Mr. All Wrong

by R. C. Stephens

  “So that’s it. I said to myself it’s time to spend some time with family,” she signs then places each of her hands over mine and Jake’s and gives a loving squeeze.

  “We are happy you’re here.” I smile even though I’m waiting to get Jake alone even for a few minutes. The waitress walks by and asks if we would like a refill on our coffees.

  “Yes, please.” Veronica is the only one to accept. She loves coffee. I usually just drink my one cup in the morning to wake up, although today I opted for a second because after my workout with Colton last night I need help keeping my eyes open. I wait painstakingly hoping Veronica needs to leave or use the ladies room, but that doesn’t happen. She remains in her seat all through lunch. When the waiter finally brings the bill to the table, Jake offers to pay. I’m hoping to get Jake alone, but suddenly I relent thinking maybe it is better to ask Veronica about the scar. I mean Jake has been clearly misinformed so she would be the one who would know the truth…I know my mind is running ahead of itself, probably from all the James Patterson mysteries I’ve been reading lately.

  As Jake gets up, Veronica gives me a warm smile, and I can’t bring myself to ask. It would be disrespectful of me. This woman has treated me like a daughter since the day Jake brought me home after school for the first time. She wouldn’t be lying, and my questions seem accusatory.

  “So how are things going with the governor?” she signs while moving her lips.

  “Good,” I speak and sign too.

  “Just good?” she signs and waits for me to answer. I guess my goofy grin gives me away.

  “Very good,” I sign.

  “I can see that,” she answers and takes a long draw from her coffee cup. She still seems on edge. Crap. She places the mug back on the table. “Do you think it’s a good idea, Evie? I mean, he is a public figure, and I know you. You hate attention,” she says, and it’s true I hate attention. I guess Colton has caught on, and that’s why most of our dates have happened in my apartment where I feel safe. Where I have control. I feel the need to drive the conversation in a different direction since I still don’t have Veronica’s support. I hate that she doesn’t support my relationship with Colton, but it won’t change anything anyway. Even yesterday I met my friend Becca for lunch, she’s deaf and teaches music at school. She used the same cautionary words that Jake had for me. I don’t know why they can’t just be happy for me because I am delighted. After last night, Colton and I are in a good place. He trusts me. We are growing closer. I love spending time with him, and the chemistry between us is like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

  “All paid.” Jake returns to the table and signs his words. “I can walk back to school with you,” he looks to me and signs. Then he turns to his mom. “I’ll see you at home later.”

  “Yes, it was good having lunch with you two.” She smiles warmly while signing to us. Jake is not big on reading lips. It feels like old times.

  “Nice seeing you too.” Jake takes my hand and leads me outside. When we get out to the sidewalk, I have to shield my eyes from the bright sun. As we walk, I catch his attention then ask, “How did you get that scar on your left shoulder?”

  His brows furrow together wondering why I’d ask him such a silly question out of the blue. “I told you how. I fell off my bike when I was five. I was riding fast, and the road scraped my skin off,” he answers, and yes, I’ve heard that story before, and I don’t sense that he’s lying to me at all.

  “Do you remember falling off the bike?” I ask with my hands. If he isn’t lying, then something is off.

  His response is a concerned look. “No, I don’t remember. Mom told me, why?”

  My stomach sinks at the thought that Veronica made that story up.

  “Because your scar looks like a burn mark,” I respond, knowing full well I’m not a doctor or any type of professional to make that conclusion. I only go by what I see, and the bumpy skin on his shoulder resembles the burn scar on the palm of Colton’s hand. Carter fell off his bike many times when Jake was teaching him how to ride on two wheels, and none of his scars look anything like the one Jake has on his shoulder. Also, a shoulder is an odd part of the body to hurt on a bike.

  “A burn mark?” he asks, and I take in the flabbergasted look on his face. “Evie, what on earth is going on with you?”

