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“Oh dear, you didn’t.” He groaned.
“Oh, but I did.” Tori smiled. “Got a minute?”
“Of course. Especially after you brought me a donut.” Mr. Layton motioned for her to take a seat. “You know my doctor would give you an ear thrashing if he knew.”
“And give you a bigger one knowing you ate it!” Tori joked. It struck her that she felt more comfortable in her work environment than she did in her own home. Maybe because it no longer felt like a home without her son around. It was just a house with furniture that she shared with someone.
“Mr. Layton, would you mind if I took the day off on Wednesday? I have some important errands I have to run.”
“That’s fine. It’s my week to frustrate myself on the golf course.” He bit into the sugary dough.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Tori smiled.
“Everything OK?” he asked.
“Yep. Everything is fine.” She was about to get up from her chair when she decided to share her situation with her boss. She knew it was rather soon, but it was going to happen eventually. The idea she hadn’t shared it with her husband yet was odd, but in order for her to make a sound plan for herself, it was imperative for her to inform her boss. “Mr. Layton. There is something I need to tell you.”
Layton’s face went grim. “Please don’t tell me you’re leaving?”
“No. Nothing like that.” She sucked in a huge gulp of air. “I’m pregnant.”
Layton looked startled. He didn’t know how to react to that news. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? He knew life wasn’t paradise for Tori, but a child? At thirty-eight?
“Yes, I am just as surprised as you are. It wasn’t planned.” Tori started twisting her napkin on her lap. “I intend on having the baby, but to be completely honest with you, I haven’t told my husband yet.”
Layton looked even more perplexed. “How far along are you?”
“A little over six weeks.” Her eyes welled up. “Mr. Layton, I love working here. Ever since Brendon joined the army, well, it’s usually the best part of my day.”
Layton clasped his hands and tapped his nose with his two forefingers, something he would do when he had to think. “I’m flattered you feel that way, Tori. I don’t mean to pry, but are things bad at home? You hardly ever speak about it.”
She sighed again and unfurled her napkin, trying to catch the tears before they streaked her makeup. “Mr. Layton, from the outside, my marriage may look, well, I can’t even say happy, but it seems to be OK. We have a routine. We make a decent living. But it’s empty.”
“I see.” Layton sat up in his chair. “You left home at a very young age. You thought you knew everything there was to know about life.” He gave her an understanding smile. “That expression, ‘If I only knew then what I know now,’ has probably been said hundreds of thousands of times throughout the ages.”
“You’re right about that.” Tori felt as if someone understood her. “I was only eighteen when I left. Had a baby when I was nineteen. Then the next nineteen years flew past me. I was busy raising a son, working, and taking care of the house. There hardly seemed to be time to think about anything except what was coming next. Soccer. Baseball. Camp. Baking cupcakes for the PTA.”
“And now you have a very big something to think about.” Layton nodded. “I want you to know we will help you in any way we can.”
“I appreciate that very much. You have been so kind to me. You plucked me out of a grueling job at the restaurant and gave me an opportunity to learn and grow. You encouraged me to take an online course to become a certified paralegal. I could never thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.”
“And you have never disappointed me, Tori.” Layton thought for a minute, calculating when she would be due.
“I want to continue working here, Mr. Layton.” Tori had a pleading expression on her face.
“Well of course you will continue to work here. And we’ll make sure there are accommodations for the baby after he or she arrives. We have the break room you can use. Set up a crib, playpen. Babies don’t do much in the beginning. Eat, sleep, poop.” He chuckled, trying to ease Tori’s angst.
“Once the child is old enough for day care, we can work on that together. As you know, the local day care is one of our clients,” Layton offered. “Tori, I do not want to lose the best paralegal I’ve ever had. But don’t tell Dorothy.” He smiled again.
Tori got up from where she was sitting. “Thank you, Mr. Layton. You cannot imagine how relieved I am.” Tears streamed down her face. This time she didn’t care. It was worth getting the mascara smeared under her eyes.
“Tori, I think of you like family. Anything I can do, just let me know. I won’t mention it to Robert until you’re ready for everyone else to know.”
Layton got up from his chair and walked to where Tori was standing. She threw her arms around him like he was a giant teddy bear. “You have no idea how grateful I am.”
“You can do something for me.” He held her at arm’s length. “After all these years, will you please call me George?”
Tori burst into a big smile. “I don’t know if I can, Mr. Layton.”
