Page 46 of Embracing the Consequences

Kara nodded slowly, understanding what he said while slowly realizing the piece she was missing. “That’s it!” she exclaimed. “The blueprints! We need the blueprints for my father’s house! Then we can see what we’re missing!”

A shocked grin spread across Derrick’s face. “Holy shit, baby girl! That’s genius!” He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up into a bone-crushing hug.

She held on tight, hugging him back just as fiercely. Excitement coursed through her, easing some of her anxiety over the case. “Come on, baby daddy. Let’s get out of here.”

He laughed and let out a whoop of delight. He spun her one more time before he set her back on her feet and climbed on the bike. He waited until she was seated safely behind him to start the engine.

The ride from the Carmichael building downtown to the county clerk’s office took thirty minutes in the late-afternoon traffic. They made it to the courthouse with roughly an hour to spare.

Kara glanced down and cursed her choice of clothing. The county clerk’s building was attached to Mourningside County Courthouse, which was always a bustling place, even at four on a Wednesday night.

“You look hot, baby girl. Don’t worry.” Derrick smiled. He flung an arm around her shoulders and tucked her into his side as they took the long sidewalk to the main entrance.

Kara sighed. She could only hope she didn’t run into anyone she worked with regularly. If they were lucky, they would be in and out in under an hour.

They made it through security without a fuss. She didn’t see any of the usual security guards she knew from the day shift.The building records were kept in the basement of the clerk’s building, a place Kara had never been before.

Derrick seemed to know where he was going, though, so she followed his lead. He kept his fingers laced with hers as they walked.

“Carmichael?” a female voice asked just as they entered the records department.

Kara sighed, closing her eyes for a moment to steel herself before she opened them and turned. “Holy shit.” She gasped, utterly shocked by who she saw. “Lizzie Braidwell. Holy fuck, girl, you look amazing.” Kara released Derrick’s hand to make a beeline for her old high school friend, greeting her with a broad smile and a huge hug.

“Damn girl.” Lizzie laughed. “You look fucking hot.”

Kara laughed and hugged her old friend tighter. “How the hell have you been?” Kara asked when she eventually pulled away. She looked over her friend, taking everything in.

Lizzie was slightly taller than Kara’s five feet three, and she had hazel eyes that bordered on a sea green most of the time. Her light brown hair came down just below her shoulders and was highlighted with bright blond streaks and curled into big voluminous waves. She had almost the same build as Kara and was confidently rocking an all-white business suit. She looked spectacular.

“I’ve been good,” Lizzie answered with a smile. “You know how life gets so busy after high school and college.”

“Oh my God, tell me about it.” Kara laughed. “Most days I’m swamped and don’t know which end is up anymore.”

“I bet,” Lizzie said, still smiling, though that faded with her next words. “I’ve been following the news about your dad.”

“Yeah. It’s been rough.” Kara sighed and nodded. “It’s part of why we’re here. I was hoping to get blueprints of my father’s house, and my boyfriend needs some blueprints for a coupleprojects he’s going be starting soon.” She motioned toward Derrick.

“I can totally help with that!” Lizzie grinned. “Hi, I’m Lizzie. I went to high school with Kara.” Lizzie introduced herself and held out her hand to Derrick.

Derrick smiled and shook her hand. “Derrick Halson.”

“Nice to meet you.” Lizzie smiled. “How can I help?”

They spent the next hour going through the building records and pulling out blueprints. Once Kara had copies of the plans for her father’s house, the two projects they needed to get for Johnny, and a set of her own house, they were ready to leave.

“Give me your number. What are you doing this weekend? We HAVE to hang out,” Kara said to Lizzie when she and Derrick were getting ready to leave.

Lizzie laughed, and they exchanged numbers. After a quick text to make sure things were entered correctly, they set up tentative plans for lunch on Saturday.

“Well look at you,” Derrick chuckled when they reached the bike again, “running into people and not even being upset about it.”

Kara shot him a bright smile and shrugged. “Lizzie was one of my best friends at my private school. She was one of the normal, down-to-earth rich kids.”

“Is there such a thing?” Derrick asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You just met one of the few exceptions.” Kara smiled fondly.

Derrick nodded and climbed on the bike. “Come on, baby girl. I’m starving.” He shot her a wink.

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