The Bridal Candidate 1 (Heart Connections)

by Linda Verji

  As usual the start of her run didn't feel great. It was too cold, too windy and her body was fighting the movement. But the more she pushed and the further away from the estate she got, the more the awful feeling was replaced by a rush of endorphins. As fresh air seeped into her lungs and the ground moved beneath her feet, her whole body warmed up, her muscles came alive and blood soared through her limbs.

  It felt like freedom.

  There were a surprisingly large number of residents already jogging along the roads, some in pairs, some with dogs, some alone. Quite a number gave her curious looks as she passed them, some even smiled but no one stopped her. Adrenalin driving her, Aiko pounded along the road. Thoughts of Damián, Zoe… everything faded as only one mantra rang in her head;

  Run.

  Thirty minutes later, she circled back the way she'd come, jogging back home. The run back took a bit longer. Thirty seven minutes later, she finally reached their gate.

  "Enjoy your run?" the guard asked as he opened the gate for her.

  "I did," she said breathlessly as she smiled at him. "It was great. I didn't know that so many people run around here."

  The guard laughed. "This is nothing. You should see them on the weekend. Plenty of Weekend Warriors around here."

  As soon as Aiko entered the property she noticed that Damián's car was gone. Her heart dropped to her belly in disappointment. As much as she'd planned to deal with Zoe this morning with or without his help - she still would've preferred to do it with his support. Mentally sighing, she stopped in the forecourt to do some quick stretching before she made her way into the house.

  "Is Zoe awake yet?" Aiko asked Gertie when she met her in the foyer.

  "Not yet." Gertie shook her head. "And it will be a while. On school days she wakes up at around nine."

  "What do you mean she wakes up at nine?" Aiko couldn't keep the disbelief from seeping into her voice. "I thought they're supposed to be at school by eight?"

  Gertie just shrugged.

  "Where's the spare key to her room?" Aiko asked.

  It took a couple of minutes but Gertie finally found the key. Taking the steps two at a time, Aiko made her way upstairs. A quick turn of the key in the lock and the door to Zoe's domain swung open. Low sounds and blue light, coming from the still-on TV, welcomed Aiko into the gloomy room. As for Zoe, she was curled up in the middle of bed, covers to her chin and deep asleep.

  Aiko headed to the TV and put it off before she strode to the windows and roughly yanked the drapes aside letting in morning's bright light.

  "Nnngh," Zoe grunted, pulling the covers over her head.

  "Time to wake up," Aiko called out as she opened the windows to let in some fresh air. "You're going to be late for school."

  "Ugh!"

  "If you don't wake up, I'll have to get you up myself."

  Zoe's hand emerged from under the covers to flip the bird.

  Very well. Aiko shrugged as she closed the distance to the bed. I warned her. She grabbed the edge of Zoe's comforter and quickly jerked it downwards.

  "What the hell?" Zoe vaulted to sitting position. Her gaze still hooded with sleep angrily swung toward Aiko.

  "Time to wake up," Aiko repeated in an even voice as she let the comforter fall at the end of the bed. "You're supposed to be in school by eight."

  "Fuck you," Zoe mumbled angrily as she crawled forward to grab the comforter. Coming back with it, she ordered, "Get out of my room," before flipping the covers over her head again."

  "I don't like it when you cuss. But we’ll talk about that later," Aiko said calmly, she grabbed the edge of the comforter and tried to pull it away again. Apparently, Zoe expected that because she clung to the fabric. Hard. "For now-" Aiko's breath hitched as she forcibly tore the covers from the girl's grip. "- you need to. Get. To. School."

  With one last forceful pull, she had the comforter completely off Zoe. Had the angry glare Zoe shot at her been a spear, she would've been skewered to the wall. Ignoring it, Aiko bundled the comforter under her arm and continued, "I'm going to shower. I expect you to do the same."

  "Fuck. You," Zoe enunciated each word clearly.

  "If you haven't showered and dressed for school by the time I get back-" Aiko smiled. "On my mother's grave, I will bathe you myself."

  Something about her voice or her expression must've scared the girl, because anxiety flickered in her gray eyes and she didn't say a word more.

