by Maggie Thom
“Again, Mommy.”
She smiled at her son before putting him down, distracting him with his latest toy car.
It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. She chanted to herself. Finally, she was able to take a deep breath and with shaking fingers she picked up her cell phone from the charger by the front door beside her bag. With a quick stab she opened her text messages.
Not home tonight, something came up at work. Back tomorrow night. Buff my shoes again, I want them to shine as bright as you.
Almost gagging, her head dropped back and she found herself staring at the ceiling. The weight of those simple words almost sent her to do his bidding, but it didn’t take long for her to come to her senses. She’d just shined the stupid things. Yet it surprised her how quickly she had also jumped to his whims. Blowing out her breath, she reminded herself that meant she had another day to put between them before he discovered she was gone.
Chapter Six
Deciding it was way past time to get moving, Tarin playfully wrestled Chance into his clothes and then into his spring jacket and hat. His grin was infectious and something she sorely needed. She smiled back. He gave her a zerbert kiss. It was a moment like this one that made her wonder if she’d done the right thing by not letting her father know he had a grandson. It might bring a light to his eyes, laughter to his soul and life to his days, things she’d never seen in him but she still had hope. But she couldn’t tell him. If he knew the trouble she was now in, he’d help her but she wasn’t sure at what price. It wasn’t something she was willing to risk.
One last look around at the immaculate glass and chrome apartment, skimming over a place that was as emotionally stale as the man she’d allowed herself to be hitched to. It had been yet another colossal mistake.
This whole situation made her momentarily ill but she steeled her spine; she was made of tougher stock. Raised by her father’s firm hand and solitary attitude, she’d learned to take care of herself from a young age. When he’d gotten tired of her he’d sent her off to boarding school with only weekend visits home. He’d been so proud of his little offspring robot. They’d parted ways a few years before and she wasn’t about to mend that rift. For the first time in her life she felt as though she was on the cusp of living her own life and doing what she wanted to do. A basement suite sounded like a perfect place to start. But then living on the street would have been preferable to living with Stephen or her father’s rules.
Grabbing her large suitcase and pulling out the handle, she stacked as many other bags as she could on top. It worked fine as long as she was standing still, but as soon as she moved they toppled over. That meant she was going to have to make two trips.
Unloading, she hauled as much as she could and headed into the hallway after checking to make sure no one was there. She grabbed Chance’s free hand, noting his other one was hugging his big green rabbit.
The elevator trip to the garage was uneventful but it didn’t ease her nerves or stop the feeling that someone was watching her. Once the doors opened, she walked quickly across the underground parkade, her heels clicking loudly, making her wince at the noise. Once at Stephen’s Mercedes, she stuffed all she’d hauled down into the trunk and was closing the lid when the guard walked by.
“Mrs. Roth. How are you today?”
“Tarin, please. I’m good, Dale, and you?” During one of their many chats, he’d told her he’d been the guard there for over ten years. He was a bit of a gruff old guy but he’d taken a liking to her. The one time he’d seen her with a bruise on her forehead, he’d told her that he was pretty sure a cupboard door hadn’t done it. It had actually been the truth, but she wasn’t sure it hadn’t been deliberate on Stephen’s part. Since then, Dale had checked on her regularly and hinted many times that if she ever needed a place for a short getaway, he had the best one for her. She knew he meant with him and his wife.
“Good. Good. The missus wants me to go on a cruise but I’m not sure I have the legs to be at sea for a week. I prefer solid ground under my feet. She’s trying to get me into retirement mode. I’m done in a couple of months.”
She laughed. “Oh, but it’ll be fun. You probably stop at a lot of islands and get off the ship, right?”
“Yes, but we have to get to those islands first.” He smiled. “Anyway, can I help you? I saw you were hauling a lot of things. If there’s more I’d be more than happy to help you bring it down.”
Though she tried hard not to react, she felt the color drain out of her face, and she was certain from his look of concern that he noticed.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I have a few things to do. Thanks but I... uh... don’t need help. I’m good. But thanks.”
“Hungry. Hungry,” Chance, hiding behind her leg, chanted softly but loud enough for her to hear.
“I know, love. We have to get a few more things and then we’ll go out for breakfast, okay?”
“Now, Mommy. Now.”
“How did his birthday turn out?”
Tarin smiled. Dale had bought him a present each birthday since he’d been born. She wondered who’d be there to give him a present when he turned three. “He loved it. Thank you so much for the car, he barely puts it down. He plays with it all the time.” She didn’t know how to tell him his gift was the only one that hadn’t come from her. Stephen hadn’t wanted any other kids over. Not that she knew any, anyway.
“Mommyyyyy.”
“Want me to watch him for a few minutes, while you go back up?”
Instant panic gripped her. “Uh, no. No. Thanks though. I can manage.”
She had no idea what he saw in her face or in her eyes but he held her gaze for a long time. She refused to look away.
“No problem. I’m not supposed to be down here anyway. I’ve been in Mrs. Brown’s apartment looking for that damn cat again. You have a good day. And take care.” He was halfway across the parking lot before she was able to move.
“Wait. Dale?”
He looked at her over his shoulder.
