Iâm very happy about it, sir. Youâll never know how much.â
âIâm glad to hear it. As you know, with this promotion comes a new territory.â
The smile on Myaâs face dimmed. The territory she was presently working included New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. They were states that werenât too far from Texas and required little travel time. âDo you have any idea what my new territory will be?â
âYes, weâre assigning you to handle one of our newest accounts on the east coast. The company is located in Orlando and is an account we want to give special attention to and feel youâre just the person to handle things.â
Mya nodded. She didnât want to think about how she would break the news to Garrett about an increase in travel when he really didnât want her traveling at all.
âWill the increase in travel be a problem for you, Ms. Rivers?â
Mr. Leeâs question interrupted her thoughts. Evidently the expression on her face had been a dead giveaway. âNo. Iâll have to make arrangements with my childrenâs nanny. As you know my husband plays major league sports and sometimes he has to be gone away from home a lot, especially when football season begins. I need to make sure the lady who keeps my sons will always be available.â
Mr. Lee nodded. âAnd if she isnât, you may want to find someone else. With this job comes a fifty thousand dollar increase in your annual salary, not to mention the bonuses youâll be able to earn.â
Mya nodded. The promotion was a dream come true. She stood. âI appreciate the companyâs faith in my abilities.â She then turned and walked out of Mr. Leeâs office.
Â
Later that evening Mya heard the hollering and crying the moment she entered the kitchen from the garage. She took one look at the kitchen and knew the Rivers boys had misbehaved. Tonight was Mrs. Butlerâs night off and Garrett had come straight home from football practice to feed the twins dinner. Evidently while heâd been preparing their meal, the two precious darlings had decided to throw the eggs she had boiled that morning against the wall.
âIâm home,â she called out.
Garrett entered the kitchen with one son under each of his arms, like a sack of potatoes. The angry look that met hers challenged her to say something, anything. She refused to do so. She didnât even walk across the room to take her screaming sons from their fatherâs clutches.
âJust look at the mess they made, Mya.â
She glanced around. âI see. And I think the best thing to do is to make them clean it up. Donât you?â
Her voice had been soft and calm. So soft and calm that her sons immediately stopped screaming. Thinking it safe to do so, she walked over to Garrett and kissed his cheek. âRough day, huh?â
âYou donât know the half of it.â
She looked up at him. What he wasnât saying and what he was probably thinking was that she should have been at home cooking dinner and watching the boys. He always claimed they behaved a lot better for her anyway. âHow about if you leave these two with me and just go in the bathroom, run water in the tub, and relax. Let me finish dinner.â
Garrett studied her for a moment. He was tempted to do just what she suggested. But then he glanced around the room and looked at the mess the twins had made. âNo, that wouldnât be fair. You worked today just like I did. Weâll clean this up together then Iâll help you fix dinner.â He leaned over and whispered in her ear. âAnd once these two hoodlums are fed and in bed, you and I will both get in the tub, and relax. How does that sound?â
She smiled at him. âSounds like a wonderful idea,â she said taking their sons from his arms. âYou may want to consider the fact that the reason David and Daniel like throwing things