  "See you in thirty," Aiko said cheerfully, before marching towards the door. The moment she got to the hallway, she had a rush of feet then Zoe's door slammed behind her.

  Hmph, Aiko guffawed as she crossed the hall into her own room. Zoe could break the door if she wanted but if she wasn't ready to go to school in thirty minutes, hell was going to break loose in this house.

  Aiko took a quick shower, and when she was done and dressed, she headed to her daughter's room. Seraphina woke up with her usual fuss but within minutes Aiko had her out of bed. The child was sleepily quiet as her mother wiped her down with a warm towel. As Aiko was dressing Seraphina, she heard the sound of a car exiting the property but she took no notice. She buttoned her daughter's coat then sent her downstairs to take breakfast while she dealt with Zoe.

  Surprisingly, Zoe wasn't in her room. By the scent of lotion and perfume lingering in the air and the pile of clothes trailing haphazardly from the girl's walk-in closet, it was obvious she'd taken Aiko's threat seriously and showered. A satisfied grin on her face, Aiko made her way downstairs planning to congratulate her charge. However, Zoe wasn't there.

  "She's already left with Virgil," Gertie said.

  "Oh?" Aiko wasn't sure whether she was happy or disappointed. She'd hoped to drive Zoe to school, maybe even talk to her on the way there. The drive would've also given her an opportunity to see Zoe's school and chat with a few of her teachers and get a progress report. Oh, well. At least Zoe was on her way to school, and besides she could see the teachers without having her charge by her side.

  You take your victories where you can get them.

  Aiko had no idea how little her victory was until she stopped by Lowell School during lunch break. Her intention was to talk to Zoe's class teacher and get a progress report. However, instead of the class teacher, she was redirected to the principal.

  "Zoe, didn't come to school," said the bespectacled Mrs. Joy Hackell.

  "I'm sorry, what?"

  "Zoe, didn't come to school." Principal Hackell linked her fingers over her desk. Her frustration was evident in her pinched expression as she explained, "And this isn't the first time she's ditched school. In fact, we've met with her father several times to discuss her spotty attendance record and how disruptive she is when she does make it to school. He always says that he'll deal with it, but we have yet to see an improvement. Zoe is just…" Her words trailed off in an exhausted sigh.

  Shock pulsing through her, Aiko sat back in her seat. Why hadn't Damián told her all this when they were discussing Zoe the previous day? And where was Zoe if she wasn't in school? Aiko reached for her purse beside her seat and rifled inside it to pull out her phone. "Let me find out where she is first."

  She swiped her thumb over her phone's screen, searching for the house number. When she found it she pressed the call icon. Seconds later, Gertie picked up. "Colter residence. How may I help you?"

  "Gertie, it's Aiko. Is Zoe at home?"

  "No, she's still in school."

  "She's not in school," Aiko informed her. Ignoring the woman's sharp gasp of surprise, she asked, "Is Virgil back?"

  "Not yet." Gertie let out an irritated huff. "That girl. She must've made him take her somewhere else. Let me call him then get back to you."

  The phone clicked in Aiko's ear indicating that Gertie had ended the call. Feeling the beginning of a headache, Aiko rubbed her forehead as she turned back to Hackell. "She's not home either."

  "I'm not surprised." The principal shrugged. "If history is anything to go by, she'll either be at the
mall or with a friend."

  Aiko sighed. "I didn't know it was this bad."

  "It is." Hackell's expression turned plaintive. "I know that you're just her nanny, but is there anything you can do to salvage the situation? Zoe is a smart girl, but I'm afraid that if she continues like this she's got a troubled future ahead of her."

  "What do you think needs to be-" Aiko's phone rung, its piercing ring cutting into her word. A quick glance at the screen showed that it was the house. "A minute. It's the house. They might know where Zoe is." She swiped her finger over the answer button and pressed the gadget to her ear. "Yes?"

  "It's me," Gertie said. "Virgil says that they were at a restaurant but now they're headed to the mall."

  "Well, tell him to turn around and bring her to school," Aiko said, barely restrained impatience in her voice.

