Page 28 of Guarding Truth
When Ivy realized she’d get nowhere with Caleb, she turned to Juliette. “Talk him out of going into the office today. Or at least don’t let him out of your sight.”
Juliette smiled. “Well, you are footing the bill for my services, so you’re the boss. I will stick to him like numbers on a spreadsheet.”
Ivy chuckled. Caleb sipped his coffee. He could get used to laid-back mornings like this. When was the last time Ivy had laughed like that? As if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“Let’s go, math genius,” Caleb said. “Get ready and I’ll take you to school. You can buy breakfast before first period.”
He turned to Juliette after Ivy had scampered off to find her backpack. “You really don’t have to follow me around all day. I’ll just drop Ivy off, stop in at the office for an hour tops, and head back here. Security has been tightened around the building.”
Juliette shrugged. “Like I told Ivy, she’s my boss for today. You’re stuck with me. Why can’t you play hooky for one day?”
He sighed. “I’m not going to get rid of you, am I?” Not that he wanted to. The thought of spending the day with a beautiful, strong, and intelligent woman sent his pulse into overdrive. Especially this one.
She shook her head vigorously. “Nope. I have Agent McGregor’s number, and he’s keeping me updated. I’ve got no place to be.” She flipped her phone so he could see the text chain.
The reality of their situation hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. “Theo was supposed to be in this meeting too. Which means that it’s even more important that I go, offer my condolences and make sure I put their minds at ease that the business is running smoothly. Everyone will want to see the company leaders working hard despite the tragic situation.”
“Then we’ll make sure that happens.”
Ivy emerged from her room with her overstuffed backpack. At the front door, the girl made one more plea for Caleb to stay away from the office, but he shook his head. “I’m just going in for a few minutes. Juliette will be with me. It will be fine.” Ivy stomped out into the hallway in protest, and they headed to his car. Their first stop was to drop Ivy off at school. Hopefully she stayed there today. But if not, Juliette had asked Noelle to shadow Ivy. They were just waiting for clearance from the school.
After Caleb and Juliette watched Ivy walk into the school for visual confirmation that she wasn’t going to ditch, Caleb pulled out of the school’s parking lot and headed toward the office. Juliette remained unusually quiet. Unlike him, she was a talker.
“Are you mad that I’m going in? That I’m not taking Ivy’s concerns seriously? Because I understand that the threat is real. But I have people who need me. I can’t run and hide.” Why was she giving him the silent treatment?
“I’m not mad. I just don’t understand why you won’t take a day off. Especially in light of Theo’s situation. I’m sure people would understand. I mean, I was always the workaholic. It’s just strange to see you obsessed with work and stressed to the max.”
He ran a hand through his hair, mad that she could read him so well. “Co-owning a company and starting it from scratch with Blake was stressful, and I have a lot on my shoulders. Besides, I need to protect my clients that have placed their trust in my business. Just like you serve your clients.”
Juliette glanced at him from her passenger’s seat. “I get it. But we also didn’t eat breakfast. And I didn’t have enough coffee or sugar to keep my mind razor sharp. Can we please stop at the café near your office. Pleeease?”
Her pouty lips and Ivy-like antics worked. “Fine. I can’t believe I have to contend with the two of you now. I have some time before the meeting, so let’s get you your sugar fix.”
She pumped her fist in the air. He parked on the ground floor of the garage across from his office building. The café was on the corner, with a great view of the street. When they arrived, the hostess seated them by the window. He could see his office on the top floor of an eight-story high-rise dotting the Savannah downtown business district.
Juliette ordered bacon and eggs plus a whole pot of coffee, and Caleb ordered the same. Then Juliette amended her order to include a chocolate-covered bear claw.
“Stop judging me,” she said in a singsongy voice.
He shook his head. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it—rather loudly, I might add.”
“I wouldn’t dream of judging you. You put as much sugar into your body as you want.”
Why did this feel like a date? They’d started to make inroads to the comfortable companionship they used to have, and it was a breath of fresh air in his smog-filled life.
“Do you miss the Army?” Juliette asked as she attacked her bear claw.
He thought for a moment. “I was never die-hard Army like you, Jules. I was meant to be an analyst, and while I liked my time serving, I’m much more suited to owning my own company. I provide jobs for people, and I get to build my own software. It also lets me afford Ivy’s expensive tuition, so it’s worth it.”
The waitress brought their breakfasts. “Can I say a blessing for the food?” Caleb asked.
Juliette hesitated but nodded. He said a quick blessing and dove into his eggs. “Your faith has sustained you all these years,” Juliette said. “In a world that changes on a daily basis, I’m glad you remain constant.”
“Actually, God is the only thing that remains constant amidst the chaos. The one I can rely on to never let me down. Even the most complicated mathematical equation would fail if not executed precisely. When the world seems bleak, I still see God in everything around me.”
Ah, there it was. One of the main challenges in their friendship. Juliette only trusted herself to protect others. She failed to see how God had rescued her.