Page 146 of Embracing the Change

They rang off, and he took Nico’s call.

“Hello, Nico.”

“Sorry to disturb you at work, Jamie.”

“That’s all right. Everything good?”

“If you’re fishing about whether or not I know what happened to Ma, I do. Cadence called Val, Val called Allegra and me.”

“I see.”

“I just spoke to her, and she says it’s all good, but Mom always says that shit. So I’m calling you, and I know I’m putting you on the spot, but that was some fucked-up shit, so I really need to know if she’s okay.”

“Nora’s strong, Nico. You know that,” Jamie replied. “She was shaken up last night. But Alyona and I were with her, he didn’t hurt her physically, and she was herself this morning. I can promise you I’ll keep an eye though.”

“Right,” Nico mumbled.

“I’m sure she won’t mind if you came down this weekend to see for yourself,” Jamie invited.

“I’m already planning on it. Is it cool if I show on Saturday and stay the night with you two?”

“It’s your home, so definitely.”

More mumbling with his, “Cool.” And then he cleared his throat and said, “Uh…Felice won’t be with me.”

“That’s too bad,” Jamie lied. “Maybe next time.”

And more mumbling with, “Maybe.”

He felt Nico’s pain. Coming to the realization you needed to end a marriage was not fun and games.

But Jamie looked at his Patek Phillipe watch, and saw he had to leave in no less than five minutes, or, if New York traffic delayed him, as it tended to do, he’d be late for his lunch.

Even so, Jamie inquired, “Is there something else you needed to speak to me about?”

“I…yes, um…no. No, not really. Just worried about Ma.”

“We don’t know each other very well,” Jamie said carefully. “But I hope you know I love your mother, what we have is serious, it has a long future, but not only because of that, also because I like all of you, I want to build strong relationships with you and your sisters. So I also hope you know if you need anything from me, I’m here.”

“Boy, you get to the point, don’t you?” Nico remarked.

“Life is too short to fuck around when shit is important,” Jamie returned.

“Yeah, it is,” Nico muttered.

“So, is there anything you need from me?” Jamie offered.

“I…maybe this weekend, you and me, you know, just the guys, can have a chat?” Nico requested.

“I’d like that.”

“Okay, we’ll do it.”

Did Jamie detect relief in his tone?

Christ, Roland was such an asshole.

“I’m sorry, but I have to let you go now,” Jamie said. “I need to be off to a meeting.”

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