  "He won't," Gertie said. "He's too scared of Zoe. I think we should just let them do whatever they're doing, because at least we know that she's safe. Then when they get back home…" She let the words hang between them.

  The thought of Zoe gallivanting around town while her age-mates were in school was both worrying and irritating. But short of going to the mall herself and dragging the girl to school herself, there was really nothing Aiko could do. As for dragging Zoe to school, it wasn't a viable plan. By the time Aiko went to the mall, dealt with the fit Zoe was guaranteed to throw then brought her to school, school would be over.

  "I'll talk to her when she gets home." Aiko heaved a frustrated sigh. "Thanks, Gertie."

  The principal, who still watching her, waited for her to end the call then asked, "At the mall?"

  "Yes." Aiko nodded and pinched the bridge of her nose. "What do you need me to do?"

  "For one, some attendance consistency would be nice…," Hackell advised. She went on to give Aiko a detailed report of their complaints about Zoe; homework's never done, flunking tests, disrespectful to teachers, walking out of class, flaunting basic school rules… Zoe's list of crimes was so long, Aiko was surprised she hadn't been expelled.

  "Her grandfather is the chairman of our school board," Mrs. Hackell explained.

  No wonder the principal's hands were tied, Aiko thought as she drove back to the office for a client meeting. That had to be frustrating. Knowing first-hand how maddening it was to have to deal with Zoe's misbehavior and the lack of support from her father, Aiko had felt sorry for Principal Hackell and promised to do what she could to ease the situation. At the very least, she'd try to make sure Zoe attended class and finished her homework. But even as she'd made the promise, she knew that she needed to talk to Damián again. This wasn't going to work without him being involved.

  Later in the day, she and Cara picked up Michael and Seraphina from school. After dropping off Michael and Cara at the house and saying hello to her father and the rest of her family, Aiko headed to her new home. The moment she drove into Colter estate, she saw the Cadillac parked in front of the forecourt.

  Zoe was home.

  Even before Aiko emerged from the car, Virgil was striding towards her with Queenie trotting at his heels. Seraphina went off with the dog into house while Aiko stayed behind to talk to the chauffeur.

  "I really didn't want to take her, but there was nothing I could do," Virgil pleaded his case.

  "I know it's not your fault," Aiko reassured, even as she picked up on the booming music coming from the house. It sounded like someone was throwing a party. Glancing at the house, she asked, "Where did Zoe spend her day?"

  "She told me to take her to a skating rink downtown, then we went to the mall. At about four we went by the school to pick up her friends."

  Ah! That explained the loud music. Aiko's narrowed her eyes as she glanced at the house again. "They're in there with her?"

  "Yes." Virgil nodded.

  "The next time Zoe asks you to take her anywhere other than school on a school day, call me first."

  "What if she hears me calling you?" Anxiety laced the driver's voice and a bead of sweat broke out on his forehead as he said, "You don't know Miss Zoe. She'll throw a fit in the car and maybe even get me fired."

  No wonder Zoe got away with so much. Everyone was so afraid of her tantrums or of losing their job that they let her run roughshod all over them. Well, her reign of terror was about to end.

  "Fine, I'll be driving her to school," she informed Virgil. "Just make yourself scarce in the morning and I'll deal with her."

  The relief on Virgil's face was palpable. "Thank you."

  As soon as he left, she locked up the car then headed to the house. Laughter, excited chatter and loud music hailed her the moment she stepped into the house. The racket was coming from the family room. After setting her purse and Seraphina's school bag on the bench by the front door then kicking off her heels, Aiko strode to the family room.

  From the level of noise, Aiko expected to find several people there. Instead she found Zoe and two other kids; an auburn-haired girl who looked about the same age as Zoe, and a boy, also auburn-haired, who looked slightly older than the two girls. Where Zoe was wearing casual clothes, which were, as usual, grossly inappropriate, the boy and the girl were in Lowell School's uniform; black half-sweater, black pants and white shirt. The three kids were so engrossed in their conversation they didn't notice Aiko's arrival.

  "No, you didn't." The auburn-haired girl stared at Zoe in open-mouthed shock.

