Maid for Love (A Romantic Comedy)

by Caroline Mickelson

  “She’s not acting like it,” Josh said. “Why?”

  “Question of the day, Josh.” Michael sighed. He should be at the office. Not sitting at home hashing over his love life like he was a heartbroken teen. “So what do I do?”

  Josh shrugged but Kathryn smiled. “You play it cool. You’re not going to get anywhere with Zoe by acting like the tough guy.”

  “I’m not sure I know how to play it cool.”

  Kathryn grinned. “We’ll help you, won’t we, Josh?”

  Josh’s eyebrows rose. “We will?”

  “You bet we will.”

  Michael felt a tiny rush of hope followed by a not-so tiny dash of skepticism. “You two are going to help me figure out why Zoe is acting this way?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Kathryn all but crowed. “We’re not only going to figure it out, we’re going to do something about it.” She motioned for them to lean in. “I've got a plan.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  “So what are you going to wear tonight on your hot date?”

  Zoe stepped back out of her walk-in closet so that she could see her laptop screen. Skype was a double edged sword sometimes. “It’s not a hot date, Mother.”

  Her mother laughed. “That’s what it looks like from here. I can see you flinging clothes out of your closest in a desperate search for just the right knock-him-dead outfit.”

  “The only thing I’ll be knocking down tonight are bowling pins.” Zoe sank on to the edge of her bed and hugged an emerald green silk blouse to her chest. “I don’t even think Michael will be there so it doesn’t matter what I wear.”

  “Well then, throw on a pair of jeans and one of your comfy old t-shirts and go bowling already.”

  Zoe shook her head. Being an only child was a curse. If she’d had a sibling, now would be the perfect time to bring them up to deflect the conversation off of her life and onto theirs. “Thanks, Mother. I appreciate your support.”

  “Darling, the very fact that you’re making such a big deal about this, not to mention that you’re acting a little histrionic, tells me more about how you feel about Michael than your words ever did. I want you to really think about what you’re doing here.”

  Zoe glanced at the screen. Her mother’s expression was so blatantly sympathetic that she had to look away. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “I think you do but I’ll spell it out anyway. It would appear that seeing Michael again has refueled your desire for him.”

  “Mother, really? Who said anything about desire?”

  “Don’t interrupt, sweetheart, I raised you with better manners than that.” Her mother disappeared from sight for a moment but quickly reappeared with a white Persian cat which she cuddled to her chest. “Say hi to Precious, won’t you, dear?”

  Zoe groaned. “I can see you’re busy, Mother, so I’ll just let you go.”

  “Sorry, darling. Where were we?”

  Just about to go crazy.

  “Wait, I remember,” her mother said. “We were talking about Michael and how you wish you’d never tried to make him forget you.”

  “Oh, let me stop you right there. I didn’t just try to make Michael forget me, I did it. Successfully.”

  Her mother wrinkled her brow. “Are you completely sure that he doesn’t have an inkling that you were his lady love?”

  Lady love? Her mother must have been hitting the romance novels again. “He doesn’t remember me. Yesterday, for a moment, I thought he might have because he said he wanted to talk about what was going on.”

  “Oh, that sounds promising,” her mother cooed.

  “No, it turns out that he wanted to talk to me about helping him with the kids. He’d rather they not drive because they’re from a rural area and aren’t used to heavy traffic.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  Zoe had felt the same disappointment yesterday that she heard in her mother’s voice now. Which was curious because she didn’t want Michael to remember her. What’s done was done.

  “Tell me this,” her mother interrupted her thoughts. “Why are you helping him out? You don’t run a babysitting service, or a taxi service for that matter. But you obviously agreed if you’re ferrying his niece and nephew to the bowling alley. Why?”

  As if she herself knew. But she wasn’t about to admit that to her mother because it would only fuel her belief that Zoe wanted Michael back. Which she didn’t. She didn’t. Really didn’t.