“Do you still volunteer at that place, Suit the Men?” It was a charity that gave men who couldn’t afford it nice suits so they could interview for good jobs.
“Yes. We’re busy trying to get thirty suits right now. Well, actually we need closer to two hundred but thirty will do for now.”
“Maybe you can help me then.”
An hour later, a banana and a juice for Chance and they’d managed to clean out her closet and half of Stephen’s and loaded them into Dale’s van.
“If anyone should question you, show them this. I...” Not knowing what to say, she handed him a note, hugged him, loaded Chance up and climbed in behind the wheel. She checked her purse for the tenth time to make sure the cash she’d withdrawn from the bank a little every day that week, was still there. The fear of Stephen finding it had kept her on her toes. Hiding it in Chance’s stuffed gorilla had been the answer. Stephen had never gone near the toys.
She would be fine for a while. The jewelry would provide more money once she found a few places to pawn them. If she managed it right, she’d have a job right away. Pulling in to Calgary International Airport, she parked in the farthest corner she could find and then unloaded the trunk. She got them checked in and while waiting, she got Chance a juice to drink and a cracker to munch on. With him busy, she checked her phone for messages. There were no texts. She gave a huge sigh of relief because that meant Stephen still had no clue. There were a few emails, which she checked. The third one was the one she had been hoping for. She had an interview in a couple of days. It was going to be a crazy rush but she confirmed she’d be there.
After they were settled on the plane, she thought how crazy her life had become. Bobbie, her friend since first grade, was going to pick her up in Montreal and then drive her to Toronto. She wasn’t accustomed to asking for help from anyone, especially when they had to go out of their way to help her. Bobbie had a big heart, although she kept it hidden under a tough exter
ior. She wondered what Bobbie would do to Stephen if she ever shared with her how he had mistreated her. Bobbie had been there through every damn stupid thing she’d done as a kid and had still been her friend.
She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake in including Bobbie in her plans. The idea that her friend could be hurt because of this situation slammed into her like a freight train. She must be insane following through with this plan. It reminded her when she was sixteen and had been accused of doing something she hadn’t done, so she’d come up with a plan to fix it—only that had made things worse and it had lost her Bobbie’s friendship for a very long time.
Am I doing the same thing again?
Though there were never any guarantees, she had to believe this was going to change her life for the better. The thought of what Stephen might do was something that kept playing out in the back of her mind. It was part of the reason she’d decided to travel across the country and get far away from him. But that was only part of it. The real one was because of a piece of paper, one that contained Caspian Winery letterhead. Why would someone keep her locked up, drugged up, whatever else they had done to her and then give her a code and leave her a logo? It didn’t make sense. What she did know was Caspian Winery was the only connection she had to that missing period of time. She’d read everything she could find about them but nothing explained a connection to her. The letterhead was the only clue she had and she had to pursue it. She had to find out who had played this sick game with her and why. It was key to Chance’s future and her own.
She pressed her palms together and placed her index fingers against her lips. She’d never been religious but that didn’t stop her from praying for something better. If she played it right, she’d have a new life.
One she hoped both her and Chance would survive.
Chapter Seven
“How are things coming with that acquisition?”
“All sewed up, Mr. J. The paperwork is on its way. You’re now the proud owner of Reynolds Wines.”
“Good. Good. Glad to hear it. I take it there weren’t too many problems convincing them to sell?”
Cal smiled as he sat across from Mr. J, the man who had changed his life and for whom he’d do anything... and did. Not that he ever shared the details with his boss. That had been the unspoken agreement between them since the day he’d taken him off the streets and into his home. “No more than usual. Had to get a little tough to let them know we were serious and they were going to be handsomely paid for their lowly business.”
“So we paid market price?”
“No. Not even close. They were convinced they were getting all they were going to and it was in their best interest to sell. Their only concern was the staff.”
“For now, we need to get someone new in there because we’re changing how they do business. Get Williams to perform a business analysis and hire someone to manage it. I want him to keep a close eye on it over the next six months. I want profits doubled in that time.”
“Got it, boss. I’ll have him find someone ruthless who also knows the wine business.”
“Excellent. And I want it renamed. I want my name on that place. We’ll be selling that wine at all our hotels. It’s rather small but at least a start. Now, did you look into the one that neighbors it?”
“I’ve started some things in motion but wanted to get this deal done before I moved forward.”
“All right. Let me know once you’ve had a chance to—you know what, give me the name of the other owner. I’ll call myself. I’ll handle the negotiations and if there are any problems, you handle the convincing. Good job, Cal.” Mr. J turned his attention to his tablet.
Cal knew that meant it was time for him to leave. He stood but didn’t move toward the door. “I know this probably isn’t any of my business, but I know how to make the audit go away.”
He glanced up, shook his head. “Right now, this requires a little bit of old school quid pro quo. I’ve got it.” His attention immediately dropped back to his screen.
Silently, Cal made his way out of the expansive office, his heels clicking on the marble flooring. It still gave him a thrill. That sound was the echo of money, something he was getting very accustomed to. It also made him smile that a lot of tactics used in business weren’t all that different from those he’d learned on the streets. He could get away with a lot more in a suit, though, than he had in blue jeans. He brushed an imaginary piece of lint off his jacket, giving him an excuse to feel the expensive material that reminded him of power and the new life he’d created for himself.
