A Chance with You

by Yahrah St. John

  “Raina.” Her mother called her name from the doorway of the kitchen. “Was that who I think it was?” she asked, coming into the retail store.

  “Yes,” Raina replied, moving away from the door and walking behind the counter to find a rag to wipe off the counter. She needed to do something to try to avoid the conversation she knew her mother wanted to have. No such luck; her mother went in for the kill.

  “What does he want?”

  “I don’t know, Mom,” Raina replied, shrugging her shoulders as she wiped the counter.

  “Don’t give me a pat answer, Raina Martin.” Crystal grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her from working. “More importantly I want to know what was going on between you two.”

  “What do you mean?” Raina asked innocently.

  “Body language,” her mother offered. “That man was clearly interested in you. What kind of man would hit on the woman raising his daughter? It’s deplorable.”

  “We don’t know Spencer is Zoe’s father,” Raina said, surprising herself by coming to Spencer’s defense and jerking her shoulders away.

  “But Alexa said that Spencer was the one.”

  “No, what she said was Spencer could help.” Raina remembered her sister’s last words very carefully because she’d replayed them in her head a million times. And since meeting Spencer, she was finding it hard to believe that in this day and age he would be so careless as to expose himself to diseases, much less pregnancy, by not practicing safe sex. Spencer struck her as a smart man.

  “Yeah, well, I think it’s him. Why else would Alexa have carried that picture with her all these years?”

  “Perhaps as a clue to find the real father.”

  “Why are you grasping at straws here?” Her mother looked at her. “This was your idea. I thought you wanted to find Zoe’s father. If it had been up to your father and I, we would have let the matter rest and raised Zoe ourselves.”

  “Well, it’s not up to you,” Raina snapped. She was aware that her parents thought her inept at the parenting thing, but Alexa had chosen her. “I’m Zoe’s guardian, and she confided in me how she wished she was like other kids with two parents. If you’d heard her and how upset she was, you would know that’s what I’m trying to give her.”

  “I just hope your good intentions don’t come back and smack you in the face.” Crystal seemed unfazed by Raina’s harsh tone. “Because if he is Zoe’s father, he has rights, too, you know.”

  Raina rolled her eyes. She already knew this. Spencer had made it painfully clear that should he be deemed the father, he would sue her for full custody. But Raina thought it was a bluff. What thirty-eight-year-old man wanted to be a single parent to a six-year-old little girl? Although he’d had a way with Zoe earlier, she highly doubted Spencer had been around children often, much less knew how to raise one. It’s not like you do, either, her inner voice mocked.

  “All right, Mom.” Raina threw up her hands in resignation. “We’re never going to see eye to eye on my decision to find Zoe’s biological father, so let’s just get ready for dinner.”

  * * *

  Spencer stared out at the Miami shoreline from the balcony of the bedroom in his penthouse. The sky was dark without a star to be seen. It was kind of how he felt at the realization of knowing exactly who Zoe was. Seeing the child in person had told him everything he needed to know. He wasn’t the father, and the paternity test he’d agreed to take would show that, but his brother made Zoe family.

  Spencer recalled the night he and Cameron had met Alexa Martin. She’d come on strong, hanging outside the arena with several of her groupie friends. They all had perfectly done hair, nails and makeup. She’d been wearing one of those skimpy minidresses that showed off every God-given curve. Initially Spencer had shown interest in her, thus the photograph. But once Cameron had seen her later that evening at the club, he’d been smitten. As the evening wore on, his brother’s special charm had literally dazzled the clothes right off Alexa.

  Spencer hadn’t been upset because he and his brother had vowed never to let a woman come between them. And so Cameron and Alexa had begun a torrid love affair for several weeks, right under Cameron’s wife’s nose. Spencer had warned him that it wouldn’t end well, and it hadn’t. News of another of Cameron’s affairs had hit the papers and his face was splashed all over the news. He’d immediately called it quits, much to Alexa’s consternation.

