The Arrangement

Chapter Nineteen: Two Lawyers and a Liar

I gave my outfit a once over in the mirror.  I made sure the white tank top underneath my black blazer wasn't stained in any way, and I made sure that the fabric belt of my tan, high-waisted pants wasn't twisted.

My hair was pulled back into a low bun, and my makeup was the same as usual.

Today was the day that Maverick and I would hopefully get our relationship free of ongoing scandals and my integrity would be returned to its previous state.

"Are you ready, Emerson?" Maverick shouted from Miriam's room.  I slipped on the pair of black heels on my bed before walking across the hall.

"Yeah, sorry," I said, sitting beside Maverick on the floor.  He was struggling with getting Miriam to stop wiggling her feet as he tried to get her socks on.  I smiled. "Struggling?"

"She doesn't seem to want to let me get her ready," he replied.  I smirked.

"Aw, is Daddy's little girl already growing out of it?" I teased.  He looked at me quickly and shook his head vigorously.

"No," he denied.  He looked down at Miriam for a split second only to see her holding his phone in her hands and babbling. "No."

I smiled and pressed my lips to his cheek. "You know, I'm just teasing.  How could she stop being a Daddy's girl, when she has the best Daddy in the world?"

He didn't say anything.

"Why don't you go get changed?  I'll finish getting Miriam ready," I suggested.  He sighed and moved to stand up but paused to press a kiss to the top of my head.  I smiled as he walked out before shifting to sit in the spot Maverick was just sitting in.

Taking Miriam's feet in my hands, I smile down at her, earning a giant smile that shows her small number of teeth.

After I got her socks on and her white headband on, I stood her up in front of me to make sure nothing was on uncomfortably.

Miriam was in a pair of lace socks that went to her calf, and she wore a long-sleeved, pink onesie that was tucking into white shorts.  I smiled as she babbled, grabbing at my blazer.

Picking her up, I walked out of her room, shutting the lights off, and walked into Maverick and I's room.  I laid her down on our bed, sitting down with her, and taking a few toys out of her diaper bag for her to play with.

"You almost ready, Honey?" I called Maverick, who was in the closet.  He walked out, straightening his tie.  He nodded, walked over, and picked Miriam up from the bed, bouncing her in his arms.  I smiled a pained smile, finally allowing myself to worry about what we were doing.

I stood and grabbed Miriam's diaper bag from the ground.  Once I'd gotten all of her toys picked up off of the bed and put back into the bad, I smiled at Maverick.

His free hand cupped my cheek before he pressed his lips to mine.  He pulled away with a reassuring smile, and I returned an uneasy smile.

"Let's go," I finally said. "My dad's probably going to want to talk for a bit, and I'd rather not be late."

He nodded, and we walked out to the car.  I took Miriam from his arm, so we didn't waste as much time having Maverick walk to the opposite side of the car.

Maverick still followed me to Miriam's door anyway.  I buckled her into her car seat, and, before she could begin crying, I handed her a bottle.  She took it, and I stepped back, closing the door.

I turned to Maverick, offering him a small smile before reaching towards the passenger door handle.  Maverick pushed the door closed just as I had gotten it to open.