Chapter 44
“Just a friend. Why are you up?” Maxine said gently. She picked Jessica up and settled her on her lap. “Did you wake up hungry?”
Jessica shook her head, looking a little out of it. “I dreamed about Mommy and Daddy.”
Maxine felt a lump rise in her throat. She couldn’t speak, Kids really had a sixth sense for things, didn’t they?
Maxine managed a soft smile. “You miss them?”
Jessica didn’t answer. She just wrapped her arms around Maxine.
Maxine stroked her back gently. Before long, Jessica had fallen back asleep in her arms.
Then Maxine carried the little girl back to bed, careful not to wake her.
Watching Jessica’s soft, innocent face, Maxine quietly let go of the idea. She wasn’t going to tell her.
Jessica was too young. Losing both parents in such a short time–it was too much. Maxine couldn’t bear breaking her heart again.
The next morning, after dropping Jessica off at school, Maxine started reaching out to a few people she knew at the Blessings Hospital, trying to see if anyone could get Nathan’s records.
But after calling around all morning, Maxine got nothing. The sense of defeat was overwhelming.
Just then, Maxine’s phone rang. The number was unfamiliar.
Maxine forced her weariness down and answered without much thought. “Hello? Who’s this?”
A smooth, polished male voice came through the line. “Hi. Is this Ms. Hudson? This is Urban Soto. I’m a friend of Lucas’s.”
Maxine blinked, caught off guard. It took her a moment to recall what she’d said to Lucas the night before.
Maxine pushed down the annoyance building in her chest. She said, “That’s me–did Lucas give you my number? I’m sorry, Mr. Soto. I really can’t take your case right now. Things are pretty chaotic on my end. Maybe-”
Urban chuckled softly, cutting her off with an easy, measured tone. Don’t worry, Ms. Hudson. It’s true I got your number from Lucas, but he made it very clear you were busy. Told me not to bother you, that you’d reach out when the time was right.
“But I’m knee–deep in legal trouble and can’t afford to wait. So I’m reaching out on my own, without telling him. Hope you don’t mind.
“Do you have time later? I’d love to take you to lunch.”
Maxine almost turned him down on the spot.
But the man had clearly gone through Lucas, was polite, well–spoken, and respectful. Maxine couldn’t bring herse‘ flat–out refuse.
After a moment’s thought, Maxine said, “Send me the address, Mr. Soto. I’m free until four.”
Urban sounded pleased. He quickly sent over the address—it was a well–known Southern fine dining spot tucked into a quiet corner of downtown.
Maxine arrived right at lunchtime. The restaurant didn’t offer general seating–just intimate private rooms reserved in advance.
As soon as Maxine walked in, a host greeted her and led her upstairs to one of the suites.
The host said softly, “Mr. Soto is inside,” before pushing the door open gently.
Maxine picked up on it right away–the host obviously knew Urban personally. That made her a little wary, even uneasy about who he really was.
Chapter 44
Then Maxine kept quiet and stepped inside.
The room had been designed with a blend of modern elegance and vintage Southern charm. A tall folding screen blocked off the view inside, hand- painted with a soft watercolor of a reclining woman under warm amber light–artsy and refined, but not overdone.
Once Maxine stepped in, the host left quietly.
Maxine stepped farther in and saw the rest of the space: a low stone table in the center, carved with a narrow channel that let water trickle through like a decorative stream. In the corner, a leather fainting couch sat angled beneath a window, next to a walnut side table that held nothing but a linen napkin and a single ceramic cup.
A young man sat there, tall and handsome. When he saw Maxine, Urban smiled with a calm, open charm and stood to greet her.
“Ms. Hudson, it’s a pleasure. I’m Urban Soto,” Urban said.
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