The Sweetest Thing

by Barbara Freethy

  "Now, you stop that right now, you big bully," Faith said, storming forward.

  "Oh, dear," Nancy muttered.

  Faith took Alex's arm and pulled him toward the door, her fingers twisting the material of his suit coat into a knot.

  "What the hell are you doing?" Alex demanded, shaking himself free of her determined grasp.

  "Showing you the door. This is my bakery, and your grandfather is welcome to stay here as long as he likes. I certainly will not allow you to abuse this dear old man in front of me. I have half a mind to call the police and have you arrested."

  Alex's jaw dropped open. "What? I'm not abusing him. I'm taking care of him."

  "Oh, sure, by putting him in a home where he'll be strapped to a bed for hours on end."

  "I'm not doing that." He turned to Julian. "What did you tell her?"

  "I told her the truth."

  "You wouldn't know the truth if you fell over it."

  "And you'll never know it either unless you open your eyes and see, and open your ears and hear." Julian stood up with dignity and pride. "It's all right, Miss Faith. I'll go now. I don't want to cause you any trouble. You've been more than kind."

  Alex clapped his hands. "Very nice performance, Grandfather. Did you also tell Miss Faith that you're an actor? That you've acted on and off Broadway for the past thirty years? Did you tell her that you spend each day of your life playing out another character, and today it happens to be the old, abused, and neglected grandfather? Which, by the way, could use some work."

  "You wound me, Alex. So eager you are to play me for the fool."

  "And I should be happy you're blackening my name all over town?"

  The door to the bakery opened and a little girl walked through the door, a petulant expression on her heavily made-up face. "What's taking so long, Alex?"

  "I told you to wait in the car, Jessie."

  "Who is this child?" Julian demanded.

  The girl crossed her arms in front of her chest and sent Julian a defiant look. "I'm his kid, Jessie. What's it to you?"

  Faith wasn't sure who looked more surprised by the declaration, Julian or his grandson. But if this child was any example of Alex Carrigan's commitment to his family, he was sadly lacking. The makeup on Jessie's face barely disguised the dirt on her neck and around her ears. And she was far too young to be wearing so many cosmetics.

  "She's not my kid," Alex growled, sending Jessie a stern look. "Stop saying that."

  "Then what are you doing with her?" Julian asked.

  "Watching her temporarily, until her real father is found."

  "He's ashamed to admit he's my dad," Jessie said, her attitude suddenly changing as her gaze traveled over to the bakery trays filled with desserts. She gave a heartfelt, dramatic sigh, much like the one Julian had just uttered. "I don't blame him for not wanting me. I haven't had a bath in a long time. I haven't eaten in a long time, either."

  "Oh, for heaven's sake. Let me get you something," Faith said.

  "I'll do it," Nancy offered, stepping up to take Jessie's order.

  "I want one of those, and one of those, and one of those," Jessie said, pointing to several different trays.

  "Oh, my, you are hungry," Nancy said, as she bustled to fill the girl's order.

  "I just got her twenty minutes ago," Alex said defensively, looking from Nancy to Faith. "I haven't had a chance to feed her or throw her into the bath. Because I've been looking for you," he added, turning to Julian. "You were supposed to stay put."

  "The wind." Julian's eyes lit up with understanding. "She came with the wind, didn't she?"

  "No, she came with a letter and a lawyer."

  "It's the curse."

  "It's not the damn curse." Alex threw up his hands. "I wish you'd stop blaming everything on some ridiculous story."

  "Then how do you explain this child's sudden appearance in your life?''

  "The untimely death of her mother. Now that you've told your sob story and had your cake, can we go?"

  "I just got my food," Jessie said, taking the bag from Nancy.

  "You can eat in the car." Alex took out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to Nancy, who gave him change without a word or a smile. "Actually, you can hold it until we get home," Alex said.

  "But I'm starving."

  "Oh, let the girl eat," Julian said.

  "I just got my car washed."

  Faith shook her head in disgust. The man cared more about his car than his daughter.

  Alex caught her accusing look. "Fine, she can eat in the car."

