by JoAnn Durgin
Sam glanced back at Josh again. “Anything else we should know before the meeting?”
Josh chuckled. “Yes, but take this one for what it is. Seems they’re short a few Port-O-Lets at the worksite.”
“Excuse me? Someone complained about that?” Lexa shook her head and stared out the passenger window, but not before Sam heard the amusement in her tone.
“I wouldn’t even tell Marc about that one,” Josh said. “I can hear the bad jokes now.”
Laughing, Sam almost missed the exit until Lexa pointed it out.
~~♥~~
Angelina loved hearing the ladies talk about babies. Rebekah and Amy asked lots of questions, and Winnie and Natalie told them funny first-time mom stories. She couldn’t help wondering about her own birth since Mama never said much. Maybe it was a painful time since she’d been so young, and talking about it would bring back bad memories of Papa.
She tuned out the childbirth tips and focused on eight-month-old Emily cooing on Winnie’s lap. Then she checked on Hannah and Leah napping on a blanket beneath a large tree. When the subject of breastfeeding was raised, she’d heard enough. Jumping up, Angelina excused herself and carefully made her way down the short embankment leading to the water.
Chloe waved and called to her. “Come in with us, Angelina! We’re playing Duck, Duck, Goose.”
“Is it cold?” Stepping to the edge of the spring, Angelina removed her tennis shoes and gingerly dipped her toes in the clear water. Tall trees blocked some of the light and warmth from the sun, but the temperature was cool without being too cold. The kids hadn’t protested, so she needed to be as brave as they’d been.
“Aw, get in here already or it’ll be Duck, Duck, Chicken, and you’ll be it!” Felipe flapped his arms and made squawking noises, making the kids giggle. His hair was slicked back from his forehead, emphasizing his strong cheekbones and making him look older. He’d stripped off his shirt and wore shorts in the water, but the kids all had on their swimsuits. Chloe told her they’d stayed in a hotel with an indoor pool when the Lewis and Grant families caravanned to New Mexico. At least these kids had been taught to swim at an early age.
When Luke and Joe imitated Felipe with the squawking, Angelina laughed. “Look out, people, I’m coming in!” She waded into the stream in her shorts and T-shirt. Maybe it was a good thing she hadn’t brought a swimsuit. She would have felt self-conscious with Felipe’s gaze on her. He was definitely looking, and his smile made her stomach do a little flip-flop.
For the better part of the next forty minutes, she and Felipe kept the kids occupied with water games. The kids all seemed to love him, and she liked how he took a personal interest in each one of them. He asked Gracie if she ever went into the Prudential Tower in Boston to her daddy’s office. Asked Joe if he ever swiped a cupcake when Lexa wasn’t looking. Made Chloe and Luke laugh with his impressions of their favorite cartoon characters.
“You’re really good with them,” Angelina said as they sat on a large rock by the stream and dried off in the afternoon sun. The kids were wrapped in towels and either dozing or listening as Rebekah read them a story. “Have you been around many kids?”
“Not really. They’re cool. Sometimes I think kids are a lot more honest than adults.”
Angelina considered his words for a moment. “I think it depends on the type of people you know. Felipe, you made a comment the other night that made me wonder about something. I know this is a personal question, but I feel like I know you well enough to ask.”
“Sounds intense. Ask away. I have no secrets from you, Sweet Potato.”
She smiled at the nickname. Call her crazy, but she was becoming accustomed to them. “You mentioned not going home hungry. Did you ever do that?”
“No,” he said, “but I was hungry at home. We didn’t go out much, if you know what I mean. I was home by myself a lot. With some of the assorted step-siblings sometimes.”
Angelina’s stomach turned and she felt a little sick. “Felipe, you didn’t have enough to eat?”
“Sometimes. It’s not a big deal, Angel. Really. You kinda get used to it and make do, you know? Mom finally got us on some government program but us kids had to go out and get the food ourselves.”
Something inside prompted her to ask the next question. “Do you know how to cook?”
Felipe looked over at her so fast she almost laughed. “What makes you ask that?”
