Her nostrils flare as she regards me like a steaming little devil with narrowed eyes. “How dare you treat me like this?”
To everyone looking on, I’ve just treated her like a wife. That’s code for loving husband behavior, at least around here.
Yeah, ginger, you better bet your curvy little ass I’m staking my claim.
“Sip?” I tip the beer toward her lips. If anyone still has any doubts, letting her drink from my bottle will definitely seal the deal.
Snatching the bottle from me, she props a hand on her hip. “Just a sip?” Her voice is mocking but there’s nothing mocking about the anger in her eyes. “That’s not very generous, Jake.”
Right there, in front of everyone, she downs my beer. She gulps it down in a few long swallows, lowers her head, and wipes her delectable mouth with the back of her hand.
Stunned, I can only stare at her as she chirps, “How far is that meat you bragged about, cowboy? Noah is awake, and he’s hungry.”
As she flings around and walks back to the trailer with sashaying hips, a few envious chuckles and a wolf-whistle sound from behind, but I’m too busy gawking to pay them any attention.
What I want has never been in Dubai. It has always been right here, between belonging and what truly matters, wearing tight shorts and way too much sass.
Kristi
After behaving like a territorial, macho caveman, Jake pulls another stunner on me by acting the hands-on daddy as he feeds Noah outside and plays on the grass with him. My mom returns after teatime, her cheeks glowing as she joins us for coffee but refuses to say anything about her date with Eddie.
By the time Jake comes back from the kitchen after washing the dishes, the other picnic makers are long gone, and Noah starts sniffling.
“I think he caught a cold,” my mom says.
“What?” Jake picks him up, studying his face. “Shall I take him to Dr. Santoni?”
“It’s just a cold.” I take Noah from his arms. “Nothing vitamin C and a good night’s rest won’t fix.”
“Do you think it’s the swimming?” Jake asks miserably as he follows me to the trailer.
“Most probably falling into the cold water last night.”
He stops to pull a hand through his hair. “Damn. I feel really bad now.”
“Jake.” I sigh. “You didn’t give him a cold.”
“I should’ve thought about it before taking him into the water today.”
“Relax. Kids are stronger than you think.”
“Wait.” He holds me back with a hand on my arm. “You mean he’s been sick before?”
My mom laughs softly. “Don’t be an idiot, Jake.”
“What?” He rests his hands on his hips, looking genuinely shell-shocked. “When? What did he have?”
“The flu,” my mom says. “Measles. A tummy bug. Oh, and there was that terrible time he had his little stomach pumped.”
Jake stares at her in horror. “What the hell from?”
“He ate the ants Shiny sprayed with poison.”
“What the fu—” Looking at Noah, he catches himself. “Can I get something? Medicine?”
“It’s Sunday,” I say. “The pharmacy is closed.”
“Not the emergency ones in Johannesburg.”
“You’re overreacting.”
“Tell me what to do.”
“Give us a little space. He needs to rest.”
He lifts his hands and starts to backtrack. “Space. Got it. All right. You sure? I can stay. I’d love to.”
“Go, Jake.”
“What if you need me later?”
I roll my eyes. “Jake.”
“Fine, but call me the minute he gets worse.”
“Men,” my mom says on a chuckle. “They all turn into babies around illness.”
It takes a bit more coaxing to finally get Jake to leave.
During the night, Noah gets worse. We give him a steam bath, but his nose remains blocked, making it difficult for him to breathe. When morning comes, neither of us slept a wink. He’s cranky and tired, and I’m exhausted. I don’t know how my poor mom manages to get up early and prepare for work. We kept her up too. I manage to get a bit of breakfast into Noah’s tummy, and by the time my mom is gone and Luan comes by, Noah is a little better, but not well enough to drop him at the crèche.
“I’m sorry,” I say to Luan. “I know it’s going to be a busy week at work, but I have to keep Noah at home.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you.”
“Just remember to fill out a sick leave form tomorrow.”
“If Noah is better.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Just then, Noah starts to whine again.
“That’s what swimming after near drowning gets you,” Luan mumbles.
“Do you have a moment? I–I have to tell you something.”
He checks his watch. “I have a lot of work today.”
“You work for yourself.”
“Doesn’t mean I can take liberties with my time.”
“I only meant your time is more flexible. You can work five minutes later, can’t you?” I have to get this off my chest. I can’t live with the guilt for a minute longer.
“Fine.”
I usher him outside, out of Noah’s earshot, leaving Noah in his crib with his toys, but keeping the door open so I can keep an eye on him. “About Saturday night, something happened.”
“What?”
I take a deep breath. “I kissed Jake.”
“You did what?”
“I wanted a little time alone so I took a walk. Jake was worried. He came looking for me, and it just happened.”
“It just happened?”
“I’m sorry. Really, I am. I needed to come clean. It won’t happen again.”
“I didn’t take you for a stupid girl.”
I’m in the wrong, but my spine stiffens at the insult. “Don’t call me stupid.”
“What would you call making the same mistake twice? Clever?”
“Don’t see more into it than what there is.”
