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“I know you will.” She flashes me a smile over her shoulder. “I’m glad I stopped by.”
“You’re welcome here anytime, but the twelve percent is firm, Maura.”
She stops at the threshold of my office to turn to face me. “Until it’s not. I’ll see you back here in a year and a half.”
Laughing, I watch her walk away, knowing I’ll give her whatever she wants because she’s giving me something money can’t buy.
That’s the peace that comes with knowing my little girl is safe.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Carrie
Mondays have never been my favorite day of the week, but today might have changed all of that.
Not only was Mr. Black completely on board with Kirby visiting the lab, but Mr. Benton stopped by to ask me how old Kirby is. He said he’ll arrange the visitor badges for her and Rook, but he tacked something on to the end of that. He’s ordering a little lab coat with Kirby’s name stitched on the front and the words Chemist in Training.
If it fuels a future love for the sciences within her, that will be the icing on the cake, but I’ll be just as happy if it’s a gift she’ll treasure forever.
“I take it that you want to be the one to ask Rook when he can bring Kirby to the lab?” Telford asks me as we exit the elevator in the lobby of the Matiz building.
Nodding my head, I motion for him to cut around a group of people waiting to board the lift. “I’ll do that.”
“In person or on the phone?” he queries with a perked brow.
“One or the other,” I play it off like it’s no big deal.
“My vote is in person, so he’ll see your pretty face again.”
I turn to look right at him. “Aw. Thanks, Tel.”
Pushing his glasses up his nose, he shrugs. “You know you’re pretty. You don’t need any man, including me, to tell you that.”
He’s right about that.
There was a time years ago when I needed that validation in order to believe I was worthy of being labeled as pretty. I’ve always known I’m wickedly smart, but accepting that the woman I saw in the mirror every day is beautiful took a bit longer.
“What are you and Cam up to tonight?” I switch the subject with ease as we leave the building.
We’re instantly bathed in the late afternoon sun of the city.
Even though people are racing past us on the sidewalk, Telford leans his head back to soak in the warmth. “Cam’s working late, so I’m hanging out with my best friend.”
“Me?” I ask, chastising myself internally for not mentioning to him earlier that I have plans tonight.
His eyes pop open, and a smile takes over his mouth. “Yes. Unlike you, I only have the one best friend.”
His index finger jumps in the air to tap the tip of my nose.
“I can’t tonight.” I sigh. “I’m sorry, Tel. I have plans.”
“What plans?”
“Dinner with a friend.” It’s not a complete lie, but it may not be enough to satisfy him since most of my current friends work at Matiz, and Tel knows them.
He eyes me carefully, weighing each of my words. “I know who it is, Carrie.”
I stand my ground and swallow hard in an attempt to chase away any redness creeping over my cheeks. I don’t know why my face gets flushed whenever I think about Rook.
