Free The O'Conners: A Made for Love Novella by R.C. Martin

the apartment with a toasted egg sandwich. Avery made it for me while I got dressed.
    I love that woman.
    Despite all that makes today significant, work feels a bit mundane. Time moves slower than molasses and I have to work twice as hard to maintain an appropriate amount of focus. It ’ s difficult not to let my mind wander to thoughts of Avery every other millisecond. It ’ s still sinking in that we ’ re about to start a family. Avery ’ s settling into our new reality a lot better than she was initially, but she ’ s always been my worry-wart. This has her so anxious. I know the pressure falls on me to assure her and reassure her that we can do this. I won ’ t lie, though. I ’ m scared, too.
    I want to be good to this baby. I want to be the father that I never had. I want to be smart and prepared. I never want Avery or our children to ever want for anything. Not materially. Not physically. Not emotionally. I ’ m determined to do whatever it is that I need to in order to be the head of my household. My household . God has trusted me with this family and I won ’ t let them down.
    It ’ s one thing to be responsible for someone ’ s heart . It ’ s another thing entirely to be responsible for their entire life . I don ’ t know how anyone is ever prepared for that undertaking.
    When three o ’ clock rolls around, I ’ m more than ready to head home and pick up Ave. I couldn ’ t force myself to concentrate on numbers for another minute even if I tried. Just as I ’ m getting ready to head out, I hear someone calling my name. When I turn and look behind me, I see Jared, my boss and the head of the accounting division, standing at the end of the hallway. He appears to be wrapping up a conversation with Kyle, one of the lead accountants in the department. He holds up a finger, signaling for me to wait, before he shakes Kyle ’ s hand and begins to make his way towards me.
    “Where are you off to, Grayson? ”
    “I ’ m on my way out, actually. I have the rest of the afternoon off. ”
    “Oh, that ’ s right! Well, I just need a minute. Let me walk you to the elevators. ”
    Jared ’ s probably the nicest guy I ’ ve ever worked for. He ’ s a no nonsense leader, straight forward with high demands; but he ’ s also an advocate for higher education opportunities and development. The entire reason this fellowship program exists is because of him.
    “A couple of the guys on my staff have noticed a shift in your focus over the past couple of weeks. They thought it necessary to bring it to my attention. ”
    My stomach drops and my pace slows as I reach my hand up to squeeze the back of my neck. “ Um, about that — I ’ ve just got some things happening at home. I —”
    “Well, they must be good things, ” he interrupts with a grin. I crease my forehead in confusion. “ They say that you ’ ve upped your game, Gray. I ’ ve been told to keep my eye on you. ”
    “Oh, ” I mutter, releasing my neck. That one word is all I can manage, caught off guard by the direction this conversation is going.
    “As you know, at the end of your fellowship, one or two from your class will be selected to stay on with the firm. You ’ ve proven to be quite the contender. Are you and Avery planning on staying in the Chicago area after you graduate? ”
    “Honestly? I don ’ t know, sir. ” My mind is racing. The prospect of a full-time position waiting for me right after graduation, at one of the most prestigious law firms in the area, is like an answer to a prayer I haven ’ t even found the words to pray yet. That being said, this is an incredible opportunity I can ’ t just snatch up without speaking with my wife. We ’ ve yet to decide whether or not we want to stay in Illinois after the spring. With this baby on the way —
    “Keep me up to speed on your plans, alright? ” he says, clapping a hand against my back. “ No matter what you decide, you ’ ll have my word to back you. You ’ re