  Zoe made a point of glancing down at her watch. “It’s getting late so I’ll give you the short version. I just want to make certain that Michael doesn’t remember me. You know, check to make sure that I did a good job when I erased his memory.” Her words, once they were out, sounded woefully lame even to her own ears. Judging by her mother’s smirk, she agreed with Zoe’s self- assessment.

  “If that’s what you want to tell yourself, who am I to disagree?” Her mother leaned forward as if to disconnect their session but stopped to share one last bit of advice. “Don’t wear the silk blouse, darling. It’s something you’d wear on a date, which you insist this isn’t. Goodbye.”

  Zoe watched as her mother disappeared from the screen. She glanced down at the blouse she was clutching. A t-shirt it would be.

  Once at the bowling alley, Zoe found herself enjoying Kathryn and Josh’s company. She’d never spent much time with teenagers before, and apparently somewhere along the line she’d internalized a few negative stereotypes without realizing it. But the kids were great; polite, fun, energetic, and hell-bent on beating her bowling score.

  Zoe was glad she’d forgone the silk blouse. The t-shirt was much easier to maneuver in, neither of the kids appeared to care what she wore, and there was no sign or mention of Michael.

  “That’s a strike guys, write it down.” Exhilarated to have finally bowled a decent frame, Zoe whirled around triumphantly and came face-to-face with a man’s broad chest. A chest she recognized. “Michael.”

  “Nice job, Zoe.”

  She stared up at him. His smile was warm and the expression in his eyes was amused. She dropped her eyes back to his chest. He wore a blue button down Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Clearly, he still worked out. She didn’t drop her gaze any lower so she forced herself to look back up at him. “Hello, Michael.” She glanced around for the kids but they weren’t in sight. “Where are Josh and Kathryn?”

  “Gone to grab a pizza and some sodas." He grinned. "They’re teenagers, they need to be fed pretty regularly.”

  She nodded, feeling awkward. Awkward and something else. Something she didn’t want to name. Because being attracted to Michael Archer was so not a part of her plan. She took a step backward.

  “Thank you for bringing the kids here,” Michael said. “I don’t like the idea of them being bored at the house while I’m at work.”

  “I was happy to do it. They’re nice kids.”

  Michael smiled. “They are. I’m enjoying having them with me.”

  Despite the crashing of the pins and the blaring music, an uneasy silence settled between them. Zoe stuffed her hands in her back pockets. “Well, I’m going to take off then. Please tell Kathryn and Josh that I said good-bye.” She reached for her purse but Michael reached out and laid his hand on her arm.

  “Please don’t go.” He withdrew his hand. “The kids will be disappointed if you’re gone when they get back. Unless you have other plans?”

  She hesitated. Her only plan was to spend enough time with him to make sure he didn’t remember a single thing about their relationship.

  “Oh, wait, you probably have a boyfriend waiting for you at home,” Michael said. “You want to call him to come down and join us?”

  Zoe shook her head. “I’m single.” She didn’t say more. The less said the better just in case she inadvertently said something that triggered his memory. She glanced around but still didn’t see his niece or nephew. “Shall we bowl?”

  His smile was slow but so sweet that Zoe's knees went weak. Whatever Michael had been
up to in the last year, he hadn’t lost a single ounce of charm.

  He gestured toward the ball return. “Ladies first.”

  Conscious that he was watching her every move, Zoe slid her fingers into one of the bowling balls and positioned herself where she could line up her approach. Just as she’d done countless times, she sent the ball hurtling down the alley but at the last minute the ball changed trajectory and hit the gutter without knocking down a single pin. Naturally.

  Michael, gentleman that she remembered him to be, didn’t say anything about her lousy aim. Instead he took his turn, and then cheered for her when her next attempt went much better. It took everything she had to focus on the game and keep her mind off of Michael. Being with him felt so natural. So good. So right. He was handsome, charming, smart, and kind. What was not to like about this man?

  “Can I buy you a beer?” he asked after the end of their frame.