  "I swear I did, Shelley." Zoe laughed. "He was looking at me creepily so what was I supposed to do?"

  "How about asking him to stop?" The boy shook his head. "Throwing hot coffee at the guy was just-" He stopped talking when he noticed Aiko standing at the door and quickly grabbed the remote to reduce the volume of the music.

  His actions drew the girls' attention toward Aiko. The moment Zoe spotted her, her amusement turned into a smirk. "Hi, Aiko."

  What a surprise? She actually knew her name. Refusing to let her irritation with her ward get the better of her, Aiko smiled. "Hi, Zoe. I see you have guests."

  "Yup." Zoe popped the 'p' in the word, her smirk growing even wider.

  Aiko turned her attention to the guests. "Hello."

  Both the boy and the auburn-haired girl popped to their feet and smiled tentatively. "Hello."

  "I'm Aiko." She smiled as she strode further into the room. "And you're…?"

  "Shelley." "Knox," they introduced themselves, and when Aiko reached them, they willingly took her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Aiko."

  How in the world had Zoe managed to land herself such respectful friends? The culprit herself was sprawled out on the couch, watching their interaction while intermittently rolling her eyes.

  Aiko asked the now seated guests, "Has Zoe offered you something to drink or eat?"

  They both glanced at Zoe then shook their heads. Shelley rushed to say, "But we're fine."

  "Nonsense." Aiko waved away her words. "You must be hungry after spending the whole day in school, working hard." She gave Zoe a pointed look with earned her a snort and a roll of eyes.

  The girl needed to be careful one of these days her pupils were going to end up facing the ceiling.

  Turning back to Shelley and Knox, Aiko offered, "Why don't I get Major to bring you something? What will you have?"

  They were both too polite to ask for anything other than juice, but Aiko convinced that to have some sandwiches too.

  "I'm sure Major will have your meal ready soon." Aiko smiled at the two guests before turning to Zoe, "When you're done with your friends I'd like to talk to you."

  Zoe stuck two fingers into her mouth and fake retched before turning back to her friends. "So I was telling you about the stalker at the coffee shop…"

  That child was so lucky that Aiko was not Femi. Femi would've dragged her out of the family room by the ear or gone in on her right in front of her friends. Amazed by her own patience, Aiko exited the room. Picking up hers and her daughter's bags, she made her way to her bedroom.

  She didn't expect Zoe to
come looking for her on her own, but she also didn't expect the little hooligan to take off, and thus escape their talk. When a car came by to take Knox and Shelley home, Zoe somehow managed to leave with them. By nine in the night, she still wasn't back home. A phone call later, they found out that she was at Shelley's house.

  Jangling her car keys, Aiko exited the house; her intention to go and get the girl. There was no way Zoe was spending a school night in someone else's house, especially without permission. She was just about to get into her car when the gates suddenly opened and Damián's car zoomed into the property.

  CHAPTER 11

  "Can you believe it?" Carmen's irate voice echoed over the line, her Spanish accent even more accentuated by her anger. "They want me to play the mother of the heroine. La Madre!" The mother. Her voice rose as she said, "How old do they think I am?"

  "I'm sorry, Mamá. Those people don't know the value of your talent," Damián soothed, as he drove through the gates into his property. As soon as he entered the estate, he saw the silhouette of a woman standing beside Aiko's Taurus. Though, she was shrouded by darkness, he immediately recognized her. Aiko.

  Even if she wasn't standing by her car, he would've known it was her. Her figure, her dressing style and her stiff-backed posture had now become as familiar to him as his own hand. She stood watching him as he edged his car closer to hers.

  On the phone, his mother sighed. "I was really looking forward to finally having a speaking part."

  "Then just take the part," Damián suggested as he parked his car next to Aiko's. "It might be small but it might lead to something bigger."

  "No," Carmen refused. "That will make them think that it is okay to cast me as someone's mother. I'm supposed to be the star, not the mother."

  Still in his car and watching Aiko who was now leaning against her own vehicle, Damián suggested to his mother, "Then come back home."

  " Estás loco?" Are you crazy, his mother yelled. "I am not stepping a foot into that country until tu padre gets rid of that puta he has living in my house."