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“Doesn’t she already have a full-time job working for you?”
“She does, but somehow she manages it all.” The words come out with a hint of awe. Cari has pulled off something truly special. How did she find the time to do this? A thought crosses my mind—maybe I should give her another raise. Though I just gave her one a few months ago. Any more and she might get suspicious.
I glance around the room, but I don't see her. Did she decide to skip the party and go to the concert instead? Did she have a date, maybe? I shake the twisted thought out of my head. No. Cari wouldn’t do that. She’s dependable—more so than anyone I know. I didn’t check in with her to confirm her attendance because I was in meetings all day, but I didn’t think I needed to. It’s Cari. Reliable. Trustworthy. Constant.
“Where is she?” Alicia asks.
I set my bags down and scratch my neck, feeling uncomfortable. Cari would never let Brooke down, but she doesn’t seem to be here. “I’m not sure.”
Then I spot her by a table piled high with gifts, carefully arranging them. I never see her out of her usual office attire, and she looks so different.
Effortlessly casual. Relaxed. Beautiful.
Casually dressed in jeans that fit her perfectly. She’s wearing a gold chain with a black diamond-shaped gemstone dipping down the front of her dark green satin top, which focuses my attention there. She looks different, less like my assistant in her usual pencil skirts and blouses. Even from here, I see the flustered blush of her cheeks and that long, loose red hair that’s usually tied up is now tumbling around her shoulders. There are days when I find myself thinking of her more than I should. She pauses to fan her face, looking a bit overwhelmed.
I’m about to head over when Brooke sees me. She’s still with the magician who’s now creating an elephant out of balloons. The huge smile on her face fills me with joy, but in the next instant, her eyes fill with tears. Her lip wobbles, and my heart plunges into my belly. She’s going to cry. I feel wretched.
I caused this.
She’s sad and so painfully aware that her mother isn’t here on her special day, but me? I let her down. I don’t deserve this precious angel.
You’re no better than your own father.
The wizard’s balloon pops again, and she bursts into laughter. Relief washes over me as I watch her laugh.
“Hey.” Dex’s voice interrupts my thoughts. My middle brother nudges me in the ribs. “I can’t believe you made it back on time.”
“This isn’t him being on time. He’s late.” Zach rolls his eyes. “Hey, Alicia. How was Monaco?”
“Fantastic.” She snakes her arm around my waist.
“Good,” I add, trying to peer around Zach’s head. “Did you guys get here early?”
“‘Course we did.” Dex grins.
“What happened to the nanny?” Zach asks.
“She’s at a bachelorette party she couldn’t miss,” Dex answers for me. “That's why Superwoman over there is on it.”
“Who?” Alicia asks.
“Her.” Dex jerks his chin toward Cari. “The woman my brother can’t function without.”
I clear my throat, an odd feeling settling in my chest. “I hope you guys were helping.” With Anna not being here, and my brothers referring to Cari as Superwoman, I hope they’ve not sat back and relied on her to run around doing things. Though I have a feeling that Cari would step in if needed. For Brooke, she would do anything.
“There wasn’t anything to do,” Dex says. “Superwoman took care of it all.”
Typical response. I walk toward Cari, not in the mood for my brothers’ commentary.
“This is amazing, Cari—” I set the bags on the table.
“Daddy! Daddy, you’re here!” Brooke comes barreling past Cari, her little arms reaching for me. I scoop her up, holding her close. Her laughter rings in my ears, washing away the stress of the last few days.
“I’m here, princess,” I say, breathing her in. “And here,” I show her the bags, “are all the things you wanted.”
“Thanks, Daddy. But you’re late.” She pouts, making me feel worse than I already do.
“I came as soon as I could. I’m sorry, angel, but the flight was delayed.”