Page 59 of Love in Riverbend
My heart sinks. “Tomorrow.”
He nods. “I’m meeting with Mr. Murphy tomorrow morning, and I have some pressing work at the firm.”
“I know you’re an attorney, but what do you do? What kind of law?”
“Mostly real estate. Large construction. Our firm has some big clients, and it’s all about getting more.” He shakes his head. “It’s not what I imagined.”
“But you did it,” I say. “I’m glad you did what you set out to do. You made your dream come true.”
He looks around. “You’re realizing your dream too.”
I look at the open space and smile. “I am. There was a time I thought it wouldn’t happen, but I never gave up.”
Dax’s palm gently cups my cheek. “Dreams change.”
“Please don’t tease me, Dax.”
“I’m not. I’m confused. I know what I want, and what I want, Kandace, is you and Molly, here.”
“You used to ask me to go to you.”
“I remember. You never did.”
“I visited,” I said, thinking about Indiana University. “I like here better.”
“And I like you. If that means here, I guess it’s here.”
I shake my head. “Don’t give up your dream for us.”
“This is now, the future. There are limitless possibilities.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I’m leaving for Chicago on Wednesday after my meeting. I won’t be back next weekend, but I will be here the next. Hopefully by then, I’ll have things worked out.”
“I’m trusting you.”
“I won’t let you down again.”
The sound of the school bus down on the street catches my attention. “Oh, Molly is back. I need to open the front door.”
Dax follows me down the stairs. As I hurry to the front door, Molly hops down from the bus and runs my direction.
“Is Dax here?” she asks.
“Yes. What am I? Chopped liver?”
Molly’s nose scrunches. “What’s chopped liver?”
“Something grosser than school pizza,” Dax says as he lowers himself to her level.
Molly runs toward Dax as she says, “Eww.” Nearly plowing him over, she wraps him in a hug.
“Your mom has popcorn in the back.”
Molly looks up at him. “Will you help me with my homework?”
“You have homework in kindergarten?”
