Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lorelei
I thanked Tony for the ride home and said goodbye to Jack.
“Good night, Jack. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Get some rest, Lorelei.”
I stepped inside my apartment and relieved my mom and Nick of their babysitting duties. They had a lot to do over the weekend since they were leaving for their cruise on Monday.
“Are you sure you have things covered for Hope while we’re gone? I feel bad.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. Stella is picking her up a couple of days, and then she’s going to latch key after school. She understands, and she’ll be fine.”
“I know, honey, but I still feel bad. When Nick and I booked this trip, you didn't have a job.”
“Stop worrying. We’ll be fine.” I grasped her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Have fun on your trip, and we’ll see you when you get back.”
I couldn’t get them out fast enough. All I wanted to do was go to bed.
I woke up Monday morning with a full-blown cold. Runny nose, cough, chest congestion, and headache. Stella had called me yesterday to tell me that she and Sebastian had to fly out to Arizona because Sebastian’s father had taken a turn for the worse, and the doctor only gave him a few more days. She apologized up and down about not being able to pick up Hope from school. I told her not to worry about it, and that Hope could go to latch key a couple of extra days.
Walking into the office, coughing and sniffling, I set Jack’s coffee on his desk.
“You’re worse,” he spoke. “Did you see a doctor over the weekend?”
“No. It really just hit me hard last night. I’ll be okay. I just took some cold medicine.”
“Maybe you should go see a doctor on your lunch.”
“Jack, it’s a cold. A common cold. I don’t need to see a doctor.”
“If you say so. I need you to run these up to my mother’s office.” He handed me a couple of file folders.
As I was walking out of his office, I was a little stunned by what he said.
“I hope that Hope doesn’t catch your cold.”
I turned around and gave him a small smile. “I hope she doesn’t either.”
After picking Hope up from latch key, I decided to take her to dinner since I didn’t feel well enough to cook when we got home.
“Can we go to Ellen’s to eat?”
“That’s pretty far, Hope. Why don’t you pick something closer to home?”
“Please, Mama. We can take the subway.”
As I looked down at her blue eyes, I felt bad because she had such a long day, and she would continue to have those days the rest of the week.
“Okay. Ellen’s it is.”
After we finished our dinner, Hope and I stepped outside onto Broadway. As we were heading down the street to the subway station, I heard someone call my name.
“Lorelei!”
I looked across the street and saw Jack standing outside his limo. He held his finger up, signaling us to stay put as he crossed the street.
“Hi, Mr. Sutton.” Hope smiled.
“Hello, Hope. Lorelei. What are you two doing in Times Square?”
“We had dinner at Ellen’s.” I coughed. “What are you doing here?”
“I just had a meeting with someone about the magazine. Are you on your way home?”
“Yeah. We were just heading to the subway station.”
He sighed. “Come on. Tony will take you home.”
I put up my hand. “We can take the subway, Jack.”
“Lorelei. It’s cold out, and you’re not taking the subway.” He bent down and spoke to Hope. “Would you rather ride the subway or in that black car across the street?” He pointed.
“Is that your car?” she asked.
“Yes. That is my car.”
“Your car is better than the subway.” She giggled.
He stood up and looked at me. “It’s settled. Tony will drive you home.”
I rolled my eyes and took hold of Hope’s hand as we crossed the street and climbed into the limo with Hope sitting in between Jack and me.
Jack
I looked down and noticed a pair of blue eyes staring up at me.
“What?”
“Did you have a good day?” she asked.
Lorelei glanced over at me.
“Yes. Did you?”
“Yes. I got an A on my math test. I was the only one in the class who got all the problems right.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. You remind me of Prince Charming from Cinderella.” She smiled.
Was this little girl for real? I couldn’t believe she just said that. I heard Tony snicker.
“I can assure you a Prince Charming I am not.”
“You can say that again,” Lorelei mumbled, and I shot her a look.
“Why?” she asked.
“Why what?”
“Why aren’t you a Prince Charming?”
Lorelei began to cough uncontrollably. “You really should go see a doctor about that cough.”
“If it doesn’t clear in a couple of days, I will,” she said.
Tony pulled up to Lorelei’s apartment building and I let out a sigh of relief. How was I supposed to answer Hope’s question? How would I explain to a seven-year-old that I was far from ever being a Prince Charming?
“Thank you for the ride.” Lorelei gave a small smile.
“Thank you, Mr. Sutton. It was fun talking to you.” Hope placed her small hand on mine, and Lorelei looked at me with fear in her eyes.
“It was nice talking to you, Hope, and you’re welcome.”
I watched out the window as the two of them walked hand in hand up the steps of the apartment building.
“She’s an adorable little girl,” Tony said.
“She’s okay.”