A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

Finally, he said, ―Don't worry about Mr. Davidson. There are other clients, and as long as we keep a close eye on our paperwork, we should be alright.

But you and Jessica are alright? ―Yes, but I promised her that I wouldn't go on any more weekend or overnight trips to a client's house. I told her I would work regular business hours and only give or attend dinner parties. His uncle nodded.

―For now on, if there's an emergency meeting, I'll go to it, and if the client wants you there, I'll have to make it clear that your priorities lie with your wife, which is exactly where they should be.

I've been putting a lot of pressure on you to bend over backward for our clients. As of this very minute, that's changing. If you tell Jessica you're going to do something, do that before you do anything else.

Always put her before work. Take it from me. You don't want to end up forty-three and only have a pile of papers on your desk to show for those years you spent on Earth. Leo watched as his uncle returned to his paperwork.

For the first time, he saw his uncle in a new light. He'd always thought of his uncle as a businessman and a father. But now, he realized his uncle longed for a good woman, just as he had. Not knowing what to say, he picked up his briefcase and left his uncle's office.

The bell above the front door rang and Mary and her father walked into the building with a basket. ―Hello, Mr. Monroe, Mary greeted when she saw him.

Leo didn't hide his surprise that they were there. ―Good morning.―I just saw Jessica. I'm sorry about the Davidsons. Leo shrugged. ―Not all clients are logical. Jonathan walked out of his office and walked over to them.

―I thought I heard some familiar voices, he greeted. ―Good morning, Mr. Duff, Miss Duff. Leo noticed Mary blush. ―Good morning, Mr. Monroe. ―We heard you've been stuffed up in here since yesterday afternoon and wanted to know if you could use a break, Mr. Duff explained. ―Mary made a lunch.―I just made the coffee cake. The cook did the rest, she clarified. Leo grinned.

He suspected that his uncle and Mary got along very well when they played billiards at the restaurant, but he hadn't thought anything would come of it. Her father approved of the match or else he wouldn't have offered to act as their chaperone.

―That is very thoughtful of you, Jonathan replied. ―I could use a break. Leo, will you be joining us?―No. I need to take care of some work. He motioned to his briefcase and went to his office.

***

Three hours later, Jessica led Mary to her home so Mary could meet Jim. But even as her thoughts were on matchmaking, she couldn't get her mind off of Ryan. She had mentally planned out exactly what Ryan's bedroom would look like and when she would take him to the park so he could play.

Though he wouldn't be running, she could help him adjust to walking with assistance, though for the time being, he would be in a stroller. Of course, that was if Leo agreed to adopt him.

She really shouldn't jump to conclusions, and yet, she had a feeling that Leo would be happy to adopt him. When they reached her home, Jessica opened the door and motioned for Mary to follow her. ―From the smell of it, I think Jim is making another apple cinnamon pizza for dessert.