Grace yawned, thinking she should be used to late nights by now. Looking at the clock, she noted it was after midnight. Not an unusual hour, but the last couple of days Annie had her up before dawn. She couldn't complain. In a week she'd be missing having an eleven-year-old jumping on her bed until she woke up.
Her tiredness evident, Oliver reached over and took the notepad she was sloppily writing in, shut it, and put it in his drawer.
"That's enough for tonight, Miss Farrell."
"I'm nearly finished with tomorrow's schedule."
"Never mind. I'll have a look at it in the morning. Get some rest."
"Thank you, sir," she conceded after several seconds of contemplation.
Resisting the urge to stretch her back, Grace rose from her chair as she bid her boss goodnight. She hadn't walked far from the desk when he spoke again.
"Actually... Grace?"
"Yes, sir?"
"There is one other thing I'd like to discuss with you."
With a mild panic, she replied, "If this is about the ripped painting, I can explain—"
"No, it's... what ripped painting?" His voice changed as her words registered.
"Oh, never mind. I've seen to its repair. What is it you wanted to say?"
Shaking his head, deciding he didn't want to know what happened and what to, Oliver went on. "I've been thinking about Annie. She's... she's not such a bad kid."
"Not in the slightest."
"Does she ever talk to you about the orphanage?"
"Now and then," she answered carefully.
"From what bits and pieces she's told me, it sounds like a dreadful place. Not that I expected it to be a boarding school in Switzerland, mind you."
Taking a step closer, Grace agreed. "It does. That Miss Hannigan..."
"I know. I believe what Annie's said, too. I know from my time on the streets how tough it gets. I guess when I met her, I assumed the girls had it easier."
"Any child without parents is bound to face hard times."
Oliver nodded. "Regardless, the more I think about it, the more I think I can't possibly send her back to that place."
Taking a step forward, her voice filled with hope, she said, "Are you saying that you want her to stay?"
"I... think I am."
"Oh, sir! That's wonderful!"
"Hold on," he said, holding his hand up as he stood. "I'm only thinking about it."
"What's there to think about?" she asked excitedly. "Things around here have never been better."
Coming around to the front of the desk, he leaned against it. "I've never been so behind on work, either."
Grace frowned.
"I might be able to live with that. To an extent."
"Then what is it?"
"Grace... what do I know about children? I hardly recall being one. What if I'm not fit to adopt her?"
"Don't be silly. I think you would be a wonderful father. She adores you. You've got to know that."
He shook his head. "Father," he repeated. "One word I never thought I'd associate with myself."
Cautiously touching his shoulder, she said, "There's always a learning curve with children. But you've been wonderful with her already. It's not as though she's an infant."
"You seem to know what you're doing. You do more of the actual caring. I take her places and give her things. That's all I know how to do."
With a shrug, Grace suggested, "Female intuition. You have help from all of us here. You do more than you think. You've taught her so much already. You've given her a new view of the world. That isn't small potatoes."
"I don't know..."
"Sleep on it," she said gently. "It's late and you're too tired to make a final decision." Realizing she still had a hold on his arm, she pulled her hand back, looking away for a moment.
"You're right," he said with a sigh, nudging her arm in return. "I've thought about it too much today."
Unable to suppress her smile any longer, Grace said, "In any case, I think it's marvelous that you're considering it. I haven't wanted to think about the day she's set to leave."
"Apparently, I haven't either. Damn. I don't know what to do."
"Don't think about it anymore tonight. You'll drive yourself mad."
"All right, all right," Oliver grumbled. "But if I do adopt her..."
"Yes?"
He looked into her eyes for several seconds, his mouth the slightest bit open. Alas, it closed without finishing his thought. Instead, he stood again and shook his head. "Never mind. Goodnight, Grace."
Knowing better than to press further, she nodded, her disappointment notwithstanding.
