44
Sam
Waking early the next morning, I was halfway to the kitchen when I heard Imogen softly singing, accompanied by spurts of giggles.Following the sounds, I found my sister-in-law lounging on the floor of the baby’s room, Gracie lying on a brightly colored mat before her, waving her hands and laughing excitedly.
“Morning, I hope we didn’t wake you.”
I leaned down to kiss her cheek.“Not at all.”Taking a seat beside her, I looked down, halting when I locked eyes on Gracie.Deep pools of royal blue stared back at me in wonder, and I was helpless to do anything but look back.
What did she see, apart from a wary, confused man?
Then, slow and sparkling, she smiled, and my own smile followed.Warmth flared in my chest.
“She likes you.”
Tentatively, I reached out, and Gracie’s miniature hand grasped onto my index finger.I knew then that I’d tear walls down for her.“She’s adorable.”
“We think she’s pretty special.”Imogen tickled Gracie’s stomach, resulting in more giggles.“You’re our precious little penguin, aren’t you?”Catching my curious look, Imogen explained, “It’s an old nickname my pop had for me.”
“It’s very sweet.”Mental note: I’d have to order some penguin toys later.
We sat together, watching Gracie as she rolled over onto her stomach, tapping her hands and feet on the mat joyfully.Imogen kept her eyes trained on the baby as she said, “Harry mentioned the shutdown to me last night.I can’t believe it.”
“Neither can I.”
“What’s next?What do you do in these situations?”
“I have a lawyer looking into it.He’s confident we can re-open after the week is up, and then it’s a matter of having the permit confirmed as valid.He’s going to handle all the details.There’s not much more I can do, unfortunately.”
“I’m sorry.”Gracie started to cry softly in frustration, so Imogen helped her roll back over, picking up a fluffy gray rabbit and passing it to her.I recognized it as part of the gift I had sent them when they had announced the pregnancy.“Your uncle gave you this.Say ‘thank you, Uncle Sam’.”She wiggled the toy at Gracie, who squealed in delight.Imogen turned to me.“I know it’s not the best circumstances, but it’s really nice having you here.And I don’t just mean this morning.”
Nodding in understanding, I said, “I know.It’s good to be home.”
Harry was kind enoughto drop me back at the bar a short while later in exchange for me returning that night.It was sweet, something I hadn’t experienced from my brother in a long time, and I enjoyed getting the added time with him.
I’d already given the staff the bad news, telling them that we’d be closed for the week but that I’d make sure their wages were paid for any shifts they had been scheduled for.
When I arrived to find the bar door unlocked, I panicked—had it been unlocked all night?No.I specifically remember locking it before I’d left.But the panic quickly dissipated when I walked in to find Devon, Jade, and a few others in the middle of various tasks.
Devon directed two others to clear out any of the fresh produce that wouldn’t last through the closure.We arranged to donate it to a local food bank.“Easy done, boss,” Nathan said when I’d asked.
Devon and Jade were taking inventory, checking the back bar and speed racks.“We wanted to make sure we’re ready to go when we open up again next week.”
“That’s great.Thank you,” I said, a little choked up.
My chest swelled with pride.This is why I loved my job.Why I’d kept at it for as long as I had.The opportunity to work with good people.Knowing that they had voluntarily given up their own time to be here, to help, it meant more than I could say.
Not wantingto stew in my thoughts after the team cleared out, I met up with Jordan at his hotel, enjoying a room-serviced espresso in his suite.
“Maybe I should cut my losses and head over to Manhattan with you.”I was equally joking and not.
“Running away was never your style before.”
“What do you call this, then?”I asked, gesturing to the view of Chicago.
“That wasn’t running away.You got blindsided in a bad situation and came home to get a fresh start.That’s different.”
“No, that’s the PR line.”
