[2013] Consequential Damages Read online

  “Yeah, right,” said Jake, embarrassed, but appreciating the compliment. He changed the subject quickly. “Looks like someone's getting ready for a party.”

  “They’re medical students,” Rick replied, “and they just finished their finals, so they’re having a little celebration tonight.”

  “Why don't you join us?” asked Cheryl, flashing a friendly smile. “We're a bunch of nerds most of the year, but we can really party when we put our minds to it. And tonight, we'll really be putting our minds to it!”

  “I think there may be a shortage of good-looking guys there too,” Mary Ann chimed in, smiling seductively. “You really should stop by.”

  “Thanks for the invitation. Maybe I will. Where's the party?”

  After they gave him the address, Jake said, “I better hit the road. I’ve got a long walk ahead of me. It's been nice meeting you.”

  “You're walking?” Rick asked. “It's got to be three miles. I'll give you a lift, if you don't mind stopping by Cheryl's place to unload this stuff.”

  Sure enough, the car parked right in front was Rick’s. The four of them hopped in and drove a short distance to a tidy, one-story stucco house, unloaded the groceries, and left the girls to their party preparations. On their way back to the dorm, Rick explained, “I dated a medical student a couple of months ago—not either of those two. It only lasted a short time, but I got to meet their crowd and started hanging around with some of them. It’s a fun group, and there are a lot more women than in law school—better looking too!” He laughed and slapped Jake on the shoulder. “A couple of law students hang out with this crowd, too. Their other roommate is a good friend of Kelly's, so she’ll probably be there tonight.”

  “She will. I saw her earlier today, and she told me she was going to a party with a bunch of medical students. She invited me along, but I told her I’d probably pass.”

  “Well, now you’ve been invited twice. I think it's just meant to be, pal—you better go.”

  Jake looked hesitant, and Rick continued. “Listen, this crowd is going to be blowing off a lot of steam tonight. They'll be drinking hard. They'll be rowdy and uninhibited. I'd say the odds of getting lucky are pretty damn high—even for you!” Rick laughed hard, clearly in a jovial mood and looking forward to the evening.

  “What's with this?” Jake asked, pointing to the disabled parking tag hanging from Rick's rearview mirror.

  “You know what a bitch it is to park around here. And all those disabled parking spaces just going to waste. They're never used. I’ve made connections with people in the local medical community, and one of them fixed me up with this.” There was a tone of pride in his voice as he flicked the tag with his finger.

  “You're a piece of work.” Jake felt indignant, but he was in a great mood and not about to argue.

  “Hey, I would never take a disabled parking space if there’s someone else who really needs it, but there never is. Really, how many disabled people drive cars? I'm just doing my part for the environment. I don't have to drive around burning gas looking for a goddamn parking space. Look at this—beautiful!” said Rick as he pulled into a disabled space directly in front of the dorm. “Door-to-door service! If you want to go to the party tonight, be down here at eight o'clock.”

  Jake generally did not like attending social events where he did not know many people, especially parties. Making small talk with a roomful of strangers was not his idea of fun. Ordinarily, he would've found some reason to avoid going to the party; however, the nap, the exercise, the sunshine, and the fact that he had just completed his three toughest finals, had him in high spirits. He would know at least a few people there, Rick and Kelly, and Cheryl and Mary Ann seemed friendly. So, what the hell, he thought. Why not?

  Jake left the dorm with Rick promptly at eight o'clock. As they approached Cheryl's house, they could see that the party was already in full swing. Cars lined the street and the sound of music and boisterous voices could be heard from some distance.

  Someone yelled Rick's name as they entered the crowded living room, and he made his way toward the voice, leaving Jake standing alone in the doorway, holding the bottle of wine he had brought for his hostesses. He headed toward the kitchen to deliver the wine, and saw Kelly talking with Cheryl and several other young women. Kelly stopped in mid-sentence when she saw him approaching. “Jake McShane! You made it! I never thought you'd come.” She gave him a friendly hug. He'd never seen Kelly this animated, and suspected immediately that she was a bit tipsy.

