Page 60 of Detective Daddy Next Door

"Of course, they're at the dining table. Go on in."

Ellie runs in, leaving us at the door. The three kids have become so fond of each other and sometimes they go for playdates at Aria's. When we get to the dining area, Charles is seated at one end of the table, Connor and Aria sitting to the side. Ethan and Ellie are chatting animatedly while Ceci plays with Ellie’s hair. Amy always puts their seats together.

"Hey big man," Connor says to me. We've bonded more than I thought we would. Him being a retired Navy SEAL and me about to be a retired detective made it easy.

"Hey, I see you got more grey hair now. I only saw you a week ago. You’re growing old, dude," I tease him.

"Yeah? I've got more muscle than you, though," he retorts.

I laugh and he laughs too.

Amy takes her seat at the other end of the table. "Come on. Time to eat."

We exchange greetings with Aria and Charles as we take our seats.

The food is served, and we start to eat.

"So, how're your retirement plans going?" Charles asks.

I had talked to him about it prior.

"I don't know if I'll be staying in Long Beach. I mean, I don't have a permanent home here. I have a house in Denver, although Long Beach has been good to me. But buying a house here is expensive."

Connor nods. "I understand. If I hadn’t inherited my house here, I doubt I'd have moved here when I did.

"Daddy, please let's stay. I want to see Ethan and Ceci and play with them."

True, Ellie has found the most peace here. But I have to factor in my pension and how we'll live when I finally retire. If I'd not met Bria, it would have been easy to go back. Now what would I be going back to? An empty house?

Bria looks at me and smiles. I guess she's telling me it's okay, that whatever decision I make is fine. We’ve decided we’ll stay together no matter the distance. I'd told her about how after I found out I'd married the wrong person, I thought life was over for me. She knows what I've been through. She knows how happy I am to be gaining a family in hers, how everyone accepted me even when they found out we faked the start of our relationship. She knows how conflicted I am about leaving.

When I was coming to Long Beach, I was looking to catch some criminals. I did that, but I also caught love. It was the last thing I had on my mind. I'd thought it was going to be a cold, monotonous life for me, like it had been in the different cities I'd moved to for work. Little did I know that something amazing was being worked out for me. To think that I almost didn't want to take the case. That trip to Las Vegas led me here. I believe that we were destined to meet. This was no coincidence. This is fate. But will fate find a way for me to stay?

Chapter 25

Bria

"Goodmorning,Micha."

"Morning, Bria. Come in.”

I enter Micha's office with some documents in my hand. "I just want to drop these off. I worked on them yesterday before closing. I'd have brought them over, but you left early."

I don't sit down, but drop them on her desk. I turn to leave.

"Don't forget to be at the meeting at ten," she says.

"I won't," I answer.

On my way to my office, I think about my time at Maestro Firm. It's been a little over seven years now and Micha has not said anything about me making partner. Maybe I'll have to wait for three more years. I push open my office door and step in slowly. I look over at Daisy’s former desk as I walk toward mine. I still feel her absence. Sometimes I walk into the office expecting to see her. She'd made the office lively and less boring for me. I sigh as I reach my chair. I slump into it and lean my head back on the headrest. I'm sure that if Daisy had asked me for help, I'd have done something for her. I never knew she spent all her money taking care of her sick mother. It's so sad to see her go down the path she took.

At a few minutes to 10 a.m. I make for the conference room. When I get there, I see Fern and some of the higher ups. Micha is yet to come. I choose a seat and sit quietly. On some days, I think it's time to leave Maestro Firm. Myles and I have been talking about his retirement. He isn't sure yet if he's leaving, but I suspect he will. He can't possibly buy another house here. He's just finished paying the mortgage on his house in Denver. I’m thinking of leaving the firm, I’m thinking of starting over again. I’m thinking of moving with Myles, of leaving everything behind and going with him. But I know that it's not easy to start over. I've given years of my life to this firm. If I go somewhere else, I'll have to start building again. Do I have the patience for that? I doubt it. I don't blame Myles, because I know how hard it is to give up everything you've built when it's not even certain that if you start over you'll successfully build something else.

Micha comes in and apologizes for keeping us waiting. One hour into the meeting, I'm still torn. Leave or stay.

Just as the meeting is about to come to an end, Micha clears her throat. "One more thing. Bria?"

I'm packing up, getting ready to leave the conference room, but I stop and raise my head.

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