Emily rolls her eyes at me. “You need to up your game, Damian. No one would ever answer fish food.”
I love this girl. Her big blue eyes, her sassy eight-year-old demeanor. My sister has a three-year-old son, Ryder, who I love to pieces, but he drives me nuts, he can never sit still. Emily Jones—she’s smart, she’s funny, and she’s sick. She breaks my heart and if I could trade places with her, I’d do it in a second.
This is the first time I’ve ever played this game. We usually go for hangman or tic-tac-toe, but I’m willing to give it a try. Maybe she wants a new partner.
“All right, show me how it’s done.”
“Would you rather live in a home filled with rats or a house filled with snakes.”
“Neither.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“But I wouldn’t.”
She sighs. “You have to give an answer or the game’s no fun.”
“Fine, snakes.”
“Really? That’s not a very good answer.”
“Hey, Emily, you’re going to be on Wednesday Child this week!”
Rebecca Hamilton, her social worker, is walking towards us with her dark curly hair bouncing along the tops of her shoulders. “What is Wednesday Child?” I ask.
“A television show where they profile a child looking for a home to gain the interest of a nice family.”
“No . . . no she’s not going to be on Wednesday Child. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but she’s not for sale. She’s a human being.”
Emily’s face slightly falls as we talk about her like she’s not in the room and I’m instantly ashamed of myself.
“Damian, can we talk in the hallway?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back, Em.”
I follow Rebecca out. She always seems to have Emily’s best interest in mind, but this feels like a terrible idea and I’m not going for it.
The minute we get outside Emily’s room, Rebecca turns on me. “Listen, I know you only want what’s best for Emily, hell, that’s what we’re all working for, but if you disagree with something her attorney has lined up for her, do us all a favor and don’t argue the point in front of the child.”
“The child? She has a name, it’s Emily, and her attorney is an asshole.”
“Maybe, but he’s still her attorney and right now, what he says goes. She’s being featured on Wednesday Child next week. Be prepared.”
My blood’s beginning to boil. I love that little girl like she’s my own. She’s not a piece of property that people can parade around for show. How could anyone think this was a good idea?
“I’m going to fight it.” I can’t let this happen.
“You can’t. You have no rights. Remember? And if I were you Damian, if you want to keep seeing this little girl, go along with the program. Thomas doesn’t want you here as it is, give him a good enough reason and he’ll ban you from her room. Emily responds to you and it’s clear she needs you here as much as for whatever reason, you need to be here. She doesn’t need you disappearing on her. I don’t want to see it, and even the millions of dollars you’re worth won’t buy you a visit.”
Fuck! Sometimes I really hate this life.
He’s weird, but I like his type of weird. It’s different and intriguing. He’s not dangerous, just protective of himself and the people around him. I should be more like that. Two weeks have gone by since he moved in, and we seem to have fallen into a great neighborly routine. Every morning we drink our coffee together on our respective balconies. He’s usually shirtless, which I love, and if I have my shit together I’m dressed for work. I still can’t believe he’s the mega millionaire work out guru. It’s somewhat mind boggling, but looking at his body, I shouldn’t be surprised.
I’m at work reading a brief for a family that really can’t afford to be splitting up. Three kids, and if these bank statements are correct, a mass amount of debt neither of these parents will ever be able to crawl out of stares back at me. My stomach rolls over in sympathy for those poor children. Sometimes I think I picked the wrong profession. I get too personally involved with my clients’ cases, especially their children. Being raised by a single parent isn’t any child’s dream come true, but it’s a reality so many families face, it was my reality, and these kids need someone looking out for their best interest.