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This was the last thing he needed. Last thing he wanted.

Would he do it? Yeah, yeah, he would. Hopefully, this would save them and not pull them apart.

God, please don’t let it be for too long.

This couldn’t be happening at a worse time. Work was a nightmare. Now he had to think about the logistics of leaving his home.

Ivy squeezed his hands. “It doesn’t have to be right away.”

That was where his lovely wife was wrong. It most certainly had to be right away, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to do it. Emmanuel had to rearrange his day.

“It is probably best if it is.”

“Maybe we should talk some more,” Ivy backed pedalled.

“Doc.” That one word said more than he could bring himself to say. She needed this and so he would do it. But without the back and forth.

Shit!

“The kids!” They both said simultaneously.

“Let’s sit,” Emmanuel’s voice was as shaky as he felt. He was fine doing this for Ivy, but when he started thinking about his children. Sage. Although she acted like she was ready to conquer the world. Sage was still just a little girl. A girl that very much needed her parents… needed her father. The thought of her made him want to go back on his word. Would his little girl understand that despite what the evidence indicated that he didn’t go against everything he believed in?

The boys, although they didn’t live with him, this would affect them too. Would they think he’d betrayed their mother? How many times had he impressed upon them that they had to treat women with the utmost respect?

Ivy and Emmanuel talked it out. Their children’s schedules were hectic, but by some miracle, on a Friday night, they were able to get them all to agree to come over for dinner that night.

Maggie had been suspicious when he called in and told her he wouldn’t be in the office today and couldn’t be reached until the afternoon. Frank called him immediately when he shot him the text.

“So, you decided to skive off today?” Frank asked the moment Emmanuel answered his call. His tone was full of laughter.

“I have some shit I need to take care of.”

All traces of laughter vanished as Frank asked, “what the fuck is going on? You barely take time off and you have been working us to the bone into all hours of the night.”

“I’ll be working this afternoon. Listen, I need you to do me a solid. Without a bunch of questions.”

“Eh, we will see.”

“I need you to grab me the keys to a vacant corporate condo.”

The last thing Emmanuel was expecting was for Frank to actually do as he was requested without question. “All right, I will be right over.”

Emmanuel finished some packing and moved his bags into his car, then waited for Frank in his home office. Ivy had gone into the hospital after she discussed with the Chef, what to make for dinner. He was certain she had asked for the children’s favourites. Although he doubted Sheppard’s pie, spaghetti and meatballs were going to soften the news that they were going to drop on them.

Frank didn’t bother to knock, he just waltzed into his home office.

“Hey man,” Emmanuel greeted. He barely looked up from the computer as Frank plopped down on the leather sofa.

“Why do you need the keys?”

Oh, that is why Frank hadn’t badgered him over the phone. He wanted to do it in person.

“I’ll be staying in the condo for a bit.”

Frank let out a sharp whistle. “Why?”

“Because it is what’s best for my family.”

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