Unconventionally employed.
Unencumbered by popular opinion.
I look down into Sophia Barone’s perfect face just as her sleepy eyes open. “For you, I will do anything,” I say to the baby. To her parents, I add, “Same for you.”
They nod and smile, seemingly relieved. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, sis. I got the better end of the deal anyway. Didn’t I, Sophia?”
She scrunches her face, drops her quivering bottom lip, and wails.
“Tell me what you really think, now.” I snuggle her tighter until I realize she’s turned her face, seeking from me something I’m unable to provide.
“That’s my cue.” My sister says, leaning back a bit in her lounger as Christian takes Sophia from my arms, cooing to her softly.
He hands her to her mom who has her under her oversized shirt quickly. A well-rehearsed dance that looks as natural on Ayla as her ability to see a vista.
“I have paperwork in my office, if you’re sure,” Christian says.
Ayla’s gaze lands on me as she mouths, “Love you.”
I follow my brother-in-law inside and into his home office off the sitting room. I know this place like I know my own, but I’m on the back foot. Admittedly, I didn’t expect anything of this magnitude—hell, anything of the sort—to happen. Much less today.
“I want you to know how much it means to us that you would do this for us and for our daughter.” Christian takes the chair behind his desk.
I nod.
“Of course, you will have everything necessary to raise her to the lifestyle she’ll be accustomed to.”
I lift my hand between us. “One, I don’t need your money. Two, you aren’t going anywhere. This is just a precaution.”
“We hope so too. But there’s no such thing as too cautious when it comes to her.” He looks at his fingers as he fiddles with something on his desk. When his eyes meet mine, he adds, “I feel the same about Ayla. No such thing as too safe.”
“We agree. What do I sign? It’s just a formality anyway.” I lean forward, resting both forearms on his desk. No doubt most people fear him, sit more formally, treat him with more deference. I’m not most people, so…
Papers spin to face me, and he lifts the bottom corner, indicating a stickered arrow. I accept the pen and sign and print what’s requested.
“I’ll get copies to you after Sherman has a chance to process them.” His attorney is entrenched in all their businesses, and in our family’s personal business as well.
A quick bob of the head confirms my agreement.
The sigh that drags from his chest reverberates around the room. “Thank you, Liam. You don’t know the relief this offers me.”
“Formality. Remember?”
He nods. “Formality,” he repeats, as if to himself.
“File with Sherman.” I stand and tap my index and middle fingers on the desk. “Then forget about it. None of us will ever need those papers.”
I’ll make sure of that. I don’t add that part, but he and I both know it’s the truth.
Lorien
I had no clue that my feet could hurt this bad from storming out of the house to yell at my neighbor. So maybe the broken glasswas a reasonable excuse. Charging outside barefoot was not. I know better.
I’m klutzy-ish. I don’t mean to trip over my own feet. The way I figure, nature wants things in balance. I was able to get my doctorate easily and quickly. I know how that sounds, but my brain just does it naturally, like a marathoner’s gait. Something had to give and that something was my coordination.
The fact that I’m allowed in this lab full of multimillion dollar equipment, glass, and sharp metal objects is only because I haven’t told leadership about my propensity to fall.
