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We’ve both apologized. But there’s a tentativeness between us that’s never existed before. A cut that’s scabbed over, but hasn’t fully healed yet.
Dad exhales. “Do you want me to leave the company, Kit?”
I stare at him, stunned. “What? No. You just came back.”
“And I never asked you before I did. Your mother wanted to make a change professionally, so I decided to do the same. Decided without asking you and maybe without thinking it through.”
“Is this about Collins?”
“It’s about you. I realized … you’ve grown up, Christopher. You’ve become the man I always hoped you would. You were right; I’ll never be CEO of Kensington Consolidated. There’s a lot of history there, and I thought enough time had passed that it wouldn’t matter. Maybe I was wrong.”
I exhale. “If you want to leave Kensington Consolidated because you want to leave, leave. Don’t leave because you think it’s whatIwant.” I clear my throat. “I wasn’t sure what working at the companytogether would be like. Now that I do … I’d miss it. So, if you’re asking me what I think you should do? I think you should stay. And I know we’ve never really discussed that part of the past, but I don’t think you’re the only one who wants to rewrite the past. Grandpa came to visit me last month. At the office.”
“He did?” Dad looks stunned.
I nod. “I wasn’t sure if I should mention it to you. I know you and Grandpa … it’s complicated. But he showed up, and we talked for at least twenty minutes. I swear he looked sentimental, seeing me in your old office. And you and me—it’snotcomplicated. If you’re worried that’s changed because of the company or because of what happened with Collins, don’t.”
Dad studies me for a few seconds before he says, “I’m really proud of you, son.”
I smile wryly. “Despite the whole baby thing?”
He and Mom might have moved past the shock-and-anger stage to start planning parties, but this wasn’t how they would havechosenfor me to become a parent.
“Includingthe whole baby thing,” he tells me. “I wish you’d felt like you could tell me sooner. If nothing else, so I could have supported you. But as far as I can tell, you’ve handled everything remarkably well on your own. Hell of a lot better than I did. You’re going to be an incredible father, Christopher.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I croak, then clear my throat.
He does the same a second later.
We’re both silent. But it’s not the humming quiet from earlier as we both deliberated what to say. It’s the comfortable, relaxed kind we’ve shared many times before.
“Is Collins interested in fashion?” my dad asks a few minutes later.
I frown as I reach for a cracker, confused by the question. “Uh, no. Not especially.”
Dad smiles. “Then you might want to head upstairs and rescue her because Bashwasn’texaggerating about the number of bags Lili and your mother had stashed up there.”
42
When I wake up, the room is dark and quiet. I extend my left arm, finding nothing except cool cotton.
I’m alone in bed.
I slip out from under the covers, padding silently into the bathroom to pee. The tiled floor is heated, warm instead of harsh under my feet. I yawn at my reflection in the mirror, combing a couple of snarls out of my hair with my fingers.
Halfway back to bed, I hesitate. In the weeks I’ve been living here, Kit’s had to take several calls in the middle of the night. KensingtonConsolidated does business with companies all over the world. Three a.m. in New York is normal business hours in other countries. He’s probably on a conference call.
But when I head down the hallway, there’s a strip of light shining underneath the nursery’s door, not the office’s.
I shove the door open a few inches, inhaling a quick breath once I can see inside.
That’s what draws Kit’s attention my way. Because everything in his penthouse is brand-new. Nothing squeaks or creaks or makesanyunexpected noise at all.
I rest my head against the doorway, surveying the mess on the floor. “Want some help?”
He grins, shaking his head. “Nah, I got it. You build the baby; I’ll build the crib.”
I smile. “Deal.”