Page 131 of The Auction Block

We lie down, holding each other. "I love you, too."

"Oh, by the way. My father called Shannon this morning."

"Yeah? How's the vacation going for them?"

"Turns out they haven't gone yet. Carmen decided she wanted to wait."

"Ah, that means I should put on my happy face around them."

He chuckles. "I may not care for them, but they're family. Plus, they're the only grandparents Sorina is going to have. Unless you'd like to find your parents."

My face hardens, turning into a statuesque picture of rage. "I really hope you meant that as a joke," I say through gritted teeth.

"Not at all. I think you need to find them and get closure, Lily."

"They sold me. End of story. If that isn't closure, I don't know what it is."

"Bullshit, I— "

"Blake, don't. Let it go. I don't want to remember them or find them or have anything to do with them. I know you want to fix every shitty thing about my life, but please, let this go."

He leans down and kisses me gently. "I'm sorry, I want to help you."

"You have. More than you'll ever know."

Sorina's room is almost complete. The only thing it’ll need is a new paint job. The walls are white, for now. Blake wants to let her decide on the color, which seems only fair. The girl's had little in the way of decision making for the several years. I know how that is all too well. Spending years having everyone else tell you what to do, who to be. It's nice to decide things on your own after a life like that. Even the simplest choice feels like a great feat.

"Lily, Mr. Mason, lunch ready," Teresa yells from the kitchen.

I've been standing in the doorway as Blake and Dresden try to assemble Sorina's daybed. They've been at it for over forty-five minutes and still don't have any of it actually put together.

"Guys, go eat. You can finish this when you come back," I say trying to hide my amusement.

They both glare at me, but stand anyway, leaving their tools on the floor. Thank God Hayato put together the desk and Vlad took care of the dressers. We've got to head over to the halfway house soon and I've still got a phone call to make.

"You coming, hon," Blake says, stopping in front of me as Dresden heads for the kitchen.

It smells like Teresa made chicken and dumplings, which happens to be Dresden's favorite.

"No, you go eat. I have some work to do in my office before we can head out later."

He reaches up and runs his fingers through my hair, gently caressing my earlobe. I shudder at the touch. Today's not a day we can afford to get sidetracked with sex. I lean forward and press my lips to his, breaking the kiss before it can start something I don't have time to finish. Blake winks at me, and struts to the kitchen.

I stare at the bedframe, shaking my head. He could've easily paid someone to put all this together, but he was adamant about doing it himself. The most amusing part of all this is the fact Dresden can break down and reassemble an AK47 but can't fit the pieces of a girl’s bed together.

I walk over, scoop the directions off the floor, and read through them twice.

Seems simple enough. Don't see what their problem is.

I keep the directions close and quietly start assembling the frame. It takes me about a half hour. The box spring is light and fits perfectly. Sorina is sure to love the soft pink bed skirt and matching blankets. Blake called Nurse Slybeck this morning to ask what color Sorina would like. Turns out it’s pink, go figure.

The mattress is sturdy, but comfortable. Blake bought a pillow top to go over it. The pale pink sheets look nice with the dark pink comforter. I hope Sorina agrees to live here and likes everything we've gotten her. Not that we can't go out and buy something else, but we've both been a ball of nerves all morning.

I sit on the perfectly made bed and bounce a few times, making sure the whole thing doesn't come crashing to the floor.

"How the fuck?" Dresden snaps.

He and Blake stand in the doorway, mouths open, glaring at the finished bed and me.