Page 58 of My Solemn Vow

“So, it’s okay to talk to you?” Kerrianne looks at me and scoots forward in her seat.

“Yes, you can talk to Antonella,” I answer. “Antonella and I have to spend time together, but you’ll always be my number one.”

“Well, obviously.” Kerrianne giggles.

She’s pushing the respectful line a little bit too far.

I raise an eyebrow, and she self-silences, pulling her lips between her teeth, acknowledging that she’s getting a little too brazen.

She eats more of her sandwich, and I’m mid-bite on mine when Kerrianne asks, “Okay, so can Antonella sleep in my room?”

“No.” I’m quick to answer, swallowing hard. “Antonella and I are sleeping in my room.”

Antonella freezes like we hadn’t talked about this already.

“Oh, okay.” Kerrianne pouts and changes the subject. She gets the expert-level manipulation from me as a learned trait. As much as I try not to lie to her, my ability to redirect has somehow rubbed off on her. “When am I going back to school?”

I lock eyes with Antonella over the table.When can I send them back to school?

“Well, your dad and I talked about that a little.” Antonella takes over from my silence. “Probably not Monday with me but maybe by Wednesday?”

It’s news to me that Antonella is going back to school tomorrow. But I don’t argue with her in front of Kerrianne.

“Really?!” Kerrianne gets excited and is back to all smiles.

She starts rambling a million miles a minute about a game they’re playing at recess and how Antonella let her play with the new blocks after school until my parents got there to collect her.

I dislike the amount of information I’m missing from the week I was away. But soon, our sandwiches are gone and Kerrianne is bouncing, ready to show Captain off to Antonella.

Hanging back while Antonella helps hold things for Kerrianne to make her tortoise’s breakfast, I fire off a text to Royal.

Valor:

Can you text me the dumbed-down version of what happened while I was gone?

Why didn’t you catch Antonella was a D’Medici?

Need a phone for Antonella. Clothing too. Was that negotiated for at all? Can you investigate that or get Mom and the pack ladies to get her outfitted accordingly?

It doesn’t take long, and I get the line-by-line answer that is probably as bare minimum as Royal can make it while still answering my questions.

Royal:

Sean died. The arbiter was called in. D’Ms demanded you marry A. Funeral planning. Taught K how to play Texas Hold’em.

Didn’t catch because her documents were tight. Now that I found the flaw, double-checking everything else. Won’t happen again.

10-4 phone, negotiations, and lady stuff.

The problem with opening and looking at my phone in this spare second of time is that I see how many people are no longer respecting that I was married yesterday. There is one, however, that can’t wait.

Patrick Doyle:

I’ve sent six Stateside this morning. I’ve sent you and Royal their qualifications. I highlighted my two personal best guesses given Kerrianne’s unique personality. Was good to see you. Best wishes and congratulations again on the wedding. Perhaps for Christmas we’ll catch up again.

I flip open my email and lean against the kitchen island. Kerrianne doesn’t need me there to introduce Antonella to Captain, and as much as I wanted to see her face when she sees the reptile, this is more pressing.

The files take a bit to download, but I start with the two Patrick flagged as his top choices, taking a cursory glance before opening the others. I close out of the others and return to Patrick’s picks. The two are the most skilled, and he has always been fond of Kerrianne, never shying away from the endless conversation about whatever subject she’s most interested in.