‘s ready,
    and there are others now who need you more.‖
    Biting his lip as though it were the qualms he held, Nick nodded.
    ―Okay, you‘re right. I‘ll get in touch with Marta and Sheila this
    afternoon, get initial interviews set up for both.‖ He gulped more
    coffee, then quirked an eyebrow at Trudy. ―You can‘t say I don‘t earn
    my money.‖
    Her red nails clicked rhythmically against her mug while she
    teased back, ―Really? I had just started wondering if we were paying
    you too much.‖
    ―Where the hell did you get that idea?‖
    ―Rumor has it that you just bought a sports car from Dave
    Acken….‖
    ―Geez, you hear everything .‖
    ―Not me, my husband. Since Dave‘s heart problems are still
    keeping him away from his shop, The Liberty Grill has become his
    home base. So you did buy a classic car?‖

    Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela
    69

    Nick laughed as he countered, ―Classic wreck is more like it. It
    barely runs.‖
    ―And you‘re going to do what with it?‖
    ―Restore it. I hope.‖
    ―All by yourself?‖
    ―No. I got….‖ Nick found himself tripping over Logan‘s name,
    and he swiftly substituted, ―…a guy to help me. Someone who‘s done it
    before.‖
    ―That‘s good. But I never knew you were such a motorhead.‖
    ―You mean you can‘t tell by the ultra-sleek vehicle I‘m in now?‖
    While Trudy snorted in amusement, Nick continued, ―I‘m not… or