Page 236 of The Maxwell Brothers
"Hey, you know you are.”
“Why didn’t Kimberly come with you today?”
She lived in Paris and worked for a travel agency. She visited the States every few months, but we hadn’t expected her back so soon.
“She’s even more jet-lagged than me, so she declared that she’s not getting out of bed yet. Anyway, I stopped by the office because I also went to London and met with Dad quite a few times, and… I've got a bit of news."
"How’s he doing? I haven't seen him in ages."
"He remarried," Reese blurted.
I jerked my head back. "Wait, what? When?"
"A few months ago, apparently."
" I was not expecting that. Why didn't he let anyone know?"
"That isn't all of it. His wife is about to give birth to a baby girl. She’s due in two months." Reese was saying this in a matter-of-fact tone, but she was a sensitive person. I knew it had to affect her.
“How are you and Kimberly taking it?"
"We're supportive, but it’s so unexpected. After Mom passed away, well, you know how he's been.” He'd sunk into depression for years. It happened decades ago and it was one of the reasons Reese and Kimberly had been over to our house so often. My parents practically raised them. "I'm sorry that our relationshipis so distant that he didn't think he could pick up the phone and tell us when it happened. He didn't even tell Kimberly, and she's been in France for a while.”
“Does Dad know?” I asked.
“No. Anyway, the thing is he asked Kimberly and me to tell the family. And I worry about how Gran will take it especially."
"Of course you do."
"Yeah. I just don't know how to do it or how she'll react. I mean, he’s her son. He really should tell her himself."
I nodded. "Good point."
“But Dad thought it would be better coming from us girls. He says he’s waited so long to make amends with Gran that now he simply doesn’t know how to approach the subject.” She yawned. "Do you have coffee? I'm still a bit off with the time difference."
"Yes. I'll bring you one right away." We had a coffee station in a small kitchen next to the reception area. I shared an office space in a high-rise on LaSalle Street with two of my brothers. Luke, the second oldest and my opposite in every way, ran an architecture company. Tate dominated the wine industry.
Tyler and Travis sometimes stopped by too, especially for drinks on Friday evening in the rooftop bar. Tyler was the goalie for the Chicago Blades, and Travis had sold his successful software company last year and was currently “enjoying life,” as he put it. Our other brother, Sam, was working abroad with Doctors Without Borders, so we only saw him on special occasions. I liked this space. My team was small with an assistant, Greta, and two associates, Harris and Louis.
An idea struck me while waiting for the coffee to brew. Once it was ready, I took the cup, and on the way to my office, I knocked at Luke's door.
"Come in," he said.
I opened it, looking inside. "Hey, do you have a few minutes?"
"For what?"
"Reese is in my office with some big news."
"Did that Malcolm moron pull something?" Luke asked, referring to her ex while getting up to join us.
"No, this is something different."
"Okay. I'll get back to my plans later."
We both walked to my office, and Reese chuckled when we came in.
"What did you do, bring reinforcements? I'm fine," she said, taking the coffee from me.