  As Jessie skipped out of the bakery, Julian picked up Faith's hand and kissed the back of it. "Good day, my dear. I apologize for bringing my troubles to you. But I thank you for listening to an old man."

  "It was no bother." She sent Alex a sharp look, then dropped her voice. "If you need anything at all, please call me. My last name is Christopher. Faith Christopher. I'm in the phone book."

  "You are too kind. Thank you." Julian squared his shoulders and tossed his chin in the air. "We can go now, Alex."

  Julian walked out of the bakery with his head held high. Alex paused at the door.

  "You really are naive," he said to Faith. "You actually believed his act?"

  She bristled at the all-too-familiar accusation. She wasn't naive. How could anyone with her background be naive? Maybe she just liked to believe in the goodness of people. Was that a crime?

  "Your grandfather was right about one thing," she said. "You're a jerk. And if anyone deserves to be cursed, it's you."

  He laughed. "Oh, the curse. Right. I think I'd rather be a jerk than a sucker."

  She pushed him out the door, and slammed it on his mocking laughter. "Idiot. Arrogant, obnoxious son of a bitch," she said more loudly, wishing he could hear her, but he was gone.

  "Good heavens, Faith. I've never seen you so worked up," Nancy said.

  "That man!" Faith shook her head. "I'm sorry. But I pity his grandfather and that little girl, whoever she is. I have half a mind to call Social Services and--"

  "Faith, they're not your business. Don't get involved. Besides, you heard that man tell you his grandfather is an actor. You can't believe a word he said."

  "Maybe he wasn't acting."

  "You always look for the best in people. I admire that, I do. But sometimes it gets you into trouble."

  She gave up, knowing she wouldn't find an ally in Nancy, not on this subject. She took off her apron and hung it on a hook behind the counter. It was past closing time, and she was more than ready to call it a day.

  As she systematically removed the trays from the display counter and set them in the large refrigerator in back, Faith couldn't help but go over the earlier scene. She had to admit that Julian's tale of woe and his ramblings about an evil curse had caught her imagination. She'd always believed that some things in life couldn't be explained with logic.

  Then again, if Julian was an actor, he could have been having fun at her expense. That was what his grandson thought, his obnoxious, fantastic-looking grandson, Alex Carrigan. She could still see his piercing blue eyes, hear the sexy timbre of his voice, feel the muscles packed beneath his business suit. Oh, Lord, if that man had gotten to her, she definitely needed to get out more.

  "I'm finished," Nancy said, returning to the kitchen, purse in hand. "Do you need anything else?"

  "No. I'll see you later."

  "Come about seven. And feel free to change clothes if you like."

  She looked down at her simple floral sundress. "Change? I didn't realize we were going formal tonight."

  Nancy laughed somewhat nervously. "I just thought you might want to get out of your work clothes. Why don't you wear that pretty blue knit dress that Gary gave you? I know Ben loves it. You know, speaking of Ben, he told me the other day he wants to settle down and have a family."

  "Were you telling him how much you want grandchildren at the time?"

  "Maybe. You still want children, don't you, Faith?"

 
"More than just about anything," Faith replied, feeling the familiar ache in her gut that always accompanied the thought of a baby. If Gary had lived, they would have had a child by now, and she would have finally had someone tied to her by blood. But he hadn't lived, and her womb was empty, so empty. She put a hand to her abdomen and rubbed it.

  Nancy's gaze followed her motion and Faith instinctively pulled her hand away.

  "You don't have to pretend with me, Faith. I know how much you wanted a baby. Gary told me that you were going to start trying right away."

  Faith blinked back an unexpected tear. She thought she'd finished crying ages ago, but sometimes her loss overwhelmed her.

  "I know Gary wouldn't have wanted you to live alone the rest of your life."

  "Is that a nice way of telling me it's time to move on?"

  "I want you to be happy, Faith. I want all of my kids to be happy. If only they would cooperate."

  Faith gave Nancy an impulsive hug. "You're the best."

  "I try." Nancy walked toward the door, then paused. "Faith, I want you to know that -- well, I approve."