“Because I’m getting to know you, and my guess is that—if you had other mouths to feed in the family, especially younger ones—you’d be the kind of guy who’d provide for them. Am I right?”
Felipe started to say something but then hesitated as if debating whether he should answer.
“You can’t fool me. Underneath all your bravado or whatever, you’re an okay guy.” Was that a touch of pink in his cheeks?
“Did you hear about what happened last night?”
“About what? I guess I didn’t. Is everything okay?” A chill ran through her. What now?
“I found a can of red spray paint in my backpack. I swear to you, I had nothing to do with it.”
Angelina gulped. “Is it the same kind that was used to paint the evil eye symbol?”
“How should I know? I didn’t do it. That’s my point.” He sounded defensive again.
“I believe you, Felipe. What did Sam say?”
Something in Felipe’s expression softened. His guard lowered long enough for her to glimpse the naked emotion beneath his usual smirk. “He, um, said he believed me. Eliot backed him up. Dean? Not so much.” The bitterness in his tone surfaced.
“I’m glad you didn’t get in any trouble, Felipe. I think Dean will come around. You just need to give him a little more time. He needs to see the real you. For all I know, he has trust issues.”
He laughed a little. “Listen to you. You sound like a shrink, Buttercup.”
“You can’t use that nickname. That one belongs to Chloe.” She was glad to hear him laugh again. “Felipe, has anyone said anything to you about my dad?”
“No.” His gaze met hers and she could tell he was intrigued. “Tell me.”
“He was kind of like your dad, I guess. I mean, Papa was in and out of jail, too. So don’t go thinking everyone in my life is a fine, upstanding citizen.”
“Yeah? Sorry to hear it, but maybe you can sort of understand my life better.”
“Of course I can. Let me tell you a little story. On my first TeamWork mission, Papa tried to kidnap Mama and me. I was seven, and the work camp was just outside San Antonio.”
“No fooling? Why’d he do that?”
“Because Mama was trying to get away from him. During the bad times, he…uh, hit her sometimes. Mama used to say he was all talk and big dreams. When things didn’t work out the way he wanted, he took it out on her. I remember she had a broken arm once and a few bruises here and there. She’d make up excuses, but I could tell. Mama’s not careless or clumsy.”
Felipe shifted into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around his knees. “That’s pretty awful. I’m sorry, Angel. My parents aren’t much to speak of, but they never pounded on me. Or on each other. So, your mom was hiding out with you at the TeamWork camp?”
She nodded. “I think her biggest fear was that Papa would start in on me. He never did, though.”
“I thank God he didn’t,” Felipe muttered. That was the first time she’d ever heard Felipe thank God for anything.
“I remember Mama crying one night. She was rocking me back and forth, and I think she did it more to comfort herself than me. I didn’t really understand what was happening. I just knew Mama’s heart hurt.”
When Felipe reached her for hand, Angelina gave it to him after first glancing over her shoulder. The ladies and kids were all occupied and partially hidden from view.
“I don’t care if they see us.” Felipe’s voice was quiet. “Can you tell me what happened when he kidnapped you?”
“He kidnapped Mama from the work camp,
and then Sam and Lexa came after us. Papa tied up Mama and Sam, and then he stole Sam’s car to drive to my aunt’s house in the city to get me.”
“Whoa,” Felipe said. “No wonder you hate people who steal cars.”
Removing her hand from his, Angelina wiped away a tear. “Hate’s a strong word, Felipe. Lexa insisted on going with Papa, and she got Papa’s gun away from him.”
“Mrs. Lewis? That’s impressive. I don’t see her as the type to pack heat.”
Angelina smiled a little. “She didn’t, but her dad was a cop and she knew how to handle a gun. Papa didn’t know Lexa had taken his gun and he started to pull it out at a convenience store later on when he had Mama and me in the car. I don’t think he really would have tried to kill anybody, but he liked to threaten people. The clerk pushed one of those silent alarm buttons, and that’s when the police caught up with us and threw Papa in jail.”
