Page 29 of At His Beck & Call

“You’ll tell me how it goes?”

“Of course.”

“Are you staying for supper?” Natalia’s voice calls up from the kitchen, and I glance at my mother, who rolls her eyes in defeat.

“What are you making?” I shout back at her.

“Go andspeakto her if you want to ask a qu?—”

“Chicken pie!”

“I’m staying,” I holler back, settling into my chair comfortably and watching the fire.

“You will both be the death of me,” my mother murmurs as she sips her coffee, then she gives me side eye, her forehead crinkling. “I love seeing you, Ollie, but you need other things in your life besides your mother and work.”

“I have my cars,” I concede, and she chuckles.

“Is that black monstrosity outside yours?”

“Yes.”

“It’s ridiculous.”

“Thank you.”

She shakes her head again, smiling at me affectionately, and we sit in contented silence for a moment.

Belinda saunters into the room and jumps up into Mom’s lap.

“Thank goodness for my babies. At least they understand me.”

I roll my eyes and chuckle while Mom scratches Belinda under the chin while she purrs like a chainsaw.

Chapter 10

Lissa

When I arrive at my apartment later that evening, I’m greeted by the sound of happy laughter coming from the kitchen. It warms my heart that Henry and Bethany get along so well. She’s been a huge part of his life for the last year, seeing us almost every week.

When I lived with James, he hardly ever allowed me to see anyone, so it’s great to have her back in my life.

My heart lurches when I think of the impending operation, of everything Henry is going to have to go through.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Bethany says as I come through the door, smiling broadly as Henry slips off the stool and runs to me.

The smell of hot chocolate is in the air, and I frown at Bethany with mock fury when I see the marshmallows and whipped cream on the counter.

“Someone left these outside your apartment door, right, Buddy?” Bethany says to Henry, who looks up at me very solemnly and nods. “We had to use them, didn’t we?” Bethany says. “Because otherwise it would have hurt the marshmallow fairy’s feelings.”

Henry nods as I laugh, lifting him up and kissing him. “Is Aunty Bethany looking after you better than Mom?” I ask.

“She took me for ice cream!” Henry squeaks, and I can smell the sugar on his breath. I know he shouldn’t be eating so much, but I can’t get past the ecstatic look in his eyes right now.

“You look tired,” Bethany says, coming over to me. “Come on, Hen, we said we would get into PJs when Mom got home, right? And then Bluey for half an hour.”

I mouth ‘thank you’ at her as she goes into our room to get my son settled. It’s so nice to have someone to look after him for once, giving me a few precious minutes of alone time after the office.

I’m not used to the new job or the new duties yet, and it all feels very overwhelming as I lower myself onto a stool and finish Henry’s hot chocolate.