Page 129 of Dancing in the Rain

“You’re supposed to be back here full-time beginning of December.”

She sucked in a breath. “Yeah, about that. I’m not going to be able to do it.”

He frowned. “You need more time? Because we can’t do that. We’ve been flexible and generous with you, but we need you here, in the office, doing your job.”

“I have been doing my job,” she said. “Mostly. Under the circumstances, I think I did a lot. I’m sorry, Gord, but I’m resigning.” She tried to keep her expression professional. “I apologize for dragging this out, but I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to uproot Chloe from her life in Chicago. I’ll work on a strategy for dealing with this crisis over the next few days, but I won’t be coming back to Sentinel.” She straightened her shoulders. “I’ve enjoyed working here and I’ve learned so much from you. But family has to come first.”

She believed that. She’d always believed that. She’d just never imagined herself quitting a job by saying those words.

He nodded, his mouth a grim line. “I understand. This is probably for the best.”

Chloe had kept herself busy and they took a taxi to Peyton’s apartment. Friday night of the holiday weekend in New York was vibrant, the city buzzing and sparkling with Christmas anticipation and cheer.

“I haven’t been here for a long time,” Chloe said as they entered the apartment in the dark.

“I know.” Sara and Chloe had visited her many times but not recently. She’d had Chloe on her own for visits in the summers, and Sara and Chloe had spent one Christmas there after their parents had died, but after Sara had not been feeling as well, it had been more important for Peyton to visit them in Chicago.

She flicked on lights and took off her coat. “I know my cupboards are bare,” she said. “So we’re going to have to order in. How about Thai food?” She had a favorite little place not far from there that delivered.

“Sure.”

It had been a long day, starting with the early-morning flight, the work she’d done on the plane, and then the afternoon meeting. She looked around her apartment as Chloe carried her small bag into the spare bedroom. Bleh. This didn’t even feel like home anymore.

She remembered the texts and the voicemail from Drew, which she hadn’t replied to. After she ordered their food, she texted him back.

Sorry, got your voicemail. Chloe and I are in New York. Talk to you next week.

—

Drew slept like shit and woke up irritable and with a sore neck Friday morning.

He’d been flip-flopping in his bed all night, replaying that awful conversation he’d had with Peyton. He’d fucked up.

He admired her for how she had her life so organized. He shouldn’t have said what he had about her being too focused on her career to care about Chloe. He knew how much she loved her niece.

She’d struck back and hit his soft spots with that crack about how he hadn’t been handling retirement very well, reminding him that she and Sara had had doubts about him.

But remembering the hurt look on her face had his stomach heaving. He couldn’t take Chloe away from her. He couldn’t put them all through some kind of custody battle. But he couldn’t lose them, either. He didn’t know what the answer was, but he had to fix this. He’d go over there and make her talk to him.

Mom and Dad were already up when he trudged downstairs. “Thank you, Mom,” he said with heartfelt gratitude upon seeing the full coffeepot.

She handed him a mug and he filled it and took a gulp. “I’m going over to Peyton’s,” he told her.

She smiled. “Good idea.”

“Maybe this afternoon we could all go to Navy Pier or something.” Assuming Peyton forgave him for last night.

“That sounds fun,” Mom said.

Dad shrugged. “Sure.”

He quickly showered and put on a pair of jeans and a sweater, then headed over to the Watt home. On the veranda, he rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang again.

With a frown he pulled out his keys and studied the one he had to the house. Yeah, he had to make sure they were okay. So he used his key to enter.

“Anyone home?”

The house was silent and clearly empty. He poked his head into a few rooms but, nope, nobody there. They’d gone out somewhere, obviously. He felt a little weird being there uninvited, but maybe he could hang out until they got home. Maybe they’d just gone out for breakfast or something.

---