Page 30 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“Oh, our working relationship is just as it’s always been. You’re the boss. I haven’t forgotten.”
“Caleb,” I say in warning.
He seems to come to his senses and waves me away. “I’m sorry,” he says too contritely. “Things have been—hard. And you know I don’t do well with change and this…” He points to my door. “Is a lot of fucking change.”
“It is, and I’m sorry about that. I’m doing the best I can, and I will find a permanent solution soon, but until then, you will respect my decisions.”
Caleb mutters under his breath but exits my office as Elijah walks in.
“What was that about?” he asks.
“Another deal with Delacroix.”
Elijah sighs and runs his thumbs on the undersides of his suspenders. “What are your thoughts on Caleb now?”
My shoulders tense. “I’m not sure.” Lowering my voice, I scan my office as though I’ll find prying ears. “I don’t understand what’s going on with him. He’s excellent at his job, he always has been, but something has shifted with him. He doesn’t talk about his personal life, ever, so perhaps he and the woman he was seeing broke up. I’m the last person to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, but he’s been with me for ten years, Elijah. He helped me build this company from the ground up, same as you, and he’s probably still grieving. His loyalty over ten years has to account for something.”
“But do you think he’s still loyal?”
I rub the heels of my hands into the side of my head. “I don’t know. But I don’t have proof either, so where does that leave me?”
He shakes his head as if I’m an idiot, but he and Caleb haven’t gotten along since the early days when the hours we worked didn’t add up to the paycheck I could afford. I’ve always been the mediator, so his skepticism is nothing new. But this is the first time I’ve been disappointed in Caleb’s work performance. Bringing me Delacroix-adjacent deals is beneath him, and we all know it.
“I’m not sure, but you can’t let his attitude continue to carry on that way. It’s not fair to the rest of your employees, and it’s not a great look for you.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I lean back into my chair. “I know. I just haven’t decided what to do yet,” I admit. “He’sknown for ten years that Delacroix is off limits. So what’s changed?”
My door opens with a crash, and a smile tugs at my mouth at the sight of Emmy’s little face.
“What’s up, lovebug?” I ask.
Daisie Dog barrels in after her, licking at her sticky fingers, and Emmy trips over her feet to stay upright. The damn dog is a menace.
“Can I haves this?” She almost, almost smiles as she holds up a giant lollipop.
“It looks as though you already are. I’m guessing Stella meant for you to ask permission before it went in your mouth?”
Stella appears a moment later. “Sorry,” she mutters, and I lean forward to catch every syllable. “I was changing Ruby behind my desk and had to hold her down with both legs to do it—you really need to install changing stations in the restrooms, by the way.” She shakes her head with wide eyes and her cheeks heat pink. “Sorry,” she says again. “Emmy was excited.”
An invisible weight lifts from my shoulders. “No problem. We were done anyway. I may need you to show me the diaper-changing leg maneuver though. It’s like wrestling a pissed-off donkey getting a new diaper on that kid.”
She smiles, and I swear I forget to breathe. The sun filtering in from my floor-to-ceiling windows showcases the smattering of freckles that cover her cheeks, nose, and forehead. It’s actually painful to drag my gaze away from her face.
“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready to take the girls home. I just have to grab a few things to work on after they’re in bed.”
Emmy’s shoulders droop with my words, but Stella takes her hand and leads her out of the room with Elijah trailing behind.
Daisie Dog sits glaring at me with disapproval in her upturned nose. “What?” I ask.
She pants. I cross the room to push her out, but she jumps through my legs and I crash into the bookcase. “Dang it, Daisie. Seriously, what’s gotten into you?”
She licks my leg, then exits with exaggerated swagger no dog should have.
I need to find a damn nanny. And maybe a dog sitter.
I called a new nanny agency and they told me this was the busy season for them so it would take a bit longer than normal, but something’s gotta give. None of us can keep this up forever. The one thing all the baby books agree on is that kids need routine—and that’s the one thing I haven’t been able to give them.
CHAPTER NINE
