by Erica Breyer
“Kelz, he seems a bit worried,” Jarrod replied, almost hesitantly. “They sent some samples to the lab, so they’re still waiting on those. But the scans show that the tumor hasn’t responded to the treatment as well as he’d hoped. He still doesn’t want to operate though. Too much risk.”
Kelly swallowed hard. “I see,” her voice faltered and she cleared her throat. “Did they say how long—”
“No, don’t go down that road!” Jarrod replied. “Let’s not assume the worst, okay? It’s just that he was expecting to see a dramatic reduction in size, but that hasn’t happened. So they want to take a more aggressive approach. Mom is doing well, she’s just tired. I’ll be there in a bit to pick you up, alright?”
“Alright," Kelly replied, ending the call. She sat for a moment, staring blankly at the desk in front of her.
“Do you need some time to yourself?” Taneka’s soft voice intruded into her thoughts. Kelly shook her head, straightening up abruptly and inhaling.
“No, I’m fine,” she said. “There’s no point in moping over something that hasn’t happened yet, you know?” Taneka smiled in response and Kelly buried herself back in her work. An hour later, a sharp knock at the door startled her so much she dropped her pen on the floor.
“Miss Hanson,” Carrick said, opening the door. “Your boyfriend’s here.”
She blinked at him in confusion, then glanced out the window. Jarrod had parked in the lot and was leaning against the bonnet of the car. Carrick turned on his heel and clattered back down the stairs, striding across the site towards a group of workers. Frowning, she shut down her machine, reached for her purse and stood.
“I’m gonna head out,” she said to Taneka, who was in the process of clearing her desk too. “I’ll see you in the morning.” The other woman gave her a warm smile as she left the office, heading to where her brother stood. As she settled into the passenger seat, she saw Taneka making her way across to where the group was standing.
“Oh, Carrick,” she called out. “Could I have a word?”
Kelly turned her attention to her brother as they left the site. There was a lot to discuss.
∞∞∞
“Yo!” Taneka called again as she jogged towards him. “Yo, Carrick.” He looked over at her, trying not to let himself watch as Kelly climbed into the car with the dark-haired kid. He would never have pegged him as her type. So young? Taneka stopped beside him.
“What’s up, ‘Neka?” he asked. She’d worked with him on previous sites and he had endless time for the plucky woman who could make sense of numbers in a way he’d never had the patience for.
“I…just wanted to chat to you about Kelly,” she started, smiling at the guys and then giving him a pointed look. He nodded and stepped away from the team. “She’s…she’s having a bit of a rough time at home,” Taneka continued. He nodded at her to go on. His instinct wanted to make a snappy comment about boyfriend trouble but he could see from her expression that this was something serious.
“Carrick, her ma’s real ill,” the earnest young woman said to him. “It’s the ‘big C’, ya know? Anyhow, they’re trying to get her through the tests this week – that’s why her brother has the car. Her mom’s car is in the shop and it’s really putting strain on them.”
Inwardly, Carrick groaned. ‘Oh, God, I’m such an ass,’ his inner voice whispered. But at the same time, his heart gave a little leap. Her brother. It was her brother. ‘But I’m still an ass,’ that little voice said again.
“Thanks for letting me know,” he said to Taneka, who gave him a tight smile.
“Meanwhile,” she added, “it hasn’t escaped me that there’s been a bit of confusion about...your identity.”
“Yeah, about that...” his voice trailed away. He pulled off his hardhat and raked a hand through his hair. Somehow, he was sure he was asking for trouble, but he didn’t want to change things right away. “Could you...not say anything?”
Taneka raised an eyebrow. “Well, okaaaay...” she dragged the word out in a way that told him that it was not okay. She wasn’t going to press for details though. “I’m not crazy about doing it, but you’re the boss.”
Carrick gave a nod and shrugged ruefully. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
Chapter 5
When Jarrod dropped Kelly off at the office the next day, she braced herself to face another onslaught of yellow notes. This time, there was nothing.
