Page 18 of Leon
Easing back on the accelerator, she allowed the vehicles behind her to pass. Then it was time for them to part ways. At the intersection, he came alongside her, his gaze eloquent as he stared at her.
"I'll call you," he mouthed.
"I love you," she mouthed back, before driving off. The heaviness stayed with her the rest of the way.
*****
David had juggled the meeting for him, but he did not have time to go home and change.
"Tell me." Not lessening his stride, he walked into his office with his assistant hurrying behind him.
"Coffee first." The very efficient David put down his device and went to pour a cup. Bringing it back to the desk, he lifted one thick brow at his boss' attire. "I'll get a suit from the closet. You have ten minutes to prepare for the meeting. The airline is in the news again. The sour grapes management team are crying corporate bullying by us, specifically you."
Leon sipped coffee and merely lifted a brow. "Really?"
"Yes. Bad press of course." David scrolled through his notes. "The clinic downtown has a hitch."
Leon's eyes sharpened. "What kind of hitch?"
"The locals are demonstrating. The homeless and drug addicts had used that place as their sanctuary and quote, 'you're robbingthem of that sanctuary.' Bad press again. Corporate greed and blah blah blah."
If it wasn't so serious, Leon would have laughed at his very correct and highly educated assistant's figure of speech.
"How the hell can they complain? The clinic is for their benefit in the long run."
"Sadly, they're not thinking long term." He gave his boss a speculative look. "I have to ask, how was it?"
"Wonderful," he responded briefly, taking another sip of coffee as he familiarized himself with the notes required for his meeting. He looked up to see David waiting. "What?"
"I want to say you look rested."
"But?"
"I would be lying. You look tense. Care to share?"
He contemplated that for a spell, then shook his head. "I don't have time." Draining his cup, he turned away from his desk. "Grab me the suit. I must go."
"Yes sir," David muttered as he hurried away.
*****
It took considerable effort on her part to appear as if everything was normal. She arrived home just before opening time to see the two women already setting up for the day and her father in his suite of rooms. Hurrying to her suite, she quickly changed into black tailored pants and a thin hunter green sweater.
Her hair was a different story. The thick strands were hopelessly tangled. Scooping it back into a tidy bun, she decided that would have to do.
It was Monday and they had several things planned for the day. She also had a feeling that her father was going to be querulous at the fact that she had stayed a night over.
Glossing her lips with strawberry, she considered herself ready. Taking a deep breath, she went along the passageway to his rooms and gave the door a brisk knock. When he called for her to enter, she pushed it open and stepped from the neat as a pin sitting room and into the bedroom to see him propped up in bed. Marge had already warned her that he was not feeling his best.
"Dad?"
"So you're finally home." The accusing expression on his face had her faltering just inside the room.
"I told you that I was spending another night. Are you okay?"
"What do you think?" he asked sharply. "While you were out gallivanting all over the place, I was here at death's door."
Firming her lips and determined to be patient, she approached the bed and saw that he looked haggard.
