by Reeni Austin
I’m even more confused than I was before, Cara thought.
To clear her mind, she took a moment to check her personal email on her phone.
“Huh?” She blinked, disbelieving the message she had just received. It was from her former manager in Chicago. The subject read, “Need a job?” The body of the email simply said, “Call me when you get this.”
Cara closed her office door before dialing.
“Cara? Is that you?”
“Justine? How are you? I just got your email and—”
Justine’s voice was hushed. “I’m great. Don’t have much time though. I just stepped out of a meeting to take your call.” Her voice became slightly louder. “Any chance you want your old job back?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I just started a brand new job today.”
“Oh, shoot! I thought you were a sure thing.”
“What happened? I thought the company was on its way out.”
“Apparently not. We were acquired by Emilieu Global.”
“No!” Cara walked to her chair and sat down.
“Yes. There were rumors for a long time but it just became official today. They work very fast. They already had new operating budgets waiting when they met with senior level management today. They added fifty new positions to the headcount with more on the way. I was so hoping to bring you back.”
Cara whined to herself and pressed her palm against her forehead. “I can’t believe this. Of course it would happen the day I start a new job.”
“I’m sure you can still quit the new job.”
The logical side of Cara told her to take the job in Chicago. She and Isaac were stable there. And she loved working with Justine. But when she thought about Victor, her answer was clear. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. If this had happened a week ago or even a few days ago, I’d probably already be packing boxes. I have to stay here. I need to see what develops.”
With a dramatic sigh, Justine said, “Fine. But if you change your mind in the next…I don’t know…couple weeks? Month? You let me know.”
“I will.”
Chapter Seven
Cara opened the front door on Friday evening and entered the house with a sigh of relief. Her feet hurt and she was dying to slip out of her body shaper and into some comfy sweatpants. “I’m home!”
Isaac ran to her from the kitchen. “Mommy Mommy Mommy!”
She picked him up and gave him a kiss. “Were you a good boy for Grandma today?”
He gave her a mischievous grin and said, “Yes,” then threw his face against her neck.
Cara had a feeling he was lying, but she was quickly distracted by rich aromas wafting from the kitchen. She gently lowered Isaac to the floor and he ran off to the living room. “Mom, what are you making?”
Patty’s eyes brightened when she saw her daughter appear. She reached for a potholder and opened the oven. “Nothing much. Lasagna. Garlic bread.”
A glance around the room piqued Cara’s curiosity. On the kitchen counter, she saw some of her mother’s recipes that were only used for holidays and special occasions. Homemade garlic bread, Grandma Sylvia’s special red sauce, among others.
When Patty saw Cara touch the recipes, she snatched them from her hand. “I need those.”
“What’s going on? Is it someone’s birthday I don’t know about?”
“No.” Patty smiled. “We’re…um…just celebrating your first week at your new job.”
“Oh.” Cara returned her smile. “That’s sweet. I hadn’t thought of that. Is Marcy coming over?”
“No.”
“Well, I’ll invite her. I don’t think she’s working tonight.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“Just…no. Not tonight. Trust me.”
Cara shook her head and turned to leave the kitchen. “Fine, whatever. I’m too tired to argue. I’m gonna go get comfortable.”
“Don’t get too comfortable. Wear something decent.”
Cara spun around to face her. She knew that tone in her meddling mother’s voice. “Okay. You’re up to something. What is it?”
Patty shrugged and focused her attention on a mixing bowl on the counter. “Nothing.”
“You’re lying. What’s going on? Did you invite someone over?” Cara raised her eyebrows. “Is it Stanley, that guy you met in the park a few weeks ago who you don’t think I know about?”
Patty’s lips pursed as a pink hue flooded her cheeks. She whisked the ingredients in the bowl. “That was nothing.”
“Oh, come on, mom. You’re a hot grandma.” Cara was glad she talked Patty into dyeing her hair recently. The new dark brown color covered Patty’s gray and made her look ten years younger, by Cara’s estimation.
