Page 45 of Every Good Thing
Her elegant shoulders bounce again. “I was.”
I nudge Dot’s side, encouraging her to stop the interrogation.
“Um, I was telling Ben about Riley Trust’s family picnic next weekend. Dad and I would love you to come. Food, games, live music, and I bet Ruthie will love our bounce houses and pony rides.”
I chuckle. “She’d probably take over the pony rides.”
Ben smirks.
“Right, I hear you’re both quite the equestrians,” she says.
Ben talked about that with her? “Well, we like to think so. Do you ride?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “When I was younger. All girls go through a horse stage. I showed a few times. Couple of blue ribbons. No biggie.”
“Well, it was a late-in-life calling for me, for enjoyment, not competition. Ruthie loves it. She wants to be a farm vet one day.”
“And an astronaut,” Ben adds.
“And a contractor,” Dot says.
A grin passes between us. We play Ruthie’s Future Game often.
“I’ve got a doctor and lawyer myself,” Lauren volunteers, not to be left out. “Omar and Frederick are at Duke.”
I perk up. She has kids. Probably a husband, too. Lighten up, Lena. “Oh, that’s great. You must be so proud.”
She prompts her phone to show me their picture.
Dot leans in, too. “Handsome fellas. What’s Mr. Lauren do?”
She chuckles, her eyes returning to Ben. “Oh, there’s no Mr. Lauren.”
Dot grunts, reading my mind.
“Anyway, I realize your weekends are packed,” she goes on. “But the picnic’s a great chance to get to know our work family before you decide.”
“Decide what?” Dot retrieves her pocket snack and chomps on another Cheeto.
“Riley Trust has offered Ben a job,” I tell her (and the rest of the room).
“Ben already has a job,” Alice says with staunch disapproval. “He’s a highly decorated and respected lieutenant with the Wilmington Police Department.”
“I’m aware,” she says.
“Doing what?” Dot asks.
“Handling security at Riley Trust.”
Dot scoffs. “You want him to be a mall cop?”
“Ben Wright is no mall cop,” Alice says, a scary fire in her eyes.
“Is there a competitive benefits package?” Mr. Wickers asks.
“Guys, this isn’t an open forum on Ben’s future,” I say.
“Does this job involve working beside you?” Dot asks.
