AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s okay,” she said, gently squeezing the sudden, warm bulge in my pants, “I like it.”
“Oh,” was all I could think to say, so many responses ratting around in my head.
“Don’t believe it,” she went on.
“Believe what?”
“Any of it. Anything I say, at least at the beginning. The truth is more complicated.”
I was about to ask what was more complicated, but realized I was back in my empty office, with no one but me to provide an answer.
Chapter Five - Emilie
The air-conditioning was off, even with the day getting hotter than expected. It was such a to-do, putting the thing on, it tended to go on a seasonal schedule. Anyone who disagreed could wear a sweater, or considerably less depending on the case.
Hanging my suit jacket on the back of the door, I went to my desk, rolling up my shirt sleeves. The cool air there was to be had washed over me to do its magic and I let out a little sigh of relief.
“Come in,” I said, in response to the light knock.
“Sorry to trouble you -”
“No trouble at all,” I said.
“The brass just sent this down.”
The file was thick, clearly calling for a lot of very dedicated work. With any luck I might actually get paid. To be fair, it was a lot more likely with an internal case. In a situation like that, the partners usually gave at least a stipend for work done, no matter how the case turned out.
“Ann said it was an apology for the last one,” Kate said, handing me the file, which was as heavy as it looked.
“How thoughtful.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
It was nice in a way, really. The work would be hard, but it couldn’t say I couldn’t use it. Particularly if I was going to be keeping Gen in food and such.
I’d barely made a dent in the documentation in the hours between returning and when I had to go and get Gen from day care. I’d worked right though lunch, for the little bit of good it did. Kate, bless her heart, had brought me a sandwich up from the café, knowing me well enough to know I wouldn’t be able to stop after I’d started. At least not for something as inconsequential as food.
“Time to go,” Kate said, not even knocking that time.
It was a break of protocol, but with a good reasoning behind it. I’d always been terrified that I wouldn’t be picked up from school. Going into a panic if my mom was even five minutes late. I didn’t want to put Gen through that and was resolute about always being back to The Carrot Seed on time, if not early. Heaving the folder into my bag, only hoping it wouldn’t cause back problems, I went to get my little girl.
Even with my later-than-usual exit, I still arrived at the house before anyone else. The driveway sat as vacant as when we’d arrived that morning. I couldn’t complain, it was always better for turning around to leave.
Unseasonal warmth embraced me as I approached the door. The button to the doorbell glowed just so, setting off another round of classical brilliance. Taking her sweet time, as was her due given her position, Helena answered the door. She still looked impeccable, despite having spent the day with fifteen children under six. I would have to remember to ask her secret.
“Oh, Ms. Boucher, I’ll be right back.”
Before I ever had time to respond, she was gone like a conjurer’s trick, returning a moment later, carrying a drowsy Gen, her head on Helena’s shoulder. It was amazing to see, Gen not usually trusting, or really even liking most people. A streak of low-key misanthropy was not unheard of in the Boucher bloodline. It was a characteristic I couldn’t deny having myself, on occasion.
Gen was passed to me without so much as a whimper. I wasn’t really sure she knew much of what was going on anymore. My baby just buried her face in my chest and went to sleep as I carried her to the car, not even stirring as I buckled her into the car seat.
She could be wonderful when she wanted to be. I couldn’t help but count myself lucky for having such a relatively easy kid. She was a bit precocious, but never really bratty, even during the so-called ‘terrible twos.’ As long as she had something to do, anything really, she was pleased as punch. I’d heard of parents going prematurely gray from the stress of it all.
“Pancakes!” Gen shouted, waking up out of a dead sleep, just as the car came to a halt.
“Was that a question or a request?” I asked with a light laugh.
“Re-kest?”
“Never mind. Your wish is my command, princess.”
It came out a bit more sarcastic that I meant. She really didn’t ask for much, and I really didn’t mind making small efforts to try and make her happy.