“How am I supposed to see it? We’ve never even kissed.”
“Because we both agreed it’s wrong.”
“What you did with Jake isn’t wrong?”
“I know it is. That’s why I’m apologizing.”
“I don’t know what to say.” He turns in a semi-circle, then back to me. “I need to think.”
I hug myself, a chill that has nothing to do with the morning air creeping up on me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what the words imply. I need time. I can’t talk about this now.”
“Luan.” I take his arm when he starts walking toward his car. “Don’t act hastily. Please. I want us to work.” I need us to work. I need the stability, not the uncertain, crazy, lust that burns out and leaves me alone in cold ashes.
Shaking me off gently, he says without looking at me, “I’ll check on you later.”
Disappointment drops like a lump of clay in my stomach. I’m angry with myself. The last thing I wanted was to hurt Luan.
The day gets progressively worse, and by the time my mom comes home, Noah is napping restlessly.
“Poor baby,” she says, kissing Noah’s brow.
“Why don’t you sleep over at Eddie’s tonight? I’m sure you can do with a night of uninterrupted sleep.”
“I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.”
“Mom.” I give her a chastising look. “I’m an adult, for crying out loud. If I can’t handle it, I’ll call.”
“Do you want me gone?”
“What? No! Why would you say that?”
She gives me a level stare. “Is Jake coming over?”
“No! If anyone is coming over it’s Luan.”
“I see.” She says it in her I-know-everything voice, which means she’s making assumptions.
“Just go and sleep with Eddie.”
“Never thought I’d see the day my daug
hter orders me to have sex.”
“I said sleep. Oh, whatever. Just use protection.”
My mom gasps as if she’s capable of being shocked.
“Go on.” I hand her the overnight bag from the shelf. “Need help packing?”
She turns up her nose. “I think I can manage.”
Inwardly, I smile. My mom has taken care of me and later of both Noah and me for as long as I’m old. She deserves a night of proper rest. She deserves happiness. I’m happy for her and Eddie. Once you get to know him, he’s a nice guy.
She’s scarcely gone when Noah wakes, more fidgety than before. No matter what I try, he won’t stop crying. I’m contemplating calling Dr. Santoni when Luan arrives with a big paper bag.
“Brought you Chinese takeout,” he says, unpacking the containers on the table.
I give him a grateful smile. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”
“As long as it doesn’t happen again.”
“Thank you, Luan.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I pull Noah into my lap, trying to eat a bit of noodles with one hand, but he won’t stop fussing. “I think I should call the doctor.”
“Does he have a fever?”
“No.”
“Then maybe wait it out.” He sits down at the small table. “Are you coming to work tomorrow?”
“Depending on how tonight goes. I’m sorry for dropping you like this just before the audit.”
“I said I understand. Don’t worry about it.” He folds his hands together. “I want you to sue for full custody. I want to adopt Noah.”
My mouth drops open. “What? Why? Noah is only starting to get to know Jake.”
“You have to cut him out of your life.”
Suddenly, I understand why he forgave me so easily. “This is your condition, isn’t it?”
He regards me unflinchingly. “Yes.”
“You can’t ask me to keep Noah away from his father. Jake is good with him.”
“No more Jake, Kristi. It’s non-negotiable. I spoke to a lawyer friend who specializes in divorce. He reckons despite the money Jake sent, we have a good case based on emotional negligence.”
Noah starts to complain again. I bounce him on my knee, a reflective reaction that stuck from his baby days. “No. Banning Jake from our lives is what’s best for you, not for Noah, and I prefer to talk about this when Noah isn’t present.”
“That’s my decision. Take it or leave it.”
The words are not yet cold when the door opens and none other than Jake fills the frame, making the trailer looks smaller than what it already is.
At the sight of Luan, he stills. The two men glare at each other. Great. This is all I need.
“What are you doing here?” Luan asks.
Jake clenches his jaw. “Came to see how my kid is doing. You?”
Luan lifts his chin. “I came to see how my girlfriend is.”
Stepping into the room, Jake crosses his arms. “Last time I checked, she was still married to me.”
“Only in name,” Luan says.
I shift Noah to the other knee. “Cut it out, both of you.”
“Come on, Jake,” Luan continues. “Admit it. If she didn’t ask for a divorce, you never would’ve come back. You don’t want her, but you don’t want anyone else to have her either.”
Jake’s nostrils flare. “Why I came back isn’t important. What you should be asking is why I’m staying.”
“Jake, Luan, please.”
“You didn’t stick around the first time,” Luan says with a haughty smile. “Maybe I should ask instead what’s so different about this time.”
Jake advances a step. “You’re too old for her.”
“Jake!”
Luan pushes to his feet. “You’re no good for her.”
“That’s enough,” I say as Noah starts crying. “If this is going to turn into a fight, you better take it outside.”
Jake continues as if he didn’t hear me. “She deserves better than a man old enough to be her father.”
Noah bawls in all earnest.
“She deserves better than a deserter,” Luan says above the noise.
Unable to force calm any longer, I jump up, Noah clutched to my chest. “I deserve better than both of you. Out. Now. I want you both to leave.”
