Chapter 10
BYRON
The valet greetsme when I arrive at Franklin’s penthouse residence. I hand over the key to Thomas, the doorman. “Afternoon, Thomas.”
“Afternoon, Mr. Hendricks. The LA Sharks are looking good this season.”
I shake his hand. “We are. Remind Frank to get you some passes to the game. You’ve earned it, putting up with my brother.”
He chuckles. “I’ll leave you to discuss those matters with him, sir.”
“I’m on it.”
The building entrance is through rotating glass doors opening to an all-marble foyer. Franklin resides here during the week, then on weekends he and Penny stay at their beachside house.
Inside the equally fancy elevator with brass panels, I punch in the code for the penthouse.
A baby.
The sliding doors open, and I pass the security camera. A guard stands outside the door of Franklin’s penthouse. It seems Franklin isn’t taking any chances.
“Hi. I’m Byron, Franklin’s brother.”
“I know who you are, sir.” He stands aside and allows me to pass. I punch in another code and push open the massive double doors almost twice my height.
My mother is in the kitchen. She smiles the moment she sees me. “Byron.” She gives me a tight hug.
I jab a thumb over my shoulder. “What’s with the extra security?”
“You know your brother. He won’t miss an opportunity to protect those he loves.” She holds my shoulders and leans back to assess me, her broad smile meeting her blue eyes. “I’m glad you came. Come and meet Summer.”
“Summer? I thought they’d choose a traditional name.”
Mom’s lips purse. “Darling, maybe keep that opinion to yourself. Your brother is very touchy at the moment. His protectiveness is off the chart.” She leans in and hugs me again.
I pat her back. Mom has always been the hugger in the family. I’m smiling at how she described my brother. “And you’re surprised by this?”
“Not surprised, just considerate with my words.” She leans back. “You look well. And for the record…” she whispers, “… I thought Caroline a more suitable name.” She winks at me. “How is Giana?”
“Good. I asked her to come, but she didn’t want to intrude on the family.”
Mom pauses. “While I always welcome your friends, your brother is only allowing immediate family to visit. He is stressed already, and for God’s sake, if you hold Summer, do not kiss her.”
“I’ll do my best not to breathe.”
Mom grins and continues making iced tea. “Please go and wash your hands before we go upstairs.”
“But I—” She gives me one of her looks. I head to the restroom, all black and white marble, and return to the kitchen. “Okay. Let me help you.” I follow her up the curved staircase, carrying the glasses. “Where is his housekeeper?”
Mom turns and tilts her head, looking for understanding. “It was Franklin’s decision to have minimal people in the house. Sally comes in for three hours in the morning to prepare some meals. Ingrid comes once a week to clean. They have hired two nurses to stay around the clock so Penny and the baby could be discharged early and be home with Frank, but Penny insists on doing everything for Summer at this stage. They’re completely besotted, and who can blame them.”
“I was wondering about her being home this soon, and I’m beginning to understand what you mean by Frank’s stress levels. He’s a little over the top.”
“He’ll do what is best for his family. And he wanted his wife and baby home with him, not risking catching germs in some maternity ward, private or not.”
“I thought that would be the least likely place to catch anything?”
She holds my gaze a moment longer. She has the same eyes as Charlotte and me. Franklin and Jobe have our father’s dark brown eyes.
“Please don’t antagonize your brother. Not today.”
I follow her into a large formal room where the family has gathered. A bassinette is near Frank’s chair. Frank’s three-level penthouse is impressive, and if city living ever appealed to me, it would only if I could live here.
“Congratulations,” I say and walk toward Frank to shake his hand.
He points to a door on the side. “Thanks, Byron. Would you mind washing your hands?”
I open my mouth to comment.
“He washed his hands right before we came up, darling,” Mom interjects.
Frank stands, shakes my hand, pulls me in for a hug, and pats my back three times. My brother is never this affectionate.
“Where is your little princess?”
He grins at me, and pride oozes from him. “Penny is feeding her.”
A solid wood door to our left leads to their bedroom. I peer into the empty cradle at white sheets with a pink ribbon design dotted over the white.
“I don’t have a gift. Is there something she needs?”
Franklin’s brow pinches slightly.
