Page 29 of Hard Focus
“No, of course not, it wasn’t his to start with.”
“All we have to do is get people to apply that same thought process to the paternal rights in the case of rape.” Taylor nodded. “I think there’s something here I can create a campaign around. We could start with some stock photos of beautiful children, followed by simulated photos of battered women, then mockups of male models looking like they’re in police booking photos. Babies, victims, and mug shots. It would definitely make an impact.” His voice softened, slipping into a musing tone. “Something along those lines. Or a video clip ofa cartheft, chaseandarrest, car returned to the owners, and then a picture of a child. All with voiceover and text.”
Nelly grimaced. “What about maternal rights? Won’t you have to consider that, too?” She stared at them in turn, rolling her eyes at what Connie’s shocked expression. “No, it could happen, swear. Say some woman blue-pills a dude and rides him—”
“Eww. Let’s not visualize that.” Connie shook her head and tried unsuccessfully to suppress a full-body shiver.
“No, for real. I bet it’s happened. Does she have rights to the child she carried for however many months?”
Alden walked into the kitchen and hooked a hand around Taylor’s hip, drawing him close. “We aren’t arguing maternal rights, because you’re right, that’s a different basket of crazy. In that situation, the intent could have been thepregnancy. In almost all cases of parental custody I’ve fought in court, the conception was not planned or intentional. It is usually either no protection or failed protection, but pregnancy was not the desired outcome.” He hummed and looked down at Taylor who smiled broadly, then Alden angled his gaze to Nelly. “I do like the way you think. Have you found a job yet?”
“Not yet. I have two interviews this week, so hopefully soon.” She tossed Connie a glance. “I’ll pull my own weight, promise. I won’t be borrowing your clothes for much longer, either. Mom’s packing up a box and mailing it to me.”
Connie laughed. “So that’s where my favorite shirts have gone.” Nelly looked sheepish and Connie shook her head. “Not a problem, baby sister. I’m just enjoying having you here.”
“Do you have any interest in becoming a paralegal?” Alden held Nelly’s gaze,andConnie’s breath caught in her throat.
Her sister cocked her head to the side slowly. “Maaayybe?” She drawled the word out, then asked, “What would it entail?”
“More school, for both the accreditation and degree, but you could work while that happened.” Alden shrugged. “Come to work for me. I can put you in as an investigator and researcher at first, then legal assistant once you started classes. It’s not bad work, and you get to use your brain all day.”
Taylor grinned. “I told him you hated not using your brain.”
Nelly bopped her head side to side. “It’s true, check out the massive brain I happen to possess.” She studied Alden intently for a moment. “Why? Why me?”
“Because I know your sister, and if you’re anything like her, you’ll fall into the cases naturally. Your father brought a lot of his work home in the form of legal puzzles to solve, and I know Connie thrives in that kind of environment.” He shrugged. “I’d be willing to take a chance you would, too.”
Nelly strolled around the island and tucked her hand into Alden’s elbow, pulling him away from Taylor and into the living room. “Tell me more, oh wise one. This sounds interesting.”
Taylor moved to where Connie stood and leaned against the countertop beside her as they watched Nelly and Alden take seats on the couch, talkinganimatedly the whole time. “This could be good,” he said softly.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled. “She needed this. Just look at her face. He’s creating a monster.”
“A monster for good.” Taylor’s gentle teasing was comfortable, and something she’d missed.
“Alden blindsided me today. I don’t usually do well with that.” She sighed. “I’ll forgive him if he can keep my sister smiling. See if you can make that happen, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.” There was a light pressure on the top of her head and she knew he’d rested against her. She sighed, feeling supported and comforted in the same breath.
“Thank you.”
***
“I don’t ask much.” Taylor laughed through the words, telling everyone in earshot he knew the truth was the opposite of what he’d just said. “I just want what I want, when I want it.”
“So you’re basically a toddler,” Nelly told him as she yanked the door open on the storefront restaurant she’d picked off an app on her phone. “You’re kinda pushing the maturity thing with that, buddy.”
“Oh, shut up.” He stuck his tongue out at her, and Connie smiled at the two of them. Some days they acted more like siblings than she and Nelly did. “You’re a nerd.”
“And I own it,” Nelly crowed, turning to the hostess’ stand. “We need a table for three, and one of us might need a booster seat.” She thumbed over her shoulder. “TayTay is getting cranky. It’s past his naptime.”
Connie rolled her eyes and pushed past her sister. “Three, please. And I’d tip a lot for two gags.”
Laughing, the hostess gathered silverware and menus. “Follow me. I’ll see what I can rustle up in the way of markers and coloring books for the little ones.”
“Hey.” Taylor tried to sound convincinglyannoyedbut lost the edge on that emotion as he squealed when Nelly dug into his ribs with her fingers. “Ow,” he laughed, dancing away from her. “You’re a beast.”
Connie followed the hostess, paying little attention to the other diners as she listened to the growls and laughter coming from behind her. They were seated and had placed drink orders with the waitress when she glanced around the room. Everything felt like it came to a screeching halt. Her ears felt filled with cotton and her stomach bottomed out.
