Still, leaving had been a huge step, and no amount of cajoling from her husband was going to shake her resolve to launch a new chapter in her life—with or without him. Until ... or unless ... she was convinced he’d had a major change of heart and realigned his priorities, she was keeping her distance.
“I’ll have to think about that, Lucas.”
“I hear you. I didn’t make any promises, either, except to keep an open mind and see how it goes. But it would be nice to get back to how it used to be with him, like when I was a kid.”
Yes, it would.
However, trying to recapture the past could be an exercise in futility. One filled with disappointment and heartbreak.
“Don’t you think so, Mom?”
At the prod, Diane drew in a breath. No need to share her pessimistic attitude with him. “Yes, it would. Those were happy days.” In the background, Shaun launched into “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’’’ on the piano. “The practice is starting, Lucas. I have to go.”
“Have fun. Let me know if you decide to talk to Dad.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Back at you.”
He ended the call, and Diane lowered her cell.
Lucas and the clerics had given her a lot to ponder on this summer evening.
But she wasn’t going to get her hopes up, not after fourteen painful years spent watching her marriage and her family disintegrate.
So until she was certain any changes Martin made were permanent, she was staying the course she’d set the day she walked out.
25
Personnel file in hand, Aaron ascended the steps to Martin’s office.
A meeting with the owner hadn’t been part of his busy agenda today, but when the boss texted and asked if you were free, it was prudent to juggle your schedule and say yes.
He reached the landing and started toward the windowed office, which gave him a clear view of the interior—and the occupant.
Unlike on his last visit, Martin wasn’t fixated on the blank wall beside his filing cabinets. He was focused on whatever was on his desk.
Good.
If his boss was busy too, this should be a short meeting.
Aaron ran the pad of his thumb along the edge of the file he’d grabbed from his office and picked up his pace.
In all likelihood, Martin was following up on the situation with Wade, confirming that all the i’s had been dotted and the t’s crossed. He may have stepped back from hands-on involvement two weeks ago, but his out-of-pattern willingness to loosen the reins had no doubt been short-lived.
At the open door, Aaron stopped. Knocked.
Martin looked up, closed the folder in front of him, and motioned toward a chair on the other side of his desk. “Come in.”
“Sorry it took me a few minutes to get here.” Aaron entered and sat. “I was in the middle of helping one of the guys pin down a hydraulic leak on the band saw.”
“You get it taken care of?”
“Yes. We figured out it was—”
Martin held up a hand. “The important thing is that the problem was addressed. You can give me the details later.”
Not his boss’s typical modus operandi, but fine. He’d go with the flow.
