Page 121 of The Stranger

“Laura. I know it’s late, so I apologise, but I wanted to talk to you about something that can’t wait until morning.”

I click the phone onto speaker so Delilah can hear the conversation. I don’t want to make the same mistake I did last time.

“Okay.”

“I know you’re struggling to be away from your daughter, so I have another proposition for you. How about I offer the same amount I did for you to come back, but this time it’s to stay home and finish the rest of your maternity leave?”

Delilah gasps from beside me as she tries to reach for the phone again. I roll my lips to hide my amusement as I lean my body further away.

“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I was just writing my resignation letter.”

“You were?”

“Yes. My husband got offered a job of a lifetime today, but it’s out of state, so we’re moving.”

“That’s wonderful,” I say, which earns me a poke in the ribs. I cock an eyebrow as I glance sideways at Delilah. “Naturally, I’ll be sorry to see you go.”

When Delilah gives me a pointed look, I grin.

“I still plan on giving you two weeks’ notice. We won’t be leaving until the end of the month.”

“Why don’t you finish up tomorrow, since it’s the end of the week? I’ll have Delilah step back in as of Monday.”

That earns me a pinch in the side this time.

“Are you sure? I could use the extra time to pack.”

“Positive,” I say. “I’ll make sure you’re paid for those two weeks as well.”

“I’m going to miss working for you, Mr Prescott. You’ve been such a great boss.”

“I’ll miss you too, Laura.”

When I end the call, I lean in and brush my lips against Delilah’s. “All settled,” I tell her.

“Not really. I still need to go into the office and face everybody.”

“Tomorrow, I want you to have the day off. I’ll organise for my mother to take you out for the day. She’d love that. You can do whatever it is you women do.”

“And Monday?”

“You just get in a little earlier. Before the others. You already pack our lunches, so you won’t even need to leave the building during the day if you don’t want to.”

Delilah’s been packing lunches for us for a couple of months. It started with leftovers here and there and then progressed to what it is now. It may not be the food I’m used to eating at work, but it was such a novelty at first. I’d never had a packed lunch before, not even when I was a child. I adore her for looking after me the way she does. She’s going to make an amazing mother to our children one day.

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“They don’t call me the fixer for nothing.”

She lets out a small laugh, which I’ll take over her tears any day. “Who calls you that?”

“People.”

“What people?” she asks accusingly.

“Hold that thought,” I say. “I need to make another quick call.”

“How convenient,” she retorts, rolling her eyes.