Page 6 of My Never
I’m actually surprised the man asked. I figured he’d get details on Bryn then dash.
“It’s going alright. This morning’s kind of been a crapshoot. One of the plumbing contractors screwed up big, but it could’ve been worse.”
“Good good,” Dad rattles off, and I realize he’s not even really listening. “I’ve got to get back to work, Marcus. I’ll talk to you later. Keep an eye on your sister. Your mother and I love you.”
A disappointed exhale whooshes slowly from my lungs.
“Love you too, Dad. Talk to you lat–.”
He disconnects before I even finish saying later. I don’t know why I ever get my hopes up that our conversations will get better or that he’ll actually take a true interest in me. He’s still pretty salty that I didn’t follow in his footsteps and take over the little restaurant he and Mom own downtown. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy cooking, but I never intended to run the restaurant. That was their dream. This place is mine. I take pride in my work. I love helping other people’s dreams come alive. I love seeing their eyes light up when they fall in love with their home either again or for the very first time.
I rub a palm across my stubble, wiping away the sour taste phone calls with my father always tend to leave behind. It does no good to dwell on them. All that does is put me in a terrible mood for the rest of the day. My thoughts wander to Bryn. I hope she’s having a good morning. I know Colin always keeps a good eye on her when I’m not around.
This new guy though. I know I’m an overprotective asshole of a big brother and all, but he’s no good for her. Doesn’t treat her right. They’ve been together less than a year, but the red flags I’ve seen should’ve had him out on his ass months ago. Thankfully, they aren’t living together. I wonder if there’s some way we can get him to blatantly show his ugly colors to Bryn before she gets any more invested. She deserves the very best after the crap she’s been through.
???
Ava
“Why does adoption have to be so hard?”Sami, one of the partners at our firm, drops into the chair across from me, tossing her head back against the chair in exasperation while adjusting her glasses. She has a heart of gold, which makes her so good at this job, but it also makes the tough parts of the job that much harder. She works herself to the bone trying to help families find their missing pieces and get children out of the horrible system and orphanages. Family law is definitely a double-edged sword.
I am super proud of our firm and our team. We’ve helped a lot of families come together, and I wouldn’t trade this career for anything. The wins definitely outshine the losses. We take those hard here though because a loss typically involves a family torn apart or a child left in the broken system.
“I don’t know. I feel like once we know the family is a safe and good fit, there shouldn’t be so many issues,” I say, knowing how long the process can be drawn out.
“Right? It drives me crazy that many of these good people have to fight tooth and nail to just help a kid or have a kid, while others who have zero desire to be a parent do so with no effort and could care less if their child is well taken care of or loved. On days like today, it makes me steaming mad, you know?” Sami rambles about the injustices of reality.
I nod in understanding, letting her get it all out. She really just wants someone to listen for a few minutes. When she leaves to go get some coffee, I peer down at the notes for my current case and center on the picture of the little girl I’m working to place in a home. A home that will give her siblings, a good life, and two loving parents. She’s been stuck in a girl’s home for the past six years. This little girl deserves some happy. She deserves the world, and I’ll do my best to help get it for her.
Walking through the grocery store attempting to figure out whatI want to eat for dinner tonight, I blow a breath through puffed cheeks, trying to get my mind out of work mode. Some days it’s really hard to leave it all back at the office. In my basket, I already have a bottle of wine and tampons, because it’s just that kind of fucking day, and, of course, I started early. I’m browsing frozen meals when I hear a familiar voice cursing under his breath.
???
Fuck my life!
Breathing in deep through my nose and counting to three, I turn to face the cocky, handsome asshole that drives me to the edge of insanity every time he is within thirty feet of me. That’s not generous enough. He just has to be in the same building with me, and I can feel him just waiting to get a dig in to make me want to rip his hair out or smack that smug smirk off his annoyingly gorgeous face. To think, one time I even entertained the idea of dating him.
Pssshhhh…
“Hi, Ava.”
“Mark.”
“It’s always a pleasure running into you.”
“Is it though?”
“Rough day at the office?”
“Long day. Yes.”
He peers cautiously into my basket, and I pull it back a little. I should’ve grabbed something to cover the damn tampons. I roll my eyes.
“That makes sense. Ice cream.”
Huh?
The look on my face must give off my thoughts because he goes to explain.
