Chapter 86
“Hey, sweetheart,” her dad said as he walked in with Nina.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said hugging him. “I am going to express some milk. She turned, giving Nina a look to ask if she would like to come with her. Nina nodded, picking up on her unspoken question.
“Would you stay with my dad?” she asked Benjamin.
“I would love to, sweetheart.”
Nina linked her arm with Pandora’s, and they walked to Peter’s office, where her things were for the time being.
“How has my dad been?” she asked once they were settled.
“Pandora?” she tutted and she rolled her eyes.
“Has he been okay?” she repeated.
“He’s been upset, and I have locked up all of his guns. Milton has talked to the other officers at the station; we are on it.”
Pandora let out a breath, feeling relieved that they seemed to have a plan in place to stop her father from killing Derrik.
“But Derrik’s due some bad Karma, and by God, do I want a front–row seat to see it.”
“Bad Karma… he needs more than that, Pandora snarled. “What’s going on with my home?“.
Nina looked at her with a grimace. “The family is a young family. The woman is twenty–five and lost her father not long ago. She works as a waitress on the weekends and at the school library during the week. There are two children–ages four and one, both girls.” Nina seemed to stop and then let out a long breath.
“The man is twenty–seven. He just got back from an active war zone and is suffering from PTSD. The woman paid the down payment for your home using all of the inheritance she received from her father’s death.”
The whole time Nina was telling her there was anger and sadness in her voice, and she knew it was directed at Derrik.
“How much money, and where is it?”
I’m not sure where it is. Benjamin’s lawyer is on it and it was seventy–five thousand dollars.”
Pandora felt bad for those people. At least, they were kind enough to protect her things. “Let me talk to Benjamin,” she said, feeling deeply sorry for the family.
“Pandora, I don’t want you to feel as if I am forcing your hand, but you need to know.” She looked at Nina as she was stuttering a little. “The family, they didnt tell us any of this information, and they’ve been very nice and helpful. All of this information is what Ron and Milton learned while checking things
out.”
Pandora groaned, knowing that she didn’t want to know the answers to the question, but needed to ask it anyway. ‘Is Ron behaving?”
Nina dropped her eyes from her. “Yeah,” she fake agreed and Pandora let out a groan.
‘Do I want to know?”
“You don’t, but Milton promised that he is keeping an eye on him.”
Pandora finished expressing the breast milk and put the boys names on the bottles. They walked back to the NICU and she placed the bottles in the fridge. After Nina and she got washed up, they walked back in to see them.
She was surprised to find her dad and Benjamin laughing together. Her dad’s eyes flickered at her, and he calmed his laughter down.
“How’s my girl feeling?” he asked as Pandora sat down in between him and Benjamin.
“I’m okay. A little sore, tired, and feeling overwhelmed,” she sighed, hating that she couldn’t get control over her emotions.
“It will still be like that for about twenty–odd years,” her dad chuckled. Pandora frowned and turned to look at him. “What? I’m just telling you the way it is. I still have sleepless nights worrying about you. My emotions get out of control, too, especially when some prick is perpetrating a bunch of criminal acts against my daughter. It’s all a part of parenthood, honey, but it’s all going to be worth it.”
Chapter S6
She smiled and nodded at him because she couldn’t agree more. Benjamin wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. He kissed the side of her head as she lay it on his chest. It was not long before her dad and Nina left, and Maisey and Caleb joined them.
I see you found your wife? Maisey snickered and Benjamin rolled his eyes. She was more than sure if they weren’t in the NICU he would have flipped her off. I’m Maisey or May to my friends and family, which now includes you,” she prompted.
I’m Pandora, and it’s nice to meet you, she said as she offered her hand. She was surprised when she pulled her up and hugged me.
How is she so strong despite just recovering from a broken back?”
“You’re very pretty; have you ever modeled? I design clothes and I’d love to have you model for me.”
Pandora snorted and shook her head. “Being a shorty, there hasn’t been a large demand for me.”
“Well, I am looking for short, tall, skinny, curvy, all kinds of girls and guys, Maisey told her. “I am sick to death of all those pompous companies only having nice clothes for stick–thin, perfect–bodied people. Like seriously, how many females do you know who are a size double zero and can afford to pay a house payment for a t–shirt? Or, how about guys? How many do you know who are six foot tall, built of muscle, and have a twenty–eight–inch waist? My clothes are going to be catering to all people, all shapes, sizes, and bank accounts. Let’s face it, not everyone is made of money or can afford super–expensive items of clothing and still pay their bills. Plus, clothing should be accommodating to all shapes and sizes, and we all know what looks good on us may not look good on another woman.”
The entire time Maisey was on her tangent, Pandora just bobbed her head.
“Great, I’m glad you’ll model for me. I’ll put you down as one of my short models.”
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