Page 26 of Drake Eternal

“It’s up to you whether you come sooner or later. I’ll be busy with work regardless, but of course I would love to have you here. Both of you.”

“I’d rather be there as soon as possible, given the situation.”

We finished talking and then I called Sophie back to say goodnight to Drake. She blew him a kiss and they said their goodbyes, and then I told him I loved him and missed him and would be thinking about him later tonight when I was alone in bed.

“I’ll be thinking of you, Ms. Bennet and all the ways I will show you just how much I missed you when you get here.”

I smiled and blew him a kiss and then end the Skype call.

I sighed and put my cell away and turned back to watch Sophie, who was unconcerned about all the drama going on in the world around her, focused as she was on coloring her beloved dinosaurs.

On Friday, I was busy getting ready for the staff party among my fellow journalists. Karen Mills was available and arrived half an hour before I was to leave, so she could get Sophie’s supper ready.

“Thanks a million, Karen. You are a true Godsend,” I said as I rushed around, getting my handbag and making sure I had my cell. I had already called down for the limo service, which Drake insisted I use. I went to where Sophie was sitting at the kitchen island, waiting for the hamburger and French fries Karen was preparing.

“You be a good girl for Auntie Karen, okay? I’ll be home around midnight, if not earlier, and I’ll check on you to make sure you’re asleep.”

“Okay, Mommy.” Sophie was back coloring before the words had barely left her mouth, so I knew she was unconcerned about being left with Karen.

I kissed her on the top of her head, and then grabbed my jacket. While it was warm, I wanted to have something to cover my arms on the way home when it would be cooler.

“Thanks again, Karen. I’ll call when I’m on my way.”

“Have fun.”

I left the apartment and took the elevator down to the lobby. I checked outside and sure enough, the limo was waiting, and the driver was leaning against the hood, his cap on and at the ready.

When he saw me, he stood up straight and opened the rear passenger door for me.

“Mrs. Morgan,” he said with a smile.

“Hello, John, is it?”

“John it is,” he replied and closed the door behind me after I got inside. The interior was cool and quiet and so I had some time to decompress before I arrived at the party on campus. The June evenings were warm, and the sun was just starting to peek behind the tallest buildings around us. The drive to the paper’s business office was fast, despite the traffic. John seemed to know the best and fastest route to get there.

When we drove up to the building where the staff had booked for the party, John stopped at the curb. He glanced in the rear-view mirror. “We’re here.”

He got out of the vehicle and opened the door for me. “You said you would be a couple of hours. I’ll park about five minutes away in case you change your mind.”

“Thanks,” I said and stepped out onto the sidewalk outside the office building. “I’ll call if I want to leave earlier.”

Then, I walked up the steps to the old building, pleased that this would be my first staff party as a new journalist with the paper. I would finally be using my master’s in journalism after many stops and starts due to life intervening. I felt bad because I was a few years older than most of the other staff, who seemed to have had their lives in better order than I had, but I had to remind myself that I had quite a few big life events happen while I was trying to finish. Life events that others had little idea about and I hoped to keep it that way.

I walked into the main room where the party was being held and saw that there were already a dozen other staff members there, and while there was no music playing, the buzz of conversation was loud. I saw one of my fellow writers, Gracie, and went over to join her.

“Hey,” she said and gave me a quick hug. “I was hoping you’d come. I take it you got a babysitter?”

“Yes, we’re lucky we have an old friend who is a teacher who likes to sit with Sophie and Liam when Drake and I go out.”

We spoke for a few moments, and I glanced around, checking to see who was there.

Then, I saw him at the door. Carlton.

Carlton Page whose father owned the paper we all worked for. Carlton ran Page One — a notorious gossip section of the paper that profiled New York’s rich and famous. He was trying to compete with some of the big gossip rags, despite his father wanting him to do serious journalism. He spent a lot of time peppering me about my family, my father and the world I grew up in, probably hoping for some good gossip about Manhattan’s wealthy and powerful. On my part, I wanted to write about art and literature and escape politics, but he couldn’t seem to take the hint that we were in two different worlds.

When he walked into the room, he scanned the people, and his eyes came to rest on me. His face lit up and he came right over, a big smile on his face. I felt like laughing, but held it in. He couldn’t help himself. It seemed to be a mix of autism and extraversion. He was so extraverted he didn’t realize he was being obnoxious.

“Hey, Kate, Gracie. Glad to see some familiar faces.”

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