Another Cup of Coffee(Joshua)

Ingrid was grumbling a little, annoyed that she would have to change her plans in light of her husband's detainment at work. Well, she had been planning to make dinner, but if he wasn't going to be there she'd just order in. No point in cooking for just one person. Or she could call one of the staff over, many of them lived alone and could use some fattening up. But she was sure her regular strays young friends would be out on the town tonight. Prehaps she could invite one of the neighbors.

Ingrid was so caught up in her thoughts about dinner and company, that she almost missed the man trying to get her attention. Almost, but not quite. Despite her old age, she still had her sharpness. She started on him with a curious look and a slightly put out sigh. "Ah, what is-" She trailed off as the man did, recognizing him from events with her husband. A large smile appeared with the recognition. She took the purse with gratitude, tucking it under her arm with a little laugh. "Thank you, I would have been lost without it."

"Mr. Bernstein. I do believe the last time we met I told you to call me Ingrid." She greeted, raising an eyebrow and looking him over. It wasn't all that fair that he was actually in his fifties and still looked so young. Ingrid settled her self to prod the man a bit. It was almost a month now since she'd last saw him and it was only proper to exchange pleasantries. "How have you been? It's been some time since I've saw you and Richard doesn't even try to keep me up to date."

Ingrid smirked when Joshua relented to her demands. Anyone with eyes could tell, Ingrid was a lady who thoroughly enjoyed getting her way. She didn't think a younger person using her first name as rude. Ingrid let her surname be used when needed because of a position of power or the like. Meaning her students should never get away with so much as letting 'Ing' slip off their lips. But otherwise, she was content with everyone knowing her by what her parents saw fit to name her.

"Ah, I see." She said by way of a comment, keeping with the polite tone of the conversation. Despite that Ingrid usually kept her ear to the ground, so to speak, she hadn't heard to the social gathering that her coworkers had attended. Mostly because those particular coworkers weren't the most chatty busybodies of the lot, and they certainly didn't feel the need to tell her things like some of the younger staff did. Though that was usually because Ingrid was fantastic at getting information out of people when she really wanted to. "They are, aren't they. They're both quite the charms to have around." Ingrid preened. Ever time someone mentioned the school, staff, or students, Ingrid acted like someone was complementing her own flesh and blood.

"Things are as well as to be expected when dealing with teenagers." She flapped a hand in a 'you know' gesture. "I have no complaints." Actually Ingrid always found as reason to complain, but that wasn't exactly fit for polite conversation or public ears.

"Everything is going rather well now." She said, giving Joshua the hint that nothing more had came from Gabe. She suspected that Joshua had learned some about what had happened, if only through Sean. She, of course, didn't know to what extent he had been told.

"Of course, of course. Don't let me keep you." Ingrid replied, feeling at little silly that she hadn't caught on to his attempts to escape back to his table. She was getting rusty. She smiled in an embarrassed fashion and waved at his seat. "Go on and finish your meal, dear."

It was only the fact that Joshua was not one of her 'boys' and didn't know the extent of the woman's insanity, that Ingrid kept in the barking laughter. Ingrid? Patient? That was the same a picking up a kitten and declaring it a dog. But Ingrid only smiled politely at the compliment, making a note to tell her husband about it. He'd get a laugh, that was for sure.

She nodded, looking at him meaningfully. "Indeed." She had meant it in the way Joshua seemed to take in and was rather pleased that she had managed to convey it without breaking the unspoken rule at Hammel. What had happened was not to be talked about. While Ingrid was usually eager to flap her mouth to anyone who would listen, even she knew better than to betray the trust of her coworkers. She'd only even responded to Joshua because she knew he had connections to the school.

Ingrid has never stood for an insult to Hammel and she didn't see what they did as kidnapping, Ingrid hesitantly agree that not every student took it well. Supporting the school didn't mean she couldn't feel differently about some aspects or let some policies weigh on her conscience. It was perhaps that, not only her bleeding heart, that led her to taking in some many students. It was her way of shaking the guilt she felt over the situation.

