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NICO HAD SPENT THE last week staring at the drawings he and Mr. Travers made for the Armstrong project, after Mr. Travers did as promised and the two had finished with the restaurant design.
His thoughts were all angles and proportions, of a skyline skimmed by this spectacular building that was teaching him how to take so much into consideration when creating a new construction literally from the bottom up.
Mr. Travers was partnering with another company for the project, which was handling different aspects than he, or rather, they, if Nico allowed him to consider himself part of the team, were. Telephone calls were frequently exchanged, and Nico took notes as his employer explained the conversations while they occurred, carefully recording everything that was said in a binder of notes.
He had yet to see Thomas since the day Faith’s cousin pushed him, but Faith had appeared every morning since, quietly listening in on what was said until she had something to say.
And when she did, it was always thoughtful and intelligent, to the point and helpful. Mr. Travers would smile and nod slowly as he listened to her, and Nico found himself more and more impressed with her each day.
“This way there will be more space for the employees to move around, which would be important if there ever was a need to evacuate.”
Faith had just explained her solution to a problem Nico brought up when the telephone rang insistently, right before they were about to take their usual lemonade and cookie break.
“I’ve never been inside one of these skyscrapers before, but I’m sure that if I was, I’d want to know that there was a safe way to leave quickly. I wonder if the buildings that already stand have this in mind.”
She leaned over on the table, her hands resting on the edge just outside of the papers that spread out over it, the scattered drawings that represented their combined contributions filling with what looked like a very impressive design, Nico thought, hoping that Faith would receive some credit for it as well as Mr. Travers and himself.
“I hope we can still go to see your store, and meet your family. They sound like so much fun.”
Faith’s words surprised Nico, as they had not had a private conversation outside of what pertained to the work they shared for many days.
Not since the day he held her in his arms, only because she would have fallen into a pile of nails if he hadn’t.
Had he imagined her words that day that open and honest revelation that he had been unable, and unwilling, to forget?
She stood up straight again, lifting a hand to her hair to tuck a stray lock behind her ear, and Nico knew he was staring.
And so did Faith.
Mr. Travers was standing on the other side of the room, his hand on his hip and his forehead creased as if he was either confused or upset by what he was hearing, but Nico only glanced over at him before responding to Faith, who was watching him expectantly, her eyes bright.
“They will definitely entertain you, and my brothers and sisters will love you,” he said, laughing a little until he realized what he had said.
Of course his family would love Faith; there was everything to love about her, and if he wasn’t careful, he was going to be too far gone himself before he even had permission to court her.
Which was not guaranteed.
“And my sister Rosetta would be happy to show you how to bake some of the almond cookies that interest you so much.”
He rushed to continue, hoping she didn’t think very much on his use of the word love, and her smile grew wide.
“I’m sorry, Nico, I need to speak with you on an important matter. Faith, this feels very rude of me, but I’m going to have to ask you to step out of the room. Perhaps you can visit with Evie.”
Mr. Travers interrupted them, not bothering to try to hide his dismay.
But over what?
“What’s wrong?”
Faith had no trouble asking questions, but Nico already suspected that her uncle was not going to answer this one. Whatever was going on, he wanted to keep it between himself and Nico, and if that was the case, Nico wanted to keep Faith out of it as well.
Was there an issue with the design ideas they had already sent to Mr. Armstrong and the board of the Armstrong company?
Would Mr. Travers look so upset if that was it?
Nico didn’t think so.
“I’m sorry, Faith,” Mr. Travers’ words were an echo of what he had said to Nico moments earlier.
He pressed a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. “Please, just give us some time. I’ll find you when we’re finished and explain.”
When Faith stepped into a splash of sunlight that glimmered through the window, her hair shone like spun gold, and Nico was sure it would be soft to the touch, like the gentleness of her smile.
“Of course.”
She bobbed her head as she walked by the two of them, Nico in front of Mr. Travers so she moved close to him first, offering him a small shrug and tiny smile as if to wish him well.
For the first time since Nico had come into the Travers home, his employer closed the door, after following Faith and seeing her into the hall without a word.
Surely this was not a good sign, Nico thought, taking a deep breath to counter whatever was coming.
He couldn’t imagine what it was, though.
“Mr. Armstrong’s secretary says that the company and project information we sent by courier last week to our partnering firm are missing. They never made it to their destination.”
