Page 56 of The Facilitator: Part 3
We arrived back into Kent, and then a car took us home. She woke just before we started our descent, dozed in the car, and then headed back to bed when we arrived, despite it being midday. Keeping her awake would be like wrestling a bear cub from its mother. I shuddered at the thought, and then chuckled. While she slept I sent Sam an email to let him know the outcome of the last eggs.
Lauren slept right through dinner, even though I did attempt to wake her and woke ravenous the following morning. She stretched and complained about aching muscles from sleeping so long. I had been up an hour and had taken her a cup of tea. I sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m heading into work this morning,” I said. “I think Mary has it in for me for some reason. She sent me a text message asking if I was actually returning to the office at some point.” I laughed. We hadn’t told her of the reason for our impromptu trip to the States.
“What did you say?” Lauren asked, sipping on her tea and wincing.
“That I would be with her lovely cheerful self within the hour.”
Lauren laughed. “I’ll come with you,” she said, placing the cup on the side.
“You don’t have to.”
“I do. I’ve had enough time off work lately,” she called over her shoulder as she headed to the bathroom.
I left her to get ready and waited downstairs. Half an hour later, she was ready and we headed to the waiting car.
“I’ll call the clinic later,” she said, as we crawled along in the London traffic.
I nodded and then told her that I’d also emailed Sam. We fell silent for a little while after that.
“Right, no more moping. We have companies to run and things to do,” she said, smiling at me as we pulled up outside the office.
“Things to do, huh?”
We left the car and before we entered the building, she rose on her tiptoes. “Yes, things to do,” she said, kissing me.
“Can I know what those things are?”
“I’ll let you know by text message,” she said, chuckling, and then greeted security and reception as we walked in.
“Mmm, I look forward to that.”
It was Lauren trying to get back tonormaland I was happy to be doing that as well. I didn’t need to think about operations and procedures and disappointment until we had to. Just a few days’ break would do us some good.
“Mary, my love. Something bad happened and we had to fly to the States,” I said, walking across my floor. She was standing with her hands on her hips. “Seriously. Daniel kidnapped Dominic.”
“You’re kidding me?” she said.
I shook my head. “Nope. Anyway, Alex and I managed to get him back.”
“Oh, Mackenzie, I’m sorry for being so flippant,” she said, and she caught me by surprise. She seemed genuinely upset. She held her hands over her mouth and tears filled her eyes.
“Come here,” I said, walking toward her. She allowed me to place my arm around her shoulder.
“How are they both?” she asked.
“Fine now he’s home. Alex and I were like regular little superheroes. We barged in there, Mary, you should have seen us. All ninja like, we were.”
“Oh, get away with you, you ejit,” she said, slapping my chest and moving out of my embrace. “Now, get your arse in your chair as there’s a shitload of crap on your desk.”
I laughed, Mary, as I knew her, was back. “Right, I’m off to do crap,” I said.
I went through my messages and replied or drafted a reply to what I could. I scanned through accounts for companies that I was a little concerned about, and then I spoke with my personal accountants. I turned down three charity dinner invitations, for various reasons, and accepted one. Three hours had passed and I was caught up. In one way that disappointed me, in another I was pleased. It meant my team was efficiently dealing with everything. I got a weekly overview, of course, but I rarely had to intervene.
Later that afternoon, I received the promised text message.
My List, number 3 – A couple’s massage. I want to feel and see someone’s hands all over you and me.
