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party planning business or something like that. Ben looked around the large space with the
exposed beam ceiling. I love this place too much to sell to a stranger.
Sidney loved it too. He also loved the sense of family he felt each day he walked
through the doors. Can I ask you something? Do you need the added income expanding
will bring in?
Ben was quiet for a few moments before answering, Not really. I just always figured
when the time was right, I d take the company to the next level.
Sidney nodded. And I completely understand that reasoning, but I m not sure that s
the best way to go in this case. Right now, there are five of us and we all work really well
together. I ve worked for a big design company, and I can tell you it s nothing like what we
have here.
Ben finished his wine and set the glass on Sidney s desk. So you think we should turn
away business?
Sidney wouldn t have put it that way, but& Yeah. Right now, we re in the position to
pick and choose the jobs we want to work on. Hell, we can even charge a little more for our
services if we decide to go that way. I know it probably means you won t need a partner after
all, but I m okay with that as long as things can stay the same.
No, regardless of what we decide, you ve earned a partnership. The rest we ll have to
figure out together. Ben held out his hand. Thanks for making me see the situation in a
different light.
Sidney shook Ben s hand. Anytime, partner.
Chapter Five
April 2006
Fifty? Can you believe it? Sidney asked, attaching Nash s birthday banner to the
stone above the fireplace.
Yeah, I can believe it. Half the time he acts a lot older than that, Luke replied, tying a
balloon.
Sidney climbed down from the ladder and turned to face his friend. What s going on
between you lately? It seems every time I turn around you re making a snide remark about
him.
Luke finished tying a length of ribbon around the end of the balloon and let it float to
the ceiling. He didn t tell you?
Evidently not, since I don t know what the fuck you re referring to. Sidney pulled a
black balloon out of the bag and fitted it against the nozzle on the helium tank.
He cornered me at Christmas and told me I was being selfish for wanting to adopt.
Why it s any of his business I don t know, but he s obviously been talking to Butch, which
means either Butch put him up to it or Nash decided Butch can t talk for himself.
I m sorry. Sidney refused to apologise for Nash, but he was sorry to see how much
the confrontation had hurt Luke. He tied the balloon and reached for a ribbon.
I ve worked so hard for the last year and a half, trying to get this to happen for us, and
suddenly I find out Butch hates the idea.
Butch doesn t hate the idea, he thinks he s too old, Sidney tried to explain.
So he s talked to you about it, too? Luke asked.
No, but Nash did.
Oh, that s just great. So now you re against it, too.
I didn t say that. It took Butch a while to warm up to the idea of having a child, but he
knew how much it meant to you. Then, when you landed in the hospital with pneumonia
last September, he got scared.
Because I might die someday? That s bullshit. Nash could drop dead at any moment
from a heart attack, but I don t see the two of you putting your lives on hold because of it.
The balloon Sidney had in his hands drifted to the ceiling without a ribbon. He d
known Luke for years and never had his friend said something so incredibly hurtful.
Without a word, Sidney stood and walked up the staircase, retreating to a place Luke
couldn t follow.
He shut the door to his bedroom and sat on the edge of the mattress, still reeling from
Luke s statement. Opening Nash s bedside drawer, Sidney pulled out the bottle of medicine.
He wondered if Luke s words would ve had the same effect a week earlier, before Sidney
had picked up Nash s medicine from the pharmacy only to realise it was a much stronger
dose than he d been on in the past.
When he d questioned Nash, Nash had explained that the increase in dosage was just a
precaution and nothing for Sidney to worry about. Of course, Sidney still didn t believe him,
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