  "Approve of what?" Faith asked, but Nancy was gone.

  * * *

  Benjamin Porter hadn't known engagement rings came in so many sizes and shapes. He'd foolishly believed they were all the same, a simple diamond on a band of gold. The tray in front of him held diamond clusters, sharp blue sapphires, fiery rubies, and colorful opals. They sparkled as the late afternoon sunshine drifted through the window of the jewelry store, reminding him that it was time to make a decision.

  "This is the one you wanted to see, isn't it?" the clerk asked, as she selected a ring from the tray and held it out for his inspection.

  "Yes." He took the ring from her hand and gazed at the diamond solitaire. The square diamond was perfectly cut, a beautiful gem, one a woman could wear proudly for years to come and perhaps hand down to her daughter or granddaughter or great-granddaughter. That was what life was all about, family, children. Nothing else mattered -- at least to his parents.

  Since his brother, Gary, had died, the family name was left to him to carry on. His younger sister, Kim, could have all the children she wanted, but none would bear the Porter name, and that meant more to his father than anything.

  "Do you like it?" the clerk asked. She was a pretty young girl with dreamy eyes, and the nametag on her chest read "Mandy."

  "It's nice." He knew the word was inadequate to describe the ring in his hand, but he felt uncomfortable, awkward. He'd never bought a ring for a woman before, especially not a ring with as much meaning as this one.

  "I think it's gorgeous. If my boyfriend surprised me with a ring like that, I'd make him very, very happy."

  Ben smiled at the seductive purr in her voice. He had a feeling Mandy made her boyfriend very, very happy quite often. "I'm just wondering if I shouldn't let her pick out her own ring."

  "It's incredibly romantic for a man to buy an engagement ring for the woman. He's picking out something special just for her. Call me old-fashioned, but I think it's a nice tradition."

  Tradition. It was a word Ben had grown up with. You've got to play baseball, son, it's a tradition. All the Porter men cut the turkey at Thanksgiving, it's tradition. All the Porter men surprise their wives with an engagement ring, it's tradition.

  Gary had known instinctively how to stay in line with the Porter family traditions. He'd never screwed up the way Ben had. No, Gary had played varsity baseball and won a scholarship to Stanford. He'd majored in business and founded his own investment firm just as his father had wanted. And Gary had gotten engaged to a beautiful, loving woman just as his father had wanted. The only thing Gary had done wrong was die.

  God, he missed his big brother. He hadn't realized how much he'd depended on Gary to run interference with the family until he was no longer there to do it. Now it was just him against them. Although they would gasp in horror if they knew he felt that way.

  Since Gary's death, his parents had gone from bragging about Gary to bragging about Ben. Whereas before Ben was the second son, the middle child, now he was the only son. And all their dreams, all their desires, were focused on him. They no longer deplored his job at the art gallery as low paying and on the road to nowhere. He was suddenly their brilliant son working with priceless paintings. And his studio apartment in the Haight district was no longer a former hippy slum, but a cozy artist's loft.

  Gary's death had certainly raised Ben's worth. He had to admit, he liked being their favorite son. It felt good to see pride in their eyes, to feel their love. It made him feel high, and he'd fast become an addict for their praise.

  "If you want to make a deposit, we could hold the ring for you while you think about it," Mandy said, obviously sensing he wasn't convinced to buy.

  Ben hesitated, seeing an out. He could make a deposit. He could think about it. He could change his mind. He could forget this crazy idea. No, he was being a coward at far too many things in his life. It was time for him to take this step. His position in the family would be solidified forever with this move. He would marry and have children. It was tradition.

  "I'll take it."

  "I'm sure she'll like it," Mandy replied. "Shall I wrap it up for you?"

  "That would be great."

  Mandy took the ring from his hand. "You must love her a lot."

  He smiled as he remembered their kiss. He could do this. He could make her happy -- make everyone happy.

  "Do you think she'll be surprised?" Mandy asked.

  He offered her a wry smile. "I think she'll be shocked. I just hope she says yes." The rest of his life depended on her answer. Without this marriage, without the children they would have together, he would be nothing.