“Thank God for small mercies,” she muttered as she settled in at her desk. Taneka arrived before Kelly had switched on her computer; she was clutching two oversized Starbucks cups and had a large red purse clenched under her elbow. Kelly jumped up to assist, wrapping her hands around one of the cups before Taneka dropped her bag.
“For me?” she asked, smiling broadly as Taneka nodded.
“I thought you could use a jolt of java,” her friend grinned, setting her purse on her desk and taking a loud slurp of coffee. “Ahhh! Bliss!” Kelly lifted the lid on her cup and inhaled deeply. The aroma made her mouth water. “How’s Mama doin’?” Taneka asked.
“Being brave,” Kelly answered. “She has a meeting with the oncologist on Monday to discuss the new treatment protocol. They’re still refusing to operate because of the risks involved.” She sighed.
There had been shock when they’d originally learned about her mother’s condition, but the doctors had assured them that she had a good prognosis. Unfortunately, the tumor was situated in a position that might result in permanent brain damage if they tried to remove it. Since chemotherapy and radiation treatment had been successfully used in similar cases, they’d hoped it would do the trick. Now, it seemed that wasn’t going to be enough.
“Jarrod is taking her to collect her new prescriptions today,” she went on. “I made her promise me that she’ll get some sleep.” She smiled and shrugged. “Knowing her, she’ll find something to keep herself occupied!”
“If she’s anything like you, I imagine she'll go nuts if she can’t keep busy,” Taneka chuckled. “Say, what happened to the daily dread-notes?”
“Nothing today, would you believe?” Kelly said. “Maybe I’ll get a chance to grab lunch in the canteen. It’s on me today!” Before Taneka could object, she carried on, “And thank you for the coffee.” She drained the cup and got to work.
∞∞∞
The canteen was bustling when they arrived for lunch at noon. Kelly ordered Taneka’s regular burger and fries, then chose a pasta for herself. It was a ‘comfort food’ kind of day. She joined her friend at their favorite booth, and they chatted while they waited for their lunch to arrive.
“So how long have you and Jay been together?” she asked, determined to keep the topic light. There had been too much attention on her own issues lately.
Taneka’s face lit up. “Oh, forever!” she laughed. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. Although we only got together a couple of years ago. He went to college after school, and I went to study art.”
“Art?” Kelly asked. “That’s a bit of a leap to accounting!”
Taneka laughed. “I know, right? I still paint in my spare time, but it turns out I have a knack for numbers. And it was a quicker way to pay the bills than waiting to make a name in the art world!”
“Oh, there are other ways to earn a living with art than just painting,” Kelly countered. “You could get into graphic design, advertising…”
“Yeah, I know,” said Taneka. “But I actually like the structure of my job. Otherwise, I’d be like…all over the place, know what I mean?” Kelly gave a lopsided grin. Taneka had a fashion flair that bordered on eccentric. Even now, she’d teamed a wild, multicolored t-shirt with a pair of jeans that had been embroidered with yellow flowers. Her purple sneakers were the most sensible part of her ensemble.
She glanced down at her own outfit – jeans and t-shirts had become her regular wardrobe since starting her job on the site. It didn’t bother her much. She’d always been more of a casual dresser, and she knew the look
suited her. Her simple, turquoise tee molded her torso snugly, giving a hint at the curves beneath without being overt. Blue jeans suited her too, though she worked hard to keep her shape. A daily jog had been part of her routine since she’d been in college. She’d probably have to push up the miles this weekend to atone for the pasta she was about to indulge in.
The pair glanced up as their meals arrived. “Thanks for lunch,” Taneka said, smiling as she picked up her burger. Strong, white teeth sank into the bun, and she gave a happy moan as she took a bite. “Mmmm…these are always so good!” she said, her voice muffled.
Kelly laughed and took a mouthful of creamy pasta, adding her own happy moan to the mix. Taneka gave another moan, and the pair of them broke into giggles.
“What’s going on over here,” a voice intruded into their moment. “Got some complaints about some strange noises coming from this table.” Kelly glanced up, her cheeks coloring as she looked into Carrick’s amused eyes.