“That’s quite a story, Angel. I never would have guessed you’d been through something like that.”
“I don’t talk about it much. Lexa and Sam risked their lives for Mama and me.” She met his gaze. “And you know what? They’d do the same thing for you or anyone else in trouble.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Felipe said, frowning. “What happened with your dad after that?”
She blew out a sigh. “After he got out of jail, things got better for a while. That was the pattern. And then he hooked up with some bad guys again. They turned on him and shot him in a bank robbery. Whether or not they did it on purpose is anybody’s guess.”
If only Felipe knew how hard it was to tell him the story without breaking down in tears.
Felipe’s shoulders slumped. “Man, that’s rough. If you don’t mind my saying, I’m kinda surprised your mom would be with a guy like that.”
Angelina shrugged. “She got pregnant with me when she was really young and her family forced her to get married. She always told me that, deep down, Papa wasn’t a bad person. He just had mixed up ideas of right and wrong and what he should do to earn respect and love. So he kept making dumb decisions and mistakes.”
“She never divorced him?”
She shook her head. “Mama made a commitment, and she didn’t want to break it.”
“Hitting a woman is never right, Angel. Of all people, God would understand that.”
“I know.” A tear slipped down her cheek and sadness overwhelmed her. “I told her God wouldn’t expect her to stay in a marriage like that. Papa didn’t honor the vows he’d made to Mama. Mama was right about one thing, though. Papa was a good dad to me. He never mistreated me, and he said I was the one bright shining light in his life, and the one thing he did right in his miserable, sorry life. His words.”
Felipe pulled her into his arms and Angelina didn’t resist. “I can understand why he felt that way, and I’ve only known you a few days.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder for a few seconds before moving away from him.
“Did your Papa know God? From what you’ve said, I’d have to guess he didn’t.”
“No,” she whispered, steeling herself not to cry again. “Not that people didn’t try.” She wiped away another tear and met his gaze. “Sometimes, no matter what you do or say, some people don’t want to hear the message. I want you to hear the message, Felipe.”
“Why do you care so much about me?” The way he looked at her, Angelina could tell he really needed to hear her answer.
“Because,” she said, her voice rough, “Papa didn’t have hope when he died. I want you to have the kind of hope that he never did. Hope for what’s beyond this life.”
She could tell he didn’t get it. Right then and there, Angelina resolved that if it was the last thing she ever did, she’d make Felipe understand.
“Thanks for caring about me,” he said.
“Felipe, I hope you don’t believe that being my friend will somehow make you a better person. ’Cause it doesn’t work that way.”
“I think it sort of does. I don’t have all the answers, but I know one thing.”
“What’s that?” The compassion she glimpsed in his eyes touched something deep inside her, making her pulse jump.
“Just being around you makes me want to be a better person.”
More tears stung Angelina’s eyes. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me. There’s hope for you yet.”
He smiled. “You think so? Stick around.”
Chapter 27
~~♥~~
Pastor Chevy waited for them as they found the meeting room. After a brief discussion, Sam put his hand on the small of Lexa’s back as he ushered her into the meeting room. She loved it when Sam did that; it was a protective gesture, as if he was saying this woman belongs to me. Some women wouldn’t appreciate that sentiment, but with Sam, he always treated her as his equal. She was a cherished partner, not his possession.
After they found seats near the front, a tall, pretty brunette dressed in a power suit with a short, pencil-thin skirt approached. Without a doubt, this must be Stephanie Colton.
“Mr. Lewis,” Stephanie greeted him with a small smile, offering her hand, her gaze showing appreciation for how handsome Sam looked. “It’s good to see you again. Thank you for coming.”
Sam rose from his seat and shook her hand. “This is my wife, Lexa.” Releasing the woman’s hand, he turned to her. “Lexa, this is Stephanie Colton.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Lexa waited to see if Stephanie offered her hand. She did not.
Stephanie turned to Josh. “I assume you’re the general counsel for TeamWork that Sam mentioned at the worksite?”