  Now that Spencer thought about it, Alexa had called him once, several weeks after they’d broken up, asking for Cameron’s new phone number. Spencer had advised Alexa to give up the ghost. His brother was not the commitment kind. Had she been trying to tell Cameron she was pregnant back then? Had Spencer gotten in the way? Spencer had been trying to help by saving her from embarrassment, hurt and anger, but was he to blame for Cameron never finding out he’d sired a child?

  Spencer felt terrible. Perhaps knowing that he’d had a child would have cured Cameron of all his bad behavior. Was that why in her final hour, Alexa had told Raina that he would help her? Because he was Zoe’s uncle? She probably thought he would be able to given that Cameron had passed away. His death had been publicized in all the Miami papers and Alexa had to have known the truth.

  It was incumbent on Spencer to do right by his niece this time. He realized what he had to do. He would have to run a separate DNA test to confirm Cameron was the father and then Zoe would be entitled to Cameron’s estate and a whole lot more.

  Chapter 4

  Raina sat in the uncomfortable steel chair in the laboratory waiting room, wringing her hands as she waited for the nurse to call her and Zoe in. She felt terrible because she’d lied to Zoe. She’d told her that they had to take some medical test for school. She hadn’t known what else to say. She wasn’t ready to have the conversation with Zoe about who Spencer could be until she was sure of their connection.

  And they would find out soon enough. She’d called the day before to find out exactly how long the test would take and they’d indicated they would have the results in a few days. She’d thought it would take weeks like she’d seen on television, but technology had come a long way. Rather than take blood, all they had to do was swab Zoe’s cheek for DNA and compare it to Spencer’s and they would know the truth.

  The knowledge didn’t make feel Raina feel any better. On the one hand, if Spencer wasn’t Zoe’s father, then it was back to the drawing board to figure out who Alexa could have possibly slept with. The news would be great for Spencer because he would have no obligation to her or Zoe and could move on with his life. Or would he? Perhaps he was looking to bed Raina to see if she would succumb to his charms like most women did.

  Then there was the other hand they could be dealt. Spencer could indeed be Zoe’s father and then all hell was going to break loose. Raina would have to explain to Zoe exactly who he was and why he hadn’t been a part of her life for the past six years. How did you even explain something like that to a child? Then she and Spencer would have to come up with some type of custody arrangement. Or worse yet, he would try and sue her for custody and their relationship could get ugly, real quick.

  If she was honest with herself, Raina didn’t relish the latter prospect. Although she knew it would be good for Zoe to have a father and two parents, deep down she was secretly hoping that Spencer was right and he wasn’t the father. Because then...then...she could what? Give in to the fantasies she’d been having about the sexy former basketball star?

  “Good morning,” a deep voice said from above her, jostling Raina out of her thoughts. “How are my two girls this morning?” Spencer asked, peering down at her.

  Raina swallowed. Spencer looked even sexier today. He was wearing a pullover sweater, worn jeans and gleaming new tennis shoes. “Good morning,” she managed to say after several interminable moments.

  Spencer removed his hands from behind his
back and produced two cups. “Hot chocolate for my lady.” He handed Zoe the smaller cup. “Coffee for you, my dear.” He handed the other to Raina.

  Yet again, she was surprised by his thoughtfulness. Surely this man couldn’t be someone who’d bedded her sister, gotten her pregnant and then turned his back on her without a second glance. “Thank you,” she murmured. She needed a dose of caffeine to snap her awake and make her realize that she didn’t really know Spencer Davis. He could be that man, even though her gut hoped he wasn’t.

  “You’re welcome,” he said, sliding easily into the chair next to her.

  “What are you doing here, Spence?” Zoe inquired as she sipped on her hot chocolate.

  Raina turned to her niece. Smart girl. She came up with a plausible excuse. “Mr. Spencer thought we might want company or that you might be scared.”

  Zoe made a funny face and then turned to her accusingly. “I thought you said there would be no needles.”

