I don’t blame her. I myself only want one every ten years.
“Before you, I haven’t had one since I was Claud’s age. I remember my parents scoffed at the idea of eating one in the park. Rosa brought me the very next day.”
“Honestly, I think my dad was in a similar situation as you. Could you imagine the Archibalds slumming it with a hot dog in the park?” She laughs sarcastically. “It’s probably why he made it a tradition for us whenever we left a museum or had a weekend in the park together.”
Then I remember something…
“Why do you call Claud sugar plum?” I ask curiously.
She’s been calling her that since I met her.
Jules smiles broadly. “When I met her for the first time in December, she was obsessed with wearing her sugar plum outfit from her part inThe Nutcracker. She was so cute, prancing around the bakery. I told her I was the sugar plum fairy once, and the rest is history.”
I chuckle. “Oh, I remember. She begged me to sleep in it most nights, so I bought extras in case she ruined them. That happened once when she was a toddler, with her special blanket, and it was like the end of the world.”
My phone dings, and it’s Nate confirming they landed.
“Hey, if you’re not busy the rest of the day, I was wondering if you’d do me a favor.”
“Sure. I only have physical therapy planned.” She smiles, linking our pinkies so Claud doesn’t notice.
“Could you watch Claud again later this afternoon? She was supposed to come to the office with me, but I’m meeting Seb at my office to talk and would prefer her not to be there.”
She stops walking. “Today?” Her eyes bulge.
“It can’t wait another day. Claud has a big mouth, and she will tell him you babysat, and we came here all together today. He calls her almost every day when he doesn’t see her.”
The babysitting I could get around, but not bringing a woman to Camila’s memorial stone.
“Fuck,” she whispers. “I’m nervous for you, Harrison.”
Me too, only I’m not going forward in life like this anymore. Seeing Claud with Jules recently and how they already have a special relationship was the push I needed. “It will be fine. We’ll figure it out.”
I pull out my Black Card and pass it to Jules. “Here, use this if you need anything today. In fact, keep it until I can order another one with your name on it.”
She narrows her confused eyes. “Why are you giving me your credit card?”
“In case my girls need anything.”
I thought it was obvious.
She passes it back to me, pushing it hard into my hand. “I may not be rich, but I can take care of myself and Claud.”
Not on my watch. “I never said you couldn’t, but that’s not how things are going to go. I won’t have you spending your money on something even as little as gum. You better get used to it.”
Ignoring her grumbling, I look at my phone when Nate texts again. This time, it’s a grainy picture of Leo in the club, but there is no mistake he’s getting his dick sucked.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head. Those two together are bad news; they’re lucky they’re not all over the tabloids this morning, which would put Rosa and Javier into an early grave.
“Ah.” Jules covers her eyes. “What the hell? You guys send each other stuff like that?”
“No. Only my two younger idiot brothers. They all stopped in London to look at a possible hotel site for Seb.It looks like they had some fun, too,” I tell her, unable to hold back my laugh at her horrified face.
“I can’t believe he’s getting a blow job in the middle of a club!”
“I’m sure they had a private section.” I look up to see Claud skipping too far ahead. “Claudina! That’s far enough.”
Jules shakes her head like she can’t wrap her head around it. “Does he even know her?”