  Kelly poured him a glass of wine. “Come on, let me introduce you to my friends,” she said, grabbing him by the arm.

  “Do you know most of these people?”

  “Yep, just about all of them. It's really a great bunch. You'll see.”

  Kelly introduced Jake to her former roommate, Kathleen, and the two of them escorted him through the living room, introducing him to a small army of exuberant medical students, most of whom were inebriated or well on their way toward that state.

  Mary Ann found them and welcomed Jake to the party. He thanked her for the invitation and complimented her on the great party. “There's plenty of food in the next room, so help yourself,” said Mary Ann, gesturing toward a large table of snacks and appetizers in the middle of the adjacent dining room. Jake's gaze followed her hand and he started to say something, but abruptly stopped. He saw a short, skinny young man in a Hawaiian shirt holding a plate of food, chatting with an extremely attractive young woman Jake recognized immediately: the mystery girl from the stairwell. Amanda.

  Both his tongue and his feet froze momentarily. “I think I’ll take you up on that,” he replied, regaining his composure, as he walked casually into the dining room. Amanda saw him as he approached and flashed a welcoming smile.

  “I hope I'm not interrupting. I just wanted to say hello,” said Jake.

  “Nice to see you again, and under happier circumstances,” Amanda replied, extending her hand. “I see you survived your little crisis.”

  “I did, and I've been hoping ever since that I would see you again to say thanks. Your words of wisdom really helped.”

  She laughed. “I'm happy to hear that.”

  “So you're a medical student?” Jake asked.

  “No, she's a doctor,” interjected the young man in the Hawaiian shirt, looking impatient. Amanda introduced him as David, a second-year medical student. “You're halfway through your residency, right, Doc?” David asked, looking at Amanda.

  “You seem surprised.” Amanda said, addressing Jake.

  “I don't know why I should be—you've got a great bedside manner.” Jake could see that David was irritated by his presence. “Well, sorry to interrupt. See you later.”

  “I hope so,” Amanda replied brightly.

  Jake walked away, trying to appear calm, despite the fact that his head was spinning. Although their conversation could not have lasted two minutes, her manner had completely captivated him once again, just as it had during their first encounter. She radiated cheerful friendliness, and at the same time, her voice and her eyes conveyed an impression of self-assurance and intelligence, the like of which he had never encountered.

  Jake wandered back into the living room and found Kelly, who was in the midst of a heated debate over whether medical school was more taxing than law school. From where Jake stood, he had a clear view into the dining room and could see that Rick was now visiting with Amanda. He felt a twinge of concern. “Hey, Kelly, do you know that girl talking with Rick?” Jake asked.

  “That’s Amanda Chang. Why? Got your eye on her, Jake?” she teased him, and much too loudly, as far as Jake was concerned. Kelly was more than a little tipsy now.

  “I met her once before, briefly. I was just curious. What’s her story?” Jake asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

  Kelly paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. “Look around this house, Jake. Think about how much talent is right here. Stanford law students. Stanford medical students. Every person in
this room is extremely gifted. But Amanda is in a league of her own. Really, I mean it. She began medical school when she was twenty. She hasn't even finished her residency yet, and she's already appearing as a guest lecturer at the medical school and making presentations before faculty and Medical Center staff on groundbreaking research projects. She's special. And despite all that, she’s the most down-to-earth person you'd ever want to meet. She's fun, she's friendly, and she's really sweet. Come on, you need to meet her.” Kelly grabbed his arm and began pulling Jake toward the dining room. His attempts to explain that they had already met went unheeded.