Nico kept his eyes on Mr. Travers’, and something in them held a warning.
But why?
“The courier left with both of the tubes. I gave them to him, and watched him leave. Could he have dropped one, or perhaps one of the caps on an end came off and the papers fell out?”
There were no other possibilities, were there?
Mr. Travers sighed and turned away, tucking his hands in his pockets and looking up at the ceiling.
That paperwork held private information, Nico remembered, and he could see how this could be a big problem.
Was Mr. Armstrong blaming Mr. Travers for this loss?
“However,” Mr. Travers went on after a long pause, but he didn’t move to look at Nico as he spoke. “Another architectural firm has announced plans to build a skyscraper of similar properties to the one Mr. Armstrong requested, and there are specifics to the design requirements that were confidential to our project.”
The room, which could become stuffy when the window was kept shut, seemed to grow smaller, the cool breeze that filtered in negligible in the face of the trepidation Nico began to feel.
“Our client believes that this information never made it to our partner, because it went to his adversary instead, who now has saved himself plenty of work and effort to create an innovative building that will spotlight his business.”
And derail Mr. Armstrong’s plans, Nico realized.
Feminine laughter trailed faintly through the closed door, and he was glad that Faith wasn’t here to learn of this distressing development. As much thought and effort she put into assisting her uncle, he knew that her mind was occupied with family concerns, with those to whom she was closest.
She was so generous with her care and concern. Was it selfish of him to wish that part of her heart may someday belong to him?
“Mr. Armstrong’s attorney is coming to speak with us, in fact, he is on his way now. I’m not sure why I wasn’t notified earlier, unless he is using an element of surprise for some reason. It’s as if,” Mr. Travers turned to look at Nico with a frown, his hands sliding up to his hips. “As if he’s accusing me of something.”
Nico felt a trickle of sweat slide between his shoulder blades. That’s why he was starting to feel uncomfortable; Mr. Travers felt the same, and he was able to put a point to it.
“You’re a very honorable man, sir. When my parents and I began to ask around about architects, of course looking for one who was within the range of our savings for the restaurant as well as one with a fine reputation, your name came up again and again.”
There was a single knock on the door, and then Mrs. Travers poked her head in.
“Regardless of what is going on in there, I’ve lemonade. The cookies are in the hands of two hungry young ladies, so you may have to wait to see what they leave behind for you.”
Her husband stepped forward to open the door further, and Mrs. Travers came in with a gilded tray, one that bore two full glasses of lemonade instead of the usual three empty ones with a pitcher.
It felt strange to see the two glasses there, and it made Nico feel a little lonely for Faith’s company as he watched Mrs. Travers place the tray on the table.
“Nico was just telling me that I’m a very honorable man with a fine reputation.”
Mr. and Mrs. Travers stared at each other after he spoke, and Nico watched something wordless pass between them before she pressed her lips together tightly.
“Never mind, Will. We all make mistakes, and you’ll not start beating yourself up over that again.”
Nico was shocked when she grabbed her husband’s lapels and pulled his face close to hers.
“The Lord does not demand perfection, and neither do I. I don’t know what has made this come up in that mind of yours, but it stops now. Forward, Will. That is the direction in which we move.”
She let Mr. Travers go and flashed a quick, sweet smile at Nico before gliding from the room like she hadn’t just manhandled her husband in front of him.
Nico had no idea how to react. His parents were emotional and demonstrative in front of him and his siblings, hiding nothing from them. But this group of people seemed to keep their feelings close to their chests more often than not, except, of course, for Thomas.
Would he ever return to be a part of the Travers projects?
Mr. Travers sighed and shook his head, turning to the window.
“I think I’ll take a turn in the garden, but I won’t be long. Maybe some fresh air is all I need, and a word with the Lord as my wife so clearly recommended just now.”
While Nico wasn’t sure that was what he himself heard, he now understood Mrs. Travers’ implication. Before he could answer, Mr. Travers left through the now open door, nearly colliding with Faith.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Uncle Will. Are you well?”
She seemed to pout just a little as she looked up at Mr. Travers, and he rested a hand on her shoulder, smiling as he reassured her.
“Be sure to leave that door open,” he said as he turned away, his smile disappearing.
Faith followed him with her gaze, then turned to Nico just as a loud knock echoed through the large house, as if someone was beating on the front door.