He sucks in a breath like I’ve hit him with the worst possible insult. “Don’t say that. I’m trying to figure it all out, Jules. Please be patient with me. I…”
His words trail off, and something about his tone has me concerned. He doesn’t sound okay. “What’s going on, Harrison? Talk to me.”
He lets out a long, frustrated breath. “What isn’t going on?” I hear him maneuvering himself in bed, so I give him a moment. “Everything is going on. That’s the problem. I barely have time to think. I’m at the office nonstop, and I’m exhausted. In my five years as a father, if I’m home, I have breakfast with Claud. It’s our thing. My nights, and even hers with her activities, are unpredictable, so I wanted one stable thing in her life. Already three times this week, I’ve missed it with her, and it’s killing me inside.”
His hurt pulls at my heartstrings. Harrison is a good dad, it’s one of the things I’m most attracted to when it comes to him. “You can’t do it all. What you need are some days off, which you tell me all the time.”
He chuckles sarcastically. “Maybe soon. I came by the bakery today to see if you wanted to get dinner. I’m sorry for not getting back to you this weekend. I was working out some personal issues. If you can’t tell, I’m going a little insane. That idea blew up when one of my clients demanded a meeting, telling me my employee was underperforming for him.”
“Dear Lord. You don’t need some days off. You need a whole vacation.”
“Tell me about it. On top of that, one of my high-wealth clients only informed me yesterday afternoon that he’s in from Saudi Arabia for one day, and I need to fly to Bermuda to meet him tomorrow morning. Which is a fucking nightmare because I was going to have Claud in the office tomorrow. Willa is away.”
This is what he and Willa were talking about, where he dismissed her when she suggested me. I’m not telling him I already know. Screw that, let him have the guts to tell me he doesn’t trust me. If he says that, though, it’s highly likely I’m going to lose my ever-loving shit.
“Well, who will watch Claud while you’re away?”
“I have no other choice at this point. She’ll come with me and stay with my CTO’s wife and kids while I’m at the meeting.”
I let out an audible huff, downright insulted. What a joke. “No other choice?” I snap, no longer able to hold back. “You can think of me when you want me to suck your cock, but I’m not good enough to be considered to watch your daughter.”
“No, no,” he quickly cuts in. “It’s not that. It’s just?—”
“It’s just what? You once told me you trusted me, so clearly, that was a lie. I love Claud, and we get along amazingly. So this can’t possibly be because of you and me,” I retort sarcastically, knowing that’s exactly it. “Can’t you separate the two?”
“It’s overnight…”
“So?” I raise my voice. “You would rather have her be with a strange woman all day than have her stay with me? And does she even know these freaking kids? Is she comfortable with them?” Even though he can’t see me, I shake my head. “You know what, I need to go, Harrison.”
“Jules, baby,” he murmurs.
Then I think of something, “And I can’t believe you’re making her miss her dance surprise.”
“Shit. I thought that was next week.”
“No, they moved it. Remember?”
“Fucking hell. I completely forgot.” He pauses. “But you remembered,” he whispers.
“Of course I did. She’s been looking forward to it for weeks.”
Claud’s summer dance program is ending, and they are having an end-of-summer surprise for the dancers and their parents or caretakers.
We both go silent again, which gives me a second to think. He really does sound stressed, more than usual. “Harrison, I could help. This has nothing to do with us. It’s all about Claud. Neither of you can miss tomorrow, and I’m off for the next few days.”
“I used to know your schedule,” he says quietly, more to himself, then surprises me. “Juliette, would you please watch Claudina while I go away for work?”
“I’d do anything for Claud. Of course,” I tell him truthfully and without hesitation.
17
Juliette
It’s early,and although I would have preferred to walk, Robert picked me up five minutes ago and is dropping me off at Harrison’s.
My emotions are completely out of sync with my body. It’s why I wanted to walk, to take a breath, and maybe even detour through the park quickly to center myself.
I’m not sure what changed; I used to feel at home coming here to spend time with Harrison, but now, I feel like a stranger, like I don’t belong.
