It felt good to be back to normal. Back at work, working on a new case, and loving where I
was in my life.
Bronagh and Carmen were home now, and learning what their new everyday routine looked like. I couldn’t be happier for my best friend; she was born to be a mother. I’ve never seen her so happy, and, despite his earlier protests, Brendan was a proud, doting father. It was so cool to see them all together. Brady had been over there quite a few times already.
He’s the best uncle. The way he was with his nieces and nephew showed me what an amazing father he was going to be. I can’t lie, the more I saw him with those babies, the louder my biological clock seemed to get.
The phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Ms. Li, it’s Natalie for you.”
“Thanks, put her through.”
“Hey, Natalie, how are you doing?” I asked, pleased to hear from her.
“Really good, actually. The trailer sold, and I was able to find a decent apartment for a reasonable price.”
Once Zeke had been arrested again, he’d pled guilty to everything, since he’d not only escaped, but had been caught with Ming as his hostage. That, along with the assault of his wife, had sealed his fate, so Natalie no longer had to suffer through a trial. He’d finally signed the divorce papers, and was behind bars where he belonged.
“That’s wonderful, I’m so happy for you.”
“Um, the reason I’m calling…”
“Yes,” I prompted when she trailed off.
“Well, um, I was wondering, I have an interview on Monday at Brandt Industries, and I was hoping maybe you’d meet up with me sometime this week … let me pick your brain about what to wear, and what to say?”
“I’d love that,” I replied with a smile.
I could hear Natalie’s sigh of relief.
“Just let me know where and when, and I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Ming, really, it would mean so much to me.”
“No problem, it’s my pleasure.”
“Okay, I’ll, uh, let you go.”
“Talk to you soon.”
I was still smiling as I went through some paperwork, when the intercom went off.
“Brady’s here to see you.”
“Send him in,” I said, my stomach dipping with excitement at the unexpected drop-in.
I stood up and rounded the desk, eager to meet him at the door. But the look on his face when he walked in made me pause, rather than throw my arms around him.
“Are you okay?” I asked, my mind racing at this expression that I’d never seen before. “Did everything go okay at work?”
Today was Brady’s first day back on the job in his official capacity. When he’d left this morning, he’d been excited and relived. I’d just been happy to see him back in that sexy uniform again.
“Yeah,” Brady said, shaking his head and looking dazed.
I stepped up to him and grabbed his hand in mine.
“Then what is it? Brock? Bren?”