Delectable Benefits

Nine

Anya was sitting in the middle of her court room and called for her next case when her small family marched up to the bench.

"Case file number, 1-4-3-M-O-M is now in session, petitioners are requesting to approach the bench," the bailiff said with an amused smile.

Anya looked up at the unusual request and saw her daughter and husband look at her. "Request granted," Anya said and smiled warmly at her daughter.

"Mommy!" Nicolette cried out and ran to her mother. It had been a month since school started and Anya did everything she could to avoid her husband but always made time for her daughter. She had to keep telling herself she didn't need him, but clearly, she was failing.

"What an  honor to be graced by such beauty," Anya said and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Schools's out?" She asked.

Nicolette nodded and i haled her mother's scent. She always smelled like cookies and flowers. Her favorite combination, "It's a Friday, mommy, and you're always home early on Fridays. Don't tell us you'll be home late again."

Yes, she always picked her daughter up after school, but according to her agreement with her father, he would pick her up so he can spend the week end with her. "Well, mommy has a lot of work and I don't want to get these cases backed up."

"Your next hearing is not set until Monday. We asked Candy, this is your last hearing for the day."

Anya looked around her court room and saw her court officers looked ready to go home. She looked at her watch and realized it was watch past quitting time. "Oh," she said.

"Yes, mommy, oh," Nicolette said and looked at her with an expectant look.

Anya sighed and looked at the pair, she nodded to her bailiff and soon court was closed. "I'm sorry," she said, as they walked to their car. She took the keys from her purse and as soon as she unlocked the doors, Nick took the keys and held the door open for her. "Thank you," she said and settled herself in the passenger seat.

"Mommy, why are you working so hard?" Nicolette asked.

To help me forget the pain, "I need to start working because of the surprise vacation I took before school started. It's not something I would normally do."

"But to work until almost past bedtime?"

So I won't have to endure your father's excellent acting skills in pretending there could be a future between us, "It's like that because there are times I have to be the night judge to sign warrants."

"You keep escaping date nights. You owe daddy at least four date nights. You have to spend the weekend with him in a date."

"We can't do that, honey, tomorrow is open house night. We have to be in your school and I promised your teacher we will make one hundred mini cupcakes for the parents." Anya reminded them.

Nicolette frowned, "Then how am I supposed to have a brother or a sister if you keep avoiding my daddy?"

Anya was startled by the outburst. Nick started coughing. "Perhaps your father can provide you with one once he marries the woman he's given his heart to."

"What about you? I want a sibling that will look like my mommy, I already look like my father," Nicolette said with a pout.

Anya forced herself not to laugh, "Your father is a handsome man, you're going to break a lot of hearts when you grow up."

Nick glared at his wife. "Love, that is a little too soon, sweetheart,"

Anya smiled at him, "All I am saying is, she will be a beautiful girl, provided that she takes good care of herself. Now that her father is here, I think she will be well guarded," Anya said and remembered the great lengths Nick went through just to keep her safe.