Blondie

Landon Johnson

Landon's POV

Saturday morning was a blur for me. I only had a couple drinks last night and I have a huge headache.

I used all my muscle to lift myself out of bed and take a cold shower. I didn't have work until Monday, but I couldn't sleep in.

See, my father has this thing about responsibility and if I'm not responsible, he won't ever put me in charge of the law firm.

I changed into clean clothes and grabbed my car keys. I needed to go to my dad's house and ask him a few things.

I pulled up to his house and let myself in through the front door.

The dog suddenly started barking and was about to pounce on me.

"Whoa, Max. It's just me, boy." I pet and played around with the husky for a while until I heard my dad coming down.

"Landon, you're here early. Come join me for breakfast, son."

Max followed us into the dining room and laid beside my father's chair.

"Stella, bring us the food please?"

"Good morning, Stella!" I yelled so she could hear me.

"Good morning, honey." She patted my head.

"So, dad, I was wondering if you can let me handle the next case by myself." I opened up the napkin and set it on my thighs.

"Landon, I know you have the potential, but it's a little early for you to start on your own."

"I understand, but I think I can do it on my own this time."

"If you think you can do it, I won't let you. I want you to go into a case knowing you can do it." My father said.

"I want you to work your way to the top, like I did. I'm not going to let you go on your own sooner than the other people just because you're my son." He added.

All I said was 'okay' so he can stop giving me advice on life and getting a wife soon. I'm 29 and I'm not even close to getting ready to settle down.

I excused myself from the table and went into my old room. It looked the same way I left it. Except, a picture of my mother was on the nightstand. I picked it up and starred at the beautiful women.

I wish I could have met her. From what my father has told me, she would have been an amazing mother.

My mom died when she gave birth to me. Every time I say it, I feel guilty. My mom gave up her life so I could live mine. At times I wish we both should have left, but then I think about my father.

I don't know how he reacted to his wife passing away and I don't want to imagine it. It must have been hard for him being a single dad and taking care of me.

My father first told me about my mom when I was six. It was my first year of first grade and the kids were accompanied by their moms. I was the only one accompanied by my dad. I asked my father where my mom was and he didn't answer me.

After school he told me that she went to heaven. I never quite understood the whole concept, but as I got older, I learned to accept that my mom had died giving birth to me.

I looked at her picture and saw her dark blonde hair like mine. Her eyes were greener than mine and her beautiful pale skin shined.

"You look just like her, Landon."

"Dad, you scared me." I looked at him then back at the picture.

"I remember her picking out your name in a baby book. She was so excited to meet you." Dad looked at the picture.

"I would've given anything to meet her." I whispered.

"I'm sure she would've said the same thing about you, son." My father put his arm around my shoulder.

My father led me into his office, here at his house, and we talked about his case he was going to on Monday.

"I think you have this, dad. This guy is not leaving prison for many years."

"Thanks, son. Oh, I forgot to tell you something. I recruited a new lawyer. Well, almost a lawyer. She has an outstanding resumé and she went to Harvard, like you."

"What? I might know her. Do you have her file?" I asked.

My father reached into his file organizer and handed it to me.

"Wow, Leah Davis. 28 years old. Harvard graduate... Impressive. If I see a picture of her, I might recognize her from campus." I closed the file and set it down on the desk.

"If I find out she is an old fling of yours from college, I'm firing you instead of her, this time." He pointed his finger at me.

"You've got to be kidding? I only got together with a couple girls from Harvard."

"A couple? More like a couple hundreds." Dad murmured.

"I was a young adult, you can't blame me." I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.

"Bull- When I was your age..."

Here comes the 'back in my time' stories. I rolled my eyes and faces the wall so his story could be over already.

After his story I got a call from Jarett saying if I wanted to hang out. I told him to meet me at my place.

I said bye to my father and drove off back to my place.

*

"Jarett, get out of my fridge." I closed the door.

"Relax, I was just getting a water bottle." He closed the fridge.

"Since when do you drink water?" I laid down on my couch and turned on the TV.

"Since...yesterday." He sat on the recliner.

Jarett and I became friends in the third grade. It was his first day at a new school and he didn't know anyone.

I went up to him and told him my name. He was shy at first and then he told me his name. We played a game we liked to call 'ninjas' during recess.

His parents became friends with my dad and Jarett's dad now owns half of the law firm.

"We going out again tonight?" Jarett asked.

"I'll let you know after my nap." I mumbled.