Page 48 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

“Sorry for the interruption. It should be fairly quiet for the rest of the afternoon. Mr. Baldwin’s calendar is clear…” I couldn’t resist and glanced back at Kristoff one last time. “Bye, Kristoff.” My voice was low but I knew he heard me as I closed the door gently behind me.

I walked over to my desk and grabbed my purse.

“I am so sorry, Kimberly,” I sniffed. “I have to go. I told Kristoff I have to leave in an hour but I want to make sure I don’t hit any lunch traffic.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell a lie to this darling lady. She walked over to me and gave me a hug, which immediately brought tears to my eyes. I hugged her back tightly, regretting I wouldn’t see her or work with her again.

“Everything will be ok,” she murmured softly, which was followed by my sniffle.

“Hmmmm,” I answered noncommittally and hurried to the elevator, needing to put as much distance as possible between Kristoff Baldwin and myself.

As I exited the building representing Kristoff’s empire, I felt a desperation enter my mind. Tears pricked my eyes and I blinked quickly a couple of times. I was scared if I started crying now I wouldn’t be able to stop.

I got into my car and left the city behind me but I didn’t want to go home quite yet. I drove aimlessly, taking back roads off Route 50. The entire scene with Kristoff and the blonde was playing over in my mind. I couldn’t believe Kristoff was already looking for a new assistant? I knew he’d find one fast that would sign the contract without a second thought or any hesitance.

I knew it was coming. I was waiting for the day when he wouldn’t want me anymore.

It seemed I’d lost my battle against tears, and as they started pouring down my face, I ended up having to pull over or risk getting into an accident. There I was sitting, my head on my arms, crying my eyeballs out on the side of the interstate. I loved him with every fiber of my being. This was exactly the reason I knew I shouldn’t have taken that job or gotten mixed up with Kristoff. And now I was pregnant!

A knock on the window startled me out of my thoughts, and I looked up realizing there was a police officer at my window. I hurriedly wiped my face while putting the window down.

“Ma’am, are you alright?”

Damn it, does he need to sound so concerned?It brought another flow of tears down.

“Yes… yes. I’m fine,” I mumbled.

“You don’t seem fine, Miss. Can I help you? Anything I can do?” The police officer was an older man and had kind eyes, with honest to God concern on his face.

“Ah, thank you… thank you, but no. Just silly stuff.” I dried my face with a sleeve, probably looking like a total medieval woman with no class.

“Whatever made you cry, it will all work out. Things always work out.”

Despite my current predicament, I gave him a shaky smile.

“Thank you. It was just a dumb moment. I’m sorry, I should not have stopped here.”

“That is quite alright. Probably safer to pull over than drive not being able to see where you are going.”

I nodded in agreement. “Will you be ok to drive?”

“Yes… yes, I will. I’m better already.” And I was as I decidedNo more crying! No more Kristoff!

“Now, you make sure you drive off carefully. People drive like lunatics on this interstate.”

“You be careful too.”

He nodded and walked back to his police car.

As I drove off, I glanced back once more to see him drive off in the opposite direction.

I need a plan!I know I couldn’t work for Kristoff or his company anymore. In any department! And I actually did need to see my doctor as soon as possible. I decided to hurry up and call my OB/GYN Dr. Packard to see how fast I could get an appointment. At least I had some luck because they had an opening in two hours and I jumped to take it.

As I was rerouted to go towards the doctor’s office, I had a million thoughts swirling through my head. How was I going to do this alone? I basically didn’t have a job, although Kristoff didn’t know it yet. How was I going to explain to my girls about having another baby? Or that I was no longer going to work! I could just kick myself for putting myself in such a position.

And then it hit me. It was almost too perfect to work. I could pretend I was off for the summer, and we could all go to Croatia. The kids wouldn’t know any better, and it was not the first time we’d spent summer weeks there. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

As I walked into Dr. Packard’s office, and completed all of my paperwork, I found myself in the waiting room looking up flight options and costs on my phone. And by the time I was called into the exam room, I had flight tickets purchased for this coming Friday, and all my points spent.

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