Chapter 92
Chapter 92
“Sure,” I say. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
“I mean it,” Jeff says.
“It takes more than one sentence to fix a lifetime of insecurity,” I say. “It’s not like I had a mom who
could explain all the changes that puberty brought. I had a school nurse and Marjorie, but that was
pretty much it.”
“I know,” Jeff says. “Thank God Danny isn’t a girl, or I’d be in the same situation.”
I shrug. “Well, he’s not.” I choke back tears. I’m not usually this emotional, but the idea of a tiny little
Danielle who had to grow up without proper support. I’d obviously take a hand and Marjorie might have
interfered, but she has to be retirement age now. I wonder for a moment if she stuck around so long
because she was keeping an eye on me.
I finish the rest of my sandwich and close the box which has a few shreds of lettuce in it. I’m feeling
better with a little food in me.
Jeff must have finished a few minutes ago, because he already threw away his sandwich box.
“You looked lost in thought,” Jeff says.
“Just thinking about what it would be like if you had a little who grew up without a mother, like I did.”
“Maybe I’ll get married again. Your father certainly could have, if you hadn’t despised every candidate
on sight.”
I smile. “I stopped screaming eventually. It’s not like it was an eternal scream.”
“Your father respected your wishes.”
“Do you think that a kid can decide that kind of thing?”
“You didn’t have a mother, but you also didn’t have to deal with an evil stepmother.”
“True.”
He looks at his watch. “We should walk back now.” He picks up the baby carrier and we go back to the
office building. We get into the elevator. It’s just us, a sleeping baby and a man with a look in his eyes
as if he wants to ravish me right here. Before we get to his floor, he leans in and kisses me, baby
carrier and all.
“Ahem!” Marjorie says as the doors open.
I blush furiously, my cheeks flooding with heat. She looks between us, a disapproving frown on her lips.
“That’s enough!”
“I better get going,” Jeff says sheepishly. He gives me the baby carrier and presses the button for the
ground floor. “I’ll see you at home tonight.”
Marjorie looks at my kiss-swollen lips for a minute, shakes her head, and walks away. I cringe inside
but take Danny back downstairs to get my dad’s car so we can drive home. I want to take a shower and
wash away Marjorie’s disapproval.
Part 2
Chapter 15
Guardianship
Jeff
When I get back to my desk, I can see that there's an urgent email sitting there. It's from my lawyer. Not
our in-house counsel, but the one that I use for personal matters.
I open it. It only contains two words: Call me.
My mouth goes dry. What's going on? The sweet haze of seeing my girl and baby son for lunch
immediately di
ssipates. I dial his number, which he keeps in his signature.
"Hello?"
"Richman and Harrison, how may I help you?"
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