Chapter 26
Kennedy
“Do you know who they’re going to hire for the open position in your department?” Kelsey asks as she stands over my desk.
I peer over at Ardie’s old desk. It’s been a month since that night at the bar and three weeks since he was fired. None of us on the investigative reporting team are privy to all the details, but most of us knew he’d been skating on thin ice for a long time now.
Ever since the sources on a few of his articles came into question.
No one is surprised.
“I”m not sure,” I tell her. “I hear they’re considering turning it into a freelance position.” A frown touches my lips.
“That makes sense. That’s how most papers run things nowadays.” Kels looks back at me. “I was surprised when they hired you as a full-time staffer.”
My stomach muscles tighten. Truthfully, I was surprised, too. Freelance is the way of the world in much of my industry.
It’s why I had suspicions that my brother, or more likely my father, were involved in pulling strings to get my position. But since they’ve both denied it, I dropped it.
Though they can be overprotective, my family respects my desire for independence.
“What’s for lunch today?” Kelsey asks, peering over my shoulder.
I glance over as well to see the familiar delivery guy as he winds through the desks to make his way to mine. We smile at one another before he’s halfway here. We both know the routine.
For more than a month, Dae has had lunch delivered directly to my desk. When I told him it wasn’t necessary, he told me he couldn’t trust me to ensure I ate a proper meal every day, so he had to do it himself.
“Ms. Townsend,” the delivery man, Dan, greets as he holds out the delicious smelling bag of food.
“We go through this every day,” I tell him. “You can call me Kennedy.”
He shakes his head, and something I would classify as fear etches across his face. It quickly disappears. “Enjoy your meal,” is his reply before he heads in the direction he came.
“Mm, Italian,” Kelsey says as I open the bag.
I roll my eyes at the amount of food inside. “Pull up a chair,” I invite Kelsey.
“Can’t,” she backs away. “Mick was getting jealous that I kept sharing your lunches.” She shrugs. “Something about not liking another man feeding me every day. Even if that man wasn’t actually feeding me. He said it’s the principle.”
She laughs. “Now, he sends me lunch these days, too. I need to get back to my desk anyway.”
I laugh at the way she winks at me as she strolls away. Minutes later, I send Dae a text thanking him for lunch, as I always do. At this point, I don’t bother telling him it’s not necessary. He would just tell me it’s necessary, and if I tried to deny Dan or send him away, there’s a strong possibility Dae himself would show up with lunch in hand.
Who am I kidding?
It’s not a strong possibility in the least. I’m certain that’s what he would do.
There’s no reason that thought should make the butterflies in my stomach start fluttering.
While enjoying my Caprese salad, I receive a text from my mom.
Mommy: Hey, baby, lunch tomorrow?
I start to invite her to my office to have lunch for me since I can expect another meal delivery tomorrow but I don’t. I haven’t told my mom about Dae and our growing relationship.
I’ve been waiting to see where this thing with Dae is going before I take that next step. Besides, I know it’s only a matter of time before those introductions will need to be made. Dae has made it clear that he’s not going anywhere, and truth be told, I don’t want him to.
Also?
He’s already met Riley, Stasi, and Eve. That happened last week when he made good on his promise to take the children from Spring Days horseback riding. I invited my sister-in-law, Stasi, and niece, as I had said I would.
Something warm and comforting swells in my chest when I remember watching how patient and careful Dae was with the children as they interacted with the horses for the first time.
Little Amelia cried from happiness and clung to Dae when she couldn’t find the words to express her feelings. I even choked up a little as he walked beside her while she rode in circles.
“So, this is him, huh?” Riley asked me.
When I gave her a questioning look, she replied, “The same one who had you smiling at your phone a few months ago at your parents’ house.”
I couldn’t even deny it. I just asked her not to share this with my brother. Not yet. I want more time to keep this relationship to myself a little longer.
Me: Sure, sounds good. You’re paying, right? I’m just a struggling reporter.
I joke in response to my mom’s text.
Mom: No worries. I’ll just take it out of your trust fund.
I snort.
My response to her is interrupted by a buzzing sound from the burner phone I keep in my desktop drawer. I pull out the work phone, which I only use for informants and witnesses who want to keep off the record, to see a text from an unknown number.
That’s not uncommon with this phone since I keep it for sources that don’t want to be tracked.
Unknown Number: This is Nicole. You gave me this number in the parking lot of McGruder’s.
I immediately remember her. The former employee at one of Sebastian Blackmon’s fast-food chains.
Me: Yes, I remember. How are you?
Her response comes back within seconds.
Nicole: I’m okay. But I have something to tell you. It’s about the restaurant.
I push my food to the side.
Me: What is it?
Nicole: Can we meet in person?
Me: I’m available today. Just name the time and place.
I wait for a few seconds. Seconds turn into a full minute.
Nicole: I can’t today. I’m closing at the restaurant tonight and have to start my shift in about five minutes. Can we meet tomorrow for lunch or something?
I tell her I can and name a small restaurant that’s not too far from my office. I give her the name and address, and we agree to meet there the following day.
A buzz from my primary phone catches my attention and I remember my conversation with my mother. I apologize and tell my mom we’ll have to postpone our lunch date because of a work obligation.
The last thing she tells me is to be careful. I don’t give it much consideration since it’s something she always tells me. Don’t all moms tell their kids to be careful? No matter their age.
That thought brings me back to last weekend with Dae and how great he was with those children. Upon first meeting him, no one would suspect he’s a natural with kids. Yet, they all love him, and it’s evident that he cares for each of them.
He’ll make a wonderful father.
I blink and sit up straight as that thought floats through my mind. I begin to shake my head adamantly. It’s way too soon to think about anyone being a father. And I’m sure as hell not ready to be anyone’s mother.
“Get a grip, Kennedy,” I murmur to myself before rising to my feet. I have a meeting with James in five minutes to update him on this case. I don’t have time to focus on or think about love, babies, or relationships.