“Go keep your son occupied while I finish up in here, okay? I’ve had to fight him away from the fridge all afternoon since he saw me put the cake in there.”
Cara groaned. “What the heck, Mom? I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”
Patty let the whisk drop to the bowl. “Fine.” She looked in her daughter’s eyes. “Your boss is joining us for dinner.”
“What?” Cara gasped. “No! You can’t!”
Patty gave her a lighthearted grin. “Too late now. He’ll be here in…” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “About an hour. Said he had a late business meeting then he’d be on his way over.”
Cara was too stunned to speak for a moment. She had barely seen Victor since their lunch on Monday because he had been visiting clients or having closed-door meetings in his office. She had determined by now that Victor merely hired her to get back at Alexis Whitt. “Mom, this is a bad idea for so many reasons. You shouldn’t have called him.”
“I didn’t. He called here. Said he wanted to make sure Isaac was okay. Then we started talking.” Her eyes lit up. “He practically invited himself over.”
“Why would he do that? He could ask me about Isaac anytime.”
“Because he likes you! That’s why.”
“He doesn’t like me, Mom. He’s trying to make a point to his ex. That’s why he hired me.”
Patty shrugged. “Whatever. Doesn’t matter the reason. If he wants to give you some attention, you should let him.”
Cara threw her hands in the air. “Who knows? Maybe you’re right. I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“Yes. See? You should listen to your mother more often.”
Cara grumbled to herself and left the kitchen.
An hour later, the doorbell rang, rustling the butterflies in Cara’s stomach. She had changed into a pair of black pants and a loose-fitting light blue blouse. Her long hair hung in soft curls down her back.
As Patty went for the door, Cara gave Isaac another inspection to make sure he wasn’t sticky or dirty.
“Mommy,” he said, “cake?”
Cara winced. She could tell from his whiny tone that they might be in for one of his rare tantrums. She knelt down to look in his eyes. “If you be good you can have cake after dinner, okay?”
He pouted. “Cake now.”
She kissed his forehead. “Not now. After dinner with everyone else.” She stood and took Isaac’s hand, leading him to the front door when she heard Victor speaking with Patty. Please be good, Isaac, she silently pleaded.
Victor’s mesmerizing eyes met hers immediately when she and Isaac entered the dining room. He held her gaze for a long moment then said, “Hi, Cara. Hope it’s okay that I came by for dinner.”
The nerves in her stomach tightened, but she tried to appear calm. She noticed he was wearing a long-sleeved white dress shirt with cufflinks, like he’d left his jacket and tie in the car. The shirt was fitted perfectly, as if it were molded just for his athletic, muscular body. “Yes, it’s fine.”
Victor held up a gift bag. “I brought something for Isaac.” He looked down in Isaac’s direction, smiling. “Hello?”
Cara felt a sharp tug on the back of her pants. Isaac had grabbed a handful
of the fabric as he hid behind her leg. She patted the top of his head and looked at Victor. “Sorry, he’s shy around new people lately.”
“It’s just a phase.” Patty touched Victor’s arm. “I need to go to the kitchen. Make yourself at home.”
Victor nodded and turned his attention to Isaac. “Hi there. We spoke on the phone.”
Isaac hugged Cara’s leg with all his might and looked down at the floor.
Cara’s voice was gentle. “Do you remember talking on the phone?”
Isaac shook his head.
“Come on,” she said. “Sure you do. It’s Victor.”
Isaac paused, then loudly whispered, “Bictow.”
Victor chuckled and picked up a gift bag he had set down behind him. “I have a present for you, Isaac.”
Cara’s eyebrows furrowed at Victor. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to.” Victor reached inside the bag and produced a large plastic yellow car with a red stripe all the way around. He knelt down to Isaac’s level. “This is for you. You told me you like cars.”
