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CHAPTER9
Luk
* * *
Despite Leif’s sniffles,he slept well enough and only woke for one feed.
Alexa woke up at four in the morning and sat up in bed.
“Did you hear him cry?”
I stretched. “No.”
We both listened to the monitor on the bedside table, but there was no sound. “He’s sleeping,” I said and picked it up so I could show Alexa the image on the video monitor. “Look. You can see his chest moving. He’s sleeping soundly. He’s fine.”
Alexa nodded, but I could tell she was still concerned. “I’m worried that he’s really sick if he hasn’t even woken up twice to feed.”
“Try to sleep,” I said and put my arms around her after she lay back down in bed. She finally snuggled into my arms and for a while, we both listened to the baby monitor. “We have to take advantage of this and get a good sleep if Leif is going to. Besides, he’s breathing fine, and his fever seems down.”
“It always goes down in the night, plus he took Tylenol, so that brought it down. Whatever’s making him sick is still there.”
“Shh,” I said and turned off the nightlight. “Try to relax. We’ll see how he is in the morning.”
Finally, she must have relaxed since she fell asleep.
On the other hand, I lay awake for quite a while, listening to her breathing, and the occasional sniff coming from the baby monitor. I suddenly felt the immensity of my responsibilities for Alexa and now Leif. There was a lot going on at the time regarding our quest to get funding for our venture, and my mind was whirling trying to keep track of everything on my to-do list. Even though I was on parental leave, I still made it into the office several times a week just to catch up with what was going on and to meet with John or whoever I needed to so I could keep on top of things. But my focus during the first six months of Leif’s life was raising him and being the best dad that I could be and the best partner to Alexa.
Still as hard as I tried to keep my focus on my home life, my mind frequently wandered to the office. I felt guilty at times that I wasn't properly focused on house and home and my role as Leif’s father. Luckily, Alexa understood. She told me to go into the city twice a week just to keep track of things and that I shouldn’t feel bad.
She was doing fine, and she promised that if she needed help, she could call her mother, who had lots of information and knowledge from raising Alexa.
Of course, that just made me feel worse. I should have been able to focus on our home life and our baby and put the business aside. It would still be there when Leif was a year old.
So, I was glad that Alexa gave me permission to go into the city at least twice a week for a few hours. She didn't mind being alone with Leif. I still felt guilty leaving but took Alexa at her word that she’d be fine.
* * *
The next morning,I was scheduled to go into town and meet with John to discuss prospects for new angel investors coming on to the project. While both Alexa and Leif slept, I had a quick shower and got ready to go into work. I watched from my closet while Alexa slept in our bed, her hands tucked beside her face, her eyes closed. Luckily Leif slept in and so Alexa got a few more hours of sleep.
I went over to the bed and bent down to give Alexa a kiss. In response, she snuggled down and smiled when she felt my lips on her cheek.
“You going in already? What time is it?” she asked.
“It's 6:30,” I said. “I'll make you a pot of coffee before I go.”
She smiled and snuggled down even more deeply into the comforter. “I love you,” she said. I kissed her again. “I love you, too,” I replied, smiling to myself.
I left the bedroom and passed by the nursery. I gingerly opened the door and peeked inside. Leif was still asleep, his little hands clenched into fists, his head turned to the side. The room was dim, but there was a glow from the star globe on the walls and ceilings. I closed the door quietly, careful not to make a sound, and then went downstairs to the kitchen. I made a fresh pot of coffee, poured myself one into my travel thermos, and then called down for my ride.
I told the driver that I'd be ready in five, and he said he would pull into the driveway and wait. I gathered my briefcase and my files, and then went to the door to get my jacket and shoes. I turned to take one last look at the house and realized that I'd forgotten the coffee mug, so I went back and retrieved it from the counter.
The view from the patio doors was magnificent and I felt bad that I would be missing the morning with Alexa and Leif. I consoled myself that there would be many more mornings like this one that we could spend together. The success of Astra Investments depended on getting enough funding so that we could fulfill our promises to our investors. That meant I had to be on top of things and so I had to leave my wonderful wife and beautiful son at least twice a week, but it was a price I was willing to pay.
I left the house and got into the back of the limo. After saying hello to the driver, I opened my laptop and spent the drive into town catching up on the latest investment news. I checked out my own investments to see how they were doing, and everything was going well all things considered. At least Alexa, Leif and I wouldn't have to worry about our own finances. Our needs would be taken care of even if Astra Investments didn't do as well as I hoped.
Once we arrived in the city, I went up to the penthouse and into my office. I said hello to my admin assistant, Karl, and then sat down behind my desk. I checked my inbox for mail and messages and saw that it was coming up to 9 and my first meeting with John.
I grabbed my file, refilled my coffee in the break room, and then went to John's office. I popped my head inside and saw that he was on the phone. I pointed to the boardroom and mouthed See you in 5. He nodded and so I left his office and went down the hall to the boardroom where we were supposed to meet.
After getting seated and organizing my materials on the desktop in front of me, I checked my phone to see if Alexa had texted. Sure enough, there was a text from her and a picture of her holding Leif and sitting on the patio. She was smiling and Leif looked happy with his pacifier in his mouth.
ALEXA: We are living our best life out here on the patio. Love you. OXOX.
I smiled and sent back a text.
