“We do,” Duncan agreed. He glanced out the window for a moment before looking back at Julian. “Are you planning to return to New York full-time?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Julian said. “I know I need to go at some point to see Mom, and I want to go to Singapore again soon.”
“At the risk of interfering in your life again, might I suggest you consider making the estate your home base? At least for a little while.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Julian told him.
“With Kiara being pregnant, I think it might be good for you to be here.”
Julian nodded. “I do want to be close by when the baby is born.”
“The thing is, I worry a bit about Kiara being all alone in her new house. If something should happen, there wouldn’t be anyone there with her.”
Julian stared at his dad. He knew as well as Duncan did that there were ways to monitor Kiara, even if she was alone. And even if he did live in the house with her, he would still be away for stretches of time.
“As you know, the house is designed with two separate suites, each with three rooms, and a shared living space between them. So you’d still have your own space, and she’d have hers.”
Julian hadn’t considered that they wouldn’t continue to live separate lives. He didn’t think it would be fair to Kiara to live as a married couple when they’d agreed that a divorce was in their future.
“Have you talked to Kiara about this?” he asked.
“Just in passing.”
“When will the house be ready?”
“The report I got last Thursday was that they were just working on the finishing touches, so over the next week, the designer will be here to set up the interior. We would still have time to repaint Angela’s side and order furniture for you.”
Julian leaned back in his chair, staring at the empty fireplace. What would it cost him to live in the house with Kiara? Nothing, really.
It might be better than having to stay at the main house when he was at the estate. And it would mean he’d be aware of how Kiara was doing and offer help where he could.
“Okay. If she’s willing, I’ll move into Angela’s wing of the house.”
Duncan smiled. “Wonderful! I really think it would be best for the two of you.”
Julian wasn’t sure if it was the best solution on every level, but when it came to the baby, it likely was.
“I’ll talk to her about it,” Julian said, not wanting Kiara to feel under obligation to Duncan to agree to something she didn’t want.
“Elizabeth and I will be going to New York on Wednesday, then on to Basel and Dublin. If you want to come with us to New York on the plane, then continue on to Singapore from there, you’re more than welcome to join us.”
“I’ll check my schedule and see if it works for me to go now, given I have a lot to get caught up on.”
“Sounds good. I know that Sean will be glad to show you what’s been happening.”
“And I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
“Hopefully, the suite at the house will be ready by the time you get back.” Duncan paused, then said, “That was all I needed to discuss with you. Was there anything you wanted to talk about?”
Julian shook his head. “I think I’m going to go watch Elijah and Benji shoot some hoops.”
Together they left the office, but Duncan turned in the direction of his and Elizabeth’s suite, while Julian headed upstairs to change from the clothes he’d worn for Sunday dinner into something more comfortable.
Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, he left his room to go downstairs. When he reached the top of the stairs, he saw that Kiara was already partway down them.
He waited at the top until she reached the bottom, then called out to her as he jogged down to join her. “Hey, Kiara. Wait up.”
Kiara turned to look at him, her hand resting on her stomach. She wore a pair of shorts and a loose-flowing top. Her curls were gathered in a high ponytail with a few tendrils escaping to frame her face.
