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Perfect timing.
I waved at them both and stood up from my seat to greet them.
“Mrs. Young, Mr. Young. Thank you for meeting with me. I value your time and your work—”
“It’s nice to see you, Mr. Silver. How is your father doing?”Mr. Young shook my hand and took his seat.
“Great—you saved his life. My mother tells me if you hadn’t operated on him, his ticker would have given out. She sends her regards and thanks you.”
“I’m glad to hear he’s well. You said on the phone Laura’s in trouble. What kind of trouble? How can we help?” Mrs. Young leaned forward in her seat.
“I may have misspoken. She’s not in trouble, but her work at the force is pushing her limits. I’m considering hiring Laura for a position at Silver Securities, and I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“You’ve made a generous donation to my wife’s research. The next hour is yours, Mr. Silver.”
“I’m not sure if she mentioned it, but I’m seeing Laura.”
Mr. Young cleared his throat. “Our daughter hasn’t exactly picked up our calls over the past few years.”
“But she’s a very smart and courageous woman,” her mother added.
Although Laura wasn’t courageous enough to tell them they were grandparents.
“Should I worry about her working in human trafficking?”
“Laura will be saving people from slavery?”
“Sex trafficking, to be exact. Young girls who’ve seen what no one should see. Fearful pregnant girls who have no one.”
The Youngs exchanged a knowing look, and I wondered what had passed between them. Her mother leaned in closer, securing my full attention.
“Laura has lived through more than most her age. She’s worked hard to get where she’s at. We’ve always known she’d succeed at any path she chose, and we’re thrilled she’s thrived at the police force, but we haven’t spoken in months.”
Her eyes fell sad, andI shifted in my seat. “I’m sorry for your pain. I know we’ve just met, but I also know she loves her family.”
“Thank you.”
I pulled my hands along my pants, wiping off the sweat.
“Mr. and Mrs. Young, I know we just met, but I must ask why Laura would object to having a baby. Not that we’re thinking about babies! It came up in the conversation and surprised me.”
He glanced over at his wife and lowered his hands beneath the table, taking hers. That glance, though, and the uncertainty in their eyes, had me pinned in my seat. The air between us thickened with a thousand emotions. Her mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, while her father braced his elbows on the table and lowered his head into his hands.
“Laura’s traumatized. She’d be afraid to lose another baby.”
Lose another baby?
I angled my head in a questioning matter, and the Youngs exchanged another look. What the fuck was going on here?
“Mr. and Mrs. Young, as you know, Laura’s line of work will not always be safe. Anything you can tell me could make a difference between life and death. I protect all my employees, and I want to protect Laura as well. More so; I care deeply for her.”
Her father looked up. “Do you love her?”
“Yes.”
The reply came out so fast I had no chance to stop it. All on its own. And I couldn’t take it back. I didn’t want it back. How did this happen? When did this happen?
Her mother’s face softened. She chewed on her upper lip the way Laura did and filled her lungs with a courageous breath. “Lara has a rainbow baby. The girl was stillborn.”
