At Ana’s most recent sleepover with her father, she nudged close to Shireena while all three watched a streamvid.
“Do you love Papa?” She asked out of nowhere.
“I do. Is that OK with you?”
The girl thought about it for a moment.
“Yeah. I don’t want Papa to be alone.”
“Neither do I.”
“Are you gonna come to my birthday party?”
“I haven’t received an invitation.”
Ana sat up, twisting her smile into a frown.
“Mama didn’t send you one? Uh! Of course, you’ll come.”
“Thank you. I’m honored. Do you have a gift list, or should I ask your father what to buy?”
She leaned in and whispered the answer.
“I’m not allowed to do a gift list. They say it’s rude. But ... uh ... I love to paint. Just in case you were wondering.”
Trevor overheard.
“A budding artist, she is.”
Ana ignored her father and continued.
“Oh, and can you talk Papa into buying me a pom? He said I’m not allowed until I’m ten, but he’s Governor now. Don’t you think it’s silly when the Governor’s daughter doesn’t have her own pom?”
She eyed Trevor with a devilish grin.
“I’m sure your father knows best. But I’ll talk to him, just in case.”
Shireena winked. She already knew Trevor intended to surprise Ana with a pom.
When Trevor tucked Ana into bed, he kissed her on the cheek.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
“What for?”
“Being my best girl. Good night.”
That was her cue to sleep, but Ana wasn’t ready.
“Are you going to marry Shireena?”
The question didn’t shock him so much as the timing.
“Dunno. I’d have to ask her first.”
“OK. Go ahead.”
Trevor fell into a spasm of laughter.
“You’re too much, sweetheart. Look, if it happens, you’ll be the first person I tell. Good?”
She approved.
Trevor hatched a plan for doing just that, but he wanted the timing to be perfect. The divorce needed to be final. He wanted to make sure Shireena felt fully accepted at the birthday dinner.
And then? He knew the time and place.
Patience, jackass. Patience!
That’s what he told himself after Shireena left his office to attend to her profiling duties. Trevor eased into his desk chair and reset his mind toward a busy agenda:
A Capital Funds Analysis with Accounting Division, a monthly appearance with the Amity Maintenance Division heads, a restaurant opening in Haven, one hour in the fit room, and the daily security update from Amity’s Guardian fleet.
A typical day that started out as anything but.
He hoped the juice from expelling Murrill would carry him through two hours of mind-numbing fiscal reports.
“Numbers do not engage the bag.”
