Chapter 2

We pulled into the walled complex of single-story condos where I resided. I waved at the evening security guard, and he smiled and waved back; he knew me. I parked in my two-car garage as usual and led the way into unit 12A.

As we entered, me lugging her stuff, she the baby and her meager things, I could see she was surveying the situation.

“Two bedrooms, Two and a half baths, each bedroom has its own. And well, the rest you can see from where we’re standing. The front room, the kitchenette, and the four-seat dinette. Not large, but nice and well done; well, that’s what I think. Oh, and a ten-by-ten mini-patio through the sliding glass door there,” I said, pointing.

“Me too,” she said, “very nicely done.”

I showed her to the bedroom with the twin beds.

“This will be your place for the near term.”

“Mine, but I thought...”

“Not yet. I am not going to be pressuring you. You will have your space. Truth told, I hope that soon enough we will be spending some time together, but I’m not pushing it. I really am in this for the long haul, Riley. You can trust me. And well, I hope that I can trust you too. If so, we both win,” I said.

Tonight, you’ll need to make do, but most of what you’ll be needing is in the cupboards and drawers in the room. So, just make yourselves at home. Tomorrow’s Saturday, and we will be doing some shopping. Okay?”

“Yes, sir, okay. And, Adam, thank you, and you can trust me.” I nodded. I was thinking that I could too, trust her that is.

I was up at 6:00: showered, shaved, dressed and looking good. I was thinking about getting rid of the mirrors, in my room at least. I was spending too much time admiring myself. I smiled at the thought.

I heard her moving around in the kitchen. Evidently, she’d had no problem finding the food. I went in to her.

“No, I guess it wasn’t a dream. I did propose to a seriously pretty woman last night, and she did have mercy on me.” she grinned.

“No buyers’ remorse?” she said.

“Hardly,” I said. “Uh, the baby?”

“I got up a while ago, when she awakened, and I changed her. She went back to sleep. She’s almost three and the potty training is well under way with her, but she’s not quite there yet. I’ve gotten a ton of help from missus Cunningham on that score; she really is a jewel.”

“Good, maybe we’ll keep her on tap even though you won’t be needing to work anymore,” I said. She took on a quizzical expression.

“But ... I was thinking of getting a job somewhere. Kinda help out, you know,” she said. I grinned.

“Not necessary. My folks, our folks, my brother’s and mine, left us some money. Rod, that’s my brother, is a business genius and has parlayed that into a lot of money. He’s funding my schooling and has got us covered. And once I’m a lawyer, well...”

“I see. So, I’m marrying into big money then.” Now it was her turn to grin.

“I guess so,” I said.

“So, today?”

“It’s Saturday, so no school. We’re gonna be shopping. It might be a good idea to employ missus Cunningham for the day.”

“She might be okay with it. But, I usually don’t work weekends, so she might be busy.”

“Well, call her and see.” I nodded at the phone on the wall next to the kitchen counter. “I’ll double whatever her rate is since it’s a weekend.”

“Oh, okay. I know she can use the money. She’s alone and not doing too good financially.”

“So, she doesn’t work? I remember you said she was old, but she didn’t look that old to me. Would she be interested in a regular job?”

“She’s sixty; I think. I don’t know about a job or whatnot. I think she gets some disability income from the state, not sure. And I pay her twenty-five a night for sitting during the week; it’s all I can afford and still make it myself. Actually, it’s usually half my money after I pay Joaquin.” I was nodding.

“Hmm, we do have a lot of thinking to do. Oh, and as I said last night, Joaquin is no longer in the picture. If he shows up and pressures you, I need to know about it. Okay?”

“Okay, but Adam, you know pimps are sometimes kinda bad.”

“I’m aware. The white hats get to win this one.”

And missus Cunningham was willing to sit. And we did go shopping. And, when we were done, I was $1,104 poorer. But we were covered for a long while in terms of supplies. And my woman, had clothes now. She was going to be looking good; actually she already did!

We finished the shopping tour and had the baby picked up by 5:00. We were back at the condo by 5:30.

“Wow,” she said. “I’m tired. You?”

“A bit, but I can handle it. I think tomorrow, if it’s all right with you, we should go see my brother. I mean, me being engaged is kind of a big thing. He’s gonna wanna meet you.”

“Fine with me. I mean of course it’s fine with me and Briana too.”

“Well, good then.”

She couldn’t help staring at all of the stuff in my brother’s posh digs: the furniture, the art works, and for sure the three-story mansion as a whole. The truth that he had a maid, a very pretty maid, Cassandra Hill, for some reason was also a matter of awe.

He’d given her the tour of course, had Rodney. They’d come back downstairs jabbering; I knew not what about.

Rodney Barnes was nothing if not a materialistic braggart; but I loved the guy, and he me. We were simpatico.

Introductory activities taken care of, we were sitting at a conference table in the man’s library, our drinks in front of us. And yes, missus Cunningham was babysitting yet again. But she, missus Cunningham, was smiling when we left her place; well, the hundred dollars for the day I paid her bred enthusiasm on her part.

“So, you’re finally gonna do it,” he said, smiling and switching his gaze from one of us to the other. “But no ring yet?” he was looking at my woman’s finger.

“In a day or two. We gotta shop. And yes, I’m gonna do it, we’re gonna do it; and, Rodney, we have to talk. I mean talk now. Oh, and as for the ‘finally gonna do it’ part, hah! You should talk!”