But I don’t think that it does. Connor and I haven’t gotten along very well since Dad’s passing.
“Did you call Mom and tell her the news?” Connor asks.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “I haven’t exactly had time with flying to Chicago to pick the kid up. You know, her mother, Katelyn, died,” I say sharply.
“Shit, no, I didn’t. Katelyn was her mother? Isn’t that the girl you were going to propose to?”
The coffee pot beeps, just in record time for me to drown myself in caffeine. I want to end this conversation before it becomes even more difficult to stomach. “It was the girl I discussed marrying,” I say. I never bought the ring. I went to Tiffany’s and browsed through the store, but I knew that deep down, Katelyn wouldn’t say yes.
I grab a mug from the cabinet and pour myself a steaming cup.
A bitter cup for a bitter old man.
That’s all I deserve.
I take a sip, the coffee burning the roof of my mouth. I grimace and swallow the liquid as it burns all the way down.
“Damn, and to think if you’d have married Katelyn …” His words trail off. I’m not sure where he’s going with this conversation.
I’m aware that Amelia was kept from me for the past five years, and I’m not the least bit happy about it.
“Anyways, how are you handling the kid with work? Did you manage to hire a nanny? I’ll bet they’re all after your big paycheck.” He snickers at his remark.
I’m less than amused. “I found someone on a temporary basis.” I won’t elaborate on how Clare and I met. It’s none of his damn business.
“Good. Good,” he says, and there’s a long stretch of silence. “Are you in the office today?”
“No,” I say, and rub the back of my neck. Since when did Connor ever show up or care if I was in the office? He manages the New York hotel. We’re in the same city, but we barely see each other.
It’s how we both prefer it, to visit on Christmas and call each other on our birthdays unless it’s work-related, which is him calling asking for money because his hotel needs an upgrade.
“I’m working from home for the week. I want to make sure that Amelia is settled in and comfortable before I return to the office. She’s been through a lot, and there are enough changes going on around her that I need to make sure she doesn’t become withdrawn.”
Having witnessed her mother’s death, it wouldn’t surprise me if the kid has permanent emotional scarring.
Another reason to call that child psychiatrist and get the appointment made for this week. Perhaps I can have her come to the house to work with Amelia. I’m sure if I offer to pay her enough, she’d be willing to do it.
“That makes sense. I’d love to stop by, meet the kid and the nanny you hired,” Connor says, “and of course, see you,Big Brother.”
“You don’t give a rat’s ass about me.”
“True. True.” Connor doesn’t beat around the bush. “I am curious about the kid, and seeing as I’m her uncle, wouldn’t it be nice for us to become closer?”
“Really? You’re not doing this just because you’re a curious bastard?” I ask.
He laughs. “Yeah, actually, I am. I thought I could come by, be the doting uncle and bring the kid some presents. Lord knows your house is not child friendly.”
“I plan on sending Douglas shopping,” I say. I was going to hand the kid one of those holiday catalogs and let her pick out whatever the hell she wants. Then send my driver on an expedition to buy everything today. Of course, finding one of those holiday catalogs is a chore in itself. It’s not like I keep that shit lying around my house.
“You know they have internet for that,Dinosaur,” Connor says.
“That will take too long.”
“You ever heard of two-day shipping?”
I down the rest of my coffee. “I’m hanging up now. I have work to do.”
“And like I don’t?” Connor chuckles. “I’m coming by this afternoon. Will you and the kid be home?”