Abbey slid the key in the lock just as Max opened his eyes. “Hi,” she smiled at him. “We’re home.”
Nick set him down inside the front door.
“Is Nick coming in?” Max asked, his voice groggy.
She looked at Nick. “I’m sure he’d like to go home,” she said, worried she’d already taken too much of his time.
The curiosity she’d seen in Nick’s face was replaced by seriousness. What was he thinking about? It was the kind of look that made her want to put her hand on his face and reassure him like she did with Max. “I suppose I should go,” he said, but the tone in his voice sounded as if he might have thought otherwise.
“Thank you for a wonderful night,” she said.
And with a kiss on the cheek, he was gone.
Chapter Twelve
Abbey had been at Nick’s all day. She’d ordered the bar for his ballroom, and she was dying to show him what she’d picked out, but he hadn’t shown up. It was unusual since he normally found her to at least to say hello. She decided to walk down to his office and see if he was there.
When she got to the office, the door was shut which she hadn’t seen before. She knocked. No answer. Was he not at home? She pulled out her phone and texted: Hi, Nick. Where are you? Are you at the house?
She’d waited just long enough to think that he wasn’t going to respond when a text came through: Was that you knocking? If so, open the door. I’m in my office.
She opened the door and walked in to find Nick hunched over his desk. He looked up, and his eyes had dark circles under them, his face tired looking, his lips set in a straight line.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi,” he said, looking exhausted. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer the door. I didn’t know it was you and I’ve told Richard not to disturb me.”
“Oh. I’m sorry… How are you?” She couldn’t help the question. He seemed so worn out. Was he wearing the same shirt from yesterday? Had he slept at all?
“Busy.” His voice was soft but direct.
He looked nothing like the man she’d seen at the restaurant last night. Even his face seemed different, his features wracked with tension.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m struggling with something and I need to focus.”
She walked over to his side of the desk and turned his chair on its swivel until he was facing her. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong,” he said quietly, “is that I have committed to doing this job for my father. It’s important to me that I do it. You and Max have become a distraction—albeit, a very nice distraction—but my work is suffering. I am not in a position to take care of people, and I feel I’ve been selfish in spending time with you. I don’t want to give you false hope that I have time to devote to anything other than my work.”
“False hope?”
“Of being someone in your life who is more than what I can offer.”
“You didn’t give me false hope,” she said. “But I thought perhaps having a distraction was good for you. Last night you seemed… happy.”
“When Sarah and I split, I had to decide where my focus needed to be. I’m good at what I do, and all my concentration needs to be on that,” he said and she could almost swear he had sadness in his eyes.
“I understand,” she said, trying not to visualize his face as he’d carried Max up the stairs last night, but it was coming into her mind despite her efforts. “I’ll let myself out. Text me if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” he said with a small smile and then looked back down at his computer.
Without another word, Abbey turned and left the office, the clink of the latch as she shut the door echoing in the empty hallway.
* * *
“I’ve fallen, Abbey,” Caroline’s voice poured through the receiver on her phone. Abbey was relieved that Caroline had listened to her when she’d said to be sure to have her phone on her at all times. Caroline had complained that she didn’t know how to even work the “darn thing,” she’d called it, but Nick had gotten it for her, and Abbey had insisted she learn how to use it. Now, when it mattered, she could get help.
“I’m on my way. Don’t try to move if you can help it. I’ll be right there.” She was already putting her shoes on. Richard had left them by the front door for her as he always did about a half hour before she left for the day.
It wasn’t her scheduled visit time, but Caroline was in trouble. Abbey could tell by her voice. Caroline was always sure of herself, always in control of every motion, every facial expression, every word. But on the phone just then, she’d sounded quite helpless.