Page 56 of Daddy's Game

I’d gone to a great deal of effort to give her the grand experience of dating someone of my socio-economic level. Her closet was full of new garments, all of them designer labels. Grace didn’t have a jewelry box to keep the earrings, necklaces, and bracelets I frequently purchased her, so I bought her one of those, too. A lovely stained glass model from Tiffany’s in the shape of a heart.

My heart feels…empty when she’s not around. What in the Hell is wrong with me? Wasn’t I just trying to have a little fun until I inevitably took her property? Where did I go right?

The board meeting droned on and on, and eventually I stood up.

“All right, gentlemen. I don’t know about you, but I could use a cigar, a walk, and a trip to the bathroom.”

Muted laughter went around the boardroom, and the chairman called for a recess. I headed up to a lovely terraced garden occupying the building’s roof. I found a space under a fig tree and took out my phone. I did the math and realized it would be about eight in the morning in New York.

She answered on the second ring.

“Hey.”

Her lilting voice put a smile on my face.

“Hey, yourself. How are you doing?”

“I’m a bit nervous about this zoning board meeting, but otherwise I’m good. Thanks for the fruit platter, by the way. I wound up sharing it with the varsity ballet class and they loved it.”

“You didn’t want it?”

She laughed softly in my ear.

“Brock, that fruit platter was enough to feed an army. If I’d tried to eat all of that I’d have swollen up like a balloon and you wouldn’t think I was sexy anymore.”

“I’ll always think you’re sexy, baby.”

“Aww. You say such sweet things when you’re across the pond.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow, and then I’ll say it to you in person, too. Listen, Grace, we’ve been seeing each other for a while now, and it got me to thinking.”

“Uh oh. If the guy you’re seeing says he’s been thinking, you’re either about to get dumped or proposed to.”

Her tone suggested Grace was joking. I wasn’t kidding about anything.

“I’m not about to do either. I just wanted you to know, I’m…I’m happy being with you.”

She paused for a long time. I started to worry I’d offended or upset her somehow.

“I’m happy to be with you, too.”

Her voice sounded tight with emotion.

“Are you crying?”

“Maybe a little. I do miss you, you know.”

“I miss you too.”

Her phone made a chiming sound.

“I’ve got to go, Brock, if I’m going to get to this meeting in time.”

“Of course. Go knock ‘em dead, Grace. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks. Bye, Brock.”

“Bye, Grace. I love you.”

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