"Aren''t you the genius? There''s nothing you can''t do, only things you don''t want to!"


    Calliope grinned up at him. "Seriously, these pancakes are amazing. You could open a diner, you know!"


    Lance managed a fleeting smile, the sadness on his face gone in a blink, and finally started eating in earnest.


    Calliope kept up a bit of small talk, hoping to ease the awkward quiet.


    Lance didn''t say much. He ate slowly, pushing his food around more than actually eating it. It was obvious he didn''t have much appetite, but he was making the effort. Because he knew that if he didn''t, Hudson would have been upset. Hudson had made him promise to take care of himself, and that meant he had to try.


    After breakfast, Lance set his fork down. "Callie, I know you''ve got a lot to deal with. Don''t worry about me. I''m fine. I need to get back and sort out some things for thepany anyway."<fn33db> Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn33db>


    He nced around the kitchen, his voice quiet but steady. "You know, thepany was his whole world. He built it from scratch, like raising a kid, really. Now that he''s gone, it''s up to me to look after it."


    He attempted a reassuring smile. "Really, don''t worry. I''ve been bracing myself for this. Hudson made sure everything was set up for me. I''ll follow his wishes, keep thepany running, look after the house, all of it."


    Calliope eyed him, concern written all over her face. "Are you sure you don''t want to rest? Just for a bit?"


    It looked like Lance was ready to head straight back to work, no downtime, no pause for breath. Hudson''s loss was still so fresh.


    “I''ll be okay,” Lance shook his head. “Resting won''t change anything. He''s gone. All I can do now is keep moving forward."


    "He always said he didn''t want me wallowing in sadness. He wanted me to bounce back. If he knew I was just sitting around, being miserable, he''d probably be pissed."


    He tried tough, looking at Calliope. "So, really, don''t stress about me. I''ve got things under control. I already booked my flight. I''m leaving this afternoon."


    "That soon?" Calliope was caught off guard. She''d expected him to stick around a bit longer.


    Lance nodded.


    "Are you sure you''re up for it?" Calliope pressed. "I can drive you to the airport, at least."


    "No need. Aren''t the Jewell family still blowing up your phone? Didn''t they use you of something else? You''ve got your own mess to deal with. saw some of the stuff fonline. But don''t worry, I know you can handle it. I won''t butt in."


    belongs to s


    He looked at her then, quieter and more solemn than she''d ever seen him. Gone


    was the lively, joking Lance, he seemed older, steadier.


    Calliope knew he didn''t want to get


    tangled up in her drama, and


    honestly she didn''t need the help. The


    Jewell family''s nonsense could wait a few days. She''d deal with it when she was ready.  s


    Right now, her real worry was Lance.


    "Don''t worry about me," he said gently. "I''ll get to the airport on my own. I''ll text you when I get home."


    He hesitated, ncing around the sunny kitchen. "I''ll probablye back to the house every now and


    then, so... if you could find someone reliable to keep it clean, I''d


    appreciate it."  s


    Calliope nodded. "Leave it to me."


    She knew Lance had everything he needed. There wasn''t much she could offer, except to be there.


    "If you ever want to grab a drink, call me. I''ll hop a flight over and keep youpany," she said.


    "And if you hit any snags at work, let me know. Maybe I can help, you never know."


    She paused, searching for the right words. "Honestly, if you need anything, you know where to find me. I''m always here for you."