The Deal

"Great." Once again he made a note in his diary.

Naomi was about to file her samples away, when the door sprung open and a little boy ran in, charging at Georgio. His son, Naomi assumed.

"Georgio!" the boy declared, as he headed across the office.

Georgio nodded Naomi's way. "Sorry about this."

"Not a problem," she murmured, curious.

Georgio stood up, catching the boy as he flung himself at Georgio. "Hey, Toby, what are you doing here?"

Toby?

"I came in with my Dad and he has a meeting now but Mum's not here to collect me yet."

"So you came to visit Uncle Georgio while you wait?"

Naomi's stared at the little lad, astonished. He was Lucas's son.

Georgio set him on his feet. He ruffled the boy's hair. It was thick and dark like his dad's. He wore a smart grey school uniform and had a leather satchel slung over his shoulder. An intense yearning lodged in Naomi's chest, some uncanny splinter of love. A need too, a need for Lucas. What would it be like to have son like that, a child who looked like his dad, the man you loved? The question cropped up in her thoughts on seeing the boy, but it unlocked a sense of yearning in Naomi. It wasn't something she'd ever thought about before. She'd been focused on a career and stuff like having a family of her own was a long ways off.

Now the idea had occurred to her, it stoked a hitherto unknown longing.

"Shouldn't you be at school now?" Georgio asked whilst looking at his watch.

"Yes, but Mum's late. Dad wanted to come to my science fair last night and then Mum said I could stay over with him."

"How did the science fair go?"

"Great. Dad liked the robot our team made."

"Awesome. Well done."

"Mum's supposed to be here already."

Georgio had a disapproving look on his face. Naomi couldn't help being intrigued, because it's someone else, someone outside of Lucas was disapproving about his ex-wife's antics.

"Hello."

Naomi started when she realized the little boy was addressing her.

"Hello, Toby," she replied and nodded at him. His eyes were dark. Not as bright as his father's but she sensed the same directness.

"My mum's got hair like yours."

Naomi didn’t need a reminder of that little fact, but she smiled at him.

The receptionist entered the room, darted across to Toby, hand outreached. "Sorry, I was supposed to be watching him but he hared off. Come on, Toby, let's go get donuts. Your Mother will be here soon, I'm sure." She and Georgio exchanged glances.

Naomi watched as Toby was led away, then stood up and began packing away her samples.

"I'll be in touch soon, either way." Georgio put out his hand.

Naomi shook his hand and nodded. "It's been wonderful meeting you, Georgio."

Georgio grinned.

She liked him, she decided. She could only hope her designs stood the test.