Thoughts of the new winery he’d acquired for his boss made him grin. It was jobs like that where he knew he was of real value. He was thankful Mr. J hadn’t asked him for details of what he had done to convince the people to sell. He’d had to be a little underhanded to persuade the family to sell their century-old winery.
As he entered the elevator, his thoughts drifted to the other problem he was keeping an eye on. Soon he would inform his boss, the father figure he’d never had, what was really going on. He’d be angry; so before Cal told him what had been occurring over the last few years, he had to figure out a way to deflect it from himself. The fallout could destroy the relationship he’d worked so hard to build up and all because of her. He thought he’d finally solved the problem of Tarin but it appeared she was heading back to Ontario. Too close for comfort. It was only a matter of time before she started asking questions and wanting answers. There was no way she was going to screw up all that he’d built.
If she vanished that would solve everything. He pressed his thumb into his right temple in an attempt to ease the pounding pulsing through his skull. It was time to find out her plans.
Chapter Eight
‘You bitch. I don’t know where you’ve gone or what you think you’re doing but good riddance.’
Tarin shuddered as she thought about the four texts Stephen had sent her. He’d obviously arrived home and found her message—the dress with the scissors sticking out of it and a lot of her possessions gone. Never mind most of his suits. He’d sent her several nasty messages that for some reason she felt compelled to read. Part of her, perhaps, needed to know he was simply blowing hot air and had no plans to come after her. Thankfully, it looked as though he wasn’t going to waste his time or energy looking for her.
“More, Mommy.” Chance’s request for more watermelon brought her back to the present. His face was dripping with juice while he triumphantly held a squished piece in his hand. She gave him a new one. He proceeded to immediately suck on it.
“Thank you, Bobbie; that was great. You’ve obviously learned a thing or two about cooking since school.” Tarin sat back and patted a stomach filled with shrimp shish kabobs, crab cakes, puff pastries, vegetable salad and lemon meringue pie. Maybe she shouldn’t feel so relaxed, but for the first time in a long time she didn’t feel like she had to sit up straight or scan the area for kids’ toys to make sure they were out of the way. The last few days had been a whirlwind of packing, flying, driving and trying to settle into Bobbie’s basement. It felt so good to be lazing in the backyard as though she had no cares in the world. Bobbie had been gracious and so far, hadn’t asked too many questions about Stephen. All Tarin had told her was that he’d cheated on her. Bobbie had been ready to take him out at the knees. It made Tarin smile.
“Well, thank you. I got Mom’s chef to teach me. I was tired of mac and cheese, brown beans, toast.” They were sitting in Bobbie’s backyard under a huge umbrella that kept the mid-day sun off them.
“Well, you did awesome.”
“Bobbie? Where are you?”
Bobbie’s eyes opened wide before she jumped to her feet and disappeared into the house. Tarin looked at Kim, Bobbie’s teenage daughter.
She shrugged but made no move to follow. “Grandma.”
Tarin’s eyes trailed toward the house. She was a little perplexed by both their attitudes. She was tempted to follow Bobbie but she’d never really gotten along wit
h Mrs. Benson; and she didn’t want her to see her in case she was still in contact with her father.
“Tarin, it’s so good to see you.”
“Uh, hi, Mrs. Benson,” she said politely, while cringing inside. Her friend’s mom was dressed in a short, flaming red cocktail dress that seemed more suited to a Friday night outfit for someone half her age, than a midweek morning one. Although, Tarin knew she shouldn’t judge, since that had been most of her clothing when living with Stephen. She’d have to ask Bobbie who the man in her mom’s life was.
“Okay, so what do you have planned for this afternoon?”
“Go to the water park,” Kim said to her mother’s groan.
“I’ll pass. Sitting in the hot sun with noisy kids all around, forget it. I’ll go home and sit by the pool,” Mrs. Benson air-kissed Kim. “Besides, I’m going to test drive a new Mercedes this afternoon.”
“No, you’re not Mom.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m two, Bobbie. I am.”
“You’re not buying it.”
“I never said I was. I’m just taking a convertible for a spin.”
“Do not, Mom.” Bobbie glared at her but she seemed oblivious to it.
She turned to Tarin. “Nice to see you, it’s been so long. I’ll tell your father you’re looking great. And his grandson is adorable.”
Tarin’s eyes widened as her head snapped around to Bobbie, whose horrified look met hers. “I’d rather you didn’t. And I’d rather he didn’t know I was here yet.”
“Oh. Is something wrong?” She waved her heavily ringed fingers in the air.
“It’s okay. I’ll talk to her. She only talks to your dad when she wants—” Bobbie’s eyes widened. Looking like a street urchin in her sweats, she grabbed her slender, glammed-up mom and directed her firmly off to the side of the patio. The two had their heads together and it was obvious the words were rather heated. Bobbie’s face was puffed up and red as if ready to explode, but it was the surreptitious glances her way that concerned her. She focused on Chance, not wishing to reveal that she could see the anger and could hear some of their words.
