Drake Forever (Unrestrained 7)

"Do you want to sneak up and check in her room?"

"Yes, let's do it."

She followed me up the stairs to Sophie's room. I opened the door. Inside, the room was dim, the blackout shades down against the afternoon sun. Sophie's crib was against the wall. Because she was older and taller, we had the crib set up like a day-bed with the mattress down low and the railing up about a foot so she could easily crawl out.

She was sleeping on her stomach, her butt in the air, her stuffed toy beside her.

"She's beautiful," Lara whispered, her arm around my shoulder.

I nodded, not wanting to wake Sophie.

We left the room and I closed the door.

"You are so lucky," Lara said as we went down the stairs to the main living area. "You have your man, you have your baby and you have your art. I'm so glad for you, Kate."

"I am lucky."

"Too bad Drake's career is tanking here in Manhattan. It would be so good for him to take Michael's offer."

I frowned. "What offer?"

"Michael Owiti's offer to go to work for him, set up a pediatric robotic neurosurgery unit."

"Michael made Drake an offer? To go back to Nairobi?"

"No," Lara said and put her hands on her hips. "I'm going to tell you something but you have to promise me not to tell Drake I told you until he tells you himself. Promise?"

I nodded.

"Michael's heading up the pediatric neurosurgery department at the Southampton Children's Hospital in England and wanted Drake to set up a robotic neurosurgery unit."

"He didn't feel he could tell me? " I felt a sick sensation in my gut. "When did this all happen?"

"He told me about it today, but the offer happened a while ago. He must feel torn about the job and didn't want to force you to make a decision. Don't say anything. Let him tell you. At that point, you can confess that I told you. Okay?"

"Okay," I said doubtfully, hurt that Drake had already talked to Lara about this news but not me.

"When will Sophie get up?" Lara asked, her voice sounding a bit sheepish. "I'd love to play with her a bit."

"She usually gets up at around 4:30."

Lara sat at the kitchen island. "Now, how about that champagne?"

"Coming right up." I went to the wine chiller and removed the bottle of Dom Pérignon from the bottom shelf. "We keep a bottle on hand in case we ever have anything to celebrate."

I chose three champagne glasses from the shelf in the kitchen where we kept the liquor. While Lara watched, I removed the foil from the stopper and popped the cork into a napkin. My mind was focused on Drake's news, wondering if and when he was planning to tell me about the offer.

I had no idea what to think about it. Southampton? That was across the Atlantic Ocean...

There was no way my father would want to make the trip very oft

en. We'd just gotten back into the apartment on 8th Avenue. I only recently started back at the studio. I felt a little sick about it.

"You're good at that," she said, clapping when I poured the first glass for her.

"I used to play bartender at my father's parties when I was old enough. He taught me how to open a champagne bottle."

I poured myself a glass and downed it, needing the warmth to offset the sadness I suddenly felt about the prospect of leaving Manhattan.