Luan gives me an incredulous look. “Are you throwing me out?”
“Just go. Both of you.”
Luan stares at me for a second, some of the old patience filtering back into his voice. “You owe me an answer. When Noah is better, we’ll talk.” With that, he stomps past Jake, making the floor of the trailer tremble, and pushes through the door.
“Go, Jake,” I say, too tired to deal with this.
He looks between Noah and me. “You look shattered.”
“It was a long night.”
“Where’s Gina?”
“At Eddie’s.”
Holding out his arms, he reaches for Noah. “Give him here.”
“I asked you to go.”
“You’re dead tired. Let me take him off your hands while you get some rest.”
“I don’t need—”
“I know. You don’t need my help. Look, I’m here now, so you may as well take what I offer.” Before I can protest, he takes Noah from my arms. “Go lie down. Have a nap. Just rest for an hour.”
To my surprise, Noah stops crying.
“You can’t go twenty-four hours without sleep,” Jake says.
It’s tempting, but can I trust Jake?
“I’m not going anywhere,” he says. “We’ll be right here when you wake up.”
“Promise?”
He gives me a warm smile. “Promise. Go on.”
At his encouraging nod, I lie down on the bed and pull the throw over my legs. I’ll just close my eyes for a little while. I can still keep an eye on them while I rest. That’s the last thought I remember. When I open my eyes again, it’s dark outside and the lights are on. I jerk upright.
Jake is sitting at the table with his back to me, and Noah is strapped into his feeding chair. He’s banging a spoon on the tray while Jake brings one to his mouth.
“The thing about tackling,” Jake says, “is that you can’t go into it scared. You’ve got to go in blindly, trusting your strength. If you doubt, even for a second, that’s when your opponent gets the upper hand and you twist an ankle or tear a ligament.”
I wipe sleep from my eyes. “Jake?”
He looks over his shoulder at me. “We’re just talking rugby.”
“Rugby?”
“Isn’t that right, buddy?”
Swinging my legs from the bed, I lean around Jake for a better view. Noah’s made a huge mess of his dinner. He’s covered in food, but at least he’s eating. I sniff. There’s a delicious smell in the air. Something is bubbling in a pot on the stove, and the rest of the small space is spotless.
“Hungry?” Jake wipes Noah’s mouth with a napkin. “I’m heating up some soup.”
Mm. Chicken soup. My stomach rumbles.
I push to my feet and stretch. I do feel a whole lot better after my long nap. “I better prepare Noah’s bath.”
“Uh-uh.” Jake waves a finger at me. “Sit. Food.” Leaving Noah for a moment, he fills a bowl with soup and places it on my side of the table. “Eat. Noah’s already had a bath.”
“He did?”
Jake winks. “I paid attention.”
I can’t help but smile. “You almost passed the test.”
He lifts a brow in challenge. “Almost?”
“Looks like he needs another bath.”
“A little food has never killed anyone.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your discussion about rugby. It seems like a serious subject.”
“Oh, yes. Huh, Noah?”
Noah makes a gurgling sound.
“He looks so much better.”
“No fever.” Jake touches his forehead. “I think the worst is over.”
Cu
pping the bowl, I let the warmth sink into my palms. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. It’s what anyone would do.”
But it’s not. It’s what he did.
Jake
The plan started cooking in my head ever since that scumbag Luan left. As long as he’s around, Kristi will never give me another chance. She’s too loyal. She pledged herself to Luan, and she’ll keep her word, even at the cost of her own happiness.
She lets me feed her dinner and clean up the trailer, but she won’t let me stay the night to make sure she gets more sleep. Understandably. I leave only when she promises to call if Noah starts crying again, but I don’t go back to the hotel. I drive to the estate agent’s house and put in an offer for the house in Heidelberg. He’s grumpy as fuck that I bothered him in the middle of dinner, but an agent doesn’t say no to a sale, not in this town where property rarely sells. I have enough to put down a deposit. No bank is going to grant me a loan if I don’t have a job, but that’s tomorrow’s worry. I’ll figure out something. Then I drive around, looking in shop windows for help wanted signs. After an unsuccessful full round of both Rensburg and Heidelberg, I wind up at the steakhouse where Tessa works.
I go to the bar and order a beer. Tessa falls over herself to serve me, apologizing again for what happened at the lake, but I don’t want to be reminded of that. I still get sick from the thought.
“If I can ever do anything, anything at all,” she says, “don’t hesitate to tell me. No favor is too big.”
“You don’t have to worry about favors.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”
I tip the bottle back and take a sip. “As a matter of fact, I do need a job. Think you can put the word out?”
“Oh, my God. I can do better than that.” She jumps up and down. “Our manager is leaving. She’s getting married. I’ll put in a word for you with the owner right now. He’s here from Joburg to sort out the logistics of Sonja’s departure. He’s a family friend. That’s how I got this job. Hold on. Let me see if he’s available.”
Before I can say more, she storms to the back and disappears through the office door. A short while later, a chubby man in grey pants and a white shirt exits.
Catch Me Twice Page 20
