Page 96 of Betrothed To Love

“Yes, I did and you should too. Definitely don’t stop,” I say, then think about my next words. I want to broach the subject of her tuition without overreaching or making her uncomfortable. “You don’t plan on working, do you?”

“I got work study and I was going to look for something else near campus. My financial aid and partial scholarship don’t cover everything and my momma can’t help and he won’t. He says he can’t,” she says and shrugs. Her smile drops when her shoulders do.

“I might have a solution,” I say and she perks up. “Do you have a job now?”

“No but I’ve been looking though for something on the weekends. It’s hard during the week with school, homework, and debate.”

“Because my practice is primarily criminal defense, there are no days off. My junior associates rotate the weekends to work and they could use a little help.” In reality, Aven works one weekend a month and the associates fend for themselves the other weekends. The offices are fine but I want to help her.

“Really!” she practically squeals.

“Yes. I just need someone to answer the main phone, make copies, get their coffee. Little stuff like that, five hours each day.”

“I can do all of that,” she says confidently.

“You haven’t even asked about pay,” I tease.

“How much?”

“Let’s negotiate, future lawyer,” I say and she smiles.

After straightening her posture, she nods then says, “Fifteen dollars an hour.”

“You’re selling yourself that short? Ask for your worth,” I encourage.

“Eighteen an hour?” she says, almost as a question.

“Twenty-five,” I counter and she actually squeals.

“Are you serious? For real, for real?”

“I am. Twenty-five an hour. You can pick up more hours in the summer if you want before you leave. If you do a good job, Bako & Associates will cover the balance on your tuition for college too.” It takes her a minute to process my last words but I see the moment it registers. Her eyes pop and her mouth drops open. When she closes it, she covers her face with her hands and screams into them. “Is that an acceptance of my offer?” I ask and she nods fast.

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” she utters through her hands.

“That’s what family does,” I tell her.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Thanks to Niya, my new favorite movie treat is nachos made with Cheetos instead of tortilla chips. We are munching on a bowl of them now while watching the new KidTV movie. Quintus is eating leftovers from our early dinner.

It’s the day before Halloween, five days to Election Day, and the last day for Richardson to respond to our cease and desist. For the past two and a half weeks, his team has been radio silent: no appearances, no press, no ads, and no statements. My lead in the polls has increased and it looks like my seat will remain with me but his silence has me tense, so tense that my husband cooked dinner and suggested a family movie night to distract me.

“So they are really little and everything else is big?” Quintus asks, interrupting the movie again.

“Daddy, yes!” Niya exclaims, then I catch her rolling her big, expressive eyes. It’s so cute because she closes them too long and too tight when she calls herself rolling them.

“Baby, pay attention. They are called the minis. The witches shrank them,” I explain and he shakes his head.

Movie night is his idea but the movie choice is all Niya. She’s sitting comfortably on my lap, our theater style chair is reclined, and she’s tuned in to the movie, unlike her dad. The annoyance on his face is priceless but cute as hell.

God, I love this man, this little girl, and our life together.

I grin to myself thinking about how I was in a full-blown panic at the thought of staying married to him until the end of January. Things have certainly changed, and for the better . Now I can’t see myself not being married to him. I finally understand the concept of forever.

The sound of my phone ringing pulls me from my thoughts. Niya presses pause on the remote then holds the button for the recliner. Quintus stops her though.

“I got it, baby girl. Don’t pause it. Please let it keep going,” he says, then gets up. My phone stops ringing but starts back immediately. He returns minutes later with my still ringing phone. “It’s Duke,” he says.