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I looked to my Dad and laughed. “Sorry, I swear they should be ready. They have been planning this overnight trip as soon as they found out they were going. I think they’ve had everything packed three or four times by now.”
“No need to apologize. I remember a little girl who was the exact same way when she was their age.”
I smiled and took a drink. “How’s Mom?”
“Good, she is home baking, getting ready for the weekend. Maybe I’ll finally get that pie I have been asking for.”
“Maybe.” I smiled. “Although you do know you shouldn’t be eating that stuff with your heart the way it is. Mom told me about your last checkup.”
My father waved a hand in front of his face, dismissing my comment, and changed the subject. “How is Carter?” Dad asked, his face getting serious.
“Good. He isn’t home from work yet. He called this morning, said he might be a little late tonight; there was something going on that he needed to finish,” I said, looking down at my hands, the simple gold band catching my eye.
“He should be working late with all that has gone on.”
I frowned. I had no idea what he was speaking of. “Carter always works late, Dad. It’s our anniversary, though. I would have figured he could have let work go for a bit this weekend.”
“He hasn’t mentioned anything to you?”
“About work? Nothing lately.”
“So, you don’t know what is going on?”
I shook my head, a funny feeling rising into the pit of my stomach. “Dad, you’re scaring me.”
“Trent King is going to prison. It has been all over the news today.” I didn’t know what to say, I hadn’t heard or thought about Trent in almost thirteen years. “His father is probably rolling over in his grave. I’m so glad you had your senses about you and decided to marry Carter.”
“That wasn’t always the case, if you remember correctly, so don’t tell me it was a good thing I came to my senses. You used to hate Carter, Daddy. Besides, what does Trent going to prison have to do with Carter?” I got up off the stool and put my empty glass in the dishwasher.
“Well, it’s his firm that is representing him. I believe Hunter has the case.”
I was just about to ask Dad more about what he had heard when the girls came running into the kitchen carrying their little backpacks.
“We’re ready, Grandpa,” they both sang in unison.
“All right then, let’s get you in the car,” he said, picking up Mackenzie and taking Kendall by the hand.
“Okay,girls, you be good for Grandpa and Grandma. We’ll see you Monday morning.”
“I want to say goodbye to Daddy,” Kendall started crying.
“Well, Daddy isn’t home yet.” As I put her coat on, she started screaming at the top of her lungs and kicking her feet, demanding to see her father. One thing was for sure—she had her father’s temper.
“Daddy wants to say goodbye to you too, Kendall.” I heard Carter’s deep voice behind me. “You think you were going to go away for the weekend and Daddy wasn’t going to be here in time to say goodbye?” I turned to see Carter standing in the doorway, looking as handsome as ever.
Kendall and Mackenzie both ran to Carter, and he swooped down and wrapped his arms around them both. “All right, you girls be good for Grandpa and Grandma, and Mom and I will see you Monday.” He kissed them both and stood to shake my Dad’s hand. “Brian, how are you doing?”
“Good, Carter. Good to see you. Have fun this weekend, kids,” Dad said and turned, taking both girls by the hands. We watched him walk both the girls to the car and get them situated.
“You all packed and ready to go?” he whispered into my ear as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“I am. Figured you might like to shower first, but I’ve confirmed our reservations.”
“All right, baby. Give me half an hour.”
I was sittingin the living room, dressed, a glass of sparkling grape juice in my hand, waiting for Carter to get out of the shower. I shut the TV off, slowly wandered into his office, and sat down at his desk. It was a room I very rarely wandered into anymore, except to dust and vacuum. When we were first married, I couldn’t keep count of how many nights I had found myself on top of this desk, my legs over his shoulders, his face buried in my center. I smiled at the memories as I ran my hand along the smooth, cold desktop. His wallet and cell phone sat in a neat little pile just above his keyboard and beside that his keys.
I flipped the screen of the computer on and went straight to MSN. My curiosity had gotten the best of me and I needed to see if what my dad had said was true. As soon as the page loaded, it was the first article I saw. “CEO of King Enterprises found Guilty for Embezzlement” was right there in black and white. It was true; Trent was going to prison.
