Lunch with Antoine

Douglas was ushered into a private room near the kitchen. There, he was given a cheap sandwich. After a few minutes, Antoine came into the room.

"I'm not really comfortable meeting with you," Antoine said.

"It was part of the deal, Antoine. So how's it going?" Douglas asked. Antoine took out his phone, and Douglas scrolled through the photos. Pictures of Antoine and Elizabeth at the restaurant. Pictures of Antoine and Elizabeth in bed. Pictures of them on a vacation to the beach. Pictures of Aaron and Emily and Katie.

"God, they're getting so big," Douglas said, barely above a whisper. It made his heart hurt. "How are they doing?"

"Good. Emily's a little ahead of Aaron, but nothing to be worried about."

"Who do they call Daddy?" Douglas asked after a moment.

"Me," Antoine said, looking evenly back at Douglas. Douglas felt the goosebumps rise, but this was what he had wanted.

"Nice restaurant," Douglas said, looking around.

"You paid for it. Two more opening soon."

"So ... how's Elizabeth?"

"She's good, real good. Getting good sex for the first time in her life," Antoine boasted. "You should know, but you'll read about it soon enough. I'm proposing this weekend."

Douglas blinked a little bit. He wasn't going to tear up in front of Elizabeth's beau.

"Congratulations."