It was almost Summer, and I was making my weekly trip over to Grace's place for some fun sexy time. Grace met me in her most revealing lingerie yet. It was really more like a piece of tissue paper with sleeves.

 

 

Before I could jump on her, she told me, "From now on, I need you to wear a condom."

 

"Why?" I asked, perhaps a little defensively.

 

 

"Don't worry. I didn't test positive for any disease or anything. It's just Chad and I decided to try for a baby, and until I get knocked up, he's the only one who gets to go raw. You okay with that?"

 

 

Turns out, I was fine with it. But, of course, hearing that Grace and Chad were trying to start a family got me thinking about Aiyana and Bridget and, well, I'll come back around to that.

 

Anyway, I met with Domnall, the super-loyal former managing partner at Galway & Lombardo. I gave him a quick rundown of what Cormac and Vicente had told me, and asked for his take.

 

 

"Well," he laughed, "it's certainly no surprise that they have vastly different views of our firm's history. I think Vicente is closer to the truth of it. Cormac has always been both a little too demanding of their sons, and despairingly short on self-awareness to his own role in how they turned out."

 

 

"Yes, I know all about Sook and the secretaries."

 

"Buy me a beer, and I'll tell you more."

 

So we went to a bar up in Willow Creek and continued the conversation over a couple of pints.

 

 

"Did Vicente tell you about Tera? The new secretary?"

 

 

"About how Cormac hired her for the sole purpose of trying to keep Ercole's attention in the office?"

 

 

"Yes, but there's more than that, and I think this highlights just how wrong Cormac went. Never mind that his first instinct was to manipulate Vicente's son, rather than his own. It's the unintended consequences. Sure, it worked on the surface. Ercole was smitten, and he did spend more time in the office. But I happened to be there doing some research while Ercole and Eoghan were chatting in the conference room."

 

 

"Ercole was going on and on about how great of a fuck the new girl was. Note he didn't bother using her name. Just 'the new girl.' Anyway, he asked if Eoghan had tried her yet. Eoghan said no, but on hearing Ercole's review, would be sure to do so."

 

 

"So, no changes to their personalities, then. Tera was just another convenient outlet for their baser desires?"

 

 

"Exactly. From hearing the gossip, it did not take long for Eoghan to prove true to his word."

 

 

"I can sort of see why Cormac doesn't want either of those boys running things."

 

"Oh, of course. They are far too impulsive. On that, we all agree. But Cormac fails to see how, despite his supposedly rigid code, Eoghan is more like him than unlike."

 

"But they both agree you were different."

 

 

"Oh, yes. I never had any desire to run around on Siobhan. We have always been true soulmates."

 

 

"Do you think your son takes after you?"

 

"Well, I think mostly. He certainly took to Rose from the moment they met, and as far as I know, he stayed true to her."

 

 

"I can sometimes hear them through the walls, so I know they are still very passionate."

 

 

"And, to be clear, this is not a family I would trade for the world. My son loves his wife, and they both have a very strong bond with both me and his mother."

 

 

"And, of course, there is little Mary. Light of all our lives."

 

 

"Sounds like a Hallmark movie," I said.

 

"Yes, it does. But, the thing is, Robert is a musician, and now that he is touring regularly, well, there have been a few times, not many, but a few, when he has come home from a long trip, and I could see in his face something that told me he succumbed to the temptations of the road."

 

"A man can tell," I said.

 

"Yes, especially a father."

 

 

At this point, the bar was starting to get crowded, so we parted ways, with promises to reconnect if I needed any follow-up information. On my way out, I noticed one of the new dancers at Picante. I guess she was moonlighting at the bar for extra money. I hadn't actually met her, yet, just seen her on stage, but she looked alone, so I plopped down at her table and introduced myself.

 

"Isabella, right?" I asked.

 

 

"That's right. You look familiar. One of Pedro's friends?"

 

"Connor."

 

"Ah, yes, the writer. Nice to meet you."

 

"How are you doing tonight?"

 

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"You know, how's business?" A forward question, I know, but I've learned how to be forward in these situations.

 

She furrowed her brow and stayed silent for a while before she answered.

 

"Honestly, slow as can be. No bites tonight. I might have to try the Magnolia before it gets too late if I want any action."

 

Well, I was a bit horny, and had plenty of cash on me, so I told her she didn't need to go all the way to the Magnolia. She just needed to follow me to the bathroom upstairs.

 

 

She wasn't too bad. Still quite inexperienced on the whole. I could probably teach her a few things. Still, well worth the price, and she didn't have to leave empty-handed.

 

Anyway, that little sexcapade wasn't really integral to the plot, but I add it here for the sake of completeness and honesty, and to highlight how torn I was on this whole Aiyana thing. Did I want a family? Or did I want to keep fucking as many girls as I could? Eventually, I decided that I couldn't keep this dilemma to myself, and had to open up about my feelings to Aiyana. So I invited her over to the ranch to take a walk through the fields.

 

 

I explained to her how she had become very special to me, but I was worried that I couldn't provide her with the type of stable relationship she deserved. She was very understanding.

 

"Let me cut you off," she said. "You're obviously very bothered about this. When have I ever told you I expected anything from you? Other than to be a parent for your daughter? Never, that's when."

 

 

"I just like being with you," she continued. "But we never made any promises to each other, and besides, I've seen your work. I know what kinds of things you've gotten into. And that's just the stuff that's fit to print. I can't imagine what else there might be."

 

This actually embarrassed me a bit.

 

 

"Actually," she said, "I think I can. I never told you this before, but a couple of months ago, I came over to surprise you, and I heard the sounds of a party coming through your windows. I peeked inside, and could hardly believe what I saw."

 

 

"I don't know what-" I started.

 

"It's okay. You were clearly hosting some kind of orgy."

 

 

My mouth dried up, and I couldn't speak.

 

"It's okay. I don't need you to explain. I just want you to know that you don't have to lie to me. I don't feel betrayed."

 

"Betraying you in any way would be the furthest from my mind," I told her.

 

 

We continued the conversation inside.

 

"This is all a bit much to process," I said.

 

 

"I understand," she told me. "Look, let's just agree to be more open from now. No new promises or commitments. Let's just see where this takes us. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll want me to be a part of this other half of your life."

 

 

Even after we finished talking and Aiyana went home, this comment reverberated through my head. Was Aiyana really suggesting she would swing with me, just to make me happy? I couldn't have that.

 

 

But, then I thought, what if this was her way of telling me that being a part of that with me would make her happy?

 

 

That, I would have to think about for a while.

 

Next day, a quick change of direction. Got a call from Pedro.

 

 

Maya finally had the baby. A beautiful girl named Ines.

 

 

If it's possible to hear silence in the background, I could hear that Elisa was not happy.

 

 

I wonder if Pedro's potential troubles might help me plan out what I was facing down the road with Aiyana. But that will have to wait for another chapter. Next stop, it was finally time to meet this Carlton guy.