Ingrid considered his idea for a moment, before grinning widely. "I've got no place to be but watching Lifetime movies on my couch. And I wouldn't ever say no to good conversation." Her day was already cleared with her husband, so why not have another cup and have a chat?

"Many things are more compelling then Lifetime." Ingrid commented wryly, following Joshua back into the cafe. She took a seat opposite him at the table, setting her purse to the side-in plain view so she would not make the same mistake- and leaned forward to converse.

"We're fine. Richard's still obnoxious. And still a workaholic." She smiled, softening her blows against the absent man. Ingrid and Richard got along fantastically, but one of their quirks as a couple had them jabbing insults at every turn. "He's working late. Some case came in and he's been practically living at the office since. Left me to my own devices for today."

"That is something he has actually mentioned." Though it was only briefly, Ingrid had heard Richard muttering about the new firm. Richard had brought a coworker home recently, who had brought it up at dinner and given her a little more information. From what she'd heard, they seemed a competent bunch. If she was hearing the same from Joshua, then they must good people. "I can't say I've met them, but it's a small enough place. Bound to happen eventually, I think."

She smiled, nodding to the man and signaling down a waiter for more coffee. "It's a good place to live and raise a family or work or what have you. Of course I'm biased, I'm fully for Hammel so I'd adore whatever town it was in." Well, at least she'd admit that. "And I've lived here most my life, and we older folks tend to get sentimental about our homes."

"If I may, how is work going for you? I'd reason that my husband's not keeping me updated because your paths are crossing much lately, but with that man's mind who knows." She asked, not expecting a detailed answer. Ingrid just liked to fish around for a interesting topic. And since she didn't know Joshua well enough to start in on love lives like she would on her (former) students, she figured this was a safe way to go.

"Hmmm." Ingrid gave a murmurer of agreement. Ingrid fully enjoyed the town. As a busy body, smaller towns gave her a better chance of knowing everyone and being involved in lives. It had also given her the chance to become close to the people she ran into on a daily basis. She liked the routine and the familiarity of the faces. She liked excitement as much as the next person- depending on the subject, maybe even more then the next- but she also liked being able to go home to peace and quiet.

"Ah, Richard usually says the same." She commented, tapping her fingers on the table in an old habit. "Nothing much happens here, nothing much changes. You'd be right to say we enjoy it." She smiled as a mug of coffee was set in front of her, holding it in her hands. She looked over the mug at Joshua. "As much as it must hurt your business, its a relief to have so little to worry about."

Ingrid laughed lightly, pausing to sip from her cup. "Seems like everyone has got hard times. But I think you're a bit over qualified for table waiting." Another sip and smile. "I'm sure things will pick up. Even with a quiet place like this, there's problems abound." Unfortunately, that much was true. Even the small town air couldn't keep trouble away.

Ingrid snorted in laughter at Joshua's impression of divorce. "Can't say I disagree. Every reasonable, sane person I've met turns into a brooding demon when going through divorce. It's madness." She shook her head as she spoke, still chuckling. "But I think that widening your case load, by just a bit, would be nothing but beneficial. I've heard of some estate issues in the past, mind you it was a long while back, but I would imagine that their would be need for it"

"And that is the draw back to small town life." Ingrid grinned. "When you have such a small population, there's a lot of connections. People know each other, the gossip ring's tiny. No one want's to be the one to rock the boat and have everyone else band against them. No one wants to call some else out on being wrong. I'm afraid until the majority here grow a backbone, you won't be seeing many complaints."

"I can't even imagine how he does it. Working at a desk job would have him home by dinner, he said. Bah! Just because he had to retire from the force didn't slow him a bit. Richard still keeps nosing into police business and his buddies still let him." Bitter about it? Just a little. Ingrid still cursed his old partner for getting Richard involved in cases. One of these days, he'd end up hurt again. "So yes, he's still at the station."

Ingrid shot Joshua a sharp, reprimanding look. "Don't you ever end up like him. Take time to take off work." She sipped her coffee, arching an eye at Joshua as though she had realized something. "I can't say I see you much around the town. Do you stay hidden away in that office?" Never let it be said that Ingrid Barnes had tact. Bluntness was the woman's specialty.