Not an efficiency-related question. But it was a human one. He was standing there, holding a baby, and had just told her, before he’d made anyone else in the company aware, that the child was suddenly his.
And that he’d lost his mother.
He’d also told her that he wasn’t sure he still had a job.
“Yes, I was in the process of opening my own business.” No point in denying the truth. Lying wasn’t his way. “I intended to tell Howard as soon as the final paperwork was in order.”
“And now you aren’t?”
Diamond Rose sighed. He felt that breath as if he’d taken it himself. “Starting a new business, especially in this field, takes an eighteen-hour-a-day commitment and comes with more than average financial risk. I can no longer afford the time or the risk.”
“Because of the baby.”
Because he had no idea how to be a father. He had to learn. “I’m her only family.”
She nodded, looking at him, meeting his gaze. Not glancing, even occasionally, at his baby sister. She wasn’t wringing her hands anymore, either, which he considered to be a good thing.
Still...
“Howard doesn’t know about her yet. I didn’t actually see her myself until this morning. I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a little time to get my act together before you say anything.”
“I work for him,” she said. And then, “How much time?”
He calculated...between the month he’d probably need and the minute or two she seemed willing to give him. “Twenty-four hours, max.”
She watched him.
“I’ve got sixty times that in vacation days coming to me.” From an efficiency standpoint, she wouldn’t be risking anything. He could certainly ask for twenty-four hours.
“But you...didn’t take today off.”
“I rarely take time off. And I had stocks I had to sell or risk a big loss.”
He’d had all the losses he could handle. His mother. His fiancée. His business. All at once. In the past couple of days. Astonishing that he was still standing there.
Except that he’d had no choice. Someone had to take care of his mother’s brand-new baby.
Tamara—yes, that was definitely her name, Tamara Frost—was silent. A few long seconds later she said, “I see no harm in allowing you the time to go to your boss yourself.”
He could have kissed her. He shook off the feeling. He’d just met the woman! Whether or not she was his mother’s way of helping him from the great beyond, he had no time—and no mental or emotional capacity—to engage in any kind of liaison.
Yet he clung to the idea of having her on his side.
“Thank you.”
“So...you just got her this morning? And came straight here?” She sounded a bit incredulous.
“I had stocks I had to sell,” he repeated. A job to save. He couldn’t afford a big loss on top of everything else. That much he knew. He needed Howard Owens to need him around; he certainly didn’t want to give the older man more reason to fire him.
Her expression changed. Softened, although she hadn’t looked at the baby again. Not in a while. “I’d like to give you the name of a friend of mine. She runs a day care not far from here. Most places don’t take infants younger than six weeks, but considering your circumstances, I’m pretty sure she’d make an exception. I promise you, you won’t be sorry. She treats the children in her care like they’re her own. Gets to know them. Loves them. Babies get dedicated holding time. She takes everything that happens to her kids personally.”
He wasn’t ready to pass off his bundle to a stranger. Not out of his sight, at least.
Ms. Frost had given him twenty-four hours to report to Howard with some kind of baby management plan—well, to report to Howard that he had a child. Having the plan was his own stipulation.
“Does she watch your children?” Tamara wasn’t wearing a ring, but she’d been such a natural with Diamond Rose... Seemed to know everything about babies...
A shadow passed over Tamara’s face. He pretended not to notice. But when you knew the depth of sorrow yourself, you noticed.