"Mr. Maxwell." The man sitting on the couch hurriedly stood and reached out for a handshake. Eric Poleman, the CEO of Next Fashion, greeted him with a smile. "I'm sorry for moving the meeting forward on such short notice. My wife is going to the office for the first ultrasound of our baby, and I want to be there."
"That's wonderful," Carl said in spite of himself, taking the other man's hand in a firm grip. "Congratulations, I wish her a safe delivery." He gestured for both of them to take their seat.
"Thank you," Eric chuckled, lowering himself into the seat. Then his voice lowered, "I'm so worried, I wish I could carry the pregnancy myself. I love her too much to see her go through the stress."
Carl nodded. Love. The word lingered in his mind. He loved Ryan. And Ryan loved Entomology. The phrase 'If you love them, let them go' flashed through his head. A reminder he desperately needed.
