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“Sabrina’s a good girl, though,” I pointed out. “She’ll be smart.”
“And if not, Auntie Jade will step in.”
Taylor laughs. “I appreciate it.”
“You’ve done a good job raising them, Taylor,” I offer.
“You think so?” She asks, the self-doubt clear in her tone.
“Certainly do. Over the last four years, both Sabrina and Amber have come a long way since you adopted them from the Sunrise Youth home. With you being a single mom with two full-time jobs, I’d say you’re an incredible mom. You have blessed these girls with a home and all the love they love they can handle.”
“Then why is it I’m always worried I’m not enough for them?”
“Because you want the best for them after what they’ve been through.”
“You don’t think I’m failing them?” She looks at another photo. This time it’s the three of them smiling and having a great time.
“After being abandoned by their parents and abused in foster care, it’s because of you they feel loved and safe.” I remind her. “Taylor, you have been an amazing mom to them.”
Taylor’s eyes welled up with tears. “You know I have you to thank for them. If you hadn’t asked me for a ride over to the group home that day to meet with Elora, I wouldn’t have met and fallen in love with them.”
A smile breaks over my face at the memory. “Who knew landing my job at Owls would change so many lives?”
“I’ll forever be grateful for my two girls,” Taylor declares.
“Their auntie's are as well, Hun.” I said.
Crossing another intersection, Dream Big Publishing stood in front of us. Taking the lead, Jade walked ahead to grab the door. “Thank you,” I sang with appreciation as I passed.
Entering the lobby ahead of everyone, I had a moment alone to take in the space. Every time I come into this building, I swear I fall further in love with the place.
Turning towards the writer’s corner, those solid oak desks called out to me. Maybe I should start using the writer’s corner? That’s what it’s here for, after all. All the authors who work for Big Dream have access to the writer’s corner twenty-four seven.
Speeding up to gain some ground, I reached the elevator. Pressing the call button, I spun back around to face the girls. “We should have another writing session here,” I said, a memory of the way Nick reacted the last time I stayed out to write with the girls playing in my mind. He threw a fit, telling me I messed up his schedule. I didn’t see what the big deal was. All I had to do was pop my dinner into the microwave for a few minutes and all was right again.
Anger heated the tips of my ears as the elevator dinged behind me. He hated everything about my writing career. Pushing my anger aside, I hated the way he crept into my thoughts. Entering the elevator first, Jade held the door button while Taylor and I boarded. Taking the car to the second floor, the receptionist greeted us with a smile. “Good afternoon, ladies,” she called over her desk, sounding much too chipper for a Monday.
Unable to wave and walk, I was the only one who replied, “Good afternoon.”
Rounding the corner to Lila’s waiting area, I nearly collided with another wheelchair. Thinking on my toes, I quickly pulled back on my joystick, giving me just enough time to keep myself from crashing into her. “Oh my god, I’m sorry, Anne Marie,” I blurted, my heart racing out of my chest. “I wasn’t expecting to run into anyone,” I explained, taking a moment to allow my chest to calm down.
“Funny meeting you here,” she replied. “These halls are pretty narrow, aren’t they?” she agreed.
“Just a smidge,” I chuckled.
“What brings you here?” Anne Marie asked.
“Meeting with my agent. How about you?”
“Wait, you write? I had no idea.”
“I do. In fact, it’s almost my fifth publiversary.”
“Oh wow, mine too.”
“We’ll have to celebrate,” I offered.
“Definitely,” she nodded, as Lila broke our attention.
