Page 45 of Skipping Stones

“Merry Christmas, Derek,” Danny said, clapping him on the back. “We’ll look forward to it.”

18

Derek came up out of the subway into the cold winter air one stop before his own. Tonight he wanted the walk to shake off the day. He’d done everything he could, but he’d been unable to keep his client in the country. Now a single father and his two young children were going to be deported, where they would be plunged back into a dangerous and violent situation. It infuriated him that he couldn’t help and all he wanted was a hug from his wife and to hug his children.

The walk helped, but he was still under a cloud of melancholy when he greeted the doorman, collected the mail and headed up in the elevator. When he reached his front door, he hesitated before putting his key in the lock. It was Zuzanna’s day off and he could hear both of his children crying.

He took a deep breath and headed in, plastering a smile on his face. Olivia was standing in the middle of the living room, trying to soothe Ivy by bouncing her perhaps a little too hard and ignoring her teary son, who was pulling at her leg, trying to get her attention with a toy car. Her face was expressionless.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Derek dropped the mail on the counter and took long strides to join his wife. “Tough evening?” He took Ivy from her arms and started humming. The baby reacted to the change and quieted almost immediately. Derek sat on the couch with her and turned his attention to Leo. “What have you got there, sport?” Leo climbed up onto the couch and started “driving” the car over his father’s shoulders.

“How do you do that?” Olivia asked. “I’ve been trying to get them to stop for ages.”

“Sometimes all they need is a change,” he said, but he wondered how long the crying had been going on. “Why don’t you go have a bath and I’ll put these two to bed.”

“Thank you.” Olivia walked silently down the hall and closed the door behind her.

Derek tousled Leo’s hair. “Let’s say good night to Ivy, and then I’ll read you a story.” The baby stirred when Derek lay her down in her crib, but he kept humming and she soon settled again, thumb in her mouth.

Derek sent Leo to his room while he changed out of his suit and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt before heading back to see what his book his son had chosen. Leo wasn’t satisfied with just one so Derek began a second. He was three pages in when he yawned and rubbed his eyes. Leo’s eyes were fluttering closed, so Derek planned to read three more pages. He didn’t make it that far before his own eyes closed as well.

Ivy’s crying woke him a few hours later. He was disoriented but quickly realized he’d dozed off in Leo’s bed. He rolled his stiff neck as he closed Leo’s door and went to see if Olivia was fixing a bottle. But his wife was sound asleep, so Derek scooped up his daughter, changed her diaper, and humming a soft jazz favourite, took her to the kitchen where he warmed a bottle for her.

A few minutes later, Ivy’s tummy was full, and she was dropping back to sleep. Derek put her back in her crib and climbed into bed beside Olivia, spooning into her and breathing in the scent of the lotion—rose and jasmine like her perfume. It would get easier soon. It had to.

* * *

Linney felt like she was just passing time. The paperwork for Damascus still hadn’t been sorted out, and she was stuck in London. MJ’s new job took all her time, and back home Derek had two children and no time to text with her.

For now, she was considering a trip home, and it was Anna she reached out to.

How much snow do you have?

Lots! Why? Homesick?

Maybe a little. I’m thinking of visiting.

Kirsten’s down south visiting her folks.

Danny & I are going down too, to enjoy some warmth.

So maybe in a month or so?

Linney felt dejected. She wasn’t fitting in anywhere right now. Working with Mac was still strange. It was getting easier every day, but she couldn’t wait to get out in the field.

I’ll think about it.

She needed the battle of bureaucracy to be won. And soon.

* * *

It was dark, and the office was just about deserted when Derek leaned against the kitchen counter in the law office while the kettle boiled. His head was down, and his hair was standing on end from the number of times he’d raked his hands through his curls in frustration. The wheels of justice moved too slowly for his liking sometimes.

“You look like you need a break.” Aiden’s voice broke through Derek’s thoughts and he turned around to see the taller man with a gym bag over his shoulder.

“Just gotta break the back of this new case,” Derek muttered.

“You need to get out of here for a bit. Come join me tonight at the gym. Work-life balance and all that.” Derek hadn’t been to a pickup basketball game in months. A busy career and two kids under two were clearly taking a toll.