CHAPTER TEN
A year after his return from deployment, Tor looked up to find Geir standing in his New York office.
"This is a surprise." His brother's visit was not on Tor's calendar, but calling it a surprise might be stretching it.
Geir and Holger had contrived to visit him unexpectedly at least twice since Tor's move to New York. It was odd.
Considering how busy they both were, their visits were an excess of family obligation.
Geir settled into one of the sleek black leather chairs facing Tor's desk. "It was a last-minute change in my itinerary."
Tor did not call his brother a liar, but he doubted that change had anything to do with business.
Neither his father, nor his brothers had been happy when Tor had announced his intention to take up a management position for Tapt Oyer Global in New York.
However, neither had his brothers refused Tor the position.
"Everyone is well?" Tor asked. "The children are thriving?"
Tor hadn't seen the little prince or his sister in too long.
"Janice is making sure their childhood is just that." Geir's tone said he approved of their sister-in-law's break from family tradition in child rearing. "They both miss their Uncle Tor."
"I will schedule a trip to Tapt Oyer soon." In the past year, Tor had managed to arrange all his trips to home to avoid seeing Blythe.
Which meant he made fewer trips than he might have otherwise and missed more than one family event. He'd gotten surprisingly little flack for that from his brothers, but they each called him at least once a week. Another odd new behavior.
Having experienced the ultimate in loss while deployed, Tor appreciated this new attempt at closeness between the siblings rather than eschewing it.
Which did not mean that any of them talked about their emotions, or the like.
Sarcasm and business were their language currency.
"That is what I've come to talk to you about."
Ah, their father wanted Tor to visit Tapt Oyer, with plans for more matchmaking no doubt. "A phone call would have done," Tor chided his brother.
"Not in this case."
Tor went on full alert, his body tensed for action. "Janne is all right?"
His sister-in-law had had a miscarriage a month after Tor's return to Tapt Oyer. He hadn't even known she was pregnant.
Still in the first trimester, Janne and Holger had shared the news with no one.
Except perhaps Blythe, but Tor was no longer in a position to know what the travel journalist knew about their family.
"She is fine," Geir answered, his expression saying that was not the whole truth.
Tor waited in silence for Geir to continue.
"Someone close to the family is leaking sensitive information to the press."
Tor sat up straighter, barely holding himself back from leaping to his feet.
He was careful not to reveal too much of his inner thoughts or feelings, even to his brothers. The practice was so ingrained, it came as second nature to him.
"Personal or business?" he asked Geir in an even tone.