Ending with Forever (16 page)

“Yes.” He smiles and then steps out to open the door for me, beating Rollin to it. “It’ll be a pleasant surprise for Mr. Bradley,” he adds, offering me his leather-gloved hand. I take it and give him an unexpected hug.

“Thanks, Luke. That means a lot coming from you.” His body is rigid but I can tell he welcomed my friendly embrace.

“No problem, L…Lily.”

The elevator ride up is so quiet that I can hear my thumping heart bounce around in my chest like an explosive bottle rocket. I don’t know if I can retain the pregnancy news until later this evening when Carson gets home. It’ll be impossible for me to refrain from smiling the entire time, knowing what I know. I’m horrible at keeping secrets and a straight face.

“Is Gabby in the building yet?” I break our silence.

“She’s waiting in the employee lounge until Mr. Bradley completes his 2:30 meeting,” he answers.

“Can we go there first to see her?” I ask impatiently.

“No,” he replies promptly. “Mr. Bradley will be done soon and he specifically wants you in his office. They’ll come see you both in there. I’m going to step off on the next floor so Evelyn and the other employees won’t notice me. I won’t be far.”

“Okay. Thanks, Luke.”

The elevator stops and Luke escapes like a stealth ninja into a corridor. Poof. And he’s gone. Simultaneously, the doors glide shut, leaving me alone in a tight and frightful space. Without delay, the air around me closes in, narrowing my throat.
Don’t panic, Lil.
I press the button on Gabby’s bird and a calming melody fills the area with solace, comforting me momentarily. My mind is distracted. I don’t smell smoke or see untamed flames. They don’t exist. They’re just horrible figments of my imagination. Finally, the heavy doors open and I’m standing outside Carson’s splendid office. Thank God. Evelyn must’ve been instructed to meet me the second I step out. Her light bluish-gray eyes welcome me punctually.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Lucy. Mr. Bradley has asked me to escort you to his office.”

“How are you, Evelyn?” I greet, admiring the beautiful coloring of her smiling eyes. And as always, her hair is perfectly styled in a professional ponytail while her tall, skinny frame is donned in a smoky oyster suit.

“I’m good, thank you. Would you like a hot or cold beverage while you wait for Mr. Bradley?” she offers.

“No thank you.”

She opens the door and I see a large gift basket full of toys on top of Carson’s massive executive desk, making my little bird appear trivial in comparison. “Will Mr. Bradley be much longer?” I inquire.

“Owen, I mean Mr. Maxwell, called about five minutes ago to let me know that Mr. Bradley be up shortly to meet you. So I believe he should be here any minute now. Do you need anything else, Miss Lucy?”

“I’m good,” I reply and add, “He was impressed that I prepared his coffee exactly the way you make it for him.” She grins, giving me an elusive look and shuts the door behind her. There’s no doubt in my mind that Evelyn is on to us. How could she not be?

Walking over to Carson’s desk I inspect the goodies inside the bountiful gift basket that’s over-shadowing my little bird. Everything that has to do with Princess Elsa and the
Frozen
movie is in this wicker basket. How did he know? There are no adjectives great enough to describe how wonderful this man is.

“Hello, beautiful,” Carson greets upon entering his office with tender eyes that dissolve my composure instantly. God, he looks indestructible in his trim slate suit. No one wears that powerful expression like he does. Seeing him confident in his environment reminds me of how fierce and untouchable he is to everyone else but me. “Do you think she’ll like everything in there?” he asks with an assured dimple smile, indicating to me that he or one of his employees has done their homework.

“You missed one thing,” I tell him cheekily.

Walking over to my side he inquires, “What can it possibly be?” and grazes his moisten lips across my cheek with his arms around my waist. His touch, my addiction, stirs feral desires to surface. Will I ever get over this incessant need for him? It’s unlikely and I never want to.

Releasing the bird from my arms I lift it up to Carson. “This songbird is her Magical wish.”

“Are you telling me that is all she wanted from my foundation?” It seems unimaginable to him that this little girl could’ve asked for almost anything and she only wanted a bird.

“Not quite. She desired a real songbird. One that she could teach to sing like her,” I explain as my throat tightens with emotions. “She hopes her family will think of her whenever the bird would sing.” My eyes start to water, picturing Gabby weak and struggling in pain. Her tiny little body lay helplessly in her mother’s cradling arms. “Carson, please. We need to find a way to save her.” I whimper. The image is too unbearable. “I can’t stand the thought of her dying.”

Turning me so I’m facing him he tells me, “You have to be strong for her. She can’t see you shattered like this. She’s a vulnerable child who needs a pillar of strength to lean on. I’ll do everything that I can to lengthen her time, but it’s up to God to cure her,” he reasons with me. Carson’s right. She can’t see me like this. I square my shoulders, take my last sniff and wipe the remaining tears away with the back of my hands
.
I’m blaming my instability on the damn pregnancy hormones. “That’s better. Now give me one of your stunning smiles,” he encourages.

