Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 56376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
" I'm sorry I didn't call", Claire said softly.
" Claire, come on, you're mind is only thinking of your son right now, I understand", Henry said gently.
" Thank you Henry, you've been really great about this", Claire said.
Henry wished he could see her face to know what she was thinking. She had gotten better about concealing her emotions, but he could still read her with ease. " I'm not completely heartless", Henry rasped, knowing that she most likely expected him to be an asshole about the whole thing earlier today.
" I never thought you were Henry", Claire whispered.
Henry let that sink in for a moment. So Claire didn't think he was a heartless asshole. Well that was good. He was afraid he had been too hard on her. She had hugged him earlier, even if she was scared shitless afterward. She obviously hadn't known how he would take it. If Henry was going to be honest with himself, he enjoyed it immensely.
" How much time off do you need?", Henry asked into the silence on the other side.
" Oh, um, if you need me in tomorrow, my father can watch...", Claire started but Henry cut her off.
" Fuck Claire, you do think I'm heartless!", Henry snapped.
" No, I don't..."
" Dammit, just tell me how long you need off for!", Henry ground out. He was angry. Angry at himself for making Claire think that she had to be in work while her son was in the hospital.
If she were anyone else, he'd be insisting that they come to work tomorrow. But he couldn't do that to her. He didn't know why. Claire was special and he wanted her to trust him. He wanted her to know that she was valued. That she could take care of her son and not worry about her job security.
" They said Ethan will be able to go home tomorrow and should be back on his feet by the weekend", Claire whispered.
" Alright, take the rest of the week off then, with pay of course", Henry said, trying to keep his cool.
Claire gasped on the other end, making Henry's heart clench painfully. What an ass he's been. " Henry, are you sure? It's only Monday, I could definitely be in on Wednesday..."
" No Claire, take care of your son, I'll give you a call in a couple of days", Henry said then hung up before she could answer.
Henry clenched his phone, resisting the urge to smash it against the wall. Claire was sweet and kind and caring. She deserved to be with her son while he was recovering from surgery. She deserved to be treated better, by him. She was great at her job, great at being a mother - from what he's gathered so far - and she deserved to be treated better.
Thursday rolled around and Ethan was doing really well. He took his medicine without complaint. He was even playing around a little bit with his toys. For the most part though, he was sitting on the couch watching Yo Gabba Gabba with his PopPop. Claire's father hadn't left since Ethan came home from the hospital. He spent the past couple nights on the couch. Claire was grateful for the company.
It was around 5:30pm, when there was a knock her on apartment door. Her dad looked at her, his eyebrows raised in question. Claire shrugged, got up from the couch and went to the door. She looked out the peephole and got the shock of her life. Never in a million years had she expected this person to be at her door. She yanked it open.
" Henry? What are you doing here?", Claire asked in confusion.
Henry actually blushed. He cleared his throat and held up the grocery bag in one hand, " I brought dinner", he said, then held up his other hand, which was a gift bag, " And a little get-well present for Ethan"
Claire's hand came up to press against her heart as she fought off tears. She moved aside to let Henry in. He stepped into the apartment but stopped just to the right of the door. Claire closed it then took the grocery bag from Henry. He looked tense and uneasy. Like he wasn't sure if he was going to be welcome or not.
Claire turned to her father, who had stood, " Dad, this is my boss, Henry Beck, Henry this is my father, Frank Russell", she said in introduction.
Claire moved towards the kitchen but watched as the two men shook hands and said hello. Henry gave her father a tight smile while her father gave Henry a more relaxed one. Claire put the bag on the island that separated the kitchen from the living room. Henry's gaze landed on her son, where he sat on the couch staring at Henry.