Page 39 of Cocky Tech God
“Let’s get a bottle of champagne.” I looked at Lucia for approval. “We’re celebrating.”
“Excellent choice,” the bartender said and pivoted to another area of the bar.
“Thank you,” Lucia and I both said in unison.
When he was out of earshot, Lucia said, “I think you’re trying to impress me, Holte.”
“All girls like champagne, right?”
“And boys too,” she said, laughing and shaking her head at my audacity.
I chuckled. “And boys too.”
I leaned in, needing to be close to her, and to tell her the vision I had of me, her, and a bottle of champagne up in our room, but was interrupted by a voice I knew too well.
“Fancy meeting you two here.” Calista stood at the side of the bar.
“Calista, hey there.” I stood to greet her. “Having a nightcap too?”
Calista glanced at Lucia. “I needed a break. Luckily, I’ve pumped enough for Joy so mummy can have a cocktail.”
Lucia glanced at me, pinching the skin at her throat.
“I told Lucia here about your little Joy, I hope that’s okay?”
Calista closed her eyes a moment, nodding her head. “Of course. No worries.”
“Nice to see you again, Ms. Everette. Congratulations on your baby girl.” Lucia’s voice thickened with slight emotion that could have easily been missed.
Calista’s smile was vibrant. Motherhood certainly agreed with her. “Thank you. Are you a mother, Lucia?”
“Uhh…” Lucia hesitated too long. But finally, she said, “No, I’m not.”
I gazed at Lucia for a moment, catching her far-off glazy eyes, and wondered why she’d hesitated when asked if she was a mother. Had she been once?
“Not yet, at least.” Calista smiled.
“Will you join us?” Lucia asked to my surprise, and perhaps to Calista’s as well. “Hansen’s ordered a bottle of champagne.”
“I’d love to, thank you.” She sat on the single stool that had become empty next to us. “After all the meetings I’ve had today, I need this.”
When the waiter came back, he had three champagne flutes. I assumed he saw Calista join from a distance. We sat sipping our champagne in our silence, listening to the noisy restaurant.
Calista put her glass down. “My poor little Joy. Lydia, my nanny, has been bottle feeding her frozen milk since, clearly, I can’t stop drinking. This evening’s pump will be dumped down the plughole yet again.”
I thought about Anais then, and wondered how she’d be if she were alive and raising my children. I also wondered how many we’d have by now. I had only one sister, so I always wanted at least three kids. Maybe four.
“What are you two celebrating?” Calista asked, taking me from my thoughts.
“Lucia and I had a very successful dinner meeting with Graham Morgan.” I looked at Lucia who didn’t appear to be mentally with us. Something was wrong. “Though, I might add, it was Lucia who had the success, not I.”
“Lovely,” Calista said, glancing down at her silky pink blouse that had bloomed lactation stains. “Oh blimey! This milk is relentless.” She grabbed her cloth napkin and rubbed profusely over the stains to no avail.
Suddenly, Lucia stood up from the stool. She looked as if she’d seen a ghost. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go. I’ve had a bit too much to drink and need to lie down.”
Calista sat upright on the stool. “Oh no!”
“Are you okay, Luci?” I stood. What was this about? “Do you need me to help you?”