“Joshua Grant. Nice to meet you.” After shaking her hand, Josh excused himself and strolled across the room to speak with Pastor Chevy and the foreman, Donald Morrison.
Stephanie’s brown-eyed gaze settled on Sam once more. “Mr. Thompson decided not to join the party this afternoon? He might have added some welcome humor to our proceedings.”
Sam chuckled. “No, he’s keeping things under control at the worksite. There’s a lot to be done, and we saw no reason to stop the work because of this meeting.”
“I’m sure,” Stephanie said, giving him a small nod. “We’ll be ready to begin in a few minutes.”
Lexa bristled a bit. She was used to women admiring Sam on a regular basis, but most females weren’t so blatant. To their credit, the guys had acted professional and had done nothing to encourage her. Stephanie must have met Marc at the worksite, and she was now making it a point to introduce herself to Eliot.
Sam slipped his arm around her and whispered, “You’re a hundred times the woman she is.”
Lexa leaned into the curve of his arm. “I didn’t say a word.”
“You didn’t have to,” The warmth of his lips tickled her ear. When Sam squeezed her shoulder, it unsettled her even more.
When she felt Stephanie Colton’s eyes on her, Lexa wished Winnie were sitting beside her for moral support. But no, it was probably best that her friend wasn’t here. Winnie was feeling self-conscious enough these days about not losing the baby weight she’d gained with Emily. Although she’d stepped up her exercise regimen and limited her portions, Winnie couldn’t seem to shake those pesky extra pounds.
Not that Lexa was jealous of the long-legged brunette board member sitting at the front of the room. In seven years of marriage, she’d rarely had a reason to be jealous. Sam was a very attentive husband, but in the presence of Stephanie Colton, it was difficult not to feel somewhat frumpy by comparison. Stephanie made it a point to cross her legs, and Lexa cringed when the other woman’s skirt hiked even higher, visible beneath the table.
Lexa lifted out of her chair as Josh returned to sit beside Sam. “How about some water?” Engaged in conversation, both Sam and Josh nodded. She headed toward the pitcher of ice water and plastic cups on a nearby table.
Marta came to her side and reached for two empty cups. “So, this should be fun, huh?”
“I’d say so.” L
exa poured the water for her.
“Thanks.” Marta took a sip from one of the cups and met her gaze above the rim. “Lexa, why does a woman like that intimidate me?” When Marta moved her gaze to the front of the room, Lexa didn’t need to turn around to know she was looking at the youngest, tallest female board member.
“Probably because we’re giving her too much power in allowing her to intimidate us.” Lexa poured water for Sam and Josh.
Marta’s brows lifted. “We’re? Meaning you feel the same way?”
“In some respects, yes. But we’re the ones with the power in this situation, Marta. Acting insecure and jealous can turn a man in the opposite direction. We’ll be better off if we focus our attention on supporting Pastor Chevy and the One Nation Church. That’s the reason we’re here.” Lexa hoped her smile softened her words. She didn’t want to come across as chastising or judgmental in any way because she totally understood Marta’s concerns.
“I wish I could be as generous in spirit as you.” Marta took another sip of water. “Forgive me, Lord, but what I see is a woman who’s looked at all three of our TeamWork men like they’re her personal eye candy.”
“From my experience, women who look at men that way are lacking something in their personal life,” Lexa said. “Not that I know Stephanie Colton or am making any judgments.”
“What she seems to be lacking is a man or she wouldn’t be looking at our guys like that.” Marta frowned. “Sorry. I know that sounds judgmental.”
“I think if you dig beneath that cool, somewhat tough exterior, you might discover a wounded, hurting heart. It’s in her eyes, Marta. Mark my words, there’s something there. An insecurity, perhaps.”
“Could be,” Marta mused, finishing her water and tossing the cup in the nearby trash can. “I just wish she didn’t feel the need to wear that short of a skirt.”
Picking up the cups of water, Lexa gave Marta a wink. “If I had an afghan, I’d give it to her to cover her legs. We wouldn’t want her to get a chill, after all.” As she walked away, she heard Marta’s soft laughter.