I offer him a pursed grin and ask, “Did you really mean it? Will you do all you can to buy her more time?”

“Of course I did. I don’t give idle promises. It’s a waste of my valuable time,” he states.

“Thank you.” I loop my arms under his and squeeze his torso, letting him know how happy he’s making me.

“
L
ucy,” Gabby squeals with joy. Her youthful voice echoes crisply, tickling my heartstrings as she courses into Carson’s office, leaving her mother and healthcare representative behind. There’s so much life in her little body that it’s hard to believe she’s deathly ill. Her crescent smile brings more cheeriness into this room than the sun shining through the windows. I leave Carson’s side to meet her half way, lifting her up into my arms. She weighs hardly anything, lighter than Carson’s expensive down pillows. “I’m so happy to see you again,” she whispers to me with her short limbs wrapped tightly around my neck, oozing with pure affection.

“Me too.” I gather her emaciated body gently into my chest. I don’t want to hurt her.
Don’t cry, Lil
. I have to keep reminding myself. She appears gaunter than I remember. “How do you like Boston so far?” I ask, lowering her down to her feet. Jane, still ashen with dark circles under her blue eyes, ambles up to us and places an encouraging hand on my arm. “Hi, Jane,” is all I can muster without getting completely choked up again. Carson watches me behind his desk, offering his support.
Be a pillar of strength, he told me
.

“I like it here. My big room is really fancy and my bed is so fluffy,” she shares in her bubbly voice. “I love the elevator rides the best.” Really? She enjoys those things. She’s much braver than I am.

“Gabby, let’s not be impolite,” Jane reminds her daughter of her manners. Moms will always be moms no matter what, never missing an opportunity to impart words of wisdom. “Come say hi to Mr. Bradley.”

Carson rounds his desk to meet us. “It’s fine, Ms. Gray,” he assures, waving courteously at her. “Hello, Gabby.” He bends down on one knee to her level, pats her head and rests his hand on her back, regarding her naïve expression. She wears a golden wig, shoulder length with slanted bangs. I assume this light color is close to her natural shade. Surprisingly, she doesn’t shy away, but flashes him a coy smile instead, diminishing his sternness. Straight away, she has him wrapped around her sweet little cherub face. I can see it in his warm doting eyes. “I’ve heard many wonderful things about you,” he divulges. His tone is mellower and gentler than I’ve ever heard it.

“You have?” she replies, astonished and impressed. Gabby couldn’t be more thrilled. Everything on her face sparkles bright, like twinkling stars illuminating an entire galaxy.

“Yes, I was told you have an amazing voice,” he praises as his eyes shoot up to mine. If I thought I was in love with him before this moment, I was wrong. I’m more lost in his tenderness now than ever. “You think you can sing a song for me sometime?” he asks her. She nods eagerly.

Leaning into his ear, she whispers audibly, “Is Miss Lucy your wife? She’s very pretty and very nice. I really like her.”

“I really like her, too,” he whispers back, showcasing the deepest dimpled grin I’ve ever seen on his gorgeous face. “I agree. She’s very pretty and nice, and I’d love to marry her. Can you persuade her for me?” he urges her playfully. Her head nods enthusiastically, throwing her over-sized smiling blue eyes around. I toss him a lopsided smirk for being an opportunist once again. Carson stands up and laces his fingers between mine, chucking our cousin cover-up out the twenty-fourth floor window. “Ms. Gray, I can see why Lucy is so captivated by Gabby. She’s a doll.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bradley. She’s pretty special to us.” Her voice trembles slightly as her moist eyes fall on Gabby’s face. I remember that endearing look. It’s as if she’s securing every last minute she has with her baby in her mind. “I’m sorry, Francine. Let me introduce you to Mr. Bradley.” Shaking off her stupor, she ushers the woman who’s been in a daze since she first stepped foot into Carson’s office. Her reflective eyes have been locked on Carson’s face without tiring, as if she recognizes him from some prior occasion.

Carson stretches his hand out to her. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Manns. It’s a pleasure.” Her body tenses visibly. Her reaction is so peculiar that even I am starting to feel uneasy. Finally, she extends her shaky hand out to him. Their connection seems moving for her. Carson senses the same vibe as I do. His eyes narrow slightly with his lips pressed firmly together. Uh-oh. These are Carson’s warning signs before he turns unapproachable and scary.

“Francine has been a godsend for us,” Jane explains, filling in the awkward silence between Carson and Francine. “Thanks to all her effort, Gabby was able to get in touch with you and hopefully qualify for a new drug that can…,” she hesitates, not knowing how to finish her sentence.

“Francine, thank you for all you’ve done for Gabby, for introducing her to us,” I butt in, offering Jane time to recover from her relapse in courage. I can’t imagine how taxing it must be for her to maintain a strong front for her daughter every single day, knowing Gabby’s poor prognosis.