  “No, thanks.” She didn’t drink beer, which he’d obviously forgotten. That was a good thing and what she wanted, even if it felt strange. But it was the proof she’d been looking for. Michael didn’t remember anything about her. Which meant she needed to say goodbye to him. Permanently. “I actually think I’m going to take off. Will you tell Josh and Kathryn I said good night?”

  “Absolutely. Let me walk you to your car.” He waited while she gathered up her bag and turned her shoes in at the counter. “Zoe, again, I want you to know I appreciate you bringing the kids here for me.”

  “I was happy to,” she said. She was grateful for the noise and chaos of the lobby as it reduced the need to make small talk to fill the awkward gaps in their conversation. She needed to go, to put some space between them. Michael may well have forgotten their past chemistry but she certainly hadn’t and it unnerved her now as much as it had then. “Listen, I can make it to the car myself. It’s not dark and there are plenty of people around.”

  He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’d rather, just to make sure you’re safe.”

  She smiled her thanks. They stepped aside as a harried looking mother with three small children rushed in through the entrance.

  The woman stopped right in the middle of the doorway. Her face lit up with recognition. “Michael. Oh, my word, what a surprise seeing you here.” She looked at each of them in turn. “Together.”

  Zoe’s mind raced to place the woman’s face. The name Kendra popped into her mind. She was married to an architect at Michael’s firm, and they’d met at several of his work functions.

  “Tony didn’t tell me that you two were seeing other again.” Kendra looked between them, her smile bright. “You guys are back together, aren’t you?”

  To save her life, Zoe couldn’t think of anything to say. She didn’t dare look up at Michael. How in heaven’s name was she going to talk her way out of this?

  ***

  “Zoe, grab me a couple of wine glasses, will you?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Michael watched as Zoe crossed his dining room and went around the wet bar. Just as he thought she would, she knelt down and opened the far right cupboard as if she knew right where to find them. It was downright uncanny how she automatically knew right where they were without having to ask or look around. He averted his gaze before she caught him watching her.

  She set the wine glasses on the table and surveyed the place settings. “Everything looks great. So Kendra and Tony will be here soon, do you want to explain to me how you want to play this? I don’t want to say the wrong thing and make things more awkward for you.”

  He stared at her. How could things get more awkward than they already were? He doubted that was even possible. But if Zoe wanted to keep up the pretense that she didn’t know him, he’d play along at least until he figured out what she was up to. And she was up to something because he’d stake his last tenuous grasp on his sanity that she remembered every moment they’d spent together. What didn’t make sense was why she was voluntarily spending so much time with him. That fate had made them cross paths wasn’t Zoe’s choice any more than it had been his. But why the pretense? The Zoe he’d known and loved wasn’t the kind of woman who played games.

  “Michael,” her voice broke through his thoughts. “are you okay?”

  “Sorry, I lost my train of thought. What did you ask?”

  “I asked how you wanted me to handle any questions that Kendra or Tony have about us. I mean, about us dating. Or not dating.”

  He shrugged. “I vote we just brush it off like we did at the bowling alley. Obviously Kendra thinks you look like a woman I used to date.”

  “Do I?”

  Michael held her gaze for a long moment. “Zoe, if I ever dated a woman as beautiful as you, I’m sure I would remember. I don’t think a man alive would classify you as forgettable.” He tried to hide the smile he felt inside at her reaction to his words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  “You didn’t,” she hastened to assure him.

  The blush on her cheeks said otherwise. That was enough for him. He’d play it cool this evening and let Kendra do the questioning. Time for a change of subject. “Do you think that Josh and Kathryn will be okay watching Kendra and Tony’s kids while we eat?”

  “Considering how much cash you offered them to babysit, yes. I’m sure they’ll do fine. Plus you’ll be here.”

  “We’ll be here,” he corrected her, very much liking how the words sounded.

  Her smile was uncertain. “Right. That’s what I meant.” She began to back toward the entrance to the hallway. “I’m just going to go check on dinner.”

