Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I think we’ve lost him,” Lucia said, beyond the now open conference room door.
“That’s rare indeed,” Stone said. “I’ll show you out.”
Stone received another good job check mark, along with all the others he’d earned tonight.
When the front door rattled its closure, I stared at Stone who grinned like a Cheshire cat. I never discussed my birth family with anyone, but as my personal assistant and paralegal, he was privy to all of my phone calls, except with Beau. He listened to everything to help keep me on track.
“Get the smile off your face. I don’t know if we can handle this. Employment law isn’t my strong suit, and this’ll cost us a fortune.”
Stone kept grinning as he said, “But one way or another, in this climate, your father has to take a hit.” Stone gave a loud clap of the hands and pivoted to his desk. “I believe this should be a class action lawsuit. Brianne should be reassigned solely to this case. She has an employment law background and thinks outside of the box. Of course, I’ll handle the leg work. I might need to hire someone to help.” He snapped his fingers then pointed at me. “Go home now. I suggest you tell Beau the truth tonight before they become clients. He needs to understand. He’s a good guy. He’ll support us.”
Us? This was an entirely new side to Stone I’d never seen before. I let him keep talking until I made it to the front door. “They’re probably already our clients. I’ll handle Beau. He’ll worry and be hard to get along with. Be patient with him.” The giant decorative clock above Stone’s desk read almost five forty-five. The kids went to sleep at nine o’clock during the summer. As I left, my mind didn’t allow me to put work behind me this time. A first in many years.
20: The Boots
Beau/Dash
Beau
Most of the evening turned into a fashion show extravaganza as the girls flaunted their new clothes, strutting across the living room’s make-shift runway in their best impressions of high-fashion models. They wiggled their hips and walked by kicking their legs out in front of them with their hands on their hips. They were hilarious and adorable and ours. The two youngest boys got in on the action until their teasing became too much. Now they sat at my feet, playing on my and Dash’s cell phones. Duke and Dixie played peacemakers and were strategically placed between the two boys to keep them from roughhousing.
“I like that outfit the best on you,” Dash said about Ava’s dark jeans and vintage Cage the Elephant tee. She commandeered Dash’s music system, and a Cage the Elephant song played quietly all around the house. With a pair of black military-style boots, her ensemble came together nicely.
“It’s my favorite too,” she said, excitedly.
Each girl struck a pose in front of Amelia, spinning this way and that for her approval.”
“It looks good, Ava. But I liked it when the three of you wore the same sundresses. I made lots of them. Do it for me again?”
“Augh, Abuela, no. Sundresses are the worst,” Ava said and twisted, strutting all the way back to the stairs.
Mia sashayed out the elevator, channeling Ava, but her step-out kick could have put an eye out.
“I’m wearing skinny jeans.” She did a twirl, luckily staying on her feet in the end. I was impressed. She also wore a seafoam green T-shirt with sea turtles on the front. She stopped in front of me, one hip cocked to one side, her head tilted to the other, and her fist landed on the wrong hip. “I bought most of my clothes from Save the Oceans.” She pivoted to Amelia for the final say. “Abuela, my shoes are made from recycled ocean plastic.” The show paused when her gaze lifted to the ceiling in thought. “It’s maybe from Save the Manatees.” Her stare lowered back to Amelia. “It’s something like that.”
She shrugged and grinned happily.
“It’s very nice,” Amelia said. “But know what I’d like?”
“For us to dress the same again.”
Dash chuckled at the way Mia rolled her eyes. Her good nature returned instantly, and she kissed Amelia’s cheek before darting up the stairs. Livie came next. She wore a bright yellow, sunflower inspired dress. Her sandals and pretty hair clasp matched. She walked straight to Amelia.
Since the big schooling discussion and learning she had no real friends, which was difficult for us to absorb as parents, we’d all given her more attention and love. “Little girl, you look lovely. Put together effortlessly. I want your sisters to wear your clothes.”
Livie beamed even as Ava came halfway down the steps, sticking a finger in her mouth and giving a gagging sound.
“Ava,” my mom said, trotting down the steps, taking Ava’s hand as they came to the bottom stair. “Livie concludes tonight’s fashion show. Please give a round of applause to Livie, Mia, and Ava. Without them, there’d be no show.”