Page 93 of Executive Decision

I reached for the baby, but Kristy stampeded into the living room and deposited the baby on the floor before I could stop her or explain what was happening.

“She just got sick and called me from the ambulance. I have no idea how long she’ll be at Northwestern or?—”

Kristy’s eyes fell to Daphne who already cooed at the baby from the couch.

“You’re even cuter than last time,” Daphne said.

I waited for an implosion—my past and present colliding.

“Daphne,” Kristy said. “When Cal said you had a guest, I didn’t realize?—”

“Sorry. I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Chloe’s horse booted her. She has bruised ribs and… I’m?—”

“Playing nursemaid, I guess,” Daphne said. “To more than one person now. Thankfully, this one is much sweeter.”

Kristy laughed nervously. “Sorry. I thought when you said you had company, you were on a date or something. I didn’t realize you were taking care of the wounded.”

Daphne didn’t protest or point out it was more. It felt like she avoided it out of worry, shooting me a look to stay calm.

“I mean, if she weren’t injured, we would have,” I said. “Damn horses.”

Daphne’s face flashed surprised.Had she expected me to deny it?

“Then I apologize for the cockblock,” Kristy joked, sounding hurt. “I will text you when Mom says she made it in.”

“They’ll call up. I’ll have them let her in to get the kid,” I said. “Don’t worry. I remember all the instructions from last time. She’ll be fine.”

“Thanks a million—” Kristy moved to kiss me out of instinct, then stopped herself, shaking her head. “Sorry. Thanks.”

She darted out as the baby rolled to face me. I lifted her and sat on the edge of the sofa.

“You’re stuck with us for a little bit, Laurie.”

“I’m sorry if I made that awkward,” Daphne said. “You could have denied it. She seemed shaken up?—”

“I didn’t want to,” I said. “I didn’t want to deny your place here and act like it was nothing.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you, Daphne,” I sighed. “So very much. I don’t want people to assume I don’t, okay? That’s cruel.”

Daphne smiled. “And that is why I am telling Mum when I get home. But, Cal, it might be difficult to love me after I tell you what I meant to tell you at your mom’s.”

“Okay? Tell me.”

Laurie fussed. I put her on the floor, trying to give Daphne attention while ensuring the baby didn’t do anything dangerous. I didn’t know how parents always did this or how children survived infancy. They were so tricky.

“Chandler got the intern pregnant,” Daphne said.

“What!?” I settled on Daphne’s face. “Are you okay?”

“No.” Daphne wiped tears. “It’s a slap in the face.”

“If the baby is?—”

“No. In a way, it’s fine. A balm. And… I cannot just wallow in self-pity right now. Chandler made a severe miscalculation by threatening me to settle faster over this. He thinks if this goes public it puts me in a bind?—”

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