“May I see this paperwork?”
“It’s not with me. It’s back at the office.”
He strokes his chin as my glass of water appears by my side. I take a sip as the waiter leaves again. “Leave that with me,” he says. “I will look into things.”
“Listen, we’ve got a month and a bit until Christmas. Is there any chance of giving people their jobs back?”
“As far as I am concerned, none of you have been fired. Get back to work with my blessing if you wish.”
“Seriously? I thought you just said Hunter was running that place.”
“He is, but I am the Don of this family. Why are you here talking to me? You should be at work producing a magazine.”
He holds a hand out toward me. “You are the best thing that ever happened to my son. If I could offer you one piece of advice, it would be to consider your position carefully.”
He shakes my hand, smiling across at me. “I am glad you came to see me today. You have given me many things to think about. Take care of yourself, Bex. Perhaps we will see each other again someday.”
54
Hunter
* * *
I can hear the baby crying before I get into the room. I push the door open, and a nurse tries to stop me. “Sir, you can’t be in here.”
She looks into my eyes and sees I’m not a man to argue with. She steps back but not far enough to let me through.
“It’s all right,” Eddie calls across to her from an armchair beside the bed. “He’s family.”
She moves further away, and I head over to him. “I hate to do it to you,” I say. “But it’s time.”
He looks down at the baby in his arms, just starting to settle. Then he looks at Catherine. She’s clearly exhausted, and I’m not surprised. She only gave birth a couple of hours ago. “Now?” he asks, looking from her to me.
“It won’t take more than an hour,” I tell him. “Toby’s outside, ready to step in while we’re doing this thing.”
“It’s all right,” Catherine says in a weak voice. “She’s falling asleep anyway, and plenty of nurses are on standby. We’ll be fine.” She manages a smile, reaching out to touch his arm.
He settles the baby down in the crib next to the bed. “You’re sure you’ll be okay?”
“We’ll be fine. Do it for Bex, okay? We owe her.”
Eddie nods, leaning down to kiss her forehead before stroking the baby’s cheek as she falls asleep.
“What name did you go for in the end?” I ask as he walks out of the room with me.
“Felicity,” he replies. “It means happiness.”
“Suits her. Come on, the car’s waiting.” I hit the button for the elevator, turning to face him while it works its way up to us. “I hate to bring you away so soon after the birth, but if we don’t do this thing now, it’ll be too late.”
“It’s all right. They’ll both be asleep for a while. My main job at the minute is to stand around.”
If I was a different person, I’d comfort him. What would Bex do? The best I can manage is to tap his shoulder. “It’ll be all right,” I say. “They’re in good hands.”
“I know. It’s just not easy when you can’t do anything to help. I felt useless in there.”
The elevator arrives, and we climb in. I punch the button for the first floor. “What did she mean when she told you to do this for Bex?”
“Oh, we owe her, big time.”