WORK IN PROGRESS The Parent Contract

Flickering lights

Drake

I smiled at Susannah when she came in with my coffee. She was the latest PA recruit,  and I think she’ll work out despite her predilection for calling everyone 'Love',  or 'Darl'. I’d heard several of the team call her Mum, and that’s what she was fast becoming.  She had taken on the role so easily and, in keeping with the theme, had started organising team lunches for the various teams as they achieved their targets.

“Just letting you know that Ms. Lees is here, and Steve’s taking her through the company induction,  then bringing her up here.” She said, putting the mug down beside me and sitting herself in the chair opposite.
“Thanks, Suse,”
“I’ve also gone against Orders and put her in the disused office so she can have some peace and quiet while she’s working and still be close to you, Steve,  and myself as she needs. "
My shoulders sank at her pronouncement, and I sighed.
“There was a reason that the office is locked up,” I said hollowly
“Yes, and it was a stupid reason.  Just because your father wanted to keep a close eye on his wife at all times didn’t mean that you have to keep her office vacant. There’s a premium on office space as you well know. She’s gone,  you’ve cut her out of your life.  This was just the last link. There’s no more space for her.”
I blew out a breath. Suse was right.  Having that office sitting there was almost waiting for my mother to come back, and no way was happening.  I didn’t even deal with her doctors anymore.
“You’re right.  Toni needs the office.  But she doesn’t need to see any of my Mother’s things in there.” I tried to regain control and Suse scoffed at me.
“Of course not.  They’re all in storage. I  redecorated it and even got in new plants, real ones this time.” Suse sniffed, then flashed a big smile. “Leave the past in the past, and look to the future,  Love. It always looks brighter.”
This book is free to read in Wattpad. To avoid paying too much for great stories,  please head there to read the rest of this story. With those words, she stood up and walked back to her desk. 

I worked on obtaining the statistics that I thought Toni might like to look at while I waited for her to finish the induction with Steve.  Looking to the future was a nice sentiment, but I wanted to return to the past.  I wanted a do-over and say no to Mom and Peta. I took a deep breath and counted to ten on the exhale.  Suse was right,  I had to look to the future.

The lights flickered above me and I lifted my head to see Steve grinning at me with Toni’s confused look over his shoulder.
“It’s all done.  We’re good to go.” He told me.  I smiled and stood up,  buttoning up my jacket.
“Welcome back,  again thank you for working with us on this. " I held out my hand to my ex-wife, who was looking absolutely gorgeous again.  A bitter-sweet feeling came across me.  It was good to know she was back in my life again,  albeit for a short time only, but the ex part of her title tasted wrong on my tongue.

Steve tapped the wall, waved, and walked out.  I came around my desk as Toni gripped my hand.
“Ready to start?” I asked her brightly. She smiled hesitantly.
“Yes,”
There was an awkwardness about how she said that. I tilted my head.
“What’s the problem?” I asked. 
“That there,” she murmured almost to herself,  then she looked me in the eye. “I need to clarify something I said before.  About Apathy. It was a comment, not a statement about my feelings.”

I frowned when she didn’t continue. 
“So you don’t feel apathy towards me?” I asked. She shook her head.  Internally I cheered,  but externally I  jokingly wiped my forehead dramatically
“whew, that makes our working relationship much easier.” I grinned at her, then tilted my head towards the doorway.  “Come on, I’ll show you to your office.”

She nodded and fell into step beside me.
“So, what’s with the flickering of the lights before entering a room?” She asked.
“It’s a deaf version of a knock. Gets everyone’s attention,  so that’s what Steve and I use between us.” I explained.
Her eyebrows raised in understanding. I stopped at the door to the office and opened it.  Suse had done a fantastic job wiping my mother’s memory from this room.  It was impersonal apart from the fresh citrus smell coming from a diffuser in the corner of the office. Toni paused in the doorway.
“Isn’t this your mother’s office?”
“Not anymore. There’s no way that she’s stepping back into my life, let alone this building.” I snapped,  feeling the rightness of letting this office go.  Suse was right. 
“Drake? Are you OK?” I felt Toni’s hand touch my upper arm and unconsciously flexed a little.  I looked down at her.  My father had been very family orientated,  so my statement was probably at odds with everything she assumed.
“I’ll be fine,  will this do?” I asked.  She nodded,  concern in her eyes.  She nodded, dropping her gaze away from me and looking around at the room.
“Please let Suse,  Steve,  or I know what you need.  I want to make this as easy as possible for you.”
“Thank you, Drake.” She smiled up at me.  I dropped my head to kiss her cheek.
“It’s good to work with you again,  Toni. I missed you.” I walked out of the room and back to my office.