Page 35 of Range
Still, I hadn’t figured out if I was coming or if I was going. But, one thing was clear. I wanted to follow the handsome stranger before me. I had no desire to lead. No desire to speak. For once, I wanted to listen. To learn. To lean in as his baritone serenaded me. To surrender as his consideration proved it was okay to.
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in here,” he added, understanding my current faults were strictly due to his presence.
Without explanation, he understood my state and how his involvement altered it completely. Altered me completely.
“There’s a very important little girl in my life who I am responsible for picking up every Thursday after school to take her to gymnastics. I’ve missed one Thursday. I can’t miss too many more. That would pain me deeply.”
His revelation pained me deeply.
“A daughter?” I blurted, already prepared to find the deepest pit to disappear in.
Someone had claimed his legacy. Birthed his child. And, likely taken his last name.
“A niece.”
I released a shaky breath. With a nod, I picked up my ink pen and shoved the end toward the center. I made a note of his reasoning.
Thewhywas always important to me. It let me know how hard they’d fight and how cooperative they’d be in the proceedings.
“Would you like to explain why you’re here and wh–”
“Her.”
“Who?”
“My niece.”
“Your niece?”
With scrunched features, I maneuvered in my seat, attempting to find comfort.
Silence.
Josiah didn’t respond. He refused to respond. Still, I made more notes in my files.
“Anything you need me to know before we tackle this case?”
Silence.
His eyes bore holes in my face.
My chest.
My heart.
Silence.
A finger lifted and twirled in the air. Baffled, I turned, as if I didn’t know the room we were in was empty. Only him and I sat between the walls.
Bzzzzzt.
The buzzing initiated the door’s movement. Josiah stood on his feet, eyes still trained on me. It became obvious what was happening. Our visit was ending and my heart was breaking.
It wasn’t his job to conclude meetings. It was mine. Still, he headed for the door. I stood on my feet, prepared to protest. However, the words wouldn’t emerge.
Silence.
As he neared the door’s threshold, he turned slowly. Eyes penetrating parts of me he shouldn’t have had access to.
