Page 10 of Harry

“I’m happy you decided to come in.” Madelyn eyed her son closely as he walked in and handed her the folder she had requested. “How are you?” She also knew that Janelle had been there, and they had words. The gossip had circulated until it reached her ears.

She also knew that right after, Harry had started drinking and the evening had gone downhill. She hated seeing him so unhappy and wished with everything inside her that she could erase his pain.

“Fair to middling.” His tone warned her that he would not appreciate her digging into his affairs. The guilt she felt forhaving a hand in contributing to what he went through as a child was always with her.

She had stood by while his father belittled him and destroyed him with harsh words. Richard had not used his fists, but the emotional abuse had done plenty of damage. Her beloved boy had never recovered.

“The housing project needs a hell of a lot of work. I have decided to take a personal look at the place.”

“That’s good.” She toyed with the gold pen in front of her. “Darling, I wish you would talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

He wandered over to the window with the backdrop of the city spearing towards a sky of azure, blue. The pounding inside his head had dulled to an annoying throb because of the painkillers he had downed with his coffee. And he was not about to open hisheart to his mother. Turning back, he strode towards the doors. “I’ll be in touch.”

Madelyn leaned back in the chair and sighed wearily. He was broken and she had to wonder if he would ever be whole again.

Chapter 3

“Hey, you okay?”

Shaking her head ruefully, Janelle took several deep breaths. “I think that I moved off too fast. I am fine.”

David stared at her for a few seconds as if trying to decipher that for himself. “Sure?”

“Yes.” She offered a brilliant smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “And I am supposed to be showing you this apartment and lauding all its great qualities, which I’m about to do.”

“I can already see the great qualities,” he smiled at her. “Terrific view of the city. Large spaces, solid wood structure and the floors are to die for. No carpets, I hate covering up anything this lovely.”

“I agree with you and you’re doing my job for me,” she chided. “Want to see the rest of the place?”

“No.” He shook his head, light blue eyes watching her. “I want you to have lunch with me.”

She jolted at that and stared at him. David Lawson had been coming around the real estate agency for the past two weeks and had dropped a lot of businesses in their laps.

The distinguished looking man with the ash blonde hair and placid manner was the CEO of a group of insurance companies and had just moved from the house he had occupied for the past ten years and told her that he needed something else. Something in the city.

“I just got divorced and I need a fresh start.”

“I am sorry. I should not have sprung that on you so quickly. Do you need more time?”

“Uhm, no. I mean, I never get involved with my clients.”

“Never?”

“No.” She shook her head.

And besides, I’m pregnant with twins. She had found that staggering information just yesterday and was still trying to process. She had no history of twin births in her family, so that left Harry and she still had not worked up the courage to tell him yet.

When she thought she was expecting one baby, it was bad enough, but two? There was no way she could tell him now and yet, she had to. But she needed time.

“It’s just a lunch, Janelle,” he said quietly, watching the play of emotions on her face and misinterpreting them. “No commitment…”

“I cannot offer you one.” A smile touched her lips.

“You were involved with Harry McGibbon,” he smiled when her eyes widened, “I read the gossip columns every now and then. I understand you are still trying to get over…”

“I doubt I ever will be.” She turned away to walk towards the window. The view was indeed spectacular. The afternoon sun was brilliant, casting lights over the buildings spearing upwards and the spread of the city was a delight to the eyes. She knew that come night; it would be even more of one. “I’m still in love with him.”

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