have to talk more about feelings. “All right. If Charlie and Tucker can make it, count me in.”
Brooke did a little clap. “Yay.”
“I said if Charlie and Tucker can make it.”
She gave him a look. “What are the odds that Charlie and Tucker have something better to do today?”
Fair enough.
* * *
MID-MORNING ON MONDAY, Nicole called Victoria’s office to check in after her meeting with Peter Sutter. Per Victoria’s arrangements, the two of them had met at a coffee shop close to Nicole’s work, so they could reconnect and smooth over some of the “Hey, we had a baby together!” awkwardness.
“So? How did it go?” Victoria asked.
“Pretty good, actually. The first thing he did was apologize for leaving that morning without saying good-bye. And he also said that he really regretted missing the first five months of Zoe’s life. He’s a nice guy. I can see why I slept with him,” Nicole joked.
“And you’re still on for tonight? Peter and Melanie will be at your place at six to meet Zoe?” Victoria asked.
“That’s what he said. But I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m starting to freak out about this meeting.”
Uh-oh. “How so?” Victoria asked.
“It’s Melanie. What if she doesn’t like me? What if she decides that Peter should be focusing on her pregnancy and their baby instead of Zoe? Or worse, what if she decides to get a lawyer involved because she thinks she and Peter should raise their baby and mine?”
“Based on my interactions with Melanie, I don’t think any of that will happen,” Victoria reassured her. “But if it does, we’ll handle it. I will handle it. That’s what I do, Nicole.”
Nicole still sounded hesitant. “Can you come tonight? I’d feel so much better if you’re there, too.”
The request surprised Victoria—she’d planned to stay out of everyone’s way tonight and just check in with Nicole afterward. But after hearing the nervousness in her client’s voice, she couldn’t refuse. Especially since Nicole wasn’t just any client.
I trust you to take care of my sister.
Of course I’ll take care of your sister.
“I’m happy to be there, Nicole. Absolutely.”
After she hung up with Nicole, Will walked into her office with a stack of message slips.
“All these came in during one phone call?” Victoria asked.
“That’s Monday for you,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Speaking of which, can you move my afternoon schedule around so I can be free by five o’clock?” When Will gave her a look—You’ve got to be kidding me—she smiled. “Thanks. You’re a god.”
He snorted disdainfully as he walked out of her office.
And then he worked his magic and had her free at five minutes before five o’clock.
When she stopped by his desk on her way out, he checked his watch. “Time for the big meeting, huh?”
“Almost time. I’m going to stop at my place and drop off my briefcase. Since this is supposed to be a casual get-together, I was thinking I should look less lawyer-y.”
Will looked her over. “Better lose the suit, then.”
Pfft. Now they were just getting crazy. “It’s still a business meeting.”
“Just saying,” he said in a singsong tone.
She caught a cab in front of her building and made a quick pit stop at home. Grumbling to herself that Will was probably right—because, really, when wasn’t he?—she changed out of her light gray pantsuit and into a cream, V-neck sleeveless dress. Then she grabbed another cab and gave the driver Nicole’s address.
The cab pulled up in front of a vintage apartment building in Lincoln Square. There were six units on the second floor, and Nicole’s was the closest to the stairwell, on Victoria’s right. She knocked on the door and waited. After a brief pause, she heard someone approach, and then the door opened.
Victoria blinked. “Ford. I . . . didn’t realize you would be here.”
He stood in the doorway, looking surprised himself. “Nicole asked me to come for moral support. She didn’t mention you were coming, too.” For a split-second, he seemed to hesitate, and then he stepped back from the door. “Come on in.”
Nicole’s living room was cozy, but small and packed tight with baby paraphernalia. Not sure whether she should sit or stand, Victoria hovered by Zoe’s swing and watched as Ford shut the front door.
He gestured in the direction of the bedrooms. “Nicole’s getting Zoe dressed. They should be out any minute.” He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans and silence fell between them.
Victoria tried to fill the void, keeping her tone light. “How’s work going?”