“Not needs,” I correct. “I know you have thought of everything. More what can an uncle give his first niece?”
“That we know of,” Jobe jokes.
“Unlike you, I have been careful my entire life,” Frank snaps.
“Stop.” Mom presses her finger to her lips. “This is not the place for that talk.” She glares at Jobe. “Babies need calm. They can pick up on emotions, and the last thing Summer needs is to sense her father is angry.”
Well, this is going to be fun.
“Do we just sit here and smile lovingly at each other?” I ask.
“Yes. In the presence of my granddaughter, that is exactly what you shall do.”
I roll my eyes at Jobe.
The internal elevator dings, and the door slides open. My father steps out. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Carson, please take the stairs.” Mom shakes her head. “There is no need to use the elevator. The noise is a disturbance.” She points to the bathroom. “And wash your hands before you touch anything.”
My father looks behind him to the elevator, and a bewildered look crosses his face. Franklin shoots Mom a small smile of appreciation. Dad says nothing and does what is asked. When he returns, he heads straight to Franklin and shakes his hand.
“Congratulations, son. I’m glad you made it back from Australia in time.”
“Only just,” he says, holding onto our father’s shoulder. “I wanted to pilot the plane myself.”
Dad muffles a laugh. “I bet you did.” He scans the room. “Where is Charlotte?”
Mom takes his hand for him to sit beside her. “They went home to freshen up. She will be back here in an hour or so.”
They?
“How was Lottie and BJ’s bickering?” I ask Franklin. “She declined my offer to drive them home, so I haven’t had a chance to speak with her.”
Franklin looks at the door as though eager for Penny to appear. His forehead creases before he answers my question. “I didn’t see them until the flight home. They laughed a lot, which annoyed the fuck out of me, so I spent most of the time in the bedroom. I tried to get some sleep, but my stomach was in knots worrying about Penny.”
Charlotte and Brandon didn’t fight?
Before I have time to ponder his words, Penny emerges from the bedroom in a strapless, flowing, white dress. We stand as though royalty has entered. Penny smiles at Frank before peering down at the bundle in her arms. “She’s sleeping.”
Mom approaches Penny and peers over her shoulder. “She’s perfect.”
Penny continues smiling while gazing at Summer, the joy of being with her daughter written all over her face. “Franklin, do you want to hold her?”
He looks at his father, then Penny notices me. “Hi, Byron.” She tentatively walks toward me. “Would you like to hold Summer?”
The baby is hours old, and Penny is still recovering from labor. I look at Mom and then Penny. I shake my head. “She’s too little. I’m scared I’ll drop her.”
“Jesus.” Franklin groans. “Imagine she’s a basketball, and Kirk is trying to make a steal as you head to the basket.”
“Well, when you say it like that.” I hold out my arms.
Penny gestures to the chair. “It’s easier if you sit.”
I take a seat in the leather armchair, and Penny leans close.
“Hold your arms like this.” Mom demonstrates for me, but it doesn’t make it any less awkward.
Penny places Summer in my arms, swaddled tightly in a pink blanket. I peer down at my beautiful niece. “She’s so tiny.” Her little lips are damn cute with her bottom lip tucked under her top one. Her eyes are closed, and she looks so peaceful. I cannot imagine ever being this relaxed.
Something comes over me—a warm sensation.
Unexpected joy for Franklin and Penny.
I’ve never felt so much happiness for someone else. On instinct, I want to kiss Summer, but I remember my mother’s words. If I ever have anything as precious as Summer, I’ll give my all to protect her too.
“May I?” Dad comes to stand beside me. I push up from the chair with extra care not to startle Summer. Mom takes her from my arms. Dad takes a seat and sits like a statue while Mom places Summer in his arms.
I grin at my father, sitting awkwardly. “Have you forgotten how to hold a baby?”
Dad steals a look at Franklin. “It’s different when it’s your grandchild and the father is watching my every move.”
Quiet chuckles sound around the group.
Mom pours the iced tea and distributes it around the room. “I can make more if anyone needs a refill.”
“Thank you, Sophia. I appreciate your help.” Penny reaches out to squeeze her hand.
