Page 15 of Believing in You

His attention went back to his computer screen, but before he could add to the project status report, a knock sounded on his closed office door, and he welcomed the interruption.

“Come in,” he called out, assuming it was their administrative assistant.

Emily opened the door and stepped in with a white shopping bag, and Harrison noted his favorite Italian restaurant’s logo on the side of it. The efficient fifty-eight-year-old grandmother of two had been with the company since before Harrison started. Her sparkling gray eyes twinkled as if she knew a secret.

Harrison frowned and stood from his seat. He hadn’t ordered lunch, but now that the aromas from the bag filled his nostrils, he realized he was hungry.

“This came for you,” she said, holding up the large bag. Then she held out an envelope with the other hand. “It came with a note.”

Harrison eyed the bag and the note wearily. His first thought was to tell her to toss both into the trash because it was probably from Veronica, his ex-fiancée. She’d been calling his cell phone lately, something she did every few months for the last few years. He wasn’t sure why since they had nothing to discuss.Like usual, he let her calls go to voicemail before deleting them. However, in all the while they’d been together, he couldn’t ever remember her having lunch delivered to him.

Harrison accepted the envelope, and Emily set the bag on the desk.

“I’m heading to lunch. Do you need anything before I leave?”

“No, I’m good. Enjoy your lunch,” he said absently as she strolled out of the office while he pulled the note from the envelope.

Harrison, I know you’re avoiding me. I’m not sure why. In any event, since you haven’t been back to the club for me to thank you properly with drinks, I decided to send you lunch. Thanks for dropping me off at home last week. I hate I didn’t get to say goodbye to you before I left Telecom, but I wish you all the best. Nyla.

Aww, hell. Now he really felt like an ass.

As he dug through the bag, he couldn’t help thinking this was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. The savory aroma of oregano, garlic and basil had his stomach growling in anticipation.

When he removed the lid from the carryout container, Harrison inhaled deeply. Stuffed manicotti, one of his favorite dishes. Not even Jamie knew that. So, Nyla had chosen well.

As he stared down at the food, that also included a small salad and Italian bread, guilt swirled inside of him. He’d done all he could to avoid Nyla and the jazz club. Yet, she’d thought enough of him to send him lunch.

Harrison reclaimed his seat and dug in. After several bites, his eyes drifted closed, and he savored the tender noodles and mouthwatering flavors. The dish was even better than he remembered.

Most days he ended up skipping lunch because of being so engrossed with work. This was a nice treat all the way around, and he needed to thank Nyla.

He was halfway through his meal when his cell phone rang, and he picked it up from his desk. Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see his sister’s name. She was the only one in his family who he still had a relationship with.

“Hey there,” he said around a mouthful of food.

“Hi, Harrison.”

Harrison’s fork stopped midway to his mouth, and the food he’d just consumed sat in his stomach like a three-ton boulder. Anger stirred within him, and he debated on whether to say anything or just hang up. The only thing keeping him from doing the latter was the fact that his mother was calling from his sister’s cell phone.

“Where’s Piper?” he asked, unable to keep the impatience from his tone.

“She’s in the kitchen. She doesn’t know I used her phone to—”

Harrison ended the call, effectively cutting off anything else she had to say. He hadn’t spoken to his mother in over four years. Not since she turned her back on him when he needed her to believe in him. Though he wanted to forgive and forget, he hadn’t.

No longer hungry, he placed the cover back over his food and stuffed everything into the bag. Setting it on the edge of his desk, he struggled to get his mind back on work. The last thing he wanted to think about was why he cut ties to his mother, but hearing her voice brought it all to the forefront of his mind like a ferocious fire destroying everything in its path.

Why would she call him?

He had told her the last time they talked that he never wanted to hear from her again. Surely, she had to know hercalling out of the blue would tilt his world on its axis. Knowing her, she didn’t care. All she cared about was herself and his brother Geoffrey. It had always been like that, and Harrison had…

“Nope. Not going there.” He wasn’t letting her ruin his day after receiving such a nice gift from Nyla.

When his cell phone rang again, he didn’t bother looking at it. Right now, there was only one person he should reach out to, and that was Nyla.

He picked up his cell phone and called her, only to get her voicemail.

Hi, you’ve reached Nyla. Unfortunately, I can’t take your call at this time…

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