Ava bubbled up with a laugh. “Abuela told me to squirt glue on their hair.”
“Okay. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that,” Mrs. Pinkney said, getting to her feet again. “Can’t blame her for family protectiveness, and Amelia always sends new supplies to school for the other children.”
“That’s right,” Amelia said, her arms crossing defiantly over her chest. “Better than they deserve.”
“Okay, again,” Mrs. Pinkney said, taking her purse and notebook. I rose too, bringing Livie up and on my hip. I couldn’t remember the last time she let me carry her this way, but I missed her as a baby and got a few moments to pretend we were still that family. “No, stay together, you don’t have to show me out. Livie, I hope you like our idea. We’ll be there to support you the whole way.”
She nodded and extended her hand like an adult would do. I loved her so much. “Thank you, Mrs. Pinkney. My Paw’s strong. He can carry all of us at the same time.”
“I see,” Mrs. Pinkney said, waggling a brow my direction. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow. When I get a solid move forward, we’ll begin getting her room together.” She lifted a hand, waving goodbye to the group. Liv and I followed her out. When the front door closed tightly, Livie hugged me again.
“I feel better, Paw. You can put me down,” she said, her legs going straight until I put her down.
“Ava, no more breaking other people’s stuff,” Dash started before I had a chance to say the same thing. Dash veered in a different direction. “Tell them your paw’s stronger than their fathers, and he’s going to beat them up.”
I agreed with the sentiment completely, but I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to say.
“Really, Paw, will you beat them up?” Ava asked, hopefully.
“Your fathers will do anything to protect their girls,” Amelia explained, getting to her feet. She saved me from answering. I’d seen a lot of those dads, I could take them. Still might have to if their children don’t get under control.
19: The Clients
Dash
August 2023
Fire and brimstone were the only words that could sum up the sauna-like experience of living in Sea Springs in August. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t help the pit stains that appeared anytime I walked outside. I’d be more self-conscious if everyone around me weren’t dealing with the same thing.
Thank goodness for remote start on cars. I cranked up the A/C for a good three minutes before taking the fifteen-ish steps from the office to my parking space. When I jumped behind the wheel, a chill ran down my spine. I’d take frostbite over walking in the bowels of hell, every single time.
My mind was still tangled up about Livie. If she wanted friends, she deserved them. She was a sweet girl, pretty as could be, with a laugh that brightened the gloomiest of days. She was also real, tough as nails, choosing not to live in a fairy tale world of rainbows and unicorns, or as Ava enjoyed, dragons and shadows.
I didn’t think I could be prouder of Ava. How she came up with stomping on crayons for being mean to her sister might be the best moment of my life. We needed redirection for her frustrations, but I loved her standing up for Livie.
I was so lost in the thought it took a second ring for me to clue in to the incoming call. Stone’s name appeared on the screen. I tapped accept out of obligation only. “This is considered after hours—it better be good.”
“Dash, it’s Stone. Have a minute?” he said, like his name didn’t just cross the large screen in the Tahoe.
I liked the guy well enough, but wow, did he have the useless questions game on lock? After all, I did answer the phone, some things should be assumed by now. “Go ahead.”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I have two potential clients who I believe you’d like to meet.”
“Have William—” I started, clicking through the faces I remembered seeing as I left the office.
“No, sir. They’ve driven from Oklahoma City and Dallas and will only meet with you. They didn’t call due to the subject matter. It’s worth the trip back. You’ll want to meet with these ladies.”
Dammit. Beau had taught me well. I had firm expectations regarding dedicated family time and leaving the office behind. Fresh minds brought the best ideas, and my children were only going to be little once. I glanced at the time, four forty-five. I ducked out a little early. Today was important—,Beau’s mom had taken the girls back-to-school clothes shopping at a mall in Houston. Tonight, they’d use our living room as a runway to show off their new purchases. Amelia had even agreed to record her telenovelas for later so that she could be present for the modeling show tonight.
“Can I meet with them first thing in the morning?” I asked.
“They have to drive home tonight. It took them longer to get here than expected,” Stone replied. “Now flip that SUV around and come back. I’ll call Beau and tell him you’ll be fashionably late. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this.”
The call disconnected. Another way to say it was that my well-paid assistant hung up on me. My jaw set and brows shot up in utter disbelief. I found the closest U-turn and whipped the ride around a bit aggressively.
My foot stepped on the gas. If I made it back to the office in five minutes, listened to the women state their case for five minutes, then gave Stone a forceful talking to, I’d be back on the road in twenty-five minutes. I planned a significant rant.
Beau’s name popped up on my screen, I pushed accept.
