I made my way to the office to drop off my briefcase and my eye caught a paper on top of my desk. The bright red C minus told me the reason why Connor was in the mood to piss everyone off. Breathing deeply, I swung my jacket over my shoulder and made my way upstairs.
“Mr. Snow.” Maria, my housekeeper, stood at the bottom of the stairs fidgeting with her hands. “I need to talk to you.”
I took a step closer, noting the fear in her eyes, the stiffness of her shoulders.
Nodding at her, I walked back down. “What can I do for you?”
Maria had worked for me almost as long as Hunter had. He vouched for the single mom with almost adult children at the time. She’d been loyal to me and my siblings, even understanding Tiffany’s reluctance to stay away from the house. We knew her husband was a traitor but I had no idea where he was. All I knew now was that her son was in the military and her daughter was a military wife. Also, that her son had been part of the team that had rescued my friend Holden and the prince sometime the year before. In all, there was nothing about Maria that led me to believe that she was anything like her late husband.
“My daughter… Scarlett. Her friend has just driven her to hospital. She has gone into early labor. Her husband is still deployed and…” She couldn’t seem to get the words out.
Her words tumbled out of her in one long thought. A familiar knot gripped my throat. Families needed to be there for each other. I held up a hand. “Say no more.” Offering her a small smile I continued. “You take off as much time as you need. Your son-in-law is busy risking his life, the least we can do is make sure his wife has the support she needs.”
“But what about a replacement? Do you need a recommendation.”
I shake my head, there was no need for her to worry. “I will make a plan. You go. Do I need to get a driver to take you to the hospital?”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary, I have my car here.” She gave me the biggest smile before she wrapped her arms around me in a hug. “You take care of those two monsters upstairs. They’re notas grown as they want us all to believe. And you make sure to take care of yourself, too. Don't think I don’t see your shadows.”
I smile. “Give your new grandbaby a kiss from me when he or she arrives.”
After another hug Maria is out of the door and I’m headed upstairs to the shower.
Showering as soon as I got in from the office became a ritual from day one. It allowed me to wash away everything about that place before I dealt with the people who needed me the most. As I got out of the shower my mind drifted over concerns a little more immediate than Maggie's situation. What would I feed Zoe and Connor for dinner? They would be joining me for the engagement party. Maybe Tiff had leftovers. As much as she wouldn’t stay in the house or use my dad’s money. She shouldered as much responsibility for Zoe and Connor as she could. We both attended parent teacher meetings. She was usually the one who scheduled tutors and other appointments. Tiffany made sure I never felt alone, but she wouldn’t move in while Maria took time off.
Once I was dressed, I knocked on Zoe’s door.
“It’s open.”
I popped my head in and smiled. “Hey pumpkin. You want to raid Tiff and Maggie’s fridge for dinner?”
“Sure. Though, do you think we can get some chocolate ice cream on the way? I mean, I’m sure there’ll be snacks at the party but I need ice cream. Please.”
“Of course. You can get whatever you want.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re just saying that because you don’t want me to cry like last month.”
“Absolutely.” I gave her a mock frown. “That was traumatic for the whole household. I had to call Tiff to help me calm you down.”
“Thanks for not making me feel bad.”
I nodded as I closed the door and walked to Connor’s room. I gave a quick knock and popped my head in. “We’re getting dinner at Tiff's. You ready to go?”
“Cool. Give me a few minutes.” He slips the book he was reading on the bedside table.
I raise a brow. “You want to explain that C minus on my desk?”
“Not particularly.”
“Well, there will be discussion about it before I sign it. Either in the car on the way to Tiff’s or at breakfast in the morning.”
“Breakfast.”
I smile and shake my head. “You know you’re only delaying the inevitable, right?”
My brother does not miss a beat. “Yeah, but I’m betting you’ll be in a better mood after some sleep.”
I laugh as I head down the stairs.Never a dull moment around here.
