Page 96 of Exposed

“I can do that.” Honestly, that made this whole conversation a little easier. “Now let’s get dressed and go visit him at work.”

Jacob threw the shirt on the floor and leapt off the bed.

I laughed and ran after him.

***

I was sweating by the time I opened the door from the stairwell. I really needed to somehow convince Jacob to try out elevators.

“Wow,” Jacob said as he looked around the reception area. He’d said the same thing when we’d walked into the building. The marble floors and tall ceilings somehow seemed more impressive up here though because of the view of the city. But my eyes were glued to the gold-plated MAC International sign on the wall. Matt had done it. He’d gotten everything he’d ever wanted. The only thing he’d dreamed of that he hadn’t achieved was a house full of kids.

I kissed the top of Jacob’s head. I’d tell Matt that I didn’t think I was able to have any more kids tonight. And then there wouldn’t be a single secret I was keeping from him. He’d know it all.

And I realized I probably should have told him about that before I’d gotten Jacob’s hopes up. I’d told Jacob that Matt would live with us forever. I really hoped I hadn’t lied to my son. But I didn’t think I had. I’d been so wrong about Matt. He was a good guy. And he wasn’t going to hurt us.

A receptionist told us to take the hall to the left. And that Matt’s offices were all the way in the back. The center of the office was full of cubicles. But it all felt open and airy because the offices on the sides were made of all glass. The view could be seen from anyone’s desk, whether they were in a cubicle or a fancy office.

Matt’s office was in the back corner. His blinds were the only ones that were drawn. An older woman was behind a desk outside his office.

“Excuse me,” I said. “We’re here to see Matt.”

“Well aren’t you cute,” the woman said and smiled at Jacob. “You must be Jacob.”

He ducked beneath my arm.

I smiled. I was glad Matt had told his administrative assistant that we were coming. “He’s a little shy,” I said. “I’m Brooklyn.” I put out my free hand for her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Mary,” she said and shook my hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

So apparently Matt had told hera lotabout me. That made me smile even harder. Jacob squirmed out of my arms.

“He’s in the middle of a call right now, but it’ll only be a minute.”

“Should we just wait out here if he’s busy…”

But Jacob had already opened the door and walked in.

“Sorry,” I said.

Mary just laughed. “It’s fine. He’ll be happy you’re here.”

I hurried after my son.

Jacob ran right up to Matt.

Matt was on the phone, but he smiled down at Jacob and picked him up. He plopped him down in his desk chair.

Jacob stood up on the chair and stared down at Matt’s desk. He started opening up random drawers.

Matt kept talking on the phone as he grabbed a pen and a piece of paper. He put them in front of Jacob, like he’d balanced work calls and kids all the time. But…maybe he had. I knew how good he was with his nieces. Last night after he asked me to prom he’d run around the house playing cowboys and Indians with them for an hour.

Jacob grabbed the pen and started drawing.

Matt walked over to me, keeping a little distance because he knew Jacob could be watching. “Just a second,” he mouthed silently to me.

I couldn’t wait to tell him that Jacob wanted him to move in.

“It’ll be done by tomorrow afternoon at the latest,” Matt said. He watched me as I walked over to the shelves against one of his walls. There were pictures of the Untouchables on them. At different fancy events. And a few with his nieces and nephews.

---