"Hey, Attie. Do you have a minute?"
Immy's voice filtered through my open office door, and I was thankful for the distraction. I still hadn't uncovered why the books were off, and it was slowly driving me insane. Glancing up at the sound of her voice, I smiled as I directed her to enter the rest of the way.
"What did you want to ask me?"
"How do you know I want to ask you something?" Immy giggled, a blush rising to her face.
The change I'd noticed in her over the past month had been remarkable. I wanted to simultaneously pat myself on the back for taking her to therapy and kick myself for not doing it sooner. If it was the last thing I did, I would ensure Immy had the chance at a happy life, whatever she wanted it to mean.
"Because if it were to complain about your tutor, you would've just walked in and started talking immediately. If it were advice, you'd ask Nicco, and if you needed to go somewhere, you'd just ask Sax to take you and then tell me later."
Immy giggled more at my answer, knowing I'd hit it on the head. "Okay, maybe you're right about that. I just don't want to bother you sometimes, so I try to limit my interruptions." She shrugged.
A realization hit me square in the chest at her words. Our father had been that way. Dayton didn't want interruptions and preferred not to be asked. I didn't want her associating any of his traits with me. I needed to make sure she understood it wasn't that way anymore.
"Immy, look at me." My tone had her looking up, an uneasiness now present.
"Yes, sir." The sir hit me in the chest, and I had to hold my growl in at seeing her light dim. Taking a breath, I calmed my heart and reminded myself it wasn't her I was angry with. Softening my tone, I attempted to reassure her.
"Sweetie, you can interrupt me whenever you want. You come first, always. I want you to know that. The family business is stressful and dangerous, but there is always time for you too. I don't want you to feel you can't ask me anything or come to me, okay?"
"Yeah, okay." Immy shrugged but lifted a small smile my way, and I knew it would be all I got today. It was a start.
"So, what's this question you felt was important enough then?" I teased, wanting to see some of the joy she had in her eyes when she entered.
"Oh, well, I was wondering if after my session today with Loren, if I um, could, maybe, if it was okay, to hang out with Jude."
"Wow, that was the most words I've ever heard anyone say for one question," I joked, trying to bring some levity back to the situation. It seemed to work as she stuck her tongue out at me in response, causing me to chuckle.
"Well, can I?"
"Hmm. Where will this ‘hanging out' take place? Will there be adults present?"
Immy's full teenager dramatics emerged in response as she rolled her eyes at my questions. "Like you would let me go anywhere alone to begin with," she sassed. "Besides that obvious answer, yes, I do believe Loren will be present. I don't know if you heard, but Jude's staying with her now."
"Oh, as in a more permanent arrangement?"
"Yeah, I think so. Jude's happy about it, and I'm happy for him. Loren's really nice, and it's a better fit for him. Which benefits me because I know you wouldn't have let me visit him where he was before."
"That you would be correct on," I chuckled. I knew she'd figure out we'd run a background check on him. It was standard in our life, and I wouldn't have let her keep talking to him if he hadn't been a good kid. Immy accepted this as part of our routine, and it helped ease some of the things I had to police about her life. She might not always like it, but she at least understood the why's of this life.
"Soooo, can I?"
"Immikins, I'm not your father, so you don't have to get permission from me to do things with your friends. I trust you to take the proper precautions and make the necessary arrangements to ensure your own safety. That being said, I do appreciate you letting me know as I worry about you, kid. You're my baby sister, and I always will." I paused, wanting what I'd said to sink in. She had to trust her own judgment again, and I hoped by showing her I did, she would.
"You're almost 18, which means I need to let you make your own choices for yourself. So, if you want to hang out with Jude, who I do approve of by the way, then you have my blessing. I worry about you, but you do make this parenting thing easy, Immikins."
"Thanks, Attie," she said, her voice soft. "You know, you haven't called me that since I was small." I didn't miss the affection leaking through, making me feel rewarded for my efforts.
"You'll always be small to me, Ims. Can this old brother of yours request a hug before you go?"
"Ugh, I guess. If I must," she groaned, smiling.
"You must."
Pulling her into my arms, I held her tight as I warred with my need to protect her and make her strong. Kissing the top of her head, I sent her off before I broke down or something equally embarrassing. Once she was gone, I dove back into the ledger, hoping something new would stick out. When it didn't, I slammed it shut and gathered everything as I headed out to the location for our family meeting.
I had the penthouse in the city I'd gotten after graduating, and we'd been living here primarily because of the ease of day-to-day dealings of this life, but our primary place was out in the suburbs. We gathered there for the critical things as security was easier to manage on a 100-acre lot in a gated community. The house was where I spent most of my youth and Immy too. Which was also part of the reason we'd currently been at my place. The memories weren't as strong here for her.