Echoes of Summer by Laura D. Bastian Page B

him.”
    Madison nodded. “I know. This is just really new to me, and I’m not sure how to deal with it all.”
    Stephen glanced at the clock on her wall. “Are we still planning on meeting at three to go over the proposal?”
    “Yes.” Madison was glad he’d changed the subject. Trying to keep their personal life — or whatever this was — between them and their professional life separate was hard. “I’ve just about finished the presentation from the notes you gave me. I think I can get them done before then.” She dropped the flower petal into the trash on her way around her desk. Then looked back at Stephen. “I’ll see you at three then.”
    He nodded and left her alone in the office with his flowers and too many memories of that last summer echoing in her mind. She picked another petal, fresher and squeezable again. “May the fourth,” she whispered as she moved the flower’s lips. “Too funny.”
     
    ***
     
    Stephen left her office more confused than ever. She seemed to like the flowers, and he was glad, but why couldn’t he give his child a present? It wasn’t as if he planned to spoil the kid. He had missed seven years of his life and felt like he owed Milo something for that. But he supposed she was right. And Madison knew him best. If he wanted to be a part of Milo’s life, he’d have to do it on her terms.
    He probably had some sort of parental rights, but if he tried fighting for them, she would dig in her heels, and he’d ruin any chance of having her support him in the relationship with his child. Besides, a part of him wanted to see if he could possibly pursue a relationship with Madison.
    The more he saw her, the more he wanted to get to know her again. They had been such good friends, and though having sex had changed things between them, in a bigger way than just becoming parents, he’d been gone so soon after they reached that stage that he was sure she had lost all feelings for him. And getting her to give him a chance now would be much harder than starting a relationship with a stranger.
    He had their past mistakes to overcome as well as navigating this new parental aspect. He vowed to do his best to make things right with them, and if he could make her fall in love with him again, that would be the best option out there. Going about it too strong would backfire. He would have to work at it through his relationship with Milo and keep things professional here at work.
    He squared his shoulders as he walked back to his office. He could do this.
    When three o’clock rolled around, he knocked on Madison’s office door. She waved him in while still talking on the phone. He brought his chair around to the other side of her desk as she continued her conversation, and he opened his laptop to get things ready.
    Her small dish with chocolates was empty, and he frowned. He didn’t really need the candy, but it had become a habit, and he missed it. He knew there had been a bunch earlier. He’d seen them when he’d talked to her that morning. Had she eaten them all?
    He pushed the thought out of his mind when she finished her call and turned to him. As they talked about the presentation and the upcoming schedule, he reflected on how good she was at her job. It was a pleasure to work with her, but the more he watched her and the closer they worked together, the more he longed to reach out and take her hand.
    She wouldn’t appreciate that though, so he turned his attention back to the project, and they finished it in record time.
    “I think the pitch will go really well. Mr. Carlson will have another client signed soon,” Stephen said.
    “I hope so,” Madison said as she closed the program down. She yawned and wiped her eyes. “Sorry. Didn’t sleep much last night.”
    “Too much on your mind?”
    She nodded. “Yeah, and Milo couldn’t stop talking. I think he had a great time yesterday. Thank you for that. You handled it really well.”
    Stephen smiled. “I enjoyed it. He’s a