Antonia's Choice Read Free Page B

gave me a toothy smile. “But who’s counting?”
    I set my briefcase down on the marble floor and sat on the edge of the chair at Reggie’s desk. I could feel the bumps of the brocade through my pants.
    â€œWhat kind of mood is he in?” I said.
    Reggie glanced over both shoulders at the office, which was perfectly quiet except for the soft tinkle of Mozart. If anyone were blinking within a hundred feet, we would have heard it.
    Reggie then leaned forward, fingernails tapping on the oak desktop. I couldn’t resist a peek at what she had going today. One shade short of fire engine red, each with a slant of gold. The pinkie had a ring in it. I could never figure out how she typed with those talons.
    â€œHe’s Mr. Business today,” she said, barely moving her lips. “You know, all crisp—callin’ me Miz Acklee and tellin’ me to hold his calls.”
    â€œOh.”
    Her eyes narrowed, revealing more of the makeup job that must take her two hours to apply with that kind of precision. I’d always been in awe of it.
    â€œWhat kind of mission are you on, honey?”
    Although I was an associate and Reggie was the receptionist, it had never bothered me that she called me “honey,” “baby,” “sugar,” and assorted combinations thereof. I trusted her more than I did anyone else in the office, including my own assistant, who daily made it evident that it was my job she’d really rather have.
    Reggie was watching me closely. “The way you’re lookin,” she said, “this may not be the day to approach His Worshipfulness.”
    â€œI have to. I’ve got to spend more time with Ben, so I’m going to ask Jeffrey to let me work mornings here and afternoons at home. I can schedule all my appointments in the mornings, and if I have to do any evening meetings I can get a babysitter and do them after Ben goes to sleep.
If
he goes to sleep.”
    â€œOh, honey, does he still have that screamin’ thing goin’ on?”
    I nodded. “But I’m thinking that if I spend more time with him—maybe get him into some sports activities to burn up some ofthat energy—he’ll start to settle down some. Don’t they have soccer and baseball for kindergarten-age kids?”
    â€œAre you kiddin’, baby? Every child in Davidson County is on a soccer or T-ball team the minute he leaves the playpen.”
    â€œThen Ben’s behind.” I cocked my head at her. “And what’s T-ball?”
    â€œOh, honey, you have got a lot to learn.” She shook her head, wagging the strawberry-blond ponytail. She was the only nearly-forty-year-old woman I knew who could still get away with a ponytail at the office. And if Jeffrey had disapproved, he would have told her so long ago.
    She was blinking at me now.
    â€œWhat?” I said.
    â€œI’m just thinkin’—and mind you, this is just my intuition—but I’m just thinkin Jeffrey is
not
gonna go for that plan at
all
. Not the way he’s acting this mornin. First thing he did when he came in here was check to make sure everybody’s desk was left neat last night.”
    â€œWhy—so the cleaning crew would be impressed?” I said.
    â€œAll I’m sayin’ is that if you could put it off till another day, you might have a better chance.”
    â€œI can’t wait. Either Ben’s going to pop a blood vessel or I’m going to haul off and smack him.”
    Reggie nodded, her very-round face soft. “I’m so sorry ya’ll are goin through this. I’m prayin’ for you.”
    â€œThanks,” I said automatically.
    Reggie was always reassuring me of her ongoing prayers, and I didn’t have a problem with that. I’d been brought up with Sunday school and potluck suppers and mite boxes during Lent. But right now I just didn’t see what good praying was going to do. Even God, I was sure,