“Sweetheart, this is just gorgeous.” Tove turned in a circle, taking in the open-plan living space and the view of midtown Manhattan from the floor to ceiling windows. “You can afford it, right?”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom. The view is practically a tax write-off, we’ve done so many videos with Hayley in front of it already.” She raised her hands at Tove’s lifted eyebrows. “Practically, Mom. Practically. No, we’re not committing tax fraud to live here.”
“Well, it’s lovely.” Tove sank onto the sofa that faced the windows and sighed.
“Hayley will be back from the studio soon.” Emily sat on the other end of the couch and curled one leg under her. “Where’s Patrick?”
“Worried that he’s left me for a younger woman?” Tove asked, almost surprised that she could joke about such a thing.
Emily snorted. “Not hardly. That man thinks you hung the moon. It’s wonderful to see you with someone who really deserves you, Mom.”
Tove leaned over and patted her daughter’s hand. “Between the two of you, you’re going to give me a swelled head.”
“I speak only the truth and so does Patrick. So, where is the guy, anyway?”
“He had to take a call from the second lady of Pennsylvania. Now that her husband is going to the Senate, she’s scrambling to find someone to take over her charity.”
“She asked Patrick to run it, didn’t she?” Emily grinned.
“She did. But he says he’s neither interested in moving to Pennsylvania nor in being anyone’s boss. He was brainstorming possible candidates with her when I left the hotel. He should be along any minute, I’d say.”
The sound of the front door opening made both of them turn and Hayley’s voice rang out from the tiny foyer. “Guess who I found in the lobby?”
Emily looked at Tove and her smile went sly. “I love how he makes your face go all glowy,” she murmured as Hayley and Patrick came in, laughing about something.
It was true. Something in her softened when Patrick was around. She could go to work, be the ice queen and give the tough advice that she was famous for, then come home and feel the carapace she’d so carefully cultivated since Anthony left her quietly melt away. And see a corresponding molten look in his face.
Patrick turned away from Hayley and his expression softened as his eyes found hers.
Tove smiled, glancing at her daughter. “Well, as someone very wise once told me, love makes you sparkle.”