Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Mace: Good morning, siren. You didn’t move this morning when I left. Same with Von. You two could sleep through anything. I should be home by noon. Don’t have too much fun without me.
Me: It would have been a better morning if you’d woken up with me. Next time.
Mace: I love you, siren. Tell Von I’ll be home as soon as I can and it’s a swim date.
Me: Get to work, slacker. We’ll see you soon <3
It’s the day after we told Von that we’re back to being a family, this time forever. I talked to Mace. We were all wrung out after that emotional overload, and he suggested that Von take a day off school. He’d work for a little while this morning and then head back home seeing as I have today off as well. That text came earlier this morning. The one I just got was telling me things were running late. The furniture delivery was supposed to be at the law firm at nine o’clock this morning; it’s now closer to eleven, and he’s still stuck there. That’s when a plan formed.
“I’m coming! I was getting my shoes on,” Von bellows back. I’m ready, keys, purse, and phone in hand, placing an order that will surely feed Mace plus all his employees.
“Chop, chop! If the food gets there before we do, the surprise will be ruined.” I explained to Von that Mace had to work longer than he originally expected and that he may not be home to go swimming this afternoon. Truth be told, we were both bummed until I suggested we do something for the man who has done so much for us. He’s bent over backwards, proving that work won’t come between our family again, dealing with my rollercoaster of emotions as well as Vons. And don’t think I didn’t notice the dark circles underneath Mace’s eyes. The time has come for me to pony up. If that means bringing them lunch and helping unpack boxes on our day of Von playing hooky, along with my day off, so freaking be it.
“Okay, I’m ready. Is it okay if I bring my iPad?” Von already has it in his hand. I was going to tell him to just in case he gets bored anyways; not like he wouldn’t put that cute bottom lip of his to work either. The boy has master manipulation down to a science. Thankfully, it’s not a devious way, or we’d be stopping that shit in its tracks.
“You can. Lunch first, help out where you can, and then it’s all yours. Hopefully, if we help Daddy, he can get back faster. That way, we can go swimming,” I barter, like any good mom does.
“Okay, I’m ready, then. I’m bringing Daddy the drawing I did this morning. Think he’ll like it?” Von asks, showing me what he drew. Wouldn’t you know it? It’s a dinosaur, three to be accurate.
“I know he’ll love it. If you’ll remind me the next time we go to the home store, we’ll get a frame so he can display it.” I ruffle his hair. Something I’ve noticed since yesterday is that he’s dropped the Mom and Dad. We’ve been Mommy and Daddy for the past twenty-four hours. I’m not sure if it’s because he feels more secure in our family fold than he has in the past year, but I’m going to take it.
“Maybe the next time you go. Daddy says you, Grammy, and Nan spend forever walking up and down the aisle. I kind of agree, too.” Mace, already giving our son advice on how women shop.
“Fine, you can stay with Daddy. Let’s rock and roll.” Von’s hand finds my outstretched one, making sure he follows my rule when we’re walking in a parking lot, and once he does, we’re on our way out to take care of Mace.
THIRTY-TWO
Mace
“Mace, you’ve got company,” Kingston, my business partner, says. He’s older than me, was sick of the same bullshit I was at our old law firm, and doing business with him was smart. This way, it wasn’t such an out-of-pocket expense for either of us. Putting our brains and money together made sense. We’re both bringing our clients with us, and we’ll maintain them, picking and choosing which potential new ones each of us wants. The rest will go to the other associates, and there’s always room for them to move up the corporate ladder if they want, but for the most part, the majority of them want to make money, have a life, and not be treated like gum on the bottom of their shoe. So, that’s our goal, for Kingston and me at least. Hopefully, the other lawyers don’t become an issue like some over-inflated pricks can. I’m just finishing carrying another box to the supply room. The furniture delivery guy has yet to arrive, and I’m not sitting on my ass when there’s plenty of shit to get done.