Isaac squealed. He let go of Cara’s leg and grabbed the car from Victor with both arms. “Wace caw!” He stomped his feet, giggling.
Cara melted inside at the sight of her boss, down on his knees in his designer pants, smiling at her son. “Isaac, what do you say when someone gives you a present?”
Isaac held out the car, examining it. Then he looked at Victor. “You wike wace caws?”
“Yes,” Victor said. “I love race cars.”
Isaac smiled and softly said, “You have a wace caw?”
“No,” Cara said. “You know what to say when someone gives you a present. Say, ‘thank you.’”
Isaac hugged the car and whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Victor said.
“You have a wace caw?” Isaac asked again.
Cara shook her head. “I’m sorry. He’s obsessed with race cars lately.”
“It’s okay,” Victor said, beaming at Isaac. “I have a car outside. You wanna see it?”
“Yeah!” Isaac ran past Victor to fetch his shoes from the rack inside the front door, letting his new toy fall to the floor with a loud thunk.
Victor stood, wincing at Cara. “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“It’s fine.” Cara was already worried about how she would get her son back inside for dinner.
Isaac ran outside with Victor in tow as soon as the door opened. This was the first time Cara set eyes on Victor’s car. It was sleek and sporty and had a symbol on the front she had never seen before.
Patty soon joined Cara as they hovered nearby, watching Victor open the door to let Isaac sit inside.
“They get along so well,” Patty said. “You can tell he’d be a great father.”
Cara gritted her teeth. “You’re thinking too far ahead. I don’t want Isaac getting attached to him.”
Patty held back the words she really wanted to say. “Well, it’s good for him to have a man around once in a while.” She knew her daughter was too protective of herself. They had argued about it dozens of times, and tonight she just wanted Cara to loosen up and try to let her guard down.
They both smiled as they watched Isaac’s eyes dance around the inside of the fancy car. Victor stood over him, pointing out things that made Isaac ooh and ah. After a minute, Victor stepped away, laughing and holding the door open while Isaac gripped the steering wheel and made his own sound effects as if he were driving.
Patty waited a while longer then went back inside to finish setting up for dinner.
Cara walked up to the car. “Having a good time?”
Isaac nodded gleefully, puffing out his lips as he made a “Vroom vroom” sound.
Cara whispered to Victor, “The only time he can almost pronounce his R is when he’s saying ‘vroom vroom.’”
Victor laughed.
“Okay, sweetie.” Cara looked at Isaac. “We have to go inside for dinner now.”
Isaac stuck out his bottom lip and strengthened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Oh no,” Cara mumbled. She thought for sure Isaac was about to screech at the top of his lungs. “Remember the chocolate cake? You can have it if you go inside for dinner.”
Isaac ignored her, but he stared thoughtfully at the dashboard like he was considering his options.
Victor extended his hand to Isaac. “Come on. Let’s go eat. I want some of that cake.”
Isaac gave Victor a quizzical glance, then waited a moment and suddenly reached for his hand and hopped out of the car. “Awwight.” He let out a dramatic huff as he started toward the house, pulling Victor along.
“Wait, let me lock up.” Victor chuckled and closed the door, then walked along with Isaac and Cara. “They’re a lot of fun at this age, huh?”
Cara narrowed her eyes. “Depends on which day you ask me. I never know what to expect.”
“Seems like he’s fully recovered from surgery.”
“Yeah, seems that way. He’s still healing but you’d never know it.”
Isaac stopped, looking up at Victor. “See?” He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue. “No tonsahs.”
Victor nodded. “Yes, I see.”
Cara sighed. “He always knows when we’re talking about him.”
They went inside the house where Patty had dinner waiting. Patty also made sure that she and Isaac sat together across the table while Cara and Victor sat side by side.
Isaac did the most talking during dinner, regaling Victor with tales that were sometimes hard to understand. Some were true stories. Some were based on true stories. Others were entirely fabricated. Through it all, Victor was thoroughly entertained.
