Fifteen Years by Kendra Norman-Bellamy Read Free Book Online Page A

out of town, and they made no promises about tonight. It’s okay if you move ahead with the program.”
    “That’s too bad.” Mickey shook Josiah’s hand once more, and this time he topped it off with a single sympathetic pat to his shoulder.
    Mickey had that same pitiful expression on his face as the redheaded officer wore when he came to tell Josiah that his mother had been murdered. Josiah couldn’t help wondering if Mickey knew the truth about his family… or the lack thereof. Seven years was a long time to work with someone and never see one member of his family. Josiah was sure that if Mickey didn’t know, he had some suspicions.
    Breaking the brief silence with a deafening sneeze into his handkerchief, Mickey regrouped, and then said, “Well, present or not, I know they’re proud. I would have loved to have met them, but I’m sure you’ll be honored with something else in the near future that they’ll be able to come and witness. No doubt about that.”
    Eye contact was finally made, but it was fleeting. “Thank you, Mr. Colt. I appreciate the faith that you’ve placed in my abilities.”
    When Mickey smiled, Josiah found a new reason to wait until later to eat. How does one make six figures and not take better care of his teeth? Couldn’t he have the doctor sedate him or something? There had to be a way for Mickey to rectify that whole yuck-mouth situation and deal with his dentist phobia at the same time.
    “I’ll be giving the floor to you in just a bit,” Mickey promisedjust before departing with Nadhima following close behind like a paid security guard.
    As soon as Mickey was out of sight, Josiah retrieved this personal-sized bottle of hand sanitizer from his suit pocket and sterilized his hands. Anybody who sneezed and wiped their nose as often as Mickey did should never reach out to shake a person’s hand. The spot on his shoulder where Mickey had patted couldn’t be wiped away, but Josiah made a mental note to send his suit to the cleaners first thing Monday morning.
    The smell of rubbing alcohol reeked from Josiah’s hands as he sank back into his seat and picked up his glass. He’d already polished off the water, but now his mouth was dry again. Probably a direct result of the lie that he’d just told his boss about his family’s absence. Josiah took in a mouthful of unsweetened tea that disgusted his tongue, and he tried not to gag as he placed the sweating glass back on the table. Immediately, he reached for the glass of water that had been a part of the place setting to the left of him. Might as well, since no one would be sitting there to enjoy it.
    “Hey, JT. What’s up, man?”
    A rush of liberation swept through Josiah at the sight of the approaching Craig Wilson. He didn’t know what had changed his mind, but whatever it was, Josiah was grateful. Because of him, the honoree’s table wouldn’t be completely empty after all. And just a bit of truth, perhaps, could be attached to the untruth he’d told earlier.
    “Craig.” Josiah could hear the relief in his own voice. “What are you doing here, man?” The two slapped their palms together and then pulled each other into a quick brotherly hug. Josiah tried to control his grin, but couldn’t. “I thought you said you had other plans tonight that you couldn’t change.”
    “I did.” Craig stepped to the side, unveiling the woman he’d been dating for the past two years. “Whether we came here or notwas Dani’s call, and she chose to spend her birthday supporting you.” Craig seemed proud to make the announcement.
    Josiah bent his knees slightly as he embraced his best friend’s girl. “Thanks, Danielle. You didn’t have to do this.”
    “I know.” She looked up at Josiah as he fully released her. “I wanted to. There was no way that I would miss this by choice. When Craig told me about the function before, I thought it was something that was celebrating a group of your colleagues. When he explained to me last