Intensive Therapy Part 12

"Dad won't let that happen," said Jennie, nestled comfortably next to him.

"Listen," Jonas said for both to hear. "I love Stan, but I have to be my own person. So, understand this, Edward Speller, Esquire. It's only a matter of time before we contact a realtor who knows your neighborhood." Jennie purred at we. "Are you serious about the tickets?"

"Absolutely," Eddie said. "Four on the third base line. Everyone here's a Yankees fan, so they could care less. Who else should we invite?"

"Bodenheim for sure."

"I already put him on yellow alert. What about Stan?"

Jennie intervened, "That's very considerate, Eddie, but Dad's not really into baseball. Ask Steve Rothman? He's a die-hard Phillies fan. I'll make a dinner reservation at Victor's for Sat.u.r.day night. You know the place where the waiters and waitresses break out into arias. It's time my parents met Eddie and Pete."

"Sounds great." Eddie lowered his voice. "And leave time for you and me, Jonas. There's something I want to discuss."

"What is it?"

"Nothing that won't keep until Friday."

Annoyed, Jonas said, "Whatever you say. I'll call Steve tomorrow. Call me later in the week. Thanks for thinking of me." He hung up abruptly.

"What was that about?" Jennie said.

"Eddie says he wants to talk about something, but he wouldn't say what. I love him to death, Jen, but he has this way of upsetting me."

"Well, whatever it is, it worries me how your mood changes around him."

"He thinks it's perfectly fine to stick his head into my business. If you had a sister who treated you like that, you wouldn't like it, either."

Jennie curled her lip. "You're wrong! You can't imagine how much I've wanted a sister or a brother. Once, when I was at the Geneva airport, I saw two little children playing peekaboo; the way they giggled at each other made me want to cry. When the brother put his arm around his sister, I felt like part of me was missing. That day, I swore I would never have an only child."

"Of all places on Earth, Jen, how did your mother wind up in Switzerland?"

"She did well in French and biology. She put the two together and applied to medical schools in Belgium and Lausanne. I asked her why they never had more children, but I never got a straight answer. She said there was a problem with her uterus, and that I should have mine checked out, which I did. Everything turned out to be fine. The best I can do now is to raise the family she never had. You're lucky to have a brother who cares about you," she said enviously. "Next weekend should be a celebration; don't spoil it."

"You're so good for me," Jonas said. "No matter how far I stray, you always put me back on track."

Friday, October 14, 1983 Eddie and his law firm a.s.sociate, Pete Bodenheim, arrived early Friday afternoon. When Jonas caught up with them for lunch, they were talking shop.

"We were discussing mental damages," Eddie said. "I told Pete what you said about the field changing."

Jonas said, "You'll see. Chemical a.s.says and brain scans will show how stress damages the brain. If I were a trader, I'd go long on psychiatry. Fortune smiles on the well-prepared."

Eddie squeezed a puddle of mustard onto his sandwich. "I'd take him seriously, Pete, if I were you."

"You realize the defense will try and pound any expert into scaloppini," Pete said.

"Don't sell my brother short. A lot of people have tried and a lot of people lost."

"What is this?" Pete said. "Two on one?"

"You stepped in it, pal," Eddie said. "This isn't some early-season game where Duke beats up on the Little Brothers of the Poor Community College."

"Knock it off, you two. You sound like braying jacka.s.ses," Jonas gibed.

Pete said, "That surprises you? We're litigators. We fight all day."

"What a wonderful life," Jonas joked. "Makes me want to p.a.w.n my stethoscope and take the LSAT. But listen up, Pete Bodenheim! Just because I never had to sink a foul shot in front of eleven thousand screaming maniacs at the Palestra, doesn't mean you can sell me short on nerve. I can hang in there with the best. Remember Tau Delta Phi on Sansom Street? I took down the biggest poker pot ever played there, because I wouldn't let those thugs push me around."

Eddie beamed. "Close to a thousand dollars. They shoulda put up a plaque. This isn't college hoops anymore, Pete. We're talking professionals."

"Listen," Pete bristled. "Basketball taught me offense and defense. I prepare for trials like I did for games. I'll be as ready for the big leagues as anyone. Don't either of you doubt it."

"Congratulations, Pete," Jonas cheered. "You've been drafted by the NBA."

"Huh?" Eddie and Pete said.

"New York Bar a.s.sociation," Jonas said. "You're our number-one pick."

Jonas and Eddie saluted Pete with another round of black cherry soda.

Eddie said, "You know, if we set up shop carefully, we can take on all comers. Jonas needs experience in court. Pete can take the depositions and try the cases. I'm in the backcourt, calling the plays. I know we can do it."

Several sodas later the threesome bounded off to the Broad Street subway, looking more like a pack of h.o.r.n.y teenagers than the future of American jurisprudence. Led by Steve, who joined the group at Veteran's Stadium, the men raised their beers in an impromptu bachelor party.

"Here's to your birthday, Jonas," they said as one. "And the end of an era: Your days as a single man are over."

"Welcome to the rest of your life," Eddie teased.