Penny’s screen lights up on the table, and she checks her cell. “Mom and Dad will be here in the morning. The guest room is set up for them, right?”
“It is.” Franklin takes her hand, pulls her onto his lap, and wraps both arms around her waist. He kisses her cheek before looking lovingly toward his daughter.
“Heard any news on the Grace takeover?” Dad asks Jobe. He looks at Franklin. “Any updates?”
Hendricks Capital Management put in an offer to take over a construction company in London. It’s all on the hush for now though it’s a career boost for Jobe to expand his company into international commercial real estate. While it might be Jobe’s business, it also falls under the HCM umbrella by partnering with Franklin.
“Carson, please discuss all business matters tomorrow,” Mom says quietly. The room falls quiet.
“I best be going,” Jobe says. “Congratulations again. I’m glad everything went smoothly.”
I also stand. “I’m extremely happy for both of you. I’ll head out with Jobe. Can I come back tomorrow after training?”
“You can visit anytime,” Penny says in a gentle voice. Penny rises off Franklin’s lap to kiss my cheek, then steps to Jobe to kiss his cheek. “Thank you both for coming to see us. We appreciate it.”
We say our goodbyes and head out past security.
“Imagine Frank’s anxiety when Summer is older,” Jobe says as we take the elevator.
“They should have named her Rapunzel.”
He huffs out a noise. “How are the helicopter lessons?”
Earlier in the year, I began studying to become a pilot. “It’s interesting enough. First practical flight is next week.”
“I’m not sure why you need to fly it. You bought the helicopter. Just pay a pilot.”
I pop a shoulder. “It’s fascinating. And I can hire a pilot if I need.”
I open up my cell and text Giana.
Do you have plans for tonight?
Jobe looks down at the screen. “So, Giana and you are a thing?”
“No labels, brother. But we are enjoying each other’s company.”
He laughs. “Yeah, there’s a label. You couldn’t wait to text her.”
“How many women do you text a day? None of them have a label.”
He straightens his designer shirt’s collar. “The only notable labels are on my body.”
I shake my head. My brother is five years older than me and not the slightest bit interested in monogamy.
He gives me a pointed look. “Frank and you are more alike than you care to admit,” he says. “It comes with obsessive control and an organized life.”
“Your business controls your life as much as ours.”
His dark eyes are full of humor. “Yes, but I keep the fun in my life, and no one tells me what to do or how to behave. Hendricks Capital Management runs Frank’s life, and now he is consumed by his little family. Your coach and the game utterly consume you to a point you have become someone you might not have otherwise grown to be. Watching our father and brother’s behavior when we were teenagers led us on different paths to them. While we still have a desire to live the high life, neither of us saw success in the same light. Fortunately, we inherited the same determination to succeed in whatever path we chose.”
The elevator doors open.
Jobe maintains the same stride as me, even though I’m taller than him. “So, you don’t think I’m in control of my future?” I can’t see his face, so it’s hard to read him.
“What happens if your coach decides to bench you? Or he leaves and the new coach replaces you? Regardless of how hard you train, your future depends on someone else, whether they like you or not, and whether they think you’re a good fit for the team.”
“I spent my entire life trying to fit in, and I’ve perfected my ball skills. If Coach shows any signs of being unhappy with my game, I’ll work on it and prove myself on the court.”
He pulls up once we are on the pavement and stares at me as though I have missed a crucial point. “The game controls you… you don’t control it. What if you get injured? Think of the repercussions if a new guard replaces you, proves themselves on the court, and Coach is hesitant to bring you back on the team. What if our father didn’t own the team? What if your injury is?—”
“I get it,” I snap.
He pats my shoulder. “Have a backup plan in place because distraction is another factor that will affect your game. And like Frank, I bet you fall hard.” He pats my shoulder again and leaves his hand there for a moment longer as though he wants to say more. His chin dips before he strides toward his driver.
I’m momentarily stuck on the spot. It’s as though he looked into a crystal ball and predicted my future. A coach who didn’t understand what I could bring to the game. Being benched. Injuries. Being forced into a line of work I hate. I usually box away all those fears in a dark place in the back of my mind.
I bet you fall hard.
It won’t happen with Giana undecided, if she even wants to stay in the country.