Page 103 of Dial L for Lawyer
We finally get her settled with episode two, and she curls up between us on the couch, occasionally providing legal commentary on the teenage spies' various crimes.
"They didn't read her Miranda rights," she points out during an arrest scene.
"It's in France," I explain. "Different laws."
"That's stupid. Miranda rights should be universal."
By 7:15, she's fading, her head drooping against Serena's shoulder.
"Bedtime, monster," I say.
"I'm not tired." She yawns massively. "And Serena hasn't seen my legal library yet."
"Her legal library?"
"It's three books," I explain. "My old Constitutional Law textbook, a 'Law for Dummies' book David got her as a joke, and something called 'Legally Blonde: The Novel.'"
"Essential reading," Serena says seriously. "But you can show me next time."
"There's gonna be a next time?" Michaela perks up.
"If that's OK with you."
Michaela considers this. "Can you come to Lake Forest with us this summer? There’s a rope swing that’s really fun. And I need someone who'll back me up on the treehouse issue."
"I'll do my best."
"OK. You can share my room. Uncle Caleb farts really bad when he drinks too much beer."
"That's not exactly the detail you share when you're campaigning so hard for us to get married," I say, but I'm smiling, and Serena's trying not to laugh.
I carry her to bed despite protests that she's not even a tiny bit tired. She's asleep before I finish tucking her in, right after whispering, "I really like your girlfriend, Uncle Caleb."
I smooth the hair back from her forehead gently and smile. "Me too, monster. Me too."
When I come back to the living room, Serena's cleaning up pizza boxes, looking domestic and perfect in David's space.
"She's amazing," she says. "Like a tiny, terrifying little you. She’ll make a great lawyer some day."
"Runs in the family. Dad's a lawyer, David's a lawyer, I'm a lawyer."
"But your mom's a pediatrician?"
"She is. And probably the only sane one out of us all." I pull her against me and kiss the tip of her nose. "Thanks for being so good with Michaela."
"Are you kidding? She's hilarious. And brilliant. And absolutely going to destroy opposing counsel someday."
"God help them all."
She tilts her head up and presses a soft kiss to my mouth. "So... Hannah's mom thinks you're a smoke show, huh?"
"Jealous?"
"Maybe a little."
"Don't be. I only have eyes for marketing directors who let seven-year-olds explain fairy tale law to them."
"Seven and three-quarters," she corrects, and I love her so much in that moment it physically hurts.