“It’s a foodgasm!” laughed Taneka shamelessly, seemingly unmoved by the man at the table. Kelly wished she could say the same for herself. As always, Carrick made his working clothes look like they wouldn’t be out of place in a menswear ad. His white tank top was snug over his pecs, and she could even see a hint of his toned abs beneath the fabric. She flashed her eyes away abruptly before they strayed any lower.
‘No, Kelly! Naughty!’ She smacked her fingers mentally before she could imagine herself unbuttoning those jeans and— What the heck?
“Oh, well, in that case, don’t let me interrupt you, ma’am!” he said, grinning, about to turn and leave.
“Nah, that’s okay, sir,” said Taneka. “Come, join us.” She slid her plate along the table and made room for him to sit beside her. Without hesitating, he accepted the invitation, folding his long frame into the seat. He turned his attention to Kelly, who was trying to regain her composure.
“Saw you come in with your brother again today,” he said. Clearly, someone had been talking to him. Kelly gave Taneka a hard stare.
“Yes,” she answered, not adding more.
“Everything okay?” he asked, looking sincerely concerned.
“Nothing I can’t deal with,” she replied.
“Kelly’s ma’s been ill,” Taneka interrupted, earning another hard stare from Kelly, which she ignored. “Her car’s in the shop, so her brother’s been using Kelly’s car to get her to the doctor.”
“Oh, that’s a tough break,” Carrick responded. “It must be pretty inconvenient.”
“I’m managing just fine,” Kelly insisted.
“Hardly!” Taneka disagreed. “You and your brother are going to run yourselves ragged to keep this up.” Kelly opened her mouth to reply, but Carrick spoke first.
“You live over by the Blue Hills Mall, don’t you?” he asked Kelly. She nodded. “You know, I’m not far from there. Why don’t I give you a lift?”
“That’s a great idea!” Taneka blurted. “Why don’t you do that, hon?” Kelly felt her mouth drop open and flashed a furious look at the woman.
“Honestly, it’ll be no trouble at all. You and I both get in around the same time – I’ll stop by your place on my way in and bring you through. I’m sure it’ll mean a lot less stress in your household. From the sounds of it, that would be a good thing.” Carrick’s dark eyes were on hers now. Kelly wanted to object, but deep down, she knew he was right. The morning flurry was so disruptive, and she knew it affected her mother.
“Okay,” she said slowly, nodding. “I guess that could work.”
“So it’s done, then,” said Carrick with a satisfied air. “I’ll call you when I’m done for the day, and we can leave together.” Kelly wanted to pull a face but knew that would be ungracious.
“Sure,” she responded. “Thanks.”
∞∞∞
At three o’clock sharp, Carrick knocked on the office door. He’d showered and changed, and his dark hair clung to his neck in damp curls. He ran a hand through it, ruefully, as if noticing that she’d looked at it.
“Ready to go?” he asked. Kelly snapped her laptop shut and reached for her purse, standing.
“Yip,” she replied, aiming a warm smile at Taneka. “Bye, hon, have a fab weekend.”
“You too, girl. Call if you need to chat or anything,” Taneka answered, blowing her a kiss.
Carrick turned to head down the stairs, and Kelly threw a small wave as she followed him out the office.
“Yo, Carrick!” a voice called out across the site. It was Miguel, the construction foreman. “You coming to The Roost later?”
“Not today, Miggy,” Carrick called back. “I’m giving Kelly a lift on my way home.”
“Oh yeah?” said Miguel. “I didn’t know she also lived all the way over in—”
“Okay, see ya, Migs!” Carrick interrupted, turning abruptly and heading to his car. An old-model white pickup was idling outside the office. Carrick quickly strode over to open the door for Kelly, jiggling the handle slightly as he did so.
“Gets a bit sticky,” he explained as he yanked firmly, then swung the door shut behind her after she’d climbed in. She settled into the passenger seat, trying not to step on a pile of folders in the footwell. “Sorry,” he mumbled sheepishly, reaching down to scoop the folders up. Kelly held her breath as his arm brushed her knee when he reached down past her legs. He angled back and deposited them onto the cluttered backseat, then turned the key in the ignition. The engine coughed, then rattled to life, and he threw a glance over his shoulder as he reversed out of the parking bay.
