Page 94 of A Million Times, Yes
I would take care of her for the rest of her life; that would never change. But I wished everything hadn’t become my responsibility. I wished, for once in my life, that if I moved my arms away, Mom would stand on her feet instead of fall.
I stopped staring at her text and put the phone back in my purse, leaning my head against the cold window, watching the city pass. After a few intersections, the vibration of the car began to calm me, along with the smoothness with which Bruce drove, and my eyes started to get heavy.
I just couldn’t keep them open any longer.
Sleep overtook me hard and fast, and the only reason I woke up was the sound of my name being gently spoken.
I lifted my face off the window, fixing the side of my hair, and rubbed under my eyes. “Sorry about that, Bruce. I didn’t mean to nod off during the drive. It’s been a long day.”
“I’m sorry I had to wake you.”
“Don’t be. It was a great nap.”
“Good.” He got out of the front seat to open my door. “Someone will be meeting you in there”—he nodded toward the entrance, which was inside the garage we were in—“so go on in.”
I thanked him, and as soon as I walked through the door of the building, Ben yelled, “Maya!” and ran toward me.
I beamed at him. “Hi, Ben.”
His arms encircled me, and he hugged me tightly, looking up at me as he spoke. “Uncle J told me you were coming, and I wanted to be the first to seeyouuu.”
I ran my hands through the top of his messy hair. “I’m so happy you were. How are you, kiddo?”
He grabbed my fingers and brought me toward the elevator, where a woman around my mom’s age was standing. “I’m fan-tab-ulous. I got an A on my spelling test today, and Dad said because I studiedsooohard and didsooogood, he would take me to the bounce park tonight.”
When we reached the woman, she extended her hand out to me. “I’m Carrie, Jordan and Gavin’s assistant. It’s very nice to meet you, Maya.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I responded.
Ben hit the button for the elevator several times.
“I’ve never been to the bounce park,” I said to Ben. “Is it fun?”
“It’s the best thing ever. I do flips and bounce off walls and there’s this pit of foam that I fly into and bury myself.” He giggled. “Dad can never find me. It’s so awesome.”
“I take my granddaughter there, and she loves it too,” Carrie said.
“Sounds like a blast,” I replied, clutching his hand a little tighter. “Maybe Jordan and I need to take you there sometime.”
“Will you come with me and Dad tonight? Please?”
“We’ll have to ask Uncle J first.”
“Uncle J will say yes, I know he will.”
The elevator door opened, and Ben continued to hold my hand as we walked out onto the top floor, forty-two stories up, to what I assumed was the executive level. We passed a receptionist’s desk with a set of double doors behind it, and everywhere I looked screamed of status, success, and the empire this family had built. This was the Worthington Enterprises headquarters, and it was even more gorgeous and spectacular than I’d imagined, with dark masculine colors and natural woods and sports decor.
Ben pulled me toward the second door in the hallway. “Uncle J’s office!”
I stood in the doorway with Carrie and Ben while Jordan sat at his desk. A room that reflected his style and accomplishments with a full view of the city and framed jerseys and memorabilia on the walls.
“Hey you,” he said, smiling as he looked up from his computer.
I knew my cheeks were reddening. “Hi.”
“Thanks for your help, Carrie. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You will,” she confirmed. “Good night, Maya. Good night, Ben.”
