Let Me Love You Again
Chapter 111

Nate

Other days had passed and we had come close to closing the case. Finally, we had reached a solution and now it was all downhill, the big work had been done and solved. I had worked hard to get this case closed quickly.

I spent the whole day inside the conference room with small lunch breaks in which Becka kept me company. I admit that I appreciated her company. For that half-hour, I was distracted by that pile of documents in which I found myself perpetually.

Becka and I used to talk about everything together, sometimes we remembered the hottest times when we’d run away from the meetings our parents took us to, and we’d hide to smoke pot.

We never talked about our first experiences together, it wasn’t the kind of memories I wanted to bring up.

Becka used to keep me company even when I was down, and in the last few days it often happened to me because we had extended our stay for a few more days because of various inconveniences, A few days had become a week and I would have missed Maya’s new ultrasound, it would have been the second in a row that I missed and it made me feel bad, to say the least.

Tomorrow she had the appointment and, seeing me sad, Maya had offered to make a video call to show me live the ultrasound but unfortunately, the time of the visit coincided with that of the closing meeting of the case. The one where we would sign all the paperwork with the Fishers’ client.

The next day we will have closed the last things and the next we would have left to go home. I didn’t admit it, but I had a countdown on my phone that showed me how many hours I had before I saw my family again.

After all that mess, I deserved at least a week off, and my dad shouldn’t have even tried to object. I stretched myself in the chair and at that moment I received a message and at the same time, the door to the conference room opened.

My coworkers had gone to lunch at the deli down the street while I, as head of the case, stayed to sort out the rest of the stuff.

Becka showed up with bags in her hand, as usual at this hour, and I set up the table to let her put the containers down. He began to make it with joy.

“I will miss these moments,” she commented after a while, “It has become a bit of my everyday life,” she continued almost with a veil of sadness “What about you?” asked me then.

“I could lie and say that I too, but I don’t like being a liar. I want to go home to my family,” I said, opening the box with lunch.

Becka said nothing but eating quietly with me.

We had a quiet lunch, Becka seemed depressed but I didn’t ask her anything, it wasn’t my job to worry about her, she was an old and dear friend, but nothing more.

When we finished, Becka left quietly and I went back to my work without worrying about anything.

*****

We were just wrapping things up with the client’s lawyers. Signing the last documents and finally, I felt freer, even if we had to stay here three more days, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I sighed and let my colleagues speak, I had spoken for three hours straight, I had taken the lead in the case and I had behaved like a boss, if he had seen me my father would have been very proud of me.

I was at the head of the table, with an elbow resting on the armrest and with my index finger I tapped my chin while listening to the last conversations, remaining in silence and observing everything, even the behaviours of the other party. It’s something my father always taught me.

My phone vibrated and Maya’s name appeared with a message notification, opened it and I found the photo of the ultrasound. My heart jumped and I tried to contain the excitement.

The baby girl was clearly visible and older. Maya had done the 3D ultrasound and you could see her face, her fists clenched and a thumb tucked in her mouth. She had the same mouth as Maya, and I was very worried about it because I loved Maya’s mouth.

Immediately after Maya sent me a video, it was that of the 3D ultrasound with the comment Look at her!!!

I could feel Maya’s excitement up here. I opened the video and I watched it. The little girl move her hands and then she stick her thumb in her mouth and does the OK with the other one. I almost didn’t burst out laughing at it.

My baby girl was already a pest and I almost burst into tears at the thought of having her in my arms, of being able to feel her skin against mine.

I sighed and sent a loving message to Maya who answered me immediately. I smiled and put the phone away as I let the meeting continue.

Three days. Only three days and then I could be with them again.

*****

Two more hours had passed and the meeting was finally over. We were all leaving the conference room while Mr Fisher complimented everyone on their work. Usually, such complicated cases took a long time to solve and we managed to do it in four weeks, bringing excellent results.

We all headed for the elevator.

“Tonight’s Dare, don’t be a p***y, I won’t take no for an answer,” Zeke said grimly as he looked at me.

“All right, just stop calling me a p***y,” I said.

“Are we celebrating tonight?” I felt Becka behind us, I turned around and found her with her bag over my shoulder “I felt it was a great success, she deserves a remarkable celebration”, she said.

“No exaggeration,” I said as I entered the elevator.

I noticed how Zeke was looking over Becka’s shoulder while she didn’t even look at him.

“There is a place near the museum that is very nice, they make live music and I highly recommend it,” Becka said in front of me as she turned her head to look over my shoulder.

“I’m fine with anything.” I’ll roll my shoulders.

“I agree with the lady here,” Zeke said, winking as I rolled my eyes exasperated.

“Then I’ll see you there,” I said.