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“I’m fine, thank you, darling. How are you? How’s everything going there?”
“Everything’s going well. Willow has gone up to Clear Lake County. You know she was eager to talk to the producers there? Well, I think she’s onto something.”
“Yes, yes. I know all about that. I had my phone call with her yesterday. When I asked how everything’s going, I wasn’t talking about the company. That’s up to you. I know you’ll call me if you need me for anything. What I want to know is how things aregoing for you and Alyssa. Anthony told me that she was quite a hit in the office.”
Bentley had to laugh. “I thought you promised me that you didn’t have any of the staff reporting back to you.”
She laughed with him. “And that’s true. I don’t have them reporting back, but you know that Anthony and I spoke every day for thirty years while we worked together. You can’t honestly tell me that you’re surprised that we might still chat occasionally, can you?”
“No. It doesn’t surprise me. What did he have to say about Alyssa?”
“As I said, he told me that everyone’s fallen in love with her.”
Bentley bit down on his bottom lip as he waited for more.
His mom drew out the silence for a few beats, but as he’d expected she couldn’t outwait him. “I do have a question for you.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Mother.”
“Oh, don’t give me thatmotherbusiness. You can tell me to mind my own business, and I probably should do just that without being told, but I can’t help it I have to ask. Are you amongst those who have fallen in love with Alyssa?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “I am.”
She let out a little squeal that was so unlike her that it made him laugh. “Oh, I was hoping! Aren’t you proud of me that I’ve managed to stay away? That I’ve barely even called you since she’s been there?”
“I am. I’m grateful, too, Mom. It’s not that I don’t want you to know what’s going on, it’s just that we need space to figure it out for ourselves first.”
“I understand completely. Russ does as well. Although, I have to tell you that he’s itching to call Alyssa. Do you think that would be okay?”
“Of course! I’d hate to think that either of you wasn’t calling when you wanted to.”
“It’s not exactly like that, but you know.”
He did know. He understood that his mom and Russ were being good and giving him and Alyssa the time and space that they needed to find their feet in their new relationship without parental interference. But at the same time, he didn’t like to think that Russ hadn’t called Alyssa when he wanted to. He knew how much she loved her dad and how important it was to her to build their relationship now that she had him in her life.
“I know what you mean, Mom. But please tell him to give her a ring.”
“I will. And is she still there?”
“She is, for now. She’s going to have to go back to the city tonight. She needs to check in with a couple of potential clients tomorrow and Friday.”
“Potential clients? I was hoping that you might have worked things so that the company would be her one and only client.”
He laughed. “I’m hoping the same thing. But she has loose ends to tie up first.”
“Okay. Is there any chance that the two of you might come out to visit again soon?”
“I don’t know. It might take a little while. I want to say that yes, we’ll come, but honestly, we’re making the most of our time here. And if she has to go back to the city, then I’ll be spending weekends there, too.”
“Of course. I don’t want to pressure you.” She laughed. “Just know that we’ll be waiting.”
He laughed with her. “Oh, believe me, I know.”
Bentley was still smiling to himself as he walked down the corridor to Willow’s office. Alyssa had said that she would meet him back there at the end of the day. He wasn’t looking forward to taking her back to San Francisco, but she had to go.
Willow glanced up at him when he entered her office, but then turned back to her computer screen as she said, “Oh, it’s only you. I was hoping it’d be Alyssa.”
“Thanks. That seems to be the greeting I get from everyone these days.”
