“I was hoping to catch Sam if he has a couple of minutes,” Mick said.
Clearly surprised, Mack looked from Mick to Sam, then chuckled. “Sure thing.”
Sam headed for his desk, then gestured toward the chair beside it. “Have a seat. I don’t have a lot of time. We’re on deadline today.”
“This won’t take long,” Mick said, sitting down and taking his time studying Sam. “You know my granddaughter Carrie?”
“I do,” he said solemnly.
“Wonderful girl,” Mick said.
“I don’t know her well, but I’m sure she is.”
“I saw the two of you together last night. The boy with you, that’s your nephew?”
“Bobby, yes. I just gained full custody of him after his parents died.”
Seemingly genuine dismay registered on Mick’s face. “Terrible thing to lose both parents like that. He’s lucky to have you.”
“I guess we’ll see about that,” Sam said. “But I’m going to try my best.”
“Can’t ask more than that.”
“Sir, if there’s nothing else on your mind, I really do need to get to work. Bobby’s with Carrie right now, and I need to get my job done, so I can take over again.” So what if the timeline for that wasn’t as tight as he was implying.
Mick nodded. “I understand all about work taking priority, but a piece of advice from a man who got his own priorities all out of whack. Family’s what counts.”
“I’ll take that to heart,” Sam promised.
Mick held his gaze for a long time, then gave a little nod that Sam couldn’t interpret. He hadn’t known Mick long enough to conclude if the interview had gone well or if he’d failed miserably. He supposed time would tell. Time would also tell if Mick O’Brien’s approval was necessary if Sam was to have any hope of getting any closer to Carrie. Right now that might not matter, but he had a hunch things were heading in that direction a little faster than he’d originally anticipated.
At the day-care center Bobby had shadowed Carrie’s every move until Lucy finally interceded and managed to get him to play a game with several other children. Alicia drew Carrie aside.
“That’s the boy you were so concerned about last week?” she asked with a nod in Bobby’s direction.
“Yes,” Carrie confirmed.
“And now he’s attached himself to you?”
“I’m the only person he knows here. Sam was in a bind today and Julie said I could bring Bobby with me when I’m here, at least until he starts school.” She frowned at the look of concern on Alicia’s face. “Is there something wrong?”
“You said he’d lost both parents. Obviously Sam is filling in for his dad these days, but what about you? Are you ready to take the place of his mom?”
“No, of course not. I’m a friend. Barely even that.”
“Bobby doesn’t seem to feel that way. He’s looking for replacements, Carrie. Unless you’re ready to step into that role, be careful how you handle things. We both know I’m not an expert, but I can see how attached he is already.”
“He’s a wonderful little boy,” Carrie said. “I’m just trying to help out in a tough situation.”
“Best intentions in the world,” Alicia agreed. “But a six-year-old...” She hesitated. “Is that right? He’s six?”
Carrie nodded.
“He’s going to gravitate toward the first person who can fill that huge void that’s been left in his life.”
“I don’t know how to handle this any other way,” Carrie replied, frustrated. “He needs to know there are people who care about him.”
“Then make sure there are lots of them,” Alicia advised. “Not just you.”
Carrie could see her point, which meant that the sooner there were more loving adults surrounding Bobby and her role in his life was minimized, the better. It also meant those plans she’d made the night before with Sam should probably be put on hold for now. Creating an ongoing threesome might suggest something completely unintended to a little boy looking desperately for a family.
She tried telling herself the disappointment that washed over her was all about not spending more time around a bright, inquisitive little boy, but it was the image of his grown-up uncle that she couldn’t seem to get out of her head.
Sam had left word with Jess that she could let Carrie into his suite when she arrived with Bobby. Not that Carrie couldn’t have persuaded her aunt to let her in, but why should she be bothered with the hassle?
He’d hoped to be able to join them in time for dinner, given the early start he’d gotten in the morning, but one crisis after another with their internet server had made that impossible. At eight, he called Carrie’s cell phone.