Chapter 22
A few days later, Piedmont called Paley from work.
“What are you wearing?” he started the conversation.
“You even have to ask?” she replied.
“TARDIS costume?” he guessed.
“Was there any question?” she countered.
“This is so awkward, that’s exactly what I’m wearing, too. Bosses are not happy,” he said.
“It’s going to make for some awesome court pictures,” she said. “How’s your day, really?”
“Good. Yours? All quiet?” They’d been on edge since the home invasion, but so far nothing had happened.
“All is well,” she assured him. “What’s up?”
“Can’t a guy call to chat?” he said.
“Yes, but you don’t generally call without a purpose,” she said.
“Today is no different. I’m going to be home at six tonight,” he said.
“Why so early?” he usually got home much later. In the beginning, she had left a meal for him. At some point that changed and she began waiting to dine with him.
“I felt like having an evening with my girl,” he said.
“Do I know her?” Paley replied.
“You’re full of sass today,” he said. “Might be time to fire you again.”
“Go ahead because I got an order for a hundred cookies, so clearly I can make it on my own and my overt reliance on you is an illusion,” she said.
“I’ve been dreading the day you’d come to that realization,” he said. “Who are the cookies for?”
She paused. “Maggie Ridge. Is that okay?”
“Yes, I like Maggie, and I like you, so it’s a win-win.”
“You’re cute.”
“How do you know? You haven’t seen me since this morning. I might have aged ugly,” he said.
“Your cuteness is innate,” she said. “Any requests for supper?”
“Something edible.”
She huffed. “Control freak much?”
“Incessantly, all the time. See you at six.”
“See you,” Paley said. Despite his words to the contrary, she had the sense there was something special in his early arrival from work. For that reason, she put more than usual into her performance, going so far as to change into a skirt and dry and style her hair, a switch from her usual jeans and ponytail.
He arrived home with flowers. “Seriously, what is up?” Paley said, reaching for a vase.
“Nothing,” he said, but his secret smile said otherwise.
“You’re making me suspicious because I can tell you’re keeping secrets. Are you divorcing me, too?”
“Can’t a guy bring his housekeeper flowers and not have it be weird?” he asked.
“I’m beginning to see why the others left. Or did they leave? Am I eventually going to find them tied up in the house somewhere?” she asked.
“So suspicious,” he said. “What can I do to help with supper?”
“Eat it,” she suggested.
“Now who’s a control freak,” he countered. He started to sit at the kitchen island, but she stopped him.
“We’re eating in the dining room tonight,” she said.
“Really? That’s fancy,” he said.
“Call me crazy, but it feels like a special occasion,” she said.
“Crazy,” he said, but he was smiling the smile again. He helped her carry dishes into the dining room, and they sat down to eat. He kept the conversation light and casual over supper, but that only increased Paley’s suspense. She knew he was holding out on her, and she was beginning to realize it was something big. But every time she asked what it was, he changed the topic to something else, dodging the question entirely.
Finally after supper was over and dessert was finished, he set down his coffee and faced her. Paley’s heart began to beat hard with anticipation. “I was wondering,” he said.
“Yes?” she said.
“What’s left on my list?”
“List, what list?” She squinted. Had he left a list of things for her to do and she somehow forgot?
“My list of things I missed out on for being an oddball child prodigy,” he said.
“Oh, I’d have to look, but we’re getting down to the dregs. I remember ice skating, camping in a tent, and Capture the Flag. I’d have to check it to see what else.”
His finger rimmed the coffee cup in front of him. “Was there anything about making partner on that list?”
She froze. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? “Piedmont, don’t toy with me. Are you being serious?”
He nodded. “I made partner.”
She launched herself at him, and he caught her. “This is…I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy or excited in my life. Congratulations, you deserve this so much. All your hard work, and, oh my goodness, I’m out of words.” She hugged him tightly, crying more than a little.
“Thank you,” he said, holding her close.
“You must be the youngest person in their history to ever make partner,” she said.
“I am,” he agreed.
She squeezed him tighter. “I’m so proud of you. I can’t believe this, it’s amazing.”
“I’ve been dying to tell you, holding it in for six hours.”
“The suspense was killing me,” she said.
“Me, too,” he agreed. He pushed away from the table and pulled her into his lap. “There’s more. The partners want to take us out to celebrate. Tomorrow.”
She froze. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes, I know you have the thing with Mattie, but I thought maybe you could reschedule,” he said.
“I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t reschedule. That’s why I told you about it a month in advance, so there would be no conflict. I need to spend tomorrow night with Mattie.”
“Paley, this is important to me, it’s once in a lifetime,” he said.
“Piedmont, I know, and it’s killing me, but I gave Mattie my word. I have a prior commitment. Is there a chance of changing your celebration to any other day?”
“No. I didn’t choose the date, the partners did. I can’t go to them and say I can’t make it because you have another date.”
She let out a breath.
“Paley.”
She shook her head slowly, sadly. “I can’t. I can’t change it.”
“I guess you’ve made your decision then,” he said.
“Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re making it a choice between you and Mattie,” she said.
“I’m not, you are. And apparently you already chose.” He stood up, easing away from her. “Excuse me, I have some things to see to.” He left the room.
Paley cleaned the kitchen and retired to her room. All night long she expected Piedmont to show up and talk things through. He never did, and she made no move to seek him out, either.