  “There won’t be.”

  “Then I’ll be okay. I’m not a baby, Auntie Raina,” Zoe admonished.

  Spencer gave Raina a sideways glance and whispered, “I guess she told you.”

  “Yeah, she can be a little too smart,” Raina murmured back, then turned to Zoe. “I know that. Did you ever think Auntie Raina might want the company and want to spend time with a friend?”

  The second the sentence was out of her mouth, Raina realized just how true that statement was. Having someone like Spencer interested in her had certainly piqued her female sensibilities. And she could see Spencer smiling from beside her. Clearly he’d liked her response, too.

  “Yes, I’m just here to keep your auntie company.” Spencer eyed Raina and gave her a wink. “And then I thought perhaps later after the test we could go to the Harvest Festival in Coconut Grove by Biscayne Bay when we’re done.”

  “Festival?” Raina asked.

  “I thought it might be fun,” Spencer said nonchalantly. “That is, if you don’t have any other plans?”

  “We never have any plans,” Zoe answered for Raina. “Auntie Raina works all the time and then we go home and watch TV.”

  Raina closed her eyes and prayed for sanity. She wished her niece would not be so honest. She didn’t want Spencer to know she was a workaholic who couldn’t remember her last date. But then, what did she want?

  “Ms. Martin, we are ready for you and your niece,” a technician said from the doorway.

  “See you soon.” Spencer waved as Raina and Zoe rose from their chairs.

  “You’ll be here when we get back, Spence?” Zoe inquired, a note of hope in her tiny little voice.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied, beaming at her.

  Raina stopped at the doorway and smiled at Spencer. She mouthed the words “Thank you” right before she walked through the door.

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, they’d all reconvened in the lobby. They’d come for Spencer seconds after Zoe and he’d taken his test. After producing a court order drafted by his attorney, he’d also requested a second test be run against his brother Cameron’s DNA, which had been kept on file by another medical lab.

  Cameron’s attorney had been shocked when Spencer had told him that he suspected Cameron was Zoe’s father. They’d discussed the ramifications if the test revealed the truth. Thanks to a paternity pickle a few years back, Cameron had added a clause in his will about future heirs. If anything should happen to him, he named Spencer as guardian. The attorney had informed Spencer that he potentially had as much right to custody of Zoe as Raina or her family.

  Spencer wasn’t sure how he felt about suing for custody or even shared custody; he just knew that he wanted a place in Zoe’s life. And in a few days, Raina would know he wasn’t the scoundrel who’d bedded her sister. Then they could finally act on what was going on between them. And there was definitely something going on. Just sitting next to Raina, he’d felt an electrical charge going back and forth between them even though only their shoulders touched.

  But he also knew Raina wouldn’t get involved with him if she thought he’d been with Alexa. So he was going to have to show a little patience until the test results came in.

  “How did everything go?” Spencer asked his niece. It was so amazing that although Cameron had died, a part of him still lived on.

  “It was easy,” Zoe said. “Not like before with all the needles. They just swabbed my cheek.”

  “You’re a brave girl,” Spencer said, looking at Raina. “And I think brave little girls deserve some fun at the Harvest Festival. What do you say, Auntie?” He wanted to spend some more time getting to know his niece and the added bonus was the time he’d spend with Raina.

  Raina stared daggers at Spencer. He’d baited her into this situation so she would have no choice but to agree otherwise Zoe would be upset. “Uh, sure, we can spend a few hours.”

  “Excellent. C’mon, Zoe.” Spencer grabbed the little girl’s hand and placed his other on the small of Raina’s back and led her out of the laboratory.

  They decided to leave Raina’s car at the lab and come back for it later. After Spencer helped Raina into the passenger side and Zoe into the backseat of his Bentley, he came around to the driver side. The car was a lot less ostentatious than Raina had expected. She’d expected that every athlete had a Ferrari or Lamborghini, but this car was luxurious and practical.