  “Amanda, I’d like you to meet one of my classmates, Jake McShane.” Jake tried to interrupt her to point out that they had already met, but Kelly would not be deterred. “Jake is a great guy, a real pal. He's one of the most well liked guys in our entire class. Everyone admires him. He’s kind of quiet, but very confident and poised. He’s thoughtful and articulate in class. And thoughtful outside of class, too. He's nice to me even when I'm a total bitch during finals, right, Jake?” Jake looked at Amanda and shrugged a helpless shrug, as Kelly went on. “I'd be throwing myself at him, but I hear he doesn't like to date law students. What a shame!” She looked at Jake with an exaggerated pout-face, then broke into a loud, drunken laugh.

  Jake was embarrassed, and looked it. “You're too kind, Kelly.”

  Kelly then began her introduction of Amanda. “Amanda has already graduated from medical school. She—”

  Amanda interrupted Kelly before she had a chance to get rolling again. “Jake and I have already met, several months ago.”

  Kelly gave Jake a look of surprise. “Why didn't you tell me?” Then she laughed again and said, “Sorry, I'm a little buzzed,” and hurried off in another direction.

  “Well, that was embarrassing,” said Jake.

  “She obviously has a high opinion of you. That's nothing to be embarrassed about,” Amanda said with a smile. “I trust finals are going a little better this time around?”

  “Much better. I'm a lot more relaxed. Actually, I did get my act together last semester after you saw me. I took your advice and put a little positive mental attitude to work, and everything turned out okay. So tell me about your residency program. How do you like it?”

  Jake was thrilled to actually have some time alone with Amanda, and looked forward to getting beyond party chitchat and having a real conversation. He learned that she'd gone to Stanford as an undergraduate, but had grown up about an hour away, in Berkeley, where both of her parents were professors. She was halfway through her four-year residency program at Stanford Medical Center, where she was focusing on geriatric medicine. She started asking about his background, and as Jake mentioned that he was from Chicago, David returned and began a discourse on the Chicago political scene. Soon several other revelers joined the group, bringing an end to the private conversation Jake had been enjoying. After a few minutes, he politely excused himself, not wanting it to appear to Amanda or anyone else that he was hovering around her.

  Jake mingled with the celebrating medical students, although he continually glanced around the room, subtly watching Amanda. He felt somewhat dismayed to see that Rick was spending a great deal of time with her, as was David. Jake kept his distance, not wanting to make a nuisance of himself. He wandered into the living room and spent several minutes browsing through the collection of CDs. “I like that one,” he heard a voice behind him as he picked up a Jimmy Buffett CD. It was Amanda. “Can you play any of those songs on your guitar?”

  “No, but I’d sure like to learn some of these.”

  “I like your taste in music. You didn't happen to bring your guitar, did you?”

  “No, I don't play much in public.”

  “Stage fright?”

  “No, a more fundamental problem—lack of talent. I’m just not very good.”

  “Oh come on, you're being modest. I’m sure you have loads of talent.”

  “No, I really don't, honestly. I don't think I have a musical bone in my body. Whatever skill I’ve acquired is based on sheer stubbornness and perseverance. A few years ago, I made up my mind that I’d learn to play, and forced myself to practice virtually every day for about two years. I've developed some proficiency just by working at it, but it's not something I have any natural gift for. The stairwell at the dorm makes me sound much better than I really am. But you, you can really sing! You're a natural.”

  “Oh, please, stop.” She laughed again, that easy, natural laugh.

  Jake noticed that her wineglass was empty. “Can I get you a refill?” he asked.

  “Thank you. I'd love one,” she replied, handing him her glass.

  Jake walked onto the back porch, where a makeshift bar had been set up on a picnic table. He poured a glass of Chardonnay for Amanda, then walked to the nearby ice chest in search of a beer. “Grab one for me while you're at it, pal.” Rick had just walked out looking for another cold beer. Jake handed him one. “I'm on a roll, man,” said Rick in a low voice. “I'll be getting lucky tonight, that's for sure. That Chinese chick is crazy about me. You know what they say—you ain't a man ‘til you get a Chan!” He laughed loudly and slapped Jake on the back.

