All Chapters of All Things For Our Best Life: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

They all met in the dining room for dinner that evening. It was dress casual attire, so they were dressed nicely, but it was not the black-tie event they would have tomorrow evening. Marilou arrived first with the children, then Jada and Brayden. Marilou kept looking for Carl, so she was distracted as Jada tried to talk to her. When she saw Carl, she started smiling, and Jada nudged Brayden to look at how happy she was to see him. Brayden nodded, smiling as he put his arm around Jada’s shoulders and kissed her temple, happy that the two had found love. Carl gave Jada a gift box and a single red rose. “I’m sorry I’m late, but I had to stop and get My Girl a gift, and the gift shop was busy,” he said, handing the box to her and the rose. He softly kissed her cheek as he gave them to her. “Carl! Thank you! That’s so sweet of you,” she said, touching his hand. Inside the box was a clear X shaped bottle of perfume called New York Flowers by Bond. Marilou tried the heavenly scent on h

Marilou and Carl had got a separate room and spent time alone, having a honeymoon of their own. They went to Lolani Palace and Wailua Falls as well as just quiet dinners and walks on the beach. Marilou fell deeper in love with her husband as they spent romantic days and nights together. On their last day, they all met together for breakfast at the hotel restaurant. They gave each other hugs and shared their experiences. Charity asked if Marilou would be moving into a castle with her Prince Carl. “Well, right now we are moving into his apartment, but maybe one day we may build our own castle, Sweetie,” she told the child. “Will you still come see us?” She asked, realizing that she wouldn’t be as involved in their lives anymore. “Oh Sweetie, of course I will! I will come see you and have dinner with you once a week, how’s that?” Marilou promised. “What day?” Charity asked. “How about this? On Sundays, we go to Sunday school and then we all get together for lunch afterwards. How doe

Jada texted Brayden that she and Marilou were taking the kids school shopping. “Sure, Sweetheart. What is “school shopping”? He asked. She explained what she thought was common knowledge, but then, Brayden went to a private school with school uniforms, so she supposed he would not have any knowledge of what “regular people” did. For the first time in their lives, she was able to take them to the nice clothing places to buy their school clothes. They went to Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, Nike, American Eagle, Gap, Hollister, Old Navy and Pac Sun. The children had so much fun, getting all their favorite looks. They ate lunch at the mall, and then went to Target for notebooks, backpacks and all the rest. Jada thanked God that she didn’t have to shop at a secondhand store for their shoes and clothing and get their supplies free from a church this year. Last year had been the hardest ever for their finances. “Thank you, Lord, for coming to our rescue when we needed you the most,”

The day had come for Brayden, Tandra and twenty other staff members to move into the Bronx facility. Jada was invited to come to the going away party. Marilou now had a secretarial position, working for Carl. He had a male Administrative Assistant, but she was secretary to both of them. Collin was Carl’s assistant, and Marilou liked working for him. He was tall and thin, pale, clean-shaven and openly homosexual. Carl was not concerned, though, because they were both happily married men. Collin’s husband Dewayne also worked as a secretary in their office. Marilou and Collin had formed a friendship and good work relationship. She looked forward to a good friendship with the couple. There were three other secretaries on their floor, and so far, Marilou got along with them all. One girl she kept her eyes on, though. Danica was very pretty, very shapely, and very interested in Carl. She took every opportunity to take things to his office or stop him to ask questions. Carl wasn’t in

Daphne went into labor that next morning, on January 16th. She talked the doctor into doing a C-section, not wanting to go through the pain of labor. Brayden, Evelyn, Jada and Caleb waited in the waiting room. Caleb sat alone, not speaking to anyone as he waited to hear about his cousin. Brayden walked over to him. “Listen, Caleb, let’s turn over a new leaf. I’m willing to let go of you trying to tap into my financial records and give you a second chance if you promise to be honest and trustworthy from now on,” Brayden said. Caleb looked up at Brayden and saw his sincerity. He shook Brayden’s hand and assured him he could trust him. I won’t let you down, Brayden. Thank you,” he said, smiling at him. “So, this means you will contract my company for the Bronx housing developments, then?” Caleb asked. Brayden nodded and told him to meet him at his office on Monday to discuss terms of their contract. Caleb smiled and thanked Brayden once more, happy to have acquired the bid. He ca