Page 18 of Bending The Rules

“And I hired one, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

“Okay, so your turn. Who do you need to hire in order to stop having to jet set around the world?”

I leaned back against the counter, facing her. “You say that like traveling is a chore, mama.”

“Isn’t it? You’re never anywhere long enough to settle in. You don’t even have a house!”

I laughed. “I’m a nomad, mama. Nomads don’t need houses. Ilikeliving in hotels.”

My mother made a rude sound that drew another laugh from my throat as she scowled in my direction. “I don’t understand how Russell accepts you doing all this globe-hopping alone. What does he think about it?”

I swallowed hard, then truthfully said, “Any man who couldn’t accept the way I live my life, or respect the way I run my business, is not one that I would be marrying.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’d hoped that the promise of marriage would settle you, but you’ve always been my little adventurous Toni. WhereisRussell anyway? Is he coming to the signing, to see you in action?”

“Um… I asked him.” That was true. When the date was set, three months ago, when he and I were still together, I’d asked. “He said he would try.”

“He’s such a wonderful young man.” My mother smiled at me, then gazed past me, with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I just know you two are going to have the most gorgeous little chocolate babies for me to love on. But no rush – I want you to enjoy your husband first. But then…” she sighed, then turned her gaze back to me. “Sweet girl, you have no idea howfullit makes me, that you’ve found someone to spend your life with. Before you came into our lives, I thought it was too late for us. We’d waited too long. But then, you came along, needing a family, and we needed you to complete ours.” She stepped forward, cupping my face in her hands. “And look at you. Smart, successful,beautiful.I can’t wait to meet some little Tonis or Tonys with this face,” she laughed, and I laughed too.

In discomfort.

How could I possibly break this woman’s heart, and tell her that the “husband and baby” dream she’d had for me had washed down the drain months ago?

The bell over the door signaled the entry of a customer, and I was relieved at the chance to escape. I turned around with a big smile.

“Welcome to Tones and Tomes. Can we help you find anything in particular today?”

The smile slid off my face when I saw who’d walked in.

“Hey sweetie,” my mother exclaimed, immediately cutting around the counter to get to Justin – another full story I hadn’t told, not wanting to break her heart. She loved Justin, and I had no desire to change that. My problem with him was mine.

I stayed behind the counter while she pulled him into a hug, but then my eyes went wide when a little voice said, “Do you haveRuby and the Booker Boysby… by… what was the author’s name again daddy?”

Justin’s gaze dropped low, and he smiled. “Derrick Barnes, muffin.”

“Yeah! By Derrick Barnes, and ill-lus-tray-ted by Vanessa…Brantley… Newton,” the little voice carefully sounded out, and I stepped from around the counter to see what I couldn’t from over the display – a little girl, with Justin’s pecan skin, thick lashes, thoughtful brown eyes. She smiled at me. “Book one is calledBrave New School, Brand New Ruby.”

“The other way around, Bri,” Justin gently corrected, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Brand New School, Brave New Ruby, okay?”

“Okay!” she said cheerfully, then turned back to me. “Do you have it?!”

I… couldn’t speak.

This gorgeous little girl, with a puff of hair bigger than her head… this had to be Justin’s daughter.

“I’m almost sure we do, sweetheart,” my mother said, taking the little girl by the hand. “Let’s go see okay?”

My eyes followed until they rounded the corner to the kid's section, and then I turned to meet Justin’s eyes. “She’s beautiful. I see you’ve already instilled a love of reading in her.”

“Thank you.”

I dropped my gaze, and moved to straighten up yet another thing that didn’t need straightening on the counter.

“So how are you adjusting to being home?” he asked, following me as I moved.

“Just fine,” I tossed over my shoulder. A week had passed since our lunch meeting – two days since my talk with Aviva. Still, I wasn’t feeling particularly charitable.

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