“Thanks for offering the ride,” she said, as he turned onto the road, negotiating the afternoon traffic.
“No big deal,” he answered, glancing over at her. “Everything okay at home?”
“Yes, all fine,” she said. “My brother was really grateful that you stepped in. He needed to pick up some meds for Mom, so it took the pressure off.”
“Glad to be of help,” he said. “What’s troubling her? If you don’t mind me asking…”
Kelly heaved a sigh. “She started having really bad headaches late last year. Turns out, she’d developed a brain tumor. They’ve been treating it with radiotherapy, but it hasn’t responded. She’s going in on Monday to find out what they’re planning next. I’d love to go with her, but I haven’t been with the company long enough to take time off.”
“That must be very unsettling,” he responded. “You’re close to your family?”
“Yes…well, my mother and brother. Dad took off when I was a kid,” Kelly answered, fidgeting with her purse strap.
“That’s too bad,” said Carrick. “It must have been tough growing up without a father.”
“It was tougher when he was around,” she muttered darkly. “Dad had a drinking problem. Put Mom through hell. Sometimes I think…” Her voice trailed off, and he gave her a quick look before turning his attention back to the road.
“You think…?” he pressed.
“I think he’s half the reason she got sick,” she murmured, not sure why she was telling him all this. She’d just spent two weeks avoiding the man, and now he knew her life story. “She supported him for years. Then, when he left, she raised us alone. Didn’t get a cent from him – but she made sure we grew up with everything we needed. She’s amazing.” Why was she still talking?
“And he…?” Again, he left the question hanging.
“Dunno,” said Kelly. “He could be dead, for all I care.” She bit her lip. Those were harsh words. “I’m sorry…that probably sounds callous.” For Pete’s sake, why was she still blabbing so much?
“Don’t apologize,” he answered. “There’s no rule that says you have to accept family unconditionally. If they don’t deserve your love or respect, you don’t have to give it.” He was silent for a moment, and she got the impression he had his own story to tell. There was a tension to the hard line of his jaw that caught her eye. It didn’t help that her eye was drawn down that line to the strong column of hi
s throat and how it disappeared into the neckline of his shirt.
“And you?” she changed the subject. “Do you have a close family?”
He gave a small, bitter chuckle that spoke volumes. “Nope.” His tone discouraged her from pressing for more detail. She wished she’d been able to control her own moment of overshare. Maybe the stress had softened her. Kelly raised a hand and pointed to a sign up ahead.
“Take a left after the stop sign,” she said, relieved to be able to ease the tension. “Then the second road to the right. My place is the third house on the left.” Carrick nodded silently, turning down the street and following her directions. She pointed again as they pulled up outside her home. “This is me,” she said, reaching for the door handle.
“Wait a sec,” he stopped her. “I’ll need to get the door from the other side.” He hopped out of the driver’s seat and jogged around the front of the vehicle. “Nice garden,” he commented, taking a look over the colorful flower beds.
“That’s Mom’s pride and joy,” Kelly smiled as she answered. “She—"
“Hello, darling!” her mother’s voice interrupted her. A sharp yap joined her greeting. Bonnie was kneeling in one of the beds with a small gardening fork, and Chloé was staring intently into the freshly turned soil. She stood up slowly, dusting her knees. The little dog turned and bounded across the garden as she recognized Kelly.
“Mom!” Kelly called out. “What are you doing?” She hurried over to her mother, taking the fork from her hand.
“Kelly,” her mother tutted, taking the implement back and brushing a kiss over her cheek. “I’m not an invalid, sweetheart. Just doing a little yard work, that’s all.” Chloé danced and yapped around their ankles.
“But your head—” Kelly began, only to be cut off by her mother.
“Is perfectly fine,” she assured her. “Now, darling, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” She turned to face Carrick, who was standing beside the truck, suddenly looking like an uncomfortable teenager. He stepped forward, hand extended.