AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rose just shakes her head again. “This is a date, and you are going to make an impression. If there is one thing Morgan was right about is that you put too little thought into how you dress. Don’t get me wrong, you have great taste but lack the desire to dress up—that needs to go.”
I can’t really argue with that. Besides, I do want to impress him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brian
Istareatthescreen with a grin on my face, so huge that it draws Daniel’s attention.
“What happened, Daddy?” Daniel’s chirpy voice brings me back to reality. “Why are you smiling like that?” His big, brown eyes are wide and curious. Ever since I returned from my trip, he has noticed the change—I’m happier, relaxed, almost carefree. I doubt he’s ever seen me like that. There was hardly a moment I was happy when I was with Jane, especially after I realized she didn’t care for Daniel, but he was too young to remember any of that. After she left us, I was happy that it was just the two of us but my concerns that he’d end up having the same childhood as I did prevented me from being truly relaxed about our relationship.
Now, the missing piece of our happiness is finally here. “I got some very good news today,” I explain. “That means I will have to leave a bit sooner than I planned.”
Daniel lets go of his markers and wipes his hands properly before coming to sit next to me. His lips are pursed but his eyes are even more curious. “OK… when will you be back?”
He doesn’t mind when I leave him with Mary or Sunny but the fight that I had with his mother after my return, has made him a bit tense when my work schedule changes. Jane thought it was okay to barge in here unannounced, just to take Daniel to an event. My little boy was excited at first but the more questions I asked, the more obvious it became that she just wanted him there for the pictures. Things escalated pretty quickly and while he didn’t hear exactly what was said, the walls couldn’t hide the fact that by the end of our conversation, we were yelling at each other.
The silver lining is that at least she signed her rights away and now she’s gone for good. Daniel doesn’t know that yet, but I’ll find a way to slowly ease him into it.
I run my fingers through Daniel’s hair, shaking his head a bit in the process. “I will be home once I finish work, like every other day,” I assure him. “You won’t be alone. You will be with Sunny.”
Mary has not been feeling well lately, and most of the work has been undertaken by her daughter. Not that I mind. Sunny takes great care of Daniel, despite some unorthodox choices, but it does make me worry about Mary.
“See,” I tell Daniel when we hear a knock on the door.
Daniel races to open it for Sunny. Her light blond hair hangs in ringlets right below her shoulder blades, and her shorts and top are both white. But what interests Daniel are the bags she’s holding: a big, colorful one and a smaller paper one.
“What do you have there?” Daniel points at the pretty bag, feeling much better already.
“It’s a surprise,” she tells him and shakes it a bit. There’s a rustling noise, so my bet is on craft materials. I really need to pay her more. “I also brought some croissants.”
Daniel snatches the second bag from her hands and goes straight to the kitchen, tossing its contents onto the table. I help myself to one. The croissants are delicious, a mix of cream and chocolate fills my mouth, adding a sweet flavor to the nervousness I already feel. I let them eat in peace, making plans for their day, and head to my office to take care of any loose ends before I leave for my date.
Since I got back home, I’ve had Andrew arrange for us to move back to the penthouse again, so all our personal stuff has been brought upstairs, and the other apartment is ready to rent. There’s no point in staying there any longer. I never intended to use it to convince Carol my income was limited. If Daniel had not been so upset over his mother that day, she’d never have seen it?, and now that we are doing so well, keeping it only makes me feel like a fraud.
I need to tell Carol the truth about my financial status—it’s the only thing that’s still between us—but not right now. But first of all, I need to deal with the company issue.
For the next half hour I go over some reports and then get ready for my date. Since this is a lunch date I have opted for a simpler restaurant, somewhere we’ll both be able to relax and talk. I kiss my son goodbye and make sure he and Sunny don’t need anything, then leave to pick up Carol.
I ring the bell a bit longer than necessary, my nerves getting the better of me. And I wait. Every time we agree to meet, it feels like a first date.
“I’m coming,” she says, her voice sounding slightly altered by the intercom.
When she finally comes down, she’s beaming, her cheeks a warm rosy color that seems to infuse her whole face. She’s wearing a floral skirt that hangs right above her knees, paired with a tight black blouse that leaves her shoulders bare.
“You’re early,” she accuses me, pointing a finger at my chest.
“I couldn’t wait any longer,” I tell her honestly. Ten minutes might not be a long time, but waiting around when I know I could be spending that time with her just feels pointless.
Carol licks her lips before pressing them tightly together, trying to hide her own enthusiasm, but her whole body shows that she’s as excited as I am. Her red face, rapid breathing and slight tremors as I link my arm with hers, are all signs we are heading in the right direction. There’s also a sliver of doubt in her eyes but I know that one will take time to disappear.
“Where are we going today?”
“It’s a nice, cozy restaurant. I think you’ll like it,” I say and lead her to the car.
The restaurant looks tiny from the street, almost like it’s stuck between two much larger buildings, its old red brick wall contrasts with the gray shades of those beside it. The glass front also helps with the coziness, surprisingly, as does the wooden door with a color that almost matches that of the bricks.
“What do you think?” I ask as I open the door for her. There is a soft noise, wind chimes probably, and we are hit with the smell of grilled meat. It makes my mouth salivate almost immediately.