  “Nothing.” I try to shrug it off because I’ve apparently made him think I’m losing my marbles.

  “Evie, you’ve been off all week. Does this have to do with the governor?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “Well, maybe I don’t know…he has a burn mark on the palm of his hand that looks a lot like your scar. Carter has fallen off his bike more times than we can count. Do any of his scrapes and bruises ever look like what you have on your shoulder?” I ask motioning with my hands.

  He pulls his gaze from me and stares straight ahead. His warm chocolate brown eyes considering my words. Then he motions. “You have a point. I never did question Mom,” he says, and then he looks back at me like he doesn’t know me. “Do you think my mother lied to me?”

  As soon as he asks the question my stomach sinks. I don’t want to make him doubt the only family he has. Shit. Now I feel bad.

  “No, No, just forget it. I swear. I’m watching too many investigative shows. I don’t know what’s got into me,” I sign.

  He nods his head as if he’s accepting my answer only I can see the questions rolling in his mind and it’s too late. I’ve opened up that can of worms.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Colton

  “We need to meet with your new team.” My father walks into my office once again disturbing my good mood.

  “Dad, we need to talk.” My tone is somber and serious.

  “What is it Colt?” He takes a seat across from me. It seems his confrontational mood these past few days has passed or maybe he realizes he’s pushed me too hard and I want out. He knows me like the back of his hand so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s option two.

  “I don’t want to announce my candidacy next week.” I blow out a breath.

  “I know,” he answers. Okay, that explains his change of tactic. He knows I want out.

  “You know?” I still ask with surprise.

  “Yes, Colt. You’ve been acting off all week. First brushing off Bachmaker’s niece then chasing that deaf girl. I got the message loud and clear. Only I think you’re making a big mistake,” he says, and his tone isn’t condescending or overpowering. He just sounds defeated. “You’re the right guy for the job, your ratings as governor are way higher than your opponent’s. If you run, you have a real chance at winning. If that’s not what you want then what can I do? I tried my best.” He blows out a heavy sigh. Only I know he isn’t letting me drop out of the race so easily. He has something up his sleeve. Just like he knows me like the back of his hand, I know him. My father doesn’t give up.

  “Good. Thanks, Dad.” I smile, letting him believe that I think I’m off the hook. My father gets ready to stand up when I stop him. “Can you wait a minute? I wanted to ask you something.”

  His dark brows furrow while he sits back in the chair giving me his full attention. “What is it?”

  My father hates speaking about anything that has to do with the past which means any talk of the fire or my mother is off the table in a hard limit kind of way. “I dreamt about the fire last night,” I say, and it takes a moment for my words to process. I haven’t mentioned anything about the fire for at least a decade. The last time being when I started therapy and my therapist thought it was a good idea to ask Dad some questions. Only Dad had a way of always brushing my questions off without answering them.

  “Really? I’m surprised you still think of it. It was a lifetime ago.” He moves to get up from his seat.

  “I’m not finished. Wait a minute.” I stand from behind my desk and walk over to my father. “My mother was in my dream last night,” I say. Although I’m not sure, it was her. All our pictures were burnt in the fire, so I only gue
ss she’s my mother by my very faded memory.

  His jaw tightens. It usually does at the mention of her. I can’t blame him though. She took off and never looked back.

  “I’m sorry that still bothers you, Colt.” He places his heavy hand on my shoulder. “Try to push it out of your thoughts.” He turns to leave.

  “I’m not done speaking. I have some questions for you,” I persist and in my mind, one of those questions is why do you want to run out of here like the place is on fire the minute I bring it up?

  His lips press together. “What do you want to know?”

  “You told me Mom wasn’t home the night of the fire. So why would I dream about her being there? She was screaming in my dream. There was smoke everywhere. I tried to reach for the door, but it was hot.” I pause feeling queasy just remembering the dream. My chest feels tight at the thought of the smoke-filled room. The dream feels more like a memory. I lift my hand to remind my father of my burned skin. “It’s not only a dream, Father. The skin on my hand is burned. That must have happened.”

