She turned, hand to the handle, and bit out, “What?”
“Hank,” I said softly. “And while he’s at it, get him to talk to Roam, too.”
Her face got soft.
She got me.
Hank would be perfect for the talk, and we both knew it.
“Hank,” she said.
“And, just so you know, any other issues with the Hot Bunch, your Hot-Bunch-in-the-making at home or anything, you wanna come over and gab. Do it. But bring coffee instead of attitude next time,” I said.
She rolled her eyes, turned and was gone.
I turned to Daisy. “Right. Crisis over. Anything I need to know?”
She nodded. “Roxie’s got the beta version of the website good to go, so you need to look at it. And Ava sent the finals for the letterhead and business cards that you need to approve so we can go to print. I sent all that shit to you, it’s in your email.”
“Cool,” I replied.
“And Smithie called. He wants me to have a sit down with JoJo this afternoon, so I’m takin’ off to do that. And tomorrow they’re puttin’ our plaque on the wall in the hall.”
Tomorrow they were putting our plaque on the wall in the hall.
I smiled at her.
She smiled at me.
Then I hauled my ass to my office and booted up my machine.
I was clicking through the website Roxie designed for me when Daisy called from my door, “I’m gettin’ a sandwich, darlin’. Want me to get you one?”
I shook my head. “I’m not here long. I’ve gotta go meet Matt and go over our strategy for tonight. I’ll pick something up on the way.”
“Gotcha,” she murmured and turned on a wave and a, “Later.”
I watched the door close on her.
Then I thought about my plaque in the hall and meeting Matt later.
This brought me to thinking about Hank and Lee.
This sent my hand to my phone.
I called Shirleen.
“Girl, I just got done rappin’ with you,” was her greeting.
“You know,” I told her, getting to the point of what was really upsetting her, “they’re gonna grow up and when they do, they’re gonna leave.”
She said nothing, but I felt the vibes, and they were not good. Not angry, just unhappy. So I kept speaking.
“But what you need to know and never forget is that the love and stability you’ve given them since you’ve had them is the most precious thing they’ve had in their lives. And they’ll never forget that either. So they’re gonna grow up and they’re gonna live their lives. And because you gave them that, you are not ever gonna lose them.” I took in a breath and used Duke’s words. “But now, you need to give them freedom to fly.”
She again said nothing and I waited.
Then she said something.
“You’re right, child.”
“I know, Shirleen.”
“Still, gonna kick his ass if he knocks up some skinny white girl.”
I laughed and said, “I’ll help.”
“Good to know,” she murmured. “Later.”
Disconnect.
I put my phone on the desk and my eyes to the computer. I had them there approximately three seconds before the door to the suite opened.
Ren was sauntering in. Trousers. Dress shirt.
Delicious.
“Hey,” I called, getting out of my chair and moving around the desk.
