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* * *
When I arrived backat the house, Sophie was watching a movie while Elaine crocheted and my father had a nap, a golf game from some prestigious golf course on the flatscreen.
His breathing was slow and steady, and his color was good. I felt like he was turning the corner on his pneumonia and infection.
Hopefully, he’d be ready for our trip back to America.
“You’re home,” Elaine said when I went to the kitchen and stared into the refrigerator, trying to decide what to make for supper.
“I am. Just thinking about what we should have tonight.”
“There are some steaks,” Elaine said from the living room. “We could fire up the barbie, as they say in Aussieland.”
“It’s Oz,” I replied with a smile.
“Whatever. I could make a salad and we have fresh bread.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said. It was just after five in the afternoon. If we were going to grill steaks, there wasn’t much to do, so I started preparing our food.
* * *
Afterward,I went to my office and sat in front of my laptop at the desk. The desk faced the window, and my view was of the back yard and beyond that, the river. I checked my messages and sure enough, there was one from Drake.
DRAKE: Hello love. How was your day at the studio? My day was really amazing, especially after I received your video…
I smiled and sent him a text back.
KATE: My time at the studio was great. One more day and I should be finished. I’m glad you enjoyed your morning…
DRAKE: My morning would only have been more amazing if I was watching that in person. As for the rest of it, my meetings went well so far. I’m in between them at the moment. How’s Ethan?
KATE: I think he’s feeling much better. He even watched some football this afternoon.
DRAKE: Good. My meetings went as well as could be expected. There’s new blood at NYP and so my chances are much improved over the last admin. Keep your fingers crossed.
KATE: Oh, that’s great! I will. Do you want to Skype at dinner tomorrow? We’ll be eating at six thirty if you want to call us then. I’m sure Sophie will be happy to see your face.
DRAKE: What’s she been up to?
KATE: She’s spent the afternoon with Elaine, coloring and watching movies while I was at the studio.
DRAKE: Okay. Will call you then. I’ll be having my lunch, so we can eat together as a family.
KATE: See you then. Have a good rest of your day. Text me if anything interesting happens. I won’t get it until the morning but still. Would like to know.
DRAKE: Will do. I love you. Give Sophie kisses and hugs to Ethan and Elaine.
KATE: I love you back and will.
I sighed in contentment, glad that Drake was feeling positive and especially glad that he loved the video.
There were small signs of hope that our return to Manhattan would be successful for Drake, and I kept my fingers crossed that they stayed positive…
CHAPTERSIX
Ispent the first part of the next afternoon ina meeting with the family law attorney that Lara recommended and with real estate agents who specialized in the kind of residence I wanted our family to live in when we returned to New York. Maureen and Chris had an Airbnb in Brooklyn Heights and would find a more permanent place in the first couple of months they were back. Luckily, the contract Chris signed provided housing for them when they returned to the USA and so that would give them a bit of a cushion and time to find a good place to live. Kate and I would stay at the 8thAvenue apartment but would eventually look for a permanent place once Maureen and Chris did.
My new attorney Ben Goodwin was a nice man, who really warmed up to me after we talked about my background and family life. I went over everything that happened between Maureen and I that led to the restraining order when we separated, and then how I found out Liam was actually mine when they wanted me to do a bone marrow test for compatibility. How I won custody while Maureen and Chris were in rural China working on the huge megaproject, and how things had changed.
