Page 33 of Uproot

I clear my throat and try to push the nervousness from my voice as I answer. "Hi Beckett. How are you?"

His raspy voice greets me like a warm hug, "I'm good, angel. Sorry I didn't see you this afternoon, I got swamped with some paperwork from Upwood C.S.," he apologizes.

"Oh, I understand! How did everything go?" I ask, sitting back in my chair.

"It was tedious, but I feel like we are on the right path to getting things finalized soon," he says, sounding tired.

"I hope that everything will work out. I know this is all really stressful for you," I respond, wishing that I could do more to help them.

"I'm ok, but thank you Selah. How are you feeling? You must be having dinner soon, right?" he asks, and I don't miss the sternness in his voice.

"I'm doing well, and I'm actually eating dinner right now," I say, smiling to myself.

"Good girl," he responds.

My fork clatters on to my plate as my brain short circuits.

I don't know why, but I feel that small offer of praise float through my entire body like a small electric current.

"And how about your lunch?” he continues, unaware of the heat flowing through me on the other end of the line. “Did you enjoy it? I can order something for you from there again. Maybe you can try something different next time?"

"I-no, no," I stutter, trying to regain my composure. "I..um..try not to eat out too much. But thank you."

He's quiet for a moment, and for some reason his silence makes me squirm in my seat uneasily.

"I see," he says slowly. "But surely you wouldn't mind a dinner out. Right, angel? Just us? I really want to get to know you better. I feel like most of what we have always talked about is the situation surrounding my family. I need to know more aboutyou," he says.

I sit silently for a moment feeling a bit stunned by his invitation. Maybe Evy was really right about me needing to keep an open mind with where this can go.

"Yes, I'd love to have dinner with you, Beckett," I respond quietly.

"Good. There's not much to choose from here in town, so we can take a little drive to Charlestown one night this week," he says.

I smile excitedly, already mentally sorting through my closet, and thinking of all of the things I want to get to know about him.

"I can't wait, Beckett."

18

Beckett

I've spent most of this week working, going over paperwork with lawyers regarding Edison’s custody, then working with Child and Family Services.

I needed to do a background check, and fingerprinting Tuesday for Edison's file. The Case Worker I was assigned came by to do a visit, and promised that she will be doing her best to get everything finalized, knowing that we are on a bit of a short timeline before I really need to get back to New York.

Now it's Wednesday afternoon, and I'm sitting at the dining table with my laptop, wrapping up a meeting with Bobby and Helen.

Helen is sitting across from me taking notes while Bobby and I go over my sketches and ideas for a new project, through Zoom. "I'm digging this new concept for the learning apps, Beckett. It looks more like our regular video games, but actually teaches kids something," Bobby says, nodding as he looks over my sketches.

"Parents are going to eat this up. Once we get this rolled out in the Fall on time for back to school it's going to make us a mint," he continues, sounding eager like he always does when we talk about making money.

"Thanks Bobby. And thank you for all of your support expediting this so we can get it out quickly. I'm going to wrap up now, and I'll shoot you an email in the morning," I say.

Bobby is quiet for a moment, and then asks, "Wait, wrap up? You're done working for the day? It's only 2pm."

I stop writing on my notepad and look up to see Helen looking just as equally surprised and confused as Bobby.

"I know that this may come as a shock to you B, but I have plans tonight. I'll get back to you first thing in the morning before I present this to the team," I say, getting up from my seat.

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