Chapter thirty-two
“Are you smiling, sir?” Violet noticed me when I arrived at the office the next morning after dropping the three of them off at school.
“I haven't had such a good night in a long time.”
“Did you do any sightseeing?”
I shook my head no.
“I stayed at home.”
“Ah!”
“Let's get to work.” I changed the subject so that she wouldn't insist.
“Yes, sir. Do you need anything?”
“I'd like a coffee and the latest cases we're working on and the members' reports on them.”
She nodded, but before she could walk away, I called out again.
“Can you tell me if the drinks distributor has paid for the agreements?”
“I think it's scheduled for the end of the week.”
“Keep me informed. It's better that they stick to what they agreed to so as not to complicate their situation even further.”
“I'll remind you.”
“Great!” I opened the door to my office. “Knock when you've got what I asked for.”
I locked myself in the room and settled into my chair.
As much as there was nothing different about that day at work, I was feeling great. It had been a long time since getting up in the morning, and following my routine had been so motivating.
I wondered if, perhaps, it hadn't been better to have taken Deborah's advice earlier but probably not to have gotten involved with Helena under those circumstances. I wasn't the kind of man who believed in fate, especially since I'd have to admit that there was someone planning everything about my life, which included Daphne's death, but at least I was happy with that morning.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and it was no surprise when I saw my sister's name appear in the notifications; it was almost as if she had guessed that I was thinking about her, or rather, was spying on me the whole time.
Deborah:
Hi! What's new?
Thomas:
What do you want to know?
Deborah:
How's it going with the teacher?
Thomas:
If I say good is good enough?
Deborah:
You know better.
Thomas:
She slept over last night.
Deborah:
Did the girls take it well?
Thomas:
Too well...
Deborah:
What's wrong?
Thomas:
They wanted to sleep with us.
Deborah:
The twins ruined Dad's fuck lol.
Thomas:
It's funnier now than it was then.
Deborah:
Depending on how eager you were, it's really complicated.
Thomas:
I waited for them to go to sleep and took Helena to another room.
Deborah:
You always find a way.
Thomas:
Only in what is possible.
Deborah:
That's more than most people tend to do.
When are you going to introduce her to our parents?
Thomas:
I don't know...
Deborah:
There's no reason not to like her, Thom.
Thomas:
She already has to deal with my daughters seeing her as a second mother. I don't want her to think I'm trying to force the issue.
Deborah:
You're not pushing the envelope; you're just taking it seriously.
Thomas:
I hope it looks like that.
Deborah:
Don't boycott yourself now. Everything will work out.
Thomas:
How are you?
Deborah:
Working. I think that's the best thing our family can do.
Thomas:
At least we tried.
Deborah:
You bet it is. Family lunch on Sunday?
Thomas:
Wouldn't I be the one to score?
Deborah:
You've never been very good at it.
Thomas:
You're right.
Deborah:
Tell my new sister-in-law that we'll be waiting for her.
Thomas:
Please don't scare her.
Deborah:
As if I was going to do that.
I have to go now. Take care, Thomas.
Thomas:
You too.
I stopped messaging my sister, and Violet entered the room with the information I had requested. As much as I didn't want to, I was devoured by work and barely had time for lunch. Episodes like that used to be commonplace, but I had gained yet another reason to want to go home.