Chapter Twenty-One

Lance

I lift myself off the peanut-colored carpet as I complete another push-up. Then I start doing it with one hand behind my back. A bead of sweat rolls down my cheek.

I have to keep myself fit even in winter, even when I'm not in my apartment. When my body is at its finest, my brain also works at its best.

Besides, only with a fit body can I pull off a feat like the one last night.

A smile forms on my lips as I remember how that felt.

Amazing.

Suddenly, my phone rings and my smile turns upside down.

I finish three more push-ups before getting to my feet and going over to the bedside table. I grab my phone and see Michael's name on the screen.

I lift it to my ear. "Yes?"

"Ooh. Out of breath. I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"

"You did, but it's not as exciting as what you're thinking," I tell him. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have answered."

"Really? But in the past, you've always answered your phone even if you were - "

"Why did you call?" I cut him off as I run my fingers through the sweat-coated strands of my hair.

Michael draws a deep breath. That's never good.

"We have a teensy little problem that you might want to look into."

I listen to him as he gives me the details. After the call ends, I grab my shirt and run downstairs.

~

"You're leaving again?" Jordan's forehead creases.

I nod as I catch my breath. "There's been at emergency at work. I have to take care of it. I told Claus I wouldn't go away again without telling him, so..."

Jordan glances over her shoulder. "He's eating right now, but you can come in." She turns back to me. "Or are you in too much of a hurry?"

"I - "

"Is that Daddy?" Claus comes running towards the door.

I smile at the word even though I still haven't grown used to it.

I pat his head. "Hey, buddy."

"Are you coming to play?" Claus asks.

I kneel in front of him. "I'm sorry, Claus, but I have to go away again. Just for a little bit again. Just for work."

"Work?"

"Your daddy runs a company," Jordan explains.

Claus's eyebrows arch. "You run?"

I chuckle and touch his cheek. "Anyway, I'll be back soon."

"Can't you take me with you?" Claus asks me.

I pause. The plea in his eyes pierces my heart.

"You know what? I don't see why I can't." I stand up and look at Jordan. "How would you like to take a short trip to Boston?"

~

As soon as we arrive in Boston, I let Erin drive Jordan and Claus to the mall so they can have some fun while I work. Michael briefs me about the situation at work as we ride to the office.

I go straight to my desk. For the next few hours, Michael and I stay glued to our computers, trying to fix the bug in the program and making sure there aren't any others. Finally, we finish.

I lean back in my chair and stretch my arms above my head.

"Whew!" Michael lets out a sigh of relief. "That was intense."

I nod. "I almost wish I had a cigarette right now."

"I'm sorry I had to call you back," Michael says. "But you know, our best tech guys are busy with other projects, too. Three are already on vacation. Two are sick and I just couldn't do this on my own."

"It's fine," I tell him. "What matters is we took care of it."

Just then, I hear a knock on the door.

I wonder who it is.

"Come in," Michael says.

A man in his late twenties wearing a brown scarf, a dark green sweater and jeans opens the door slowly.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," he says. "I couldn't hear keys tapping anymore, so I thought you might be finished."

"We are finished." I lean across my desk and glance at Michael. "Who's this?"

"One of our newest programmers," Michael answers. "Ned, I believe?" He turns to the man. "You've been listening, Ned?"

He raises his hands. "I wasn't trying to eavesdrop or anything. I just - "

"What do you want?" I ask as I clasp my hands on top of my desk.

Ned draws a deep breath. "I just wanted to say sorry, sir. It was my fault."

My eyebrows crease. "Your fault?"

"The bug. I wasn't careful."

"I see."

"I was busy trying to make my daughter's costume for her school play that week," Ned says. "I think I wasn't getting enough sleep and I wasn't focusing on work. By the time I realized my mistake, I - "

"It's fine now."

Michael stands up and tries to usher Ned out the door. He seems to be whispering something to Ned, but I have no clue what.

"You said you were making your daughter's costume?" I ask.

They stop at the doorway. Ned turns around.

"Yes."

"Where's your wife?"

"She passed away early this year," Ned says.

I look down at my desk.

"I'm sorry that I - "

"So this will be your first Christmas without your wife?" I ask.

"Yes," Ned answers.

"Shouldn't you be with your daughter now?"

"Well, I didn't file a leave because, well, I'm new, and also, I need the money to - "

"Michael." I turn to my business partner. "We can let Ned here go on vacation for the rest of the year, right?"

"Yes," Michael answers. "We're just wrapping up our final projects."

"But - "

"Paid vacation," I tell Ned. "Go and spend Christmas with your daughter."

For a while, Ned says nothing. Shock is written all over his face. Then he nods.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, sir! And merry Christmas!"

He walks out the door. Michael closes it and turns to me.

"What?" I ask him.

"You've changed." He sits on the couch. "In the past, you would have fired him."

"He has a daughter. His wife died. It's Christmas. I can't fire him."

"Those wouldn't have been reasons before," Michael says. "What happened?"

I shrug. "Nothing."

He taps his fingers on the arm of the couch. "This has something to do with that woman and that child you arrived with, doesn't it? I heard from Jim. That child is your - "

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone yet." I stand up and go around my desk. "I don't want them thrust into the public eye."

