smile.
“ You could say
that.” Dave answered with a nervous chuckle.
“ You do know
we have a day care downstairs?” he asked with a raised brow. Dave
stared at him unable to answer. He did know, but with Amy back, he
wasn’t going to take her back there any time soon, “But you want to
keep her from her mother don’t you?”
Dave looked at him, not
at all surprised by his question. The man has eyes and ears all
over the building, “Yes and no.” he hoped the conversation wouldn’t
turn into a legal position that the firm wanted to
avoid.
“ Uhmm. You
need to fix your situation with your wife Dave. You are a lawyer,
pull a card from under your sleeve, I’ve done that a few
times.”
“ For your
clients?”
“ No. With my
three ex-wives,” he laughed, “congratulations on the big win.” He
turned, but stopped at the door, “the only reason I’m not giving
you a warning for this is because you are the best I have. And if
having your daughter around makes you a better lawyer, I’m willing
to compromise.” He left, immediately Carol rushed in.
Dave sat down, “A heads
up next time would be appreciated.”
“ I’m so sorry,
I wasn’t at my desk when he came, so what did he say?”
“ Congratulations.” Dave spoke, his eyes on his
daughter.
“ And?” Carol
prompted.
“ He said if
having my daughter around makes me better, he’ll
compromise.”
“ Yes!” she
yelled, jumping and punching the air, “We are getting a promotion!”
She danced around.
Dave looked at her
amused, “He didn’t say that.”
“ He implied
it. I’m getting a raise!”
“ You know that
means no date?” Dave humored.
“ I’ll take
comfort in the new hundreds on my pay check.” she danced out of the
office and closed the door behind her.
Dave laughed, glad that
situation had worked itself out. He wasn’t really up to getting
into another relationship after Amy. He had enough of women for
now, he may revisit that endeavour when Elizabeth was in high
school or off to college.
“ It’s just you
and me, baby girl.” he kissed the top of her head and went back to
watching her play.
Chapter Seven
Rumors had made its
rounds in Jacksonville until they were exhausted. Maria didn’t pay
much attention to them, she was determined to start a new life. She
walked down the streets unashamed, she worked in the diner unafraid
of what people would say to her, but she had gotten some surprising
reactions. Some women came up to her and whispered congratulations
on getting rid of the woman beater, others wished her well in her
freedom, others gave her fake condolences, but most asked her what
she did first, knock him out or set him on fire. It amused her how
people got a high out of gossip, but one thing she appreciated out
of the whole mess was that men had a new found respect or fear for
her. In the past few months no one dared grab her ass, or make
scummy remarks towards her. Those who did were quickly warned on
how she had burned her boyfriend alive for beating her.
But it got old and people
didn’t care anymore, Ricky was quickly forgotten and everything
that surrounded her went back to normal. The new talk was about
several burglaries around town. Maria was grateful they hadn’t hit
Jane’s house. Jane had insisted they move in, until their house was
reconstructed. She said it would be cheaper for all of them if they
lived together and shared the expenses. Maria felt awkward about it
at first, but with time she felt right at home. They were one big
happy family. Tom was enjoying himself too, and he didn’t have to
take double shifts anymore giving him more time to spend with his
family. It was working well for all of them.
As JJ was walking out of
the diner, “Jane and Maria, you two are closing up tonight.” Maria
stared after him as he walked away, irritated by his
arrogance.
Maria picked up the basin
and walked around the empty booths filling it with dirty dishes.
“Would it hurt if he asked
“ You could say
that.” Dave answered with a nervous chuckle.
“ You do know
we have a day care downstairs?” he asked with a raised brow. Dave
stared at him unable to answer. He did know, but with Amy back, he
wasn’t going to take her back there any time soon, “But you want to
keep her from her mother don’t you?”
Dave looked at him, not
at all surprised by his question. The man has eyes and ears all
over the building, “Yes and no.” he hoped the conversation wouldn’t
turn into a legal position that the firm wanted to
avoid.
“ Uhmm. You
need to fix your situation with your wife Dave. You are a lawyer,
pull a card from under your sleeve, I’ve done that a few
times.”
“ For your
clients?”
“ No. With my
three ex-wives,” he laughed, “congratulations on the big win.” He
turned, but stopped at the door, “the only reason I’m not giving
you a warning for this is because you are the best I have. And if
having your daughter around makes you a better lawyer, I’m willing
to compromise.” He left, immediately Carol rushed in.
Dave sat down, “A heads
up next time would be appreciated.”
“ I’m so sorry,
I wasn’t at my desk when he came, so what did he say?”
“ Congratulations.” Dave spoke, his eyes on his
daughter.
“ And?” Carol
prompted.
“ He said if
having my daughter around makes me better, he’ll
compromise.”
“ Yes!” she
yelled, jumping and punching the air, “We are getting a promotion!”
She danced around.
Dave looked at her
amused, “He didn’t say that.”
“ He implied
it. I’m getting a raise!”
“ You know that
means no date?” Dave humored.
“ I’ll take
comfort in the new hundreds on my pay check.” she danced out of the
office and closed the door behind her.
Dave laughed, glad that
situation had worked itself out. He wasn’t really up to getting
into another relationship after Amy. He had enough of women for
now, he may revisit that endeavour when Elizabeth was in high
school or off to college.
“ It’s just you
and me, baby girl.” he kissed the top of her head and went back to
watching her play.
Chapter Seven
Rumors had made its
rounds in Jacksonville until they were exhausted. Maria didn’t pay
much attention to them, she was determined to start a new life. She
walked down the streets unashamed, she worked in the diner unafraid
of what people would say to her, but she had gotten some surprising
reactions. Some women came up to her and whispered congratulations
on getting rid of the woman beater, others wished her well in her
freedom, others gave her fake condolences, but most asked her what
she did first, knock him out or set him on fire. It amused her how
people got a high out of gossip, but one thing she appreciated out
of the whole mess was that men had a new found respect or fear for
her. In the past few months no one dared grab her ass, or make
scummy remarks towards her. Those who did were quickly warned on
how she had burned her boyfriend alive for beating her.
But it got old and people
didn’t care anymore, Ricky was quickly forgotten and everything
that surrounded her went back to normal. The new talk was about
several burglaries around town. Maria was grateful they hadn’t hit
Jane’s house. Jane had insisted they move in, until their house was
reconstructed. She said it would be cheaper for all of them if they
lived together and shared the expenses. Maria felt awkward about it
at first, but with time she felt right at home. They were one big
happy family. Tom was enjoying himself too, and he didn’t have to
take double shifts anymore giving him more time to spend with his
family. It was working well for all of them.
As JJ was walking out of
the diner, “Jane and Maria, you two are closing up tonight.” Maria
stared after him as he walked away, irritated by his
arrogance.
Maria picked up the basin
and walked around the empty booths filling it with dirty dishes.
“Would it hurt if he asked
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