Cimarron, Denver Cereal Volume 4 by Claudia Hall Christian

receptionist
said. “I didn’t know you were here today.”
    “ I came to see if we could
lure my brother into showing us how all the big equipment works,”
Valerie said. “He’s expecting us.”
    “ Who are these munchkins?”
the receptionist asked.
    “ I’m Katy!”
    “ I’m Paddie. Who are
you?”
    “ I’m Clara,” the
receptionist said. “Your kids?”
    “ Jake’s daughter,” Valerie
said. “And her best friend, Paddie Hargreaves.”
    “ I thought Jake had a
daughter. There are pictures of her and Jill of course, all over
his office, but I also heard he didn’t have any children,” Clara
said.
    “ Just me!” Katy
said.
    “ Anyway, you can go back,”
Clara buzzed the door. “We’re all so relieved that Aden’s back.
Blane called and said he’s coming in tomorrow. It’s like things are
getting back to normal here.”
    “ That would be very nice,”
Valerie said. “Thanks.”
    With a child in each hand, Valerie went
through the door to the back office. Once through the door, Katy
yanked her hand from Valerie’s. Katy took off running toward
Jacob’s office. Not to be outdone, Paddie jerked out of Valerie’s
grasp and ran after Katy. Valerie ran after the children. They were
a laughing, giggling parade through the office.
    Valerie was around the corner when she
heard, “Hey, you can’t go in there.” She sped up. Turning the
corner into the hallway that held Jacob, Sam and Aden’s office, she
heard Katy’s distinctive cry. A blonde woman in a risqué dress and
five inch heels had Katy and Paddie by the wrist. Katy had a red
welt on her face.
    “ This child assaulted me!”
the woman said.
    Valerie looked at the small child and back
at the woman.
    “ She’s pretty good at
martial arts,” Valerie said.
    “ No child should treat an
adult this way,” the woman said.
    “ So you slapped her?”
Valerie asked.
    “ What are these children
doing here?” the woman asked.
    “ I was raised in this
office,” Valerie said. “Children have always been in this office.
Who the hell are you?”
    Valerie dropped to her knees. She held her
arm out for Katy and Paddie.
    “ Let go of them,” Valerie
said.
    “ I will not,” the woman
said. “I am escorting these wild children out of this office this
instant.”
    Katy began to howl. Paddie began to cry in
sympathy for Katy. People poked their heads out of their offices.
Aden’s secretary was moving across the space toward them.
    “ Evette, let the children
go,” Aden’s secretary said. Her voice was calm and soothing.
“Evette’s new, Val. She just doesn’t know. Evette, this is Valerie
Lipson. Mr. Marlowe’s sister.”
    “ The soap opera slut,”
Evette said.
    Aden’s secretary stepped back in horror.
    “ Mr. Marlowe does not need
to be bothered by your nonsense or some bastard children,” Evette
said.
    “ DADDDDDDYYYYYYY!!!!!!”
Katy screamed.
    Jacob and Aden flew out of his office. Quick
to assess the situation, Jacob’s face set in sheer rage.
    “ Mr. Marlowe…” Evette
started.
    “ Let go,” Jacob said.
“Now.”
    Evette released the children. Katy ran to
Jacob. Valerie picked up Paddie.
    “ Be in my office in an
hour,” Aden said to Evette.
    “ I was just…” Evette
said.
    “ One hour,” Aden
said.
    With his secretary trailing him, Aden walked
into his office. His secretary closed the door. With one last look
at Evette, Jacob and Valerie took the crying children into his
office. Valerie sat on the couch with Paddie and rocked him back
and forth. Jacob sat down in his office chair with Katy.
    Jacob’s heart sank with guilt and sadness.
He had no idea what to do for Katy. He just held on to her and
tried to say soothing things to her. He was about to call Jill when
Katy began to take a few deeper breaths.
    “ That lady hit Katy,”
Paddie said.
    Jacob pulled Katy back to look at her. Katy
nodded and pointed to her cheek. Jacob kissed her cheek.
    “ Can we still go on the
road-a-vores?” Katy hiccupped