“Oh…you don’t need to thank me, dear,” Francine replies modestly, resting her unsteady hand on my shoulder with a sincere smile. She has a dimple identical to Carson’s. “I’d do anything for little Gabby. She’s my power source.”

“Who wouldn’t, right? But I still want to recognize all your effort,” I insist. “Credit should be given where it’s due.”

“Thanks, Lucy,” she accepts.

Stooping down to Gabby’s level, I tell her, “Mr. Bradley has a big basket full of surprises for you. Would you like to see what’s inside?” I open my hand out to her and so does Carson.

“Yes, please! I love surprises!” she shouts with enthusiasm, clapping her hands and then grabbing ours. I hope we’re not exhausting her with too much excitement—something we wouldn’t have to consider for a healthy child and then the gloominess of her condition returns.

Carson and I walk her to his executive throne. Being of her minute stature, the top of her head barely passes the level of his desk top. The first thing that Gabby spots is my yellow and blue songbird sitting next to the basket. She reaches for it, nuzzles it against her chest and kisses it audibly. “Oh birdie, I love you.” She talks to it like it’s real and presses the button under its wing continuously. The same four songs play over and over again. Her reaction is priceless and poignant. We both melt into a ball of mush watching her love on her songbird. “You were right. All she really wanted was a bird,” Carson whispers to me, splaying his palm on the small of my back. “What do I know about pleasing a woman?” he trifles with a wink.

~~~~

With watering eyes, Jane couldn’t offer Carson enough gratitude for all he’s done for Gabby. Their all-expenses paid stay at the Four Seasons in Boston is an unheard gift of generosity. For a change, she admitted her tears were joyful ones that didn’t hurt to cry. Francine warmed up to us after that awkward moment in Carson’s office. I still don’t know what her problem was and will probably never find out either. I did discover she’s from Bloomington—a Hoosier like me. She has four adult children, one of whom is four years older than me and is in med school. Sadly, Francine will be going home tomorrow, leaving Gabby and Jane to fend for themselves. I promised Gabby that I’d visit her whenever I can. She was elated, jumping with excitement. Carson offered to walk her to the elevator. Like any spirited child, she insisted he get in with her and go down it like an amusement ride. What a sport. He rode it up and down twice before surrendering.

“I think I just developed an aversion to elevators like you,” Carson tells me jokingly as he shuts his office door behind him. “Good news. I’m done for the day. I’ll be coming home with you, babe.”

“What? Why?” I stutter. He’s going to ruin my big surprise for him.

“Don’t you want me to?” He frowns, not understanding why I’m opposed to the idea of him joining me.

“No. That’s not it. I just thought…you had a lot of catching up to do. I didn’t want to interfere with your work.”

“You’re not, angel,” he tells me firmly. “You may be my never-ending distraction, but that’s my problem.” He winks. “Are you ready? Rollin is waiting downstairs for us.” I nod and reach for my coat with a disappointing sigh. “What would you like for dinner tonight? We can dine out or have Chef Calvino prepare something that sounds appealing to you after Dr. Laurent’s checkup.”

“I’m good with whatever you choose,” I defer the decision to him.
Oh shit.
I forgot all about my appointment
. Dr. Laurent will see those darn balloons and wonder why the heck he was summoned after office hours to tell me something I already know.

“Let’s eat in. I feel like cuddling with my body pillow tonight.” He grins, holding my coat out for me so I can slip my arms easily through the sleeves.

“You know how much I love being used,” I add to his teasing. “By the way, why didn’t you tell me Chef Calvino is your personal chef?”

“You were already having so many issues about my money. I didn’t want to add a personal chef or the many housekeepers and other employees on top of that. I asked them to work around you. I thought it would help make you feel more at home.”

“And that made sense to you?” I question, squinting my eyes at him. “Altering people’s work schedule and life to appease me?”

“I didn’t say it made sense. My concern is always about your happiness and well-being,” he defends.

How can I argue with that? “You’re crazy. Do you know that?” I giggle. “Please tell everyone to resume their regular work schedules. They probably think I’m a bridezilla, making all these unreasonable demands.”

“I did hear one housekeeper mention that word when I told her the future Mrs. Bradley wanted all her French imported panties to be hand washed, air dried and ironed,” he kids.

“Stop. I don’t even own any.” I laugh and whack him in the arm. “You better be joking.”

“You’ll never know and you’ll never be able to pry it out of me.”

“Is that right, Mr. Bradley?” I fight to keep a straight face.

“Yes. Never,” he confirms, shaking his head and narrowing his eyes playfully. Had I not given that arrogant man at the hospital a chance, I’d never know this lovable man today. For once, I’m grateful I followed my heart instead of my one-track mind. “Come here, baby,” he commands and lassos his arms around me. “My lips are sealed unless you know how to unseal them.”

“Nice try. I’m not going to fall for your overwhelming charm. Nope. Not going to do it this time.” I shake my head.

Purposely jutting his lower lip out and tapering his lids so he would look irresistibly adorable, I fall for his trap. I kiss his
unseal-able
lips.