  “What is a Harvest Festival?” Zoe asked from the backseat.

  “Well, Zoe, it’s a festival where we celebrate the local farmers, gardeners and nonprofit organizations. We can buy fresh produce, vegetables and meat from local farmers. You can see all the gardens that the schools, churches and organizations have planted and play games and make crafts. And best of all, we’ll get to taste the delicious farm-fresh food from the food trucks.”

  “That sounds like fun.”

  “There will be lots of seminars, workshops and roundtables focused on our local food system. And, Raina, you’ll love this—they’ve got cooking demonstrations and organic gardening sessions. You might take away a few things for your catering business.”

  “That’s our philosophy at Diamonds and Gems Catering. Summer and I try to use locally grown and organic ingredients when we can. People don’t realize how many chemicals are in our food. I make sure Zoe and I eat as many organic vegetables as possible.”

  “I hate veggies,” Zoe said.

  “You have to eat them,” Spencer said. “How else do you think you’ll grow up to be big and strong, like your auntie Raina?” Spencer gave Raina a cursory glance before turning his attention back to the road. “I heard they’ve got some great bluegrass, traditional and local bands playing.”

  “I’m not big on folk music,” Raina replied. “But I’m game for everything else.”

  Spencer drove to Coconut Grove and parked in a private lot across from the festival. The fall foliage and rustic decor made the grounds look festive. They walked around the venue, taking in the sights and sounds.

  Spencer was knowledgeable and talked to Raina about farming and organic foods. He stopped to show Zoe a special garden. When he grabbed Raina’s hand and led her to one of the food trucks to sample a local dish, Raina didn’t remove her hand.

  Instead she allowed him to lead and didn’t object when he paid for the meal. “Thank you,” she said when he handed her a small paper plate. “What is it?”

  “A Baja fish taco,” Spencer replied. “Made with local mahi-mahi. Would you like to taste it, Zoe?” he asked, looking down at his niece.

  Zoe glanced up at him with her doelike eyes and said, “No, but can I have a hot dog?”

  “A hot dog?” Spencer frowned. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had one of those, but children seemed to love them. “Sure thing, kiddo. We’ll find you a hot dog.” He and Raina walked down the row
s of vendors, eating their fish tacos and searching for a hot dog.

  When Raina paused to check out some avocados, he noticed she had sauce on the side of her face. He reached across and wiped it off with his thumb. Unconsciously, he licked it off his hand and he watched Raina’s café au lait skin flush from the intimacy of his action. Their eyes connected in that moment and Spencer could swear Raina wanted him to kiss her. He would have liked nothing better, but now wasn’t the right moment for that.

  “There’s a hot dog vendor,” Spencer said, breaking the moment between them. A few minutes later, he was handing a purveyor a five-dollar bill and handing Zoe a hot dog covered with mustard and ketchup.

  “And what do you say?” Raina said, looking down at Zoe.

  “Thank you, Spence.”

  “You’re welcome, Zoe.”

  They enjoyed the day as if they were a family enjoying a Saturday outing. Spencer had never realized he’d wanted a family until that moment. Spending time with Raina and Zoe was showing him he wanted a family of his own. And he could possibly have this one.

  * * *

  Raina stopped to watch a collard greens cooking presentation while Spencer went off with Zoe to get her face painted. It gave Raina time alone to collect her thoughts and her emotions. Spencer had been the perfect companion, making Raina realize just how much she missed having a man in her life. And no matter what the test results showed, Raina resolved to make time for herself and a relationship a priority.

  When they returned, Raina had picked up several autumn vegetables like collards, sweet potatoes and cauliflower along with various selections of meats, cheeses, breads and a scrumptious homemade apple pie from a local farmer.

  Spencer eyed the haul Raina had acquired while he and Zoe had been busy. “Will you be making dinner for us later?”

  “Why? Were you looking for an invite?” Raina asked, smiling.

  “And if I was?”