“Because this is the first I’ve heard of it, Alex. I wasn’t aware Joe had invested in your company. He never told me anything.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“I am. Where did he get the money?”
“Joe said it was settlement money or something from a client from years ago that he’d set aside somewhere.”
“Five million?” Craig repeated, the pitch of his voice elevated.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “Probably more. Joe mentioned he could go back to it if my company ever needed it. How could you not know about it?”
Craig eased back in his office chair, elbows on his armrests, his fingers laced together under his chin. “I don’t know what to say. I’m baffled. Joe’s been my client for nearly ten years. This is the first time I’ve heard about money of that kind of magnitude being set aside somewhere. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Are you sure he said it was settlement money from an old case?”
It was my turn to sit back and think. Was I sure? I rewound a scene from three years ago in my mind and tried hard to remember exactly what Joe had said the night that had changed damn near everything for Taylor and me.
By the time I’d finally walked through the garage door inside our three-bedroom South Austin home, I’d been completely exhausted. I’d been traveling all week, working my way up the East Coast through places like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. I’d put in long hours, giving the same presentation over and over again, living off fast food, and sleeping every night in uncomfortable hotel beds. This had been my life for the past couple of years. And I was so tired of it. Olivia was already four, Nicole was two, and I was missing pretty much everything while they grew up way too fast. Something had to change. We had talked about my starting something of my own, either as a consultant or maybe even a new company, but the potential for sudden dramatic loss of income felt way too risky.
I set my luggage down in the back hallway and could hear my family around the corner in the kitchen. Olivia was laughing hard about something. This instantly brought a smile to my face. I couldn’t wait to scoop her and Nicole into my arms. I also knew that my in-laws were here because Joe’s Mercedes was parked out front. Taylor’s parents spent a lot of time at our house when I was traveling. We really appreciated the extra help. Although I’m not sure helping to manage my household was what Joe had in mind when he retired from his law practice a couple of years ago.
Stepping into the kitchen, I was greeted with squeals of “Daddy! Daddy!” when both of my girls placed eyes on me. They raced around the kitchen island and jumped into my arms with total confidence that I would catch them both. I did and squeezed them tightly.
“Hi, girls.” I sat them down, kissed both of them repeatedly on the foreheads. “So good to see you.”
Olivia and Nicole immediately started talking on top of each other, wanting to tell me every story they could possibly remember over the past few days. They were already in their pajamas. It was nearing their bedtime. I did my best to listen, but my eyes were already on Taylor, who leaned against the counter, gave me a tired grin, and waited her turn. When the girls took their first breaths, I walked over to my wife and gave her a quick kiss. She put her arms around my neck.
“How was your flight?” she asked me.
“Same as all the others.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re home. I have some leftovers in the fridge, if you’re hungry. My dad grilled cheeseburgers for us.”
“Okay, thanks. I’m starving.”
Carol welcomed me back, and Joe offered to pour me a glass of bourbon, like he was drinking. I gladly accepted.
I turned back to Taylor. “Why does it feel so warm in here?”
She frowned. “AC is acting up again.”
“Are you serious?”
We’d just dropped a grand we didn’t have to get it fixed two weeks ago.
“Been going off and on all day today,” Taylor explained.
I felt a surge of anger. “I’m going to rip that AC guy a new one.”
“Settle down. You just got home. Besides, maybe there’s a bright side.”
I tilted my head at her. “What’s that?”
She leaned into my ear, whispered, “We may have to sleep naked tonight.”
We shared a quick hidden smile.
“Silver linings,” I whispered back. “Maybe we should leave it broken for a while.”
She laughed, kissed me again.
The girls were back inside our circle, showing me drawings, paintings, crafts—basically, everything they’d created over the past five days. I did my best to try to pay attention to the story behind each one, but my mind was still on Taylor. While I hated being away from the girls so much, I definitely missed my wife.