“No, Sawyer! “ Morgan gave their cat a gentle scolding, as he jumped onto one of the chairs and started staring at the plates full of pasta with a pitying look. “I put dinner on for you and your sister before you even walked into this kitchen. Also, the sauce may have some ingredients that are bad for you. You don't want to go back to the hospital again, do you? “ he asked the cat, lifting it easily in his lap and smiling when he saw it raise its adorable and desolate face towards him “ It's no use making that face. No pasta for you.
“You really were born to put a house in order. Charlie chuckled.
“ Well, I imagine dealing with stubborn cats isn't much different than dealing with a small child. “ Morgan shrugged, sitting in the chair next to hers “You have to teach them that they can't have everything they want, whenever they want it.
“I didn't know you had experience dealing with children. “She laughed, although she was a little confused.
“Oh, that…” he blushed suddenly, looking away “Actually… I don't. It's just... Dealing with Sawyer's illness and having to take care of everything he and Matilda needed... I don't know, but I couldn't help thinking... Well, it might sound silly, but I couldn't help but think. to think this must be a little like having a baby... " he started to swirl his fork around the noodles, looking awkward " No, I know. I guess it's something you can't help thinking about when you're getting older and people start asking if you and your wife are thinking about having kids yet. “ he smiled nervously, almost as if he was afraid that she would be offended by something.
"Well, I'm not going through that phase yet, but..." Charlie looked to the side, watching Sawyer playfully tickle Matilda's head with the tip of her tail and spin her around in circles trying to figure out what was going on. going on, and she can't help but smile as she imagines, with a warm heart, what it would be like if there were a little baby, who looked a little bit like and and a little bit with Morgan, right there in the middle of them “ I can understand what you're saying. I think I'd like to be a mother…" she hesitated for a moment, worried that she had gone too far as they had only started going to bed for real a day ago "Someday.
" I..." she heard his equally hesitant voice, still not daring to face him, but felt a little relief when she noticed that he seemed to be smiling "I would also like to be a father... Someday.
Looking up sheepishly, Charlie met the sweet expression he was staring at her that made her heart race. Much more than affection, there seemed to be an even stronger feeling there, in addition to a kind of silent promise that she wanted to find out what it was... But the sharp sound of a cell phone ringing surprised them, making both look towards the bench from the kitchen, where Morgan's cell phone had been.
“I think I need to answer this. “ he sighed as he stood up, looking just as, if not more, disappointed than she did “Just a moment...
Deciding the best way to keep her lip from pouting at the interruption, Charlie went back to eating silently as she watched him bring the phone up to his ear, not at all pleased.
" Hello? “ after a minute of silence, he sighed heavily “ Well, we expected that. But let Mrs. Manson kick and threaten us all she wants. Every piece of evidence of her harassment will be valuable when the lawyers take our case to court and prove that there is something seriously wrong with the way her late husband's will was divided. Anything else... Of course there is. “ he muttered under his breath and Charlie imagined that only she could hear his wail “Well, about those deals…
After that, he spent more than half an hour talking about numbers and contracts and companies in such a way that she could understand a word. Upset about being in the same room as him but not being able to truly enjoy his company, even the once-delicious food lost its luster for her and Charlie only brightened again when he finally took off on the call, looking so eager. for it to end how much Charlie felt.
" Finally. “ he cheered, looking exhausted, and went back to sit beside her.
“Should they be calling you? “ she asked, a little angry “ I mean, you called this morning to say you were going to take time off and it's past eight o'clock at night...
“ They are used to being able to talk to me 24 hours a day. “ Morgan said, sighing “It's something that my father instituted in the company and I was never able to revert.
“ Well, it's never too late to try, is it? “ Charlie encouraged him “ After all, this company is yours alone, now.
“ Unfortunately, it's not that simple. “ he opened a sad smile, as if he also wanted to be able to put what she had suggested into practice “ We have a lot of stocks and minority investors spread across the country and, to really change something, I would need everyone's approval, which it's almost impossible. “Her smile turned bitter“ It would be easier for me to sell my share of the company and retire at once...
“And why don't you do it? “ Charlie asked, making him immediately look up at her, dumbfounded “I mean, you have enough money to live the rest of your life in peace, don't you? You can invest the money and free time you would earn in something you love... Like cooking. “ she proposed “ Did you know that at my college they have a great gastronomy course? You could take the entrance exam for him in a few months and then we could be colleagues...
“That… That would be…” his expression slowly lit up, in a shy smile “Incredible.
“And why can't it come true? I mean, I'm not telling you to sell your family business anyone tomorrow, but…" she laughed, awkwardly, "Well, you're the only member of the Sullivan family still involved in this, aren't you? There would be no one to criticize your decision. You could get rid of all that pressure and dedicate yourself to what you love... " she hesitated for a moment, but ended up adding " And I know how close you feel to your mother when you're cooking. Wouldn't you like to major in that, like she did too?
" I would love. In fact, I thought about it when I was about your age and about to go to college... " he admitted " But I knew that refusing to do business administration would create a huge conflict with my father. It was the profession of the men in the family for generations and I didn't know how he would react if I said I wanted to break it down to study gastronomy. So... I ended up giving up on that idea without ever telling anyone.
“Well, that was in the past. “ she encouraged, not wanting to see that sadness take over his face for much longer “ You always owned your own destiny itself and now it is, more than ever. Therefore, why not think more about the possibility of giving your dream a chance? Charlie asked, reaching his hand across the table so she could intertwine their fingers together. “Why not give yourself a chance to be happy."
He stared at her for a moment, as if he were completely lost in an enchanting reverie. When he seemed to realize what he was doing, however, he looked away from her face and just nodded, embarrassed.
“I... I'll think about it." he promised, though there was something in his fearful tone that let Charlie know he was too scared of the changes this decision would bring to actually risk putting it into practice.
But that was okay, because she could do that to him. Pretending that she, too, had dropped the subject, she went back to eating, silently concocting the newest plan she needed to formulate to get Morgan to take a new initiative.
And Charlie knew better than anyone that sometimes he just needed a little push to give in to her wishes and do amazing things.