A Forever Kind of Family. Brenda Harlen

path to the big office.

      He didn’t have to worry that taking a few weeks off might jeopardize his position, but Harper knew that a leave of absence—even in the short term—could completely derail her career.

      “I just don’t think we should rush into anything,” he continued, his tone conciliatory.

      But she’d learned the hard way that if she didn’t take action, things didn’t get done. “How much longer should we wait? Another couple of weeks? A month?”

      “More than three weeks,” he retorted.

      She forced herself to take a deep breath before their discussion escalated into a full-blown argument. “I did some research and made some phone calls. I’m not suggesting we drop him off somewhere first thing tomorrow morning.”

      He nodded slowly as he wiped Oliver’s hands and face. “What day cares are you considering?”

      That he asked suggested that he might come around on the issue, and because she needed his cooperation to make it work, she answered in an equally careful tone. “First Steps and Wee Watch are the only ones that are on the short list so far. Little Hands looked good, too, but its location isn’t convenient for either of us.”

      “Andrew’s daughter, Maura, went to Wee Watch.”

      “So that would be your choice?”

      “My choice would be to figure out a way to coordinate our schedules so that Oliver doesn’t have to go to day care.”

      She folded her arms over her chest. “Well, I work every day from six a.m. until noon, sometimes with production meetings afterward. Can you work your schedule around that?”

      “Do you understand the word compromise?”

      “Yes, I do. But I’m not willing to compromise my job.”

      “I’m not asking you to. I’m only asking you to pause to take a breath, to give all of us—and especially Oliver—some time to come to terms with everything that’s happened.”

      “That sounds great in theory, but the last three weeks have been complete chaos and I need to get things settled and get my life back on track.”

      “Do you really think anyone at work needs you more than this little boy—” he picked Oliver up out of his high chair “—does right now?”

      “No—but at least at the studio, I know what I’m doing.”

      It wasn’t something she’d planned to admit, especially not to Ryan. But the truth was, even after only three weeks, it was apparent that he was much more comfortable with Oliver and much better at anticipating the little boy’s needs than she was, making her feel not just inept but dependent on him.

      And that was why she needed to focus on her work: because it was the only place right now that she felt competent and in control. When she was with Oliver and Ryan, she felt overwhelmed and helpless and all kinds of other emotions she wasn’t ready to acknowledge, much less put a label on.