Chapter 13
Rob started his morning helping Danny get ready and then taking him and Lenny for a walk before breakfast. The whole time, Julian was in the office, on the phone and working on his laptop. He didn't even have time for breakfast.
That's why Rob and Danny made him a little something he could eat at his desk. As Rob went in to take the plate to him, he heard Julian say, "My assistant will send you the details."
When Julian hung up, Rob got ready to deal with whatever needed to be done, but he then heard Julian talking with Ms Dover on the phone and giving her instructions about what she needed to send to the client.
"Ms Dover, umm... Is she still your full time assistant?" Rob asked once he was off the phone.
"Of course," Julian said, not 'for now,' or anything else that might help put Rob's mind at ease. That meant his time here would be over even sooner than he thought.
Noticing his reaction, Julian turned to face him fully. "That doesn't mean I don't need your help here, especially with Danny."
"OK," Rob said, not sure where things stood.
"I didn't think you minded," Julian said.
"I don't. Danny is great. I just didn't realize... Anyway. Danny and I made you this whole-wheat waffle sandwich for breakfast. He's a sandwich-making expert now," Rob said and he forced a smile.
"Thank you," Julian said as he looked at their creation.
His smile seemed genuine so that put Rob in a better mood. "It has apple slices and a little honey inside. We couldn't let you go without breakfast."
"I appreciate it, and thank you for spending time with Danny. Things get a little hectic sometimes," Julian said.
"Sure. I'll go clean up in the kitchen. A few things got kind of sticky," Rob told him.
Just a few words from Julian and Rob was so much happier as he left. Even if he didn't know any more than before about how long this job would last, Rob felt lighter.
At midday, Rico brought Sammy over along with their lunch from the café. They all ate together, and Mitch pointed to the two complimentary pieces of peach pie with whipped cream. "I bet no one ordered those."
Rico confirmed it. "Grandma sneaked them in there."
"That's what Grandma gives to the kids she likes," Sammy said to Danny. "Grandma was Rico's grandma first, but he let me borrow her. Now she's my grandma too."
"I don't have a grandma, but I have Lenny," Danny told her.
Rob glanced at Julian and saw him frown. It must have bothered him that he couldn't give Danny a bigger family.
"You can borrow my grandma. She's nice," Sammy said generously and Mitch gave his little daughter such a loving smile for that.
All through lunch, Julian was getting a lot of emails and Rob asked, "Are we going to be busy?"
"Seems so," Julian said. He was ready to rush off, but this time he wanted Rob to do some work too.
Mitch and Rico offered for them to let the kids hang out where they could watch them. Since Danny was doing fine, Julian and Rob went off to his office.
"You're still not comfortable letting him play with other kids?" Rob asked once they were away from the others.
"I'm worried something might go wrong."
"If it does, you're right here. But Sammy seems like a nice kid." She was lively and determined, more like Rico than her stolid and serious dad.
"You're right. I shouldn't expect the worst. I should be more positive," Julian said as he sat behind his desk.
"Is that what I said?" Rob asked.
"More or less. Now we better get to work. I'll probably want to check on Danny in a few minutes," Julian admitted with a sheepish grin.