"Of course not. I never reveal your secrets, do I? Or anyone's, for that matter. I was just surprised. That's all."

I lean on the edge of my desk. "That I have a child?"

Michael laughs. "Not that bit. With all the women you were playing around with, that was always a possibility."

"I was always careful, except that one time."

Michael's eyes narrow. "I wonder what happened."

"Well, keep wondering. I won't tell."

"I'm just surprised that you've started to understand that some things are more important than work." He smiles. "I'm glad, though."

I snort. "You make me sound like I was a Scrooge all year round."

He waves his hand. "Um... kind of."

I glance at my watch. "I have to go. Jordan and Claus are waiting for me."

"So those are their names. Good to know."

I grab my coat. "Let me know if there are any further updates."

"I will," he promises. "Take care!"

I'm already out the door.

~

"I'm sorry I took so long," I tell Jordan and Claus as soon as I catch them having a snack in a fast-food restaurant. "Work went on longer than I thought it would."

"But it's done?" Jordan asks me.

"Yes," I tell her.

I turn to Erin. "Thank you, Erin. I'll take over now."

"Yes, sir."

She stands up and says goodbye to Jordan and Claus.

"Bye." Jordan waves. "And merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," Erin echoes.

"She's a nice, very smart girl," Jordan says. "I can see why you rely on her for everything."

"Not everything." I pull out a chair and sit down.

"She told me some stuff about you."

My eyebrows crease. "She did?"

"Oh, don't look so alarmed." Jordan touches my arm. "They were all good things. She's very loyal."

"Or maybe there are no bad things to tell."

Jordan snorts.

I turn to Claus, who's busy eating his fries. I glance at the shopping bags next to him.

"What did you buy?" I ask him.

"Toys," Claus answers. "And clothes. And books."

"You went shopping," I tell Jordan.

"That's what a person does when you give them money and drop them off at a mall," she says.

"Can we go somewhere else now?" Claus asks.

"Sure." I touch his cheek. "Actually, I was thinking I'd drive you around the city and then we can go to Faneuil Hall Marketplace."

"Fan-what?" Claus looks confused.

"It's a magical place at this time of year," I tell him.

"Magical?" His eyes twinkle.

"So finish your fries quickly now."

"But not too quickly," Jordan adds. "We don't want you to choke."

Claus stuffs two fries inside his mouth.

I stand up. "Or maybe we can just bring your fries."

Jordan, too, gets out of her chair and grabs the bag of fries. "Good idea. I can't wait to see the city again, either."

~

I don't know who's more excited - Claus or his mother.

As I drive them around and Jordan provides the tour guide explanations, I can hear the elation in both their voices. I can see the joy sparkling on both their faces.

When we reach Faneuil Hall Marketplace, I park the car and then we take a stroll under the lights. I hoist Claus on my shoulders and he squeals in delight. His feet won't seem to keep still.

"Claus," Jordan tells him. "Stop moving or you might fall off."

"Don't worry," I tell her. "I promise I won't let him fall."

Still, she holds a hand to her chest. "He's so excited because he's never been carried on someone's shoulders before."

"Today has been a day of firsts for him, hasn't it?"

She nods. "I'm glad we came with you."

And I'm glad they came with me. Maybe it's just my imagination, but with them at my side, Faneuil Hall Marketplace - no, all of Boston - seems brighter and more enchanting. It seems like a different city altogether.

Or maybe it's not the city that's changed. Maybe it's me, just like Michael said.

I've changed.

"Lance?" A voice suddenly calls my attention.

I turn my head and see a ginger-haired woman in a white knitted dress walking towards me.

I rattle my brains for her name, but I can't find it in my memory. I don't even remember where we met, though judging from that grin of hers and that figure, I'm guessing we had sex somewhere once.

"I can't believe it's you." She gives me a quick hug. "I didn't think you were the kind of person who walks around here. But I guess it is Christmas."

I see Jordan looking away with a frown.

Fuck. I should take control of this situation before it gets away like it did with Elaine.

"Listen, Rachel..." I say the first name I can think of.

"Michelle," she corrects me.

Well, that was pretty close.

"I'm sorry, but I'm with my son and his mother right now, so..."

She gasps. "Your son?"

"Shh," I scold her.

So much for keeping Claus a secret.

"Well, I'm sorry. I..." Michelle turns to Jordan and touches her arm. "You're so lucky. Lance is so good in bed."

I roll my eyes.

"We only did it once but I've been fantasizing about it ever since - "

"Michelle."

She steps away. "Right. I'll leave. Merry Christmas."

She turns around and walks away.

I let out a sigh before turning to Jordan. "I'm sorry about that."

"Just once, huh?" She shakes her head. "I wonder how many women you had sex with once."

"I don't do that anymore," I assure her. "I don't want Claus to think I'm not... worth looking up to."

Jordan falls silent.

"Can we move now?" Claus asks me.

"Okay, buddy," I tell him. "Your Mommy's getting a bit tired, though, so we'll just walk around a little more and then we'll go back to my apartment, okay?"

"Okay."