Page 174 of The Sweetest Devotion

“We just thinkyou’d be the perfect model for our brand,” Ginette was saying as I video chatted with her in my living room. She was the creative director of an upcoming fashion boutique who’d contacted my agent about my modeling for their catalogue and ads. “What Slayed is all about is young, fun, sexy, women on the go, and you represent that completely. We love your style, and how it’s totally unique and you. That’s what we want to sell at Slayed.”

I couldn’t help but blush at the compliment and proposal. I’d been opening myself up to taking more brand deals, and this was one I was excited about. As my one major weakness in life was clothes.

My agent, Hans, wanted me to take some of the movie and TV roles filling my inbox, but that didn’t seem authentic. That didn’t seemme.

A glance at the clock on the wall told me I was running late.

“Listen, Ginette, it really means a lot that you guys are reaching out to me. Right now, I have a prior engagement, but I will definitely get with Hans and we will talk about it, and hopefully get on another call with you, because this sounds like a fun opportunity.”

Ginette didn’t sweat my needing to leave as she beamed at me on her end. “No worries, Kennedy. Please, let us know what you’re thinking as soon as you can.”

“I will, I promise,” I swore.

We hung up and I was quick to slide into my heels, grab my sunglasses and bag, and rush out the door of my penthouse. Down in my Lexus, I almost burst into laughter when my phone rang, showing my father was calling.

I was still in my penthouse, still deciding whether I wanted to make a move to the Heights or stay in the Hills. My family was in Hampton Hills, and while I had a couple people who would make Bedford Heights home, too, I was still unsure where I wanted to be. But I was in no hurry, as things were better for me these days.

I felt more independent as I made my own money and helped out at the local florist in Bedford Heights whenever I was free. It was a bitch for my nails, but I loved building arrangements through and through.

“Hello, Father,” I said as I picked up his call, trying not to laugh as I drove for the highway.

He was working with the best doctors, trying his hardest to live with his illness rather than succumb to it. My father had accepted that he’d never gain his mobility or strength to walk ever again, but he’d also learned to appreciate and respect the fact that he was fortunate enough to still have the ability to speak, to breathe, to move his arms and hands. That he was living.

These days, he was doing his best not to take on too much with Nichols & Wagner, and allowing Phil to lead most of the company. A feat I still couldn’t believe.

I saw Cain a few times over the past few months, something that took getting used to. In a way, I admired his relationship with my father. Business or not, it was nice to see them interact. It was almost like my father had gained a son in the end.

Better a son than a husband as far as I was concerned.

“How’d the meeting go?” he asked right away.

I rolled my eyes. “At least you’re not going to pretend to not know about it.”

He chuckled, sounded healthy, sounding good, giving me hope. “What? Can’t an old man be curious how things are going for his daughter?”

“You can quit sending jobs my way,” I teased. “It sorta defeats the purpose of this whole independence journey I’m on.”

Both my parents were in full support of me trying to branch out and do things my way, but that didn’t mean they weren’t going to pull strings for me. With enough nudging, they’d finally gotten Jadyn to hand over a script to one of their Hollywood friends. While the jury was still out on that for a response, my parents were sending little jobs my way.

I could get angry, but I loved that they were trying to help me in any way they could.

“You can be independent all you want, doesn’t mean we can’t help you,” my father responded. “That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned from my physical therapist. There’s nothing wrong with a little help.”

My heart softened at his words. For so long he’d prided himself on being strong, and now here he was, okay with needing assistance.

“You’re right, thank you,” I said as I cleared my throat. “The meeting went great. She showed me a lot of cute pieces. I’m going to get with Hans and we’ll decide what to do from here, but I’m really excited.”

“You should be. My girl’s about to be a model,” my father said. “So, what are you about to get into now?”

I bit my cheek to keep from blushing. “I’m on my way to my next cooking lesson.”

My father sighed. “Off to make another terrible dish of macaroni and cheese?”

I sucked my teeth, unable to believe he’d gone there. “Hey! I got the steps right! It was the measurements where I went wrong.”

Jadyn had walked me through what I needed to make mac and cheese, and all had gone well until I cut into my first wedge upon pulling it from the oven and found the noodles bland. I’d used a whole box versus the measurements Jadyn had given me for half. The miscommunication resulted in a bad pan of mac and cheese that my father wasn’t letting me live down. Him, and another one.

I was determined, though, to be able to make a soulful pan of the dish.

---