I lift a hand to my face and wipe at my eyes with the back of my first knuckle.

“It can’t be that simple.”

“It is, though. No offense, the world—and Montgomery Partners—aren’t going to collapse if you’re not there to run the show.”

I run through the scenario in my head. The one where I bring Ford back up to speed so that he’s an equal partner in the business again. It won’t be easy for me to let go of some things. But yeah—if Ford could help handle snafus like the one this morning, obviously that’d be huge.

Am I ready to let go? Am I ready to step back?

Yes and no.

But more than anything, I want to be with Julia. Have a family with her. Be the man she needs.

If that means stepping back at work, I’ll do it.

I’ll do anything for her.

I also have a nice chunk of change in savings. Really nice. Enough to get a healthy college fund started for the baby. Plenty for whatever else she’ll need.

“Thank you,” I manage. “I don’t know what to say, Ford. But thank you. For listening. For being you.”

“Hey. You were there when I needed you, Grey. You went above and beyond to help me put my life back together after I lost Rebecca. I’ll always be there for you in any way that I can. Always.”

“I love you, brother.”

He grins. Claps me on the shoulder. “I love you too. Just promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll never wear those tuxedo pants again. If Mom ever saw—”

“Pants are gone,” I say, laughing. “I promise.”

“Good. I was worried there for a second I’d have to pretend not to know you at weddings from now on. Although I did love how you danced. Granted, it was definitely more Farley than Swayze—”

I give him a shove. “Not according to Julia. I have it on very good authority she thought my Swayze was sexy as fuck.”

“Ew.” Ford holds up his hands. “Please don’t finish that thought.”

“What? You don’t want me to tell me you that she and I got complaints at the hotel for being too loud?”

“And it’s time for me to head back home. I’ll see you at the office first thing Monday morning?”

I look at him. “You sure you’re ready?”

“I’m ready. I have been for a while. Put me back in, coach.”

“If you stop with the terrible sports metaphors, I’ll consider it,” I say. Letting out a breath.

“All right,” he says.

“All right.”

Everything’s going to be all right.

I hope.

I can only pray Julia will forgive me for the things I said and the way I acted.

I give Ford a hug. Tell him to give a kiss to the baby.

Then I head upstairs to do some serious reading. As much as I want to literally run to Julia’s place and beg her forgiveness, my gut’s telling me not to rush this. She needs time to cool down. Get some rest. And I need time to 1) download a bunch of baby books and read them (thank God for e-readers), and 2) figure out what I’m going to say to Julia.