  "This ring ought to convince her that you're the man," Mandy said cheerfully.

  "That's what I'm counting on."

  Chapter Three

  Faith. The name should have described someone saintly looking, not a gorgeous redhead with flashing green eyes, long legs, and great breasts. Alex had to admit Faith Christopher had caught his eye. Of course, she had a temper to match her hair and an idealistic streak to match her name, which meant she was definitely not his kind of woman. In fact, he didn't know why he was thinking about her. He certainly had plenty of other people to worry about, such as his Grandfather and Jessie.

  With a sigh, Alex pulled off his tie, tossed it over the kitchen chair, and set to work opening the cartons from Mei Ling's Chinese Restaurant.

  Jessie wandered into the kitchen. "Can I have a drink?"

  "Sure, help yourself." Alex tipped his head toward the refrigerator. "I hope you like Chinese food. I got a little of everything so you can have your pick."

  "Whatever."

  Jessie grabbed a can out of the refrigerator and sat down at the kitchen table. It wasn't until she'd taken a few sips and burped in appreciation that Alex noticed she was not drinking a soft drink but instead had a beer in her hand.

  "Hey, give me that." He grabbed the can out of her hand. "What do you think you're doing?"

  "Having a drink."

  "You're twelve, Jessie. Way under the limit."

  "I'll be thirteen in three weeks."

  "Great. Then you'll be legal to be a teenager. Drinking beer is still a few years off."

  "You're no fun." Jessie settled back in her chair with a scowl.

  "Yeah, well, you're not exactly a barrel of laughs yourself. By the way, you're in my chair."

  "I don't see your name engraved on it. Why can't you sit over there?"

  "Because this seat has the best view of the television."

  "Cool," Jessie said, reaching for the remote control.

  "Oh, no, you don't. I always watch ESPN." Alex grabbed the remote out of her hand, feeling like his life was spinning out of control.

  "I hate sports."

  He silently counted to ten. "Fine. We won't watch anything." He walked over to the cupboard and pulled out three plates and set them on the table. Then he o
pened the silverware drawer, grabbed some forks and knives, and handed them to Jessie. "Why don't you set the table?"

  Jessie sent him a blank look. "What do you mean?"

  "Put the forks and knives out."

  "Oh, you mean like in a restaurant."

  "Yeah."

  Jessie bit down on her lip as she studied the silverware, and it suddenly occurred to Alex that she had no idea where to put them but was too proud to ask.

  "You know, on second thought, why don't we just leave everything stacked, like a buffet?"

  "Whatever." She sat back in her seat with a sigh of relief.

  "I say, is supper ready?" Julian asked, as he paused in the doorway. "I'm famished, and it's been simply ages since I had a proper supper."

  "Why is he talking like that?" Jessica asked.

  "My grandfather is now playing a British royal."

  "You mean he's pretending?"

  "You catch on quick, kid." Alex handed his grandfather a plate. "The servants have all been thrown into the dungeon. You'll have to help yourself."

  Julian frowned. "You were never much fun as a child either."

  He sighed. Jessie had proclaimed him a bore, and now his grandfather had seconded the opinion. It was easy for them to be foolish. They didn't have responsibilities, people depending on them.

  Julian sat down at the table next to Jessica and helped himself to some rice and stir-fry beef. Alex took the chair across from them, hoping they could have some semblance of peace for at least a few moments.

  "About the curse," Julian began.

  "What curse?" Jessie asked, waving her fork in the air as she stared wide-eyed at Julian.

  "I don't think we should talk about that right now." Alex sent his grandfather a stern look. Julian, as usual, ignored him.

  "It began a long time ago, my dear, in the holy grounds of the ancient ones, the Anasazi."

  "Who?"

  "Grandfather, please not now. We're eating."

  "The Anasazi are believed by some to be the first human beings to walk the earth. They lived in the Southwest in a place called the Four Corners where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico meet. I spent a summer in northern Arizona, traveling through the desert, visiting the various ruins, the national monuments to a time gone by."