Cara was glad, for once, that her son was in a talkative mood. It removed some of the pressure from this awkward situation.
After dinner, the four of them moved to the living room where they talked and had dessert. Isaac was thrilled to finally eat the chocolate cake he’d been waiting for. Cara was afraid he would want to go outside and see Victor’s car again, but around eight o’clock he started to yawn and said he was tired.
Patty winked at Cara. “We went to the park today and he didn’t take a nap. He’s worn out.” Patty forced a yawn. “And so am I, come to think about it.” She turned to Isaac. “I think me and you better go upstairs, don’t you?”
Isaac gave her a lazy nod.
“Good night, Isaac,” Victor said.
Isaac grinned. “Good night, Bictow. Good night Mommy.”
Cara smirked at Patty, who wouldn’t look at Cara as she followed Isaac out of the room. Cara knew Patty wasn’t tired. She was just trying to leave her alone with Victor.
As soon as they left, Victor inched slightly closer to Cara on the sofa. “Looks like I made a new friend tonight.”
“Yeah. He doesn’t usually take to adults so quickly. Are you around children a lot?”
“No. Almost never, in fact.” Victor shrugged. “I guess we just click.”
“Hmm. So, tell me.” She positioned herself so she was facing him. “Did you go to Gary’s house the week you hired him, too?”
With a weak smile he said, “Uh…no. No, I didn’t.”
“So, this isn’t normal new employee procedure? Like taking me out to lunch my first day?”
He undid the first button of his shirt and flexed his neck, trying to get more comfortable. He smiled at her question. “No, not exactly.”
“Then what are you doing here? Calling my mom, giving my son a present. Hanging out after dinner in this house.” She cocked her head to the side. “What’s your game? Why are you doing this?”
“Maybe I’m just a nice guy.”
“No, I don’t think that’s it.”
He smirked. “Thanks.”
“That’s not what I meant. What I mean is, I don’t know why you’re being so nice to me. It’s not normal.”
“Cara.” He looked deep in her eyes. “You’re an int
elligent woman. Do I really need to spell it out for you?”
“Spell out what? That you’re using me to get back at Alexis Whitt?”
Victor jolted out of his relaxed position and sat up straight. “Whoa. Where the hell’d you get that?”
“Does it matter? It’s true, isn’t it?”
He scoffed. “No. Not at all. She and I’ve been over for a while now. We were probably over way before I…Didn’t your mom say there was wine chilling in the fridge?”
Cara was about to respond when Victor stood and turned in the direction of the kitchen. “Hey!” She followed him.
He was already turning on the light in the kitchen when she caught up.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Getting some wine. Patty said to make myself at home. So, I’m making myself at home. I’ll get the wine if you get the glasses. I don’t know where they are.”
Cara rolled her eyes and opened the cabinet to get one goblet. She set it on the counter with a light clink.
Victor took the bottle from the refrigerator. “I need a corkscrew.” He squinted at the lone glass on the counter. “Where’s yours?”
“I don’t want any.”
“Yeah, you do.” He reached up to the cabinet where he saw Cara get the first goblet. “Corkscrew, please.”
She groaned and found it in a drawer. “I’m off the clock, you know. I don’t really have to do what you say right now.”
“And yet, you are.” He picked up the corkscrew, smiling.
“That’s only because you’re my guest and I don’t wanna be rude.”
“You, rude?” He narrowed one eye, his tone clearly sarcastic. “Never.”
She rolled her eyes and looked away as he opened the bottle and poured them each a glass. He handed one to her.
“For you, senorita,” he said. “Drink up.”
Cara felt weak in the knees when she heard the way senorita rolled so effortlessly from his tongue. No man had ever addressed her like that. She took the goblet and raised it to her lips, ready to drink.
“Oh wait.” He extended his glass to hers. “We didn’t toast.”