  Once she was gone, Michael went in search of his niece and nephew. He found them in the downstairs family room. They’d designated it as their teen zone when they’d first arrived because of the comfy reclining lounge chairs and big screen television. Unnoticed, he leaned in the doorway and watched as they went through a box of their old toys he’d pulled out of the closet a few hours earlier. They’d grown up so quickly.

  Kathryn glanced up first. “Hey, Uncle M.”

  “You two having fun?”

  Josh held up a Mr. Potato Head. “We found an old boyfriend of Kathryn’s.”

  He laughed as Kathryn snatched the toy away from her brother. “Are you two sure that you don’t need a babysitter?”

  Josh rolled his eyes.

  “No, we’ve got it,” Kathryn assured him. “How are things upstairs?”

  Michael sank onto the sofa. “Darned if I know.”

  Josh’s expression was sympathetic. “Zoe’s into you.”

  “Thanks, bud.” He didn’t share Josh’s confidence in Zoe’s feelings for him but he didn’t want to overburden the kids with his woes. It was bad enough they were in this deep. “We’ll see what happens when Kendra starts asking questions.”

  Kathryn furrowed her brow. “What I can’t figure out is why Zoe agreed to come to dinner. You’d think the last thing she’d want to do is hang out with a couple that knew you when you were together. What’s that all about?”

  “What’s any of this about?” her brother asked.

  The doorbell rang before Michael could answer. “I guess we’re about to find out.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “You two guys don’t mind if I borrow Kendra for a moment, do you?” Zoe did her best to conjure up a sweet smile although she was feeling anything but genial. Her nerves were stretched about as far as they could go without snapping. She’d managed to get through twenty minutes of idle chit chat by asking tons of questions of Michael’s guests, all the while plying them with food and drinks. When asked, Tony said he was the evening’s designated driver, which pleased Zoe to no end because it meant she could keep Kendra’s wine glass full.

  Michael and Tony, in the middle of an animated conversation about who was going to make it to the playoffs, exchanged a glance and a shrug. “Go ahead.”

  “Wonderful.” Zoe’s forced smile was so bright it hurt her eyes, which would explain her budding he
adache. She motioned for Kendra to follow her. “I wanted to get your opinion on something in the kitchen.”

  They stopped first to check in on the kids. Satisfied all was well there, Zoe led her guest to the kitchen.

  Once there, Kendra looked around. “Wow, this is quite a set-up. Michael’s got a great eye for space. Did you help him design the house?”

  Zoe shook her head.

  “Oh, right, you two probably weren’t together back then. How long have you been seeing each other?”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Zoe sat and motioned for Kendra to sit across from her. She focused her eyes in on Kendra’s and lowered her voice to the pitch that worked best when she needed to alter memories. “Michael and I aren’t together.”

  “What do you mean you aren’t-” Kendra began but Zoe cut her off.

  “Michael and I aren’t a couple. We are not dating.” Now came the worst part, telling a bald-faced lie. “We never were together. We never were in love.”

  Kendra’s eyes widened slightly, which Zoe took to be a good sign. This meant her subject was entering a suggestive state. Zoe pressed on before Kendra had a chance to say anything more. “You need to accept what I’m saying, Kendra. Whatever memories you have of Michael and I together are not accurate. They’re a product of distorted perception, nothing more.”

  “Distorted perception?” Kendra asked, her voice softer than it usually was. “You and Michael were never together?”

  Zoe nodded. “That’s exactly right. You’ve got it. You understand the truth now.” She stopped speaking and watched the other woman. Kendra’s gaze wandered around the kitchen as if she were re-orienting herself, which was normal. This had all been far easier than she’d imagined. Perhaps it was because she and Michael hadn’t been close friends with Kendra and Tony. Whatever the reason, she felt relieved at Kendra’s response. Not happy, but definitely relieved.

  “So tell me what you understand, Kendra. It’s important that you and I understand the same thing.”