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“I’ll keep you apprised.”
It would be like a work project. Weekly updates.
“Goodbye, Trace.”
Cath clicked off the phone and drew the baby book near again. She had so much to learn.
Monday morning Cath arrived at work early. She’d spent the remainder of the weekend worrying about Trace and his initial reaction. Somehow she had to make him see that she wasn’t looking to force them into any kind of arrangement that had long-range implications. He hadn’t called again, so maybe he’d thought things over and calmed down.
There was plenty of work to do, as the stacks of papers on her desk attested. She had, after all, been gone for several days. She plunged right into it—starting with a phone call to Thomas in Brussels before he left for home.
By two o’clock she had read all of her mail and scanned the telephone messages—returning the most urgent and delegating several others to people who reported to her.
Her secretary had popped in when she first arrived bringing her up-to-date on what had happened in the company over the last few days. Apparently Trace was wasting no time in cutting waste, rearranging personnel and generally making changes that had everyone nervous and wary.
Two of the senior managers had been let go. There had been some shuffling among the other employees in various departments, and another management meeting had been called for tomorrow morning.
So far he’d left her division alone. She hoped it continued that way. She could defend her staff and her projects but she didn’t want to have to.
Still, she worked diligently, wanting nothing to give rise for Trace to question her abilities. She never forgot he had the final veto power for her promotion and transfer to Europe.
Cath took a quick walk at lunch. The weather remained sunny and cold with a brisk breeze blowing in from the Bay. She was more conscious than ever of taking good care of herself. Fresh air and exercise would become her new watchwords.
As she strolled down Montgomery Street, she remembered the Sunday afternoon she and Trace had walked along these same sidewalks. They’d been practically deserted, not bustling with people as today.
She missed the fun they’d shared. Missed meeting him on the spur-of-the-moment for coffee or a meal. Missed the late night calls. Loneliness was not a stranger, but for a few weeks, Trace had kept it at bay.
Despite her own efforts to remain aloof, she’d enjoyed being part of a couple for those weeks.
The most astonishing thought struck. She could get married. She no longer was a woman who could not give her husband a baby. Jason’s reasons for leaving had hurt for many years. Her pregnancy blew them away. Granted, she wouldn’t be completely certain of anything until she held her baby in her arms, but the possibilities multiplied.
Maybe she could find a man to love, who’d love her. She’d enjoyed being part of a couple. Having a family life like her parents and siblings enjoyed. Be normal.
Trace had given her a gift beyond price. She was free to be a normal woman again for the first time since Jason had broken her heart when he left. Of course her initial thought was of Trace Williams. She quickly squelched even the hint of dreams in that direction.
His reaction at the marina on Saturday had made a definite impression.
Shortly after lunch, she received a phone call from Ronald Franklin, who introduced himself as Trace’s attorney.
“My client is concerned about the information he learned this weekend,” the attorney began.
“I thought I made it clear to your client that there was nothing to worry about,” she said with some asperity. It sure hadn’t taken Trace long to raise defenses. Hadn’t he listened to her when she said she wanted nothing from him?
“Do you deny that he is the father of the baby?” Ronald asked.
“I do not,” she replied. “However I am not asking for anything from him.”
“We would require DNA testing.”
“Why? I’m not asking for anything so does it matter?”
Wasn’t this man listening, either?
“It’s highly unlikely that you would reject the financial benefits, if nothing else, of having Trace as the father of your child. My client is a wealthy man.”
“I don’t need his money. I don’t need his interference. And I won’t even be in the country after January.”
“Where are you going?” he asked.
