Page 63 of An Engagement for Erica

What he wanted to do was get to the office so he could see her again.

He wanted to make sure that she didn’t feel or act awkward over it all.

“I’m just glad someone has something good going on in their life,” Michael said. “Before this happened, your grandfather was worried.”

“About what?” he asked. He didn’t often talk to Michael about things like this, but maybe he should.

He didn’t want to believe his grandfather would only make a “close to complete” recovery, but he should know as much as he could. He wanted his grandfather a hundred percent but knew that might not happen.

“That you’re working too hard. He knows you’re cleaning up your father’s mess and he feels horrible about it. I think he feels guilty for things getting so out of hand. No one could have predicted this would have happened with your father.”

Tucker laughed. Not a funny sound.

“Really? Predicted that he wouldn’t drive the company into the ground or be so high that he’d fall overboard and drown while walking about naked?”

“The second part,” Michael said. “Though we should have figured that with the way he was with drugs and alcohol. Women too. Your grandfather wouldn’t let the business fail. He has eyes and ears everywhere.”

He lifted an eyebrow over that. “Oh really?”

Michael pulled an imaginary zipper across his lips. “Things weren’t as bad as you think. Did everyone hate your father? Sure. But think about the fact that most of the senior management have been there for a while.”

He figured there had to be a reason for that.

“Got it,” he said. “I’ll talk with my grandfather at some point about that.”

His phone was vibrating in his pocket and he pulled it out to see a reminder for a meeting with Erica this afternoon.

He’d said he might not make it, but he wanted to.

“If there are things you need to take care of,” Michael said, “go ahead. The first nurse should be here in an hour. I’ll have lunch ready for your grandfather and his meds. We’ve got it covered.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I can reschedule. I think I will. I’ll just push it back. I should be here when the first nurse comes.”

“That’s your choice,” Michael said. “I’m going to make some soup.”

“I’m glad you’ve been around for as long as you have,” he said. “It really relieves my mind. I know you’ll make sure he’s taken care of, but I’m concerned you’re going to burn out.”

Michael waved his hand. “Nonsense. I’m going to be managing all his appointments and the help coming in and out. I’ll keep his correspondence up to date and when he feels up to it, he and I can do some work.”

“Not too much,” he said.

“Never,” Michael said. “But he will need the familiar. You know it.”

“I do,” he said. “He never slows down. I’ll let you start lunch, and if you don’t mind, I’ll go through a few things in his office.”

“Go ahead,” Michael said. “The password to his computer is taped under the drawer to his desk.”

He snorted. “Not too obvious, is he?”

“He used to have it on a sticky note right on the top. Do you know how hard it was to convince him to move it there?”

“Which is what you’re paid for,” he said, going into his grandfather’s office shaking his head.

The familiar dark wood brought back a flood of memories.

As a kid, he’d be in here listening about the business that would be his one day.

He never thought it’d be under these circumstances though.

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