  He turns away from me and stalks over to a brown leather armchair at the corner of the room then almost falls back into it. I’m a few steps behind him, and I take a seat in the brown leather armchair across from him.

  “I have a right to know,” I say softly. The burden of not remembering or of only remembering tidbits has sat heavy on my shoulders most of my life.

  My father looks at me softly, but I sense fear in his gaze.

  “Your mom was home the night of the fire, Colt. She and I got into a fight, and she left. She didn’t look back. Is that what you wanted to hear?” His deep voice cracks with emotion. “I hated that for you, boy. I hated that she left and didn’t look back. I knew it would do bad things to your mind, so I did my best. I tried to fill any void you might feel, and you were such a bright young boy. You always had this special air about you, Colt. Even when you were five, I knew you were destined for great things and here you are. A survivor, a good man. The right man to run this great country.” My father’s voice trails off.

  Of course, he would use this moment to sell me on the presidency.

  “I thought you understood me. I don’t know what I want, Father. I just don’t know.” I feel more lost now than I did at the start of the conversation. My mom was there the night of the fire. She wanted me out of the house so I wouldn’t get hurt but why did she leave before the paramedics arrived and she knew I was okay? What kind of woman leaves her five-year-old son behind after such a traumatic night? I knew I wasn’t getting those answers today. Maybe never.

  “It’s the weekend. Take some time to think about it. I know you’ll come to your senses.” My father patted my thigh, and with those last words he stood up and left my office.

  ***

  “Sir.” Susan stood at my office door looking at me with a grim expression. I was pretty sure she overheard the conversation I had earlier in the day with my father. She knew about the fire, about my past. She asked me about the burn on my hand the first month she worked for me, and I had told her the truth. I didn’t have trust in women, but Susan was one of a kind.

  “Come in.” I wave her in, and she takes the seat in front of my desk.

  “May I be candid?” she asks. She always asked. She always made it clear when she was in my office for official governor business or a personal issue.

  “Yes,” I smirk. “Although you may have to start charging me for being my therapist too.” It was a joke, but Susan pressed her lips together and gave me a scolding look.

  “Sir, you’ve been happy these last few weeks,” she began, and I couldn’t disagree. Getting to know Evie had made me feel fulfilled on a level I didn’t know existed.

  “Yes,” I confirm but wait to see where she was going with the conversation. Her talks always had a purpose or a lesson.

  “We both know you are on the fence about running for the office of president. Your father is a good man,” she continues, even though I sensed she didn’t like him much. I guess this was Susan being politically correct so to speak. “But he wants you to run for selfish reasons,” she continues. We both know she is right. “Here’s the thing, Sir. There comes a time in our lives when we are at a crossroads. Something big is happening…we either take the road we’re used to because there is comfort in the familiar even though it may not be the best option for us or we take the road never traveled. It’s scary, new…but we may discover a whole new path on that road. A path that suits our lives much more than the comfort of the old way. Me…I chose to leave my husband. It wasn’t an easy choice. I had to work harder, worry for my boys on my own but at the end of the day, me and my boys are better off. Had I stayed, my boys would have witnessed very unhealthy things, it would have corrupted their little minds and maybe influenced them to similar behaviors. I put an end to that, and my boys are grown, stable men. Do you see what I’m saying, Sir?”

  I tap my chin. Old habits are hard to break especially when those habits formed around a parent. Susan was right. I just didn’t know if I had it in me to take the road less traveled.

  “I understand Susan. Thank you,” I smile warmly.

  Susan gives me her thin, crooked smile the one that said, ‘I worry for this boy, are my words sinking in?’ I had no answers for Susan.

  “Okay, you have yourself a goodnight, Sir,” and with those words, she left my office.

  Food for thought.

