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I nodded, not sure that I trusted my voice. Mom didn’t question me further. She just let me hold her. We stayed that way until Dad came to investigate.
“Hey, Sandy who...oh, baby girl, you okay? Who do I have to hunt down?”
I pulled away, laughing at his comment. “I’m fine, Daddy. Sometimes a girl just needs a hug from her mom.”
Mom smiled as she cupped my cheek. “I have an endless supply of those.”
Shawn started wiggling to get free. Dad put him down, and I kneeled holding my arms out as he eagerly ran to me. His little arms contained the power to make all the bad melt away.
“How’s my favorite little boy? Were you good for Grammy and Pa-Pa?”
“Yes!”
“Yes, he was,” Dad affirmed. “Come on, buddy, we have a castle to finish building.”
I put Shawn down, and he took off running back down the hall with Dad following behind him.
“You hungry? I was about to fix lunch.”
“Yeah, lunch sounds good.”
She placed her hand on my back, and rubbed in small circles as we started down the hall. “You sure you’re okay? You look troubled.”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m good.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we got home, I was surprised to see Dorian’s car in the garage. I wasn’t sure if she had always been a workaholic, or if this was a new thing because of her divorce, but most days she worked late, not getting home until seven or eight. The sight of her car made me realize his were really gone. I stared at the empty spaces that used to house his cars. I wasn’t sure how I felt not seeing the dust covered car wraps. I hadn’t stopped to think about it this morning since I was tired and running late for my appointment, but now it was odd to have them gone.
Shawn started fussing in the back seat, taking my attention away from the empty
parking spots. Dorian was on the phone when we walked in. She threw her hand up in greeting before turning her back to continue her conversation. I put Shawn down, who instantly headed into the family room. I hung my keys on the hook; mine were the only ones there. I shook my head, trying to clear things out. I couldn’t let that train of thought pick up steam.
“In three weeks you’ll have the place all to yourself again.”
“That’s good. Any longer and I was going to start charging you rent.”
She rolled her eyes. “I have some papers I need you to sign.” She walked over to her briefcase and pulled out a manila folder.
“What are these?”
“Company stuff. Just sign where I’ve placed the stickies.” She held a pen out for me.
I took it and the folder, walking over to the couch. “Am I about to blindly sign over controlling interest to you?”
I heard the fridge open and close. She came over with a diet coke in hand. “No. I can explain it all, but we both know it’s pointless. You always get this glazed look in your eyes when I speak legal.”
She had a point on that. No matter how she tried to simplify things, I always felt lost when it came to anything related to Jokobi Enterprises. Opening the folder, I signed in the places she indicated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the end of the night, after Dorian had gone off to bed, I found myself actually missing her company. She provided the distraction I needed to not think about the last few days. It was a strange thing to welcome her self-centered nature. Having the conversations always revolve around her in some shape, form, or fashion made it much easier not to think about my problems. Now, alone in my bedroom, staring up at the ceiling, they were all I could think about.
Malcolm. He hadn’t called, or even sent a text, today or yesterday. His previous ones had gone unanswered, so I didn’t know why I was bothered by the fact that he’d stopped trying. But I was. Some illogical part of me thought he would keep reaching out. He’d been so stubborn and adamant about being there for me, for making our relationship work, but I should have known better. I was damaged goods, and now he knew just how damaged. It only made sense he’d give up the fight.
I rolled over, hugging my stomach. That painful knot that had been there all day twisted. The walls closed in. Those memories I’d buried to make being here bearable coiled around me.
Chapter 31
