Page 40 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
Yeah, he lied and said they had something going on. He hadn’t even told Becca and ended up taking her to his mother’s for dinner. This way if it came up, his daughter couldn’t say they weren’t busy.
“Time yet to figure that out,” Kelsey said. “If we are done, everyone help themselves to the remaining bagels and donuts. I’ve got a wedding gown to squeeze my butt into and don’t need the temptation.”
He pushed back from the chair as everyone else did, but left while others grabbed food.
He turned when there was a knock on his doorway a minute later. “Hi, Karen.”
“Brennan,” Karen said, walking in and taking a seat. “We have talked little since you’ve been here. Things have been crazy. When I’ve been here, you’ve been out of the office.”
“It’s always the way,” he said.
“How is island living working for you?”
“So far so good,” he said. “A much slower pace for sure. It’s so nice to drive around and not be stuck in traffic for twice the time it would take to actually get somewhere.”
“Don’t I know that,” Karen said. “Things are working out with Becca?”
“They are,” he said. “If I can’t pick her up from pre-K the days she’s there, my mother does it.”
“You can leave and get her anytime you need to. I know you’ll get your work done after hours if you have to. I’ve never doubted that.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’m positive that is going to happen during tax season.”
“You know we are flexible and trying to be as family oriented as possible,” Karen said. “I know this was a big change for you. My family, we are used to it, but not everyone can adjust as easily. I meant what I said. If after a year, you don’t want to stay, there is a place for you back in Boston.”
It was the reason he was more than willing to do this. Karen had asked that he give it at least a year, and if it didn’t work, he could return to Boston.
“So far so good. It’s nice to breathe here. Sounds silly.”
“No,” Karen said. “I get it. It’s not as congested. But if you need something you can’t find here or can’t wait, it’s not a quick trip for it either, or costs more to get here faster.”
“I’m pretty adaptable,” he said. “Or I learned to be that way.”
Few knew his situation with Becca and Rene. Nothing more than he had custody. He wasn’t one to bring his personal life into the office and no one asked.
Wrong. People asked. He didn’t answer.
Women liked to gossip and he’d had enough to deal with having a newborn at home he was trying to figure out.
“That’s the name of the game with parenthood,” Karen said. “I’m glad things are working out. My daughter isn’t the same as me.”
He laughed. “Who are you kidding? You two are very similar when it comes to work.”
Karen grinned. “Sure, we are there but not in personality.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” he said.
“Shhh,” Karen said. “That’s between us. Few in this office have worked with me much.”
Karen stood up and left after that and he got to work.
His day flew by, just the way he liked it. When he looked at the clock in the corner of his computer, he saw it was almost one. Might explain why he was hungry and got up to get his lunch.
In the kitchen, he saw Alana at the microwave. What he needed to use.
“Hey,” he said. “Smells good.”
“Tomato soup. My grilled cheese is in the air fryer.”
