Conrad
I am anxiously waiting for Maya to return from work. I couldn’t meet her at work today because I had Zoom meetings I had to deal with. I need to tell her I am leaving. It is only for a couple of days, I hope, but I am nervous to tell her. I know she won’t come with me because she only had a few weeks left at the B&B, and Callum is still somewhere around. I don’t want her to return to New York and return to being on edge and worrying constantly. I don’t want to be away from her, but her staying here is what is best for her.
She should be home any minute. I sigh and start to pace until I hear the front door opening. I stop pacing and wait for her to find me in the living room.
She smiles brightly when she sees me, “Hello, my love.”
I stroll over, kiss her softly and hug her tightly to my chest, “Hello, beautiful.”
When we parted from the hug, she looked at me, a concerned look on her face. “What is wrong? You are stressed and tensed,” she asked softly.
I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. I should have known she would sense straightaway something was wrong.
“I need to leave, angel.”
“What? When? Why? For how long?” she sighs.
“I have a meeting; they refuse to do it over the computer. It is an important one that could lead to a new business deal. I need to leave in a couple of days. I shouldn’t be away long—two days, maybe three at the most. I am sorry, angel. I hope I can continue to work from here. I would ask you to come with me, but I know you won’t.” I reply, sighing.
“A few days isn’t long. I wish I could come with you, but I can’t. I am not ready to go back to New York, and I don’t want to let Catherine down. We are already a little short-staffed this week. I am sorry,” she says softly.
I kiss her forehead. “No, it isn’t long at all. You have nothing to be sorry for. I understand, sweetheart. Hopefully, next time when I return, you will be able to come with me.” I smile and kiss her lips.
“I hope so. Why aren’t they letting you do it remotely?”
“They want it face-to-face. They don’t like technology. They are a little old-fashioned, but if it works out, then it will be a great deal.” I answer.
“It makes sense. It makes it more personal, anyway,” she says, kissing my cheek.
“Yes. You aren’t mad at me for needing to leave?” I ask, caressing her cheek.
She shakes her head, “No, of course not. I will miss you and wish you didn’t have to leave, but I am not mad. You still have a business to run. I will be okay for a few days. I promise.” She smiles.
“I will make it up to you when I return. Do you want me to bring anything back for you?” I ask.
“Some treats from my favourite bakery. I have missed them, oh, and some bagels,” she says brightly.
I chuckle, “Okay, sweetness. I was talking more about some of the things you left behind, but I will bring those back for you.”
“Oh, sorry.” She giggles.
I laugh loudly and hug her to my chest. “You are too cute,” I say, kissing the top of her head.
I am glad she isn’t mad at me. I didn’t expect her to be. I was more worried she would be upset, but she seems as fine as she can be with it. She knows for sure I come back as quickly as possible. I will book a flight home, but I think I will use one of the companies’ Private jets to fly back. I need to see if there is an airport somewhere I can land. It will make things easier and get me here faster. I don’t use it much, or even at all, but I can make an exception if it means less time apart from Maya.
She glances up at me, flashing her dorkiest smile at me. I smile and prod her nose, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She replies and puckers her lips.
I chuckle and give her what she is asking for. I kiss her. It is short and sweet but still enough to make my heart race faster. I slip my arm around her and lead her to sit on the sofa.
I place my hand on her knee, “How was work?”
“Good. Busy, which helped pass the day. How were your meetings?”
“Long and boring.” I groan.
“Aww, I am sorry, my love. Are you finished for the day?”
“I have one last meeting, but not until seven tonight, our time.”
I tried to make it happen earlier, but it wasn’t possible.
Maya snuggles into my side and rests her head on my shoulder, “Do you want to take a nap?”
She was unsettled last night. She was tossing and turning, and she got up a couple of times, too. I don’t believe it was because something was wrong; it was just a restless night.
I stroke her hair, “Sure. I heard you last night. Is everything okay?”
She nods, “Fine. I was restless, was all. If you aren’t tired, I can go by myself.”
“I never refuse a nap, especially not one with you.”
We head to the bedroom, close the blinds and curtains, try to make it as dark as possible since it is still daytime, and slip into bed. She curls in at my side, using my chest as her pillow.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” I ask, caressing the small of her back.
She sighs, nuzzling her face in my neck, “I can’t. I am not ready. Not while I know he is still around. If he sees us together, then it will be an excuse for him to start again. I am not risking.”
I will leave it at that. I don’t want to keep asking because if I do, she will end up feeling guilty, which is not something I want to happen. I will be able to take her home one day, hopefully soon.
I kiss the top of her head, “Okay, baby girl. Get some rest. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I wasn’t tired, but I was happy enough to lie with her while she napped because I knew the next few nights away from her is going to be shit. I didn’t want to let her go again, but at least I knew where she was to come back to her.
It doesn’t take long for her to drift off. I smile down at her peacefully sleeping. I close my eyes. Sleep might take over me, or it may not, but either way, I am fine lying with her.
While I am home, I will go see the police and the private investigators. I still don’t understand why, of all the people looking for him, no one seems to be able to find him. It isn’t like he is some criminal mastermind. He must have friends in all the right places if he can stay out of sight for so long. I feel they won’t be any further along since I haven’t heard anything.