Page 107 of Executive Decision

“I think so, yeah,” I said.

“If you’re happy that’s good.”

I love her.

“I think we’re going to give it a go and have another baby… with science in the mix,” Kristy said.

“You and your artist?” I asked. “Well, good for you both.”

“I have a nanny. Don’t worry. I’m not going to dump two babies on you at once. And he’s moving here so we will have two sets of hands.”

“Good for you both,” I said. “But honestly, Daphne would take two kids and enjoy them.”

“And so what? Is she willing to go through with it, marry you, and have kids?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer that.

“It’s really fresh, Kristy,” I said. “We haven’t discussed it.”

“She wants kids, though?”

“Yes,” I said. “And believe it or not, I still might, too. But that time may also have come to pass.”

“And yet you’re still with her?”

“I love her,” I said. “That’s the honest-to-God truth. I have to believe things will work out, but not at this second. In the future, I hope things will just fall into place.”

“Rather than you waste years of your life without being honest?”

Ouch. Kristy swore I’d not been transparent with her from the start.

“I don’t agree. I was honest with you. I always loved you—and cared about you—but it didn’t work. I never lied and said?—”

“You decided to run for office. That was?—”

“I never promised I wouldn’t just like you never told me you’d never, ever marry me.”

“Well, now you have everything you want, I guess… once Daphne is divorced.”

I paced, not wanting to toss my phone against the marble floor. “Kristy, did you call to argue with me?”

“No. I wanted to congratulate you.” Her voice fell. “I don’t want to argue with you. I value you as a friend, Cal. I also worry for that girl.”

“Can everyone stop calling her a girl? She’s a grown woman!”

“She’s young, okay? Compared to us. And… if you aren’t honest about what you want and she’s not on your page, you might hurt her.”

“I agree, but I have been,” I said. “I don’t want to go down this road again, okay? Thank you for your congrats. I appreciate it.”

36GIVE ME EVERYTHING

Daphne

One morning,several dates intorealdating, I found Cal in the kitchen making a bagel and pouring coffee. It was the most normal morning. It feltright. I loved waking with him and being lazy before greeting the day. Cal was an early bird—the type to go out for a run at 5:30 just to wake up. I wasnot.

After a night where he wasn’t in the mood for anything other than blowing off steam in bed, I woke to my phone buzzing.

Davey was in a panic. “Daphne, can you be in the office today to meet with the board?”

---