Page 22 of A Daddy to Love

Are you being serious?

Very.

Just then, the table filled up again. Talks resumed. I knew it was rude to text while in a board session.

I have to go now. I’ll keep you updated on the time.

I had gotten very little sleep last night and my head kept jerking up. I hoped no one noticed. 6:30 passed. Finally, at almost seven, there was a flurry of voices and laptops closing. When I blinked, everyone was smiling. What a relief. Now we could finally go to dinner.

My limo was waiting for me out in front of the corporate building. Donny leaned by the door, opening it for me as I walked up. I was so distracted by having this over with that I hadn’t invited anyone to accompany me. Not even Richard. Besides, I didn’t want to have to be responsible for bringing them back here after dinner. When we finished at the restaurant, I wanted to head directly to Truce.

A room had been set aside for our party of twenty-four. I was miffed to see there had been more people in the boardroom who weren’t at the dinner. I complained to Richard who said they were extra lawyers no longer needed. The main attorneys still showed up.

I wanted to grumble and walk out. Grandfather had taught me better manners.

“Don’t ever act like you have a chip on your shoulder just because you have money,” he always told me.

“What’s a chip on the shoulder mean?” I’d asked.

“That you demand special treatment. Or hold a grudge that is irrelevant. Or act like you’re put out for a flimsy reason.”

“But should I stand up for myself?”

“Always. But pick your battles. Make sure they don’t make you look bad, especially when the other person has no control over the situation and can’t help you.”

“Like when Uncle Darian is rude to waiters and gets mad if they don’t refill his drink stat?” Uncle Darian was a loud mean man who didn’t listen, looked over your head when he talked to you and chuffed a lot. He was one of the only relatives I had left and we didn’t speak.

“Exactly.”

Now here I was. Stuck. I almost didn’t care about what Grandfather had said. I was grumpy. Should I care what these people thought of me when the only real social life I’d ever had was suddenly blooming? Would this be the battle I stood up for?

I held back. But I needed Truce. He made me feel alive in ways I’d never known.

I glanced at my phone. Almost 7:30. I still had time.

The dinner started out painfully slow. It took forever for everyone to give their drink orders and another forever to get the drinks. When it came time for me to give my order, I wished for mac’n’cheese or chicken nuggets. But this was a posh place. The prices weren’t even listed on the menu. I ordered a steak with broccoli and mashed potatoes. A salad was served to me first.

Over an hour passed after that before the food was served. It was after 8:30 and I was losing all hope.

I did my best to nod and smile at people. I ate half my dinner even though too many butterflies in my stomach made everything taste like paper. I could tell the food was good. Tender. Hot and fresh. But my brain would not stop obsessing.

Truce would be patiently waiting for me. It was awful that I’d made him have to do that.

By nine the dessert orders were taken and after dinner drinks were requested.

“Are they getting the papers out now?” I asked Richard.

“Soon, kid. Soon.”

“I don’t want dessert, though. Can’t we sign now and then everyone celebrates with ice cream and cake?”

He shook his head once and started talking to the guy next to him. Richard was the president. He could make an announcement. He could suggest we all sign now. But he didn’t.

I fidgeted, put my phone in my lap and began to text.

Going longer than I expected. I want to leave but can’t get away.

I got an instant reply from him.