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I feel Ryan tug my hand and I look down to find his bottom lip sticking out. I grip him firmly and touch Lucan’s arm gently. He looks around from where he is engaged with the site foreman in conversation. I smile and ask the foreman to excuse us for a few moments.
“I think Ryan and I need to go back to the hotel.”
“Is everything okay?” His tone is concerned and anxious and I hasten to alleviate his fears.
“Nothing serious. I just don’t think Ryan is going to put up with this two days in a row.”
“Oh. That’s a pity. There is somewhere I wanted to take you. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be a little much for him.”
“It’s just one of those days. I think he wants to be by the pool more than he wants to be here, so if it’s okay with you, could you get the car to take us back?”
He thinks for a few moments. “Is there any way you could get Nicole or Susan to watch Ryan and you come back after dropping him off?”
The request catches me off-guard. “I-I guess I could.”
“Great. There is something I really want to show you. I think you’ll like it.”
“Okay. If you could just call the driver—”
As soon as Ryan realizes we are leaving, his spirits perk up. And no sooner have we gotten into the car than he asks if we are going to the pool.
“You’regoing to the pool. But I have to come back to talk with Daddy.”
“But why?”
“You’re going to have Nicole and Susan to play with you. They are your personal soldiers, remember? You get to play with them for the rest of the day. But Daddy won’t have anyone to play with. So I have to come back here to play with him.”
“Daddy never has anyone to play with so I guess it’s okay.”
“Promise to be good for Nicole and Susan?”
“I promise.”
The women are waiting in the lobby for us when we arrive. I make a quick trip upstairs and return with Ryan a few minutes later. I see to it that he is comfortable with them before I go back to the car.
Ninety minutes later, I am back on the job site. I find Lucan easily as he stands out like a sore thumb. He is the only one in a suit wearing a hard had. I am fitted with a hard hat as well before I venture to his side.
As he turns and smiles, I am transported back to the pool yesterday afternoon when I felt as though I was going to get lost in his eyes.
“You’re back. I’m wrapping up here right now. Give me a minute.”
I wait patiently as he shakes hands with the gentlemen. He comes to me and places his hand in the small of my back, a gesture with which I am becoming quite familiar.
“Let’s go. A friend of mine has invited me for lunch. And I want your take on a matter when we get there.”
“Okay.”
We get into the car and pull into the midday traffic. I turn to look at the passing scenery as he makes a few phone calls. I crane my neck to look at a few skyscrapers, my mouth falling open in awe at their sheer size. It makes me feel like some hobo who has never been to a big city before. I feel a light tap on my shoulder and turn to find that Lucan has slid closer to me.
“I’ve been calling you for a good minute. What do you find so fascinating?”
“These buildings are massive.” I look outside again.
“This part of the city does have that sort of magic. It’s one of the things I miss most about not living here anymore. We’re almost there.”
“You used to live here?” I turn to look at him.
“Yes.”
