“Don’t I know it. I collected her from hospital and got into trouble for it, like I said I would,” he grumbled. “While Quentin was off on his boat.”

“He was racing, Lou!” She dropped the knife and turned to him, then seemed to switch gears. “Please.” She kissed him softly on the lips, and he closed his eyes, lingering in the rare moment.

“But I’ve so much to do at work,” he said quietly amid their kiss. “It’s important to me.”

Ruth pulled away. “Well, I’m glad something is, Lou, because for a moment there I almost thought you weren’t human.” She was silent as she finished buttering the bread fiercely, the knife hitting so roughly that it made holes. She slapped down slices of ham, tossed in a slice of cheese, then pushed down on the bread and sliced it diagonally with a sharp knife. She moved about the kitchen, slamming drawers and violently ripping tinfoil from the teeth of the packaging.

“We’re not in this life just to work, Lou, we’re in it to live. We have to start doing things together, and that means your doing things for me even when you don’t want to, and vice versa. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

“What do you mean ‘vice versa’? When do I ever make you do anything you don’t want to?”

“Lou,” she gritted her teeth, “they’re your bloody family, not mine.”

“So cancel it! I don’t care.”

“You have family responsibilities.”

“But I have more work responsibilities. Family can’t fire me if I don’t turn up to a bloody dinner, can they?”

“Yes, they can, Lou,” she said quietly.

“Is that a threat?” He lowered his voice. “You can’t throw comments like that at me, Ruth; it’s not fair.”

Ruth just looked at him and said nothing, allowing her stare to speak for her.

“Okay, fine, I’ll do my best to be there,” Lou said, both to please her and to get out of the house, yet not meaning a word of it. On her look, he rephrased it with more meaning. “I’ll be there.”

LOU ARRIVED AT HIS OFFICE at eight a.m. A full hour before another soul would arrive, even Alison. It was important for him to be the first in; it made him feel efficient, ahead of the pack. As he stepped out of the empty elevator into the quiet corridor, he could smell the products used by the cleaning staff last night. The scents of carpet shampoo, furniture polish, and air fresheners still lingered, as yet untainted by morning coffee and other human smells. It was still pitch-black outside at this early winter hour, and the office windows seemed cold and hard. Lou looked forward to leaving the empty corridors and getting to his office for his morning routine.

En route to his office he stopped suddenly in his tracks. Though Alison’s desk was empty, as expected, Lou could see that his office door was ajar and the lights were on. He walked briskly toward it. Seeing Gabe moving around inside his office, he felt his heart begin pounding as the anger surged through him.

“Hey!” he yelled, and fired his fist at the door, punching it open and watching it swing violently. He opened his mouth to yell again, but before he could get his words out, he heard another voice coming from behind the door.

“My goodness, who’s that?” came the startled voice of his boss.

“Oh, Mr. Patterson. I’m sorry,” Lou said breathlessly, quickly stopping the door from slamming against the man’s face. “I didn’t realize you were in here.” He rubbed his hand, his fist stinging and beginning to throb from punching the door. He looked from Mr. Patterson to Gabe uncertainly. “I’m sorry to have frightened you. I just thought that there was somebody in here who shouldn’t be.” His eyes landed on Gabe.

“Good morning, Lou,” Gabe said politely.

Lou slowly nodded at him in acknowledgment, wanting nothing more right then than an explanation as to why Gabe and his boss were standing in his office at eight a.m.

He looked down at Gabe’s empty mail cart and then at the files splayed out on his desk. He or Alison always tidied the papers on his desk at the end of every evening. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Gabe.

Gabe stared back unblinkingly.

“I was just chatting with young Gabe here,” Mr. Patterson explained. “He told me that he started his job yesterday, and isn’t he just wonderful for being the first into the office? That shows such dedication to the job.”

“First in? Really?” Lou faked a smile. “Wow. Looks like you beat me to it this morning, because I’m usually the first one in.” Lou turned to Mr. Patterson and offered an even bigger smile. “But you already knew that, didn’t you, Gabe?”

Gabe returned the smile with equal sincerity. “You know what they say: the early bird catches the worm.”

“Yes, it does. It catches it indeed.” Lou glared at him through his grin. A glare and a grin. Both at the same time.

Mr. Patterson watched the exchange with growing discomfort. “Well, it’s just after eight. I should leave.”

“Just after eight, you say. That’s funny.” Lou perked up. “The mail hasn’t even arrived yet. What, em, what exactly are you doing in my office then, Gabe?” His voice had an edge to it that was clearly recognizable.

“Well, I came in early to familiarize myself with the building,” Gabe responded angelically.

“Isn’t that wonderful?” Mr. Patterson asked, trying to break the tension.

“Yes, it is, but, Gabe, you already familiarized yourself with my office yesterday,” Lou said tightly. “So I’m asking again, what are you doing here?”

“Now, now, Lou, I fear I must jump in here,” Mr. Patterson said awkwardly. “I met young Gabe in the hallway and we got talking. As a favor for me, I’d asked him to take some files to your office. He was delivering them to your desk when I realized I’d left one in my briefcase. But when I turned around to tell him, he was already gone. Poof! Just like that!” Mr. Patterson chuckled.

“Poof!” Gabe grinned at Lou. “That’s me, all right.”

“I like fast workers, but I must say I prefer fast and efficient, and my goodness you certainly are that.”

Gabe jumped in before Lou could say anything.

“Thank you, Mr, Patterson, and if there’s anything else you’d like me to do for you, please let me know. I finish my shift at lunchtime and would be only too happy to help out for the rest of the afternoon. I’m keen to work.”

Lou’s stomach tightened.

“That’s wonderful, Gabe, thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. So, Lou,” Mr. Patterson turned to face him, and Lou waited for Gabe, no longer a part of this conversation, to leave. But he didn’t. “I wonder if you’d be able to meet with Bruce Archer this evening. You remember him.”

Lou nodded, his heart lifting as though he was a schoolboy again, wanting to please the teacher.

“I was supposed to meet with him, but I was reminded this morning of something else I have to attend.”

“This evening?” Lou asked, happily kissing good-bye Lucy’s play and dinner with his family. He’d been saved. “That’s no problem. It would be a pleasure.”

He felt Gabe’s eyes sear into him.

In his mind, Lucy, dizzy from her twirling for him, dropped to the ground, and Ruth opened her eyes and pulled away from their morning kiss, his promise of less than an hour ago having already been broken. He felt a split second of guilt, which at least told him he was human, making him feel that he might actually be a good family man. Some of his colleagues felt no guilt at all.

“Great. Great. Well, Melissa can fill you in on the details. I have a big night tonight.” Mr. Patterson winked at Gabe. “It’s my little one’s Christmas play. I’d forgotten all about it until he came running in this morning dressed as a star. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Gabe said, his face lighting up. “He’d probably never forgive you if you weren’t there. It’s such an important night for him. You’re a good father to go, as busy as you are.”

Lou glared at Gabe.