  Chapter Twenty

  Evie

  It’s Friday afternoon, and my fridge is close to empty, so I make a quick stop at the supermarket to get all the ingredients I need to make Colton a nice dinner. When I’m finished at the supermarket, I pick Carter up from his afterschool program. Fridays they usually run a sports activity which is perfect for my very active ten-year-old son.

  Carter helps me bring all the groceries into the house then hangs out with me in the kitchen while I prepare dinner. While I’m rinsing the shrimp, and cutting up potatoes and carrots, I can’t help but think of my conversation with Jake today. I planted suspicion in his mind about his mother. On the one hand, I feel bad, but on the other, I want to know why she’s lying to her son. My phone lights up on the counter. It’s a text from Veronica.

  Can I take Carter to see the new Transformer movie tomorrow?

  I smile then wash my hands so I can type back. I’m thrilled she’s in town. I’m grateful that Carter has more family to love him so close to home. Growing up the way I did makes me cherish those moments. I sure don’t want to cause trouble between Jake and his mom.

  He would love that. Let me know what time.

  Great! Have a good night.

  You too!

  I place my phone down and prepare the seasoning for the chili lime steak I’m cooking for the main course. I hope Colton will like it. Carter is a huge fan of red meat. If I fed him steak seven days a week, he’d be in heaven.

  A couple of hours later I’ve showered and so has Carter. I made him put on some clean clothes for our dinner date with Colton. He didn’t give me any trouble either which tells me that Colton has won him over in the brief time he’s known him.

  When the red light flashes indicating we have a guest, the butterflies begin to dance happily in my belly. I open the door to Colton holding a bunch of red long stem roses in his hand. I don’t know why but seeing the red roses makes me think of erotic or forbidden things. Or maybe it’s just Colton. He brings out a sexy side of me I didn’t know existed. There won’t be any sexy times tonight. Not with Carter home.

  “Hey.” Colton’s smile is wide. His blue eyes show warmth as they briefly rake up and down my body. I put on a black slim fitting cotton dress that hits just above my knee. It’s sexy but casual. My hair is still a little wet and lays in long strands over my shoulder. He leans in to kiss me on my cheek. When he pulls back, I can only guess what he thinks because his blue eyes are smoldering. “These are for you.” He passes me the roses. “You look hot,” he winks. I turn my head to see Carter coming down the
hall to greet Colton.

  They give each other a high five, and I wave for Colton to come in. He and Carter seem to be chatting. So I head to the kitchen to put the roses in water and a vase. One of the thorns pricks my finger reminding me that even such a beautiful flower can cause pain too. For some reason, I look over my shoulder to watch Carter and Colton speaking animatedly. Colton is so handsome, but like the roses, I have to be aware of his thorns. He’s not only the governor. He’s a man with a lot of personal issues. Until now, our relationship has occurred behind closed doors and yet he’s a very public man. If I were to date him, I would have to be out in the public eye. I would hate it. I like my privacy. After settling the roses onto the kitchen table, I place the already basted steaks to broil in the oven and take the bottle of Merlot I picked up at the supermarket out of the fridge. I didn’t know if he liked wine or some other alcohol, but I figured Merlot would pair well with the steak. With two glasses in hand and the bottle of wine, I go to the family room where Carter has Colton playing a game on his Xbox.

  I sit on the couch behind them and place the two wine glasses the bottle and bottle opener on the coffee table.

  I am content to just watch them. Until it was game over and Colton turns his attention to me.

  “Would you like some wine?” I ask. I don’t know why but he still makes me feel nervous even after all the sex we had. A part of me can’t believe that this moment is real. That he is here. That he broke up with his lover to be with me. That he wants to try a relationship. I need to pinch myself.

  “If you’re having, I’ll have with you,” he answers with a small grin. I can’t help the way that little grin makes my stomach flip in that delicious way.

  “I’m having. I usually drink wine Friday nights. I need to unwind after a long week.”