“We should do this more often.” I smiled as I rolled over and his arms tightened around me.
As he softly kissed my back, he whispered, “We’re going to have a little talk in the morning about that dress you were wearing.”
I smiled as I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep.
Chapter 27
Connor
One month later…
“I don’t give a shit if his wife left him. You tell him that the Chicago building better be ready next month for the inspection. I’ve paid him good money to see that it gets done, and it better be ready! Because if it’s not, you tell that son-of-a-bitch that I’ll see him in court,” I yelled as I threw my phone across the desk.
“What’s going on?” Ellery said as she walked into my home office, carrying Julia.
“Just people not doing what they’re supposed to be.” I sighed as I got up from my desk and walked over to her.
“Is it the Chicago building again?”
“Yeah, baby, it is, but I don’t want you worrying about it,” I said as I kissed her head and took Julia from her. “Have you finished the last painting?”
“Yes, I have. I just finished it a few minutes ago.” She smiled.
“Great. I’ll have them wrapped and shipped to the gallery. They’ll be there just in time for the opening next week.”
I looked at Julia and she stared at me with her big blue eyes as I talked to Ellery. She was growing so fast. Ellery had started her on baby food and she’d learned to sit up by herself.
“Peyton and Henry come home today from their month-long honeymoon,” Ellery said.
“They had a great wedding. I can’t believe how fast it came and went.”
“I know. Time is going by so fast. Look at how big Julia is getting already,” she said.
We heard the elevator doors open and Mason announcing that he had arrived.
“Are you ready to hit the gym?” I asked Ellery.
“You bet I am. Let me go and grab my bag.”
We walked out of the office and I handed Julia over to Mason. “There’s the little princess.” He smiled.
While Ellery grabbed her bag, I took mine from the hall closet and grabbed my keys. “I forgot to tell you that I’m driving us today. Denny called me this morning, and he’s not feeling well.”
Ellery turned and looked at me. “What? What’s wrong with him?” she asked with concern.
“I’m not sure. He just said he wasn’t feeling well and that he’s sorry, but he couldn’t work today.”
“Denny is never sick,” she said.
“I know. I’m a little worried about him, but I’m sure he’s just picked up a bug. People at the office are sick.”
“I hope he feels better soon.”
“Me too, baby,” I said as I put my arm around her and we headed to the gym.
After our workout, Ellery dropped me off at the office and took the Range Rover with her. I told her that I’d catch a cab home this evening. Valerie followed me into my office, rattling off all the meetings that were scheduled for today. As I sighed, I set my briefcase down on my desk and looked out the large window that overlooked the city. My mind wouldn’t stop thinking about Denny. In all the years I’d known him, he had never once been sick, and I was concerned.
“Mr. Black, are you all right?” Valerie asked.
“I’m fine, Valerie. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a couple of things to do before my first meeting.”
She nodded her head and walked out of the office, closing the door behind her. As I turned my computer on, the screen displayed a picture of Ellery and Julia. After a few minutes had passed, Phil and Paul walked into the office, summoning me to the meeting. I left my phone on my desk and grabbed my files.
While I sat in the board room on a conference call with Sakura Nakamora, CEO of Takashi Enterprises, a Japanese company we were trying to negotiate a contract with, Ellery came through the door. As I saw her, I jumped out of my seat.
“Ellery, what’s wrong?” I asked, as I could tell she looked panicked.
“Connor, I’m sorry, but it’s Denny.”
“Finish this meeting without me,” I said as I looked at Paul and Phil.
I placed my hand on the small of her back and led her out to the hallway. “What happened?” I asked as we walked to my office.
“Dana called me and said that Denny had a seizure, so she called an ambulance and they immediately rushed him to the emergency room. We both tried calling you, but you weren’t answering your phone.”
“Shit. I left it on my desk while I was in my meeting. I’m sorry, baby,” I said as we walked into my office, and I grabbed my phone.
“I tried to call Valerie, but she wasn’t at her desk. I knew you had a meeting, so when you weren’t in your office, I figured you were in the board room.”
We raced down to where Ellery had parked the Range Rover. We got in and I drove as quickly as I could to the ER. Once we arrived, the nurse took us back to where Denny was. When we walked into the room, Dana got up from her seat and I gave her a hug.
“Connor, Ellery, thank you for coming,” she cried.
“What happened, Dana?” I asked her as I looked over at Denny. He was sleeping.
“He woke up this morning, said he wasn’t feeling well, but he couldn’t describe what was wrong. He said he felt dizzy. So I made him lie down for a while and when he went to get out of bed, he fell to the floor and started seizing.”
“Are you sure it was a seizure?” I asked.
“Yes, my sister used to have them all the time,” she said as she cried.
As I held her tightly and told her that he was going to be okay, Denny opened his eyes.
“Why the hell are you hugging my wife,” he said with a slight grin.
“Why the hell are you lying in that bed in the emergency room? You were supposed to work today.” I smiled as I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, well, I’m sure you’d survive without me,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” I said with a serious tone.
He looked at Dana and held out his hand to her. She took it as more tears started to fall. Ellery walked over to her and clasped her shoulders.
“Dana, stop the tears,” he said. “I’m going to be fine.”
The doctor walked in with the nurse and told Denny that they were going to run a CT scan to see what was going on. As they took him out of the room, I took Ellery’s hand and we waited in the waiting room of the ER.
“I could use a glass of scotch right now,” I said.
“How about some coffee instead?” Ellery asked as she smiled at me.
I put my arm around her and we headed to the Starbucks that was inside the hospital. Ellery handed me my coffee and, on our way back to the waiting room, we ran into Dr. Taub.
“Ellery, Connor; it’s nice to see you. Ellery, are you here for your annual blood work?”
“No, Dr. Taub. A friend of ours was brought into the ER and we’re here visiting,” she replied.
“Oh, well, I hope your friend is okay. Don’t forget about that blood work. You know how important that is,” he said as he walked away.
We waited an hour before Denny was brought back to his room. As we were sitting there with him, the doctor walked in and asked to speak with Denny and Dana alone.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of them; they’re my family,” Denny said.
The doctor cleared his throat before he began to speak. “The CT scan showed a tumor in the brain.”
Immediately, Dana broke down and started crying. As I grabbed her, to keep her from falling, Ellery took a hold of Denny’s other hand.