"What?" Jonas protested half-heartedly. "Who said anything about getting married?"

"Married?" Steve feigned disbelief. "You already are. Didn't anyone tell you?"

Just before game time, an older man and a young couple descended the aisle on the way to their seats. The women wore a Phillies hat and Mike Schmidt jersey. Between innings she ascended the aisle and tried to hail a peanut vendor. Jonas did a double take. Victoria Schone smiled at him and his companions. Eddie, Pete, and Steve looked curiously at the attractive young woman who did not budge.

Nodding at his companions, Jonas said, "Guys, this is Victoria Schone. Victoria, I'd like you to meet my brother, Eddie Speller, and my friends, Pete Bodenheim and Steve Rothman."

"Nice to meet you," Victoria said.

"So, how do you know each other?" Eddie said.

"Dr. Speller's my doctor."

Pete said, "Is he as good as he claims?"

"He sure turned my life around."

"Thanks," Jonas said. "It's been a pleasure."

"Nice to meet you," Pete and Steve said. Eddie remained silent.

"Go Phillies!" she said. "See you Monday," she whispered to Jonas before leaving.

Eddie said to Jonas, "That was Miss-"

"Not now, Eddie."

Several uncomfortable innings later, Eddie broke the silence. "They're talking like you and Jennie are a done deal."

"I'd rather you put it another way."

"That's what I wanted to talk with you about."

"I figured as much when you wouldn't say anything on the phone with Jennie next to me. Let me enjoy the rest of the game in peace, Eddie. Then we'll talk."

25.

Friday, October 14, 1983

The game remained tight until the Orioles, Jonas's home team, went ahead for good in the top of the seventh inning. Afterward, everyone headed to Jonas's neighborhood tavern for a beer. Later, Eddie went along to Jonas's apartment.

"Thanks for the terrific evening, Eddie," Jonas said.

"I have this picture, too," Eddie said, looking their father's portrait. "I have to hand it to you, brother," he added, noting several pastel landscapes hanging over the couch and loveseat. "Compared to when you moved in, this place definitely has a woman's touch."

"These are Jennie's paintings. Aren't they fabulous?" Jonas crowed. "Look at the colors. And the intensity. Just so you know, she's moving in next month."

"Did I miss something? There's no rush, is there?"

"I didn't get her pregnant, if that's what you're thinking. Look, Eddie. It's late. If you have something to say about Jennie, please say it."

Eddie turned to the picture of their father and paused thoughtfully. "C'mon, Jonas," he said. "Be honest. What are you doing with her?"

"Doing with her? What kind of question is that?"

"I'm trying to tell you I'm concerned. Are you sure you're ready? Jennie's a terrific girl; I know how fond you are of her and her family. But fond isn't enough to get you through the tough times. It doesn't take Sigmund Freud to know that a big reason you're with her is because of her family."

"You're wrong. I'm with her because of her. Take one look at these walls and you'll see exactly what I mean."

"There's something missing. I saw it in your eyes tonight when you introduced your patient to us. That was her, wasn't it? Miss Abington?"

"Yes, it was her."

"Your faces lit up when you saw each other. I've never seen you look that way. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't care about her."

"Care about her? I spend my life caring about people. Miss Abington is a fantasy."

"What I saw on your face tonight was very real."

"She has transference to me. I have countertransference to her transference."

"What a load of horses.h.i.t. You never use words like that and you know it. There's something about her, isn't there?"

"Yes, there is. She's full of life. She inspired me. She still does."

"And Jennie?"

"It's different with her. We love each other for real. You've spent a total of twelve hours with Jennie in three years. You don't know what she's like behind closed doors. Jennie's got a h.e.l.luva lot more oomph than you give her credit for."

"But what about Miss Abington?"

"What about her? All my patients are special in their own way. I'm just a toll booth on their journeys."

"I'm not talking about all your patients. I'm talking about her. How can you be so sure?"

"Sure? There's no 'sure' in what I do. You want 'sure,' teach math. The Egyptians believed Pythagoras had discovered the laws of the universe."

"So, if you believe you're just a rest stop, that's what you'll be."

"Look, Eddie, it gets complicated when a shrink has feelings for his patient."

"Don't you talk with your a.n.a.lyst about her?"

"Dr. Frantz is terrific. We talk about her all the time. He knows exactly how I feel."

"Which is ...?"

"Jesus, Eddie, if you're this ferocious in your legal life, Pete and I will make a mint."

"Confess your sins, my son, and all shall be forgiven."

"Look, Eddie, Victoria's a diamond in the rough. Because of the therapy we've done, she believes in herself. Because of the therapy we've done, I believe in myself. I'm a psychoa.n.a.lyst. My patients and I talk things out. We don't live them out. You have no idea what crossing that boundary means, how it could destroy her trust and taint my career."

"You can do it if it means enough to you. This is the most important decision you'll make in your whole life."

Adrenalin shot through Jonas. "You're going somewhere you don't belong, Eddie. I love Jennie; I do. We were both three-quarters dead when we met. She means the world to me."

"Does she make you feel like that girl from Abington does? Because that's what you need."