  “You're a pig.”

  “I know. I admit it,” Rick replied, as if that were a compliment. “Just watch and learn.” He strutted back into the house.

  Jake followed Rick inside and brought Amanda her wine. Rick was already talking with her, and turned his back toward Jake in a not so subtle attempt to cut him out of the conversation. After a few moments of watching Rick trying to lay on all his considerable charm, Jake walked back into the kitchen, where he found Mary Ann and Cheryl comparing notes about which guest was the most drunk. The debate was settled as David tottered toward them, spilling his red wine as he walked. “We've got a winner,” said Cheryl, and they both laughed heartily, leaving Jake alone with the drunken know-it-all. David looked at his glass and launched into a lecture about the nutritional properties of the various types of red wine. Just as Jake was trying to think of a polite excuse for walking away, Amanda appeared and asked, “Can I steal you away for a few minutes? I'd like to get your thoughts on a legal matter.” She gave him a look that made it perfectly clear that she knew what he had been enduring.

  “Certainly,” Jake replied, hoping his sense of relief was not too obvious. “Excuse me, David. I’d love to hear more about the superior nutritional qualities of French wines, but that'll have to wait.”

  They walked away, back toward the living room, leaving David swaying as he walked off in search of another patient soul.

  “Thank you,” Jake said. He didn't need to explain why. “Now, regarding my legal advice, just remember that free advice is worth what you pay for it.”

  “Sorry, I just made that up. You were being very patient with David, but I thought you could probably use a break.”

  “Thanks again. I owe you.”

  “I've been visiting with Rick. Are you and he close friends?”

  Jake nodded. “We’re pretty tight. We share all the same classes, we play basketball together, we live in the same dorm and we’re both from Chicago. And, there’s something about going through first year law school together that’s a real bonding experience.”

  “He seems like a pretty impressive guy,” Amanda remarked.

  Jake's heart sank. “No question about that,” he agreed, trying to sound matter-of-fact.

  “He's also pretty impressed with himself, isn't he?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Well, within five minutes of meeting him, he told me that he was a basketball star in college, his father is loaded, and he plans on graduating at the top of your class. Also, I hear from my friends that he's quite the ladies’ man.”

  “I'm sure you can take care of yourself,” Jake said, with a grin, feeling relieved.

  They picked up where they had left off in their prior conversation. Jake attempted to explain his impressions of the differences
between life in Chicago and his experience thus far in California. He talked about Chicago’s ethnic communities and his own Irish Catholic neighborhood and upbringing. He listened with keen interest as Amanda spoke in reverent tones about her paternal grandmother, whose parents had sent her to San Francisco from China at the age of fourteen in search of a better life. She quickly learned English, became a nurse, and went to work at San Francisco General Hospital. However, her true calling, Amanda explained, was caring for the residents of her Chinatown community, who were not comfortable dealing with the American medical establishment. As a child, Amanda had often accompanied her grandmother on her visits to the sick and the elderly in Chinatown, and it was that experience that had inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.

  After a while, they both found themselves straining to speak over the noise, which had been steadily increasing. They stepped outside onto the back porch, hoping to escape the din. Before long, the music was cranked up louder as the living room became a dance floor.

  Jake had been thoroughly enjoying his conversation with Amanda, and was thrilled that she seemed to be enjoying his company as well, and had actually sought him out a couple of times during the evening. He was eager to continue their conversation, but the raucous partying was becoming a hindrance. She seemed to be reading his thoughts.

  “How would you like to take a little walk and get away from this noise for awhile,” she asked, a bit shyly.

  “Great idea. I'd love to.”

  They worked their way through the crowded house toward the front door, passing Rick on their way out. He said nothing, but looked at them with obvious surprise, which to Jake seemed to transform into an angry glare as they walked out the door.

  “What a great party,” said Jake as they walked from the house. “I'm really glad I came.”

  “So am I,” said Amanda.