Fire and Midnight

by Sandra Renee Appet

  Charlotte pointed her manicured index finger at Jane. “That would be fantastic on a greeting card! There you go. I just found a new career for you.” She smiled. “Do you really think my ass is perfect?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Charlotte’s weeklong visit flew by, and the house seemed quiet without the company of her best friend. Too quiet. Silence accentuated the long span of time during which Jane would have absolutely nothing to do but lie around while the baby cooked.

  “I know how much you’ll miss her.” Ryan sat on the bed beside Jane and squeezed her hand. “Believe me, I offered her part-ownership of Vine to stay.”

  “I know. She told me.” Jane laughed. Charlotte had promised to return in a few weeks, but Jane didn’t want to take her away from her work and, more importantly, Jacques. Charlotte wouldn’t admit it, but Jane knew love when she saw it, and her friend had fallen in deep. It was just a matter of time before Char realized it. “I’ll be fine.” Jane reassured Ryan. “I called the number for that pregnancy concierge service that Dr. Murcia’s office told us about. They’re going to send over a couple of bed rest specialists for us to interview, this week.” She wasn’t crazy about having strangers in her home, but she couldn’t justify having Ryan run back and forth from the restaurant to see her multiple times a day, either.

  “Funny you should mention that, because another option just came up,” Ryan said, with a hopeful smile.

  “Really? What is it? I’m open to anything, at this point.”

  “Well, actually, it’s not a what, it’s a who.” He took a deep breath. “Maya has offered to help.”

  Jane was shocked. “Maya offered to help me?”

  “I mentioned that we were looking into a service, and I asked her if she’d heard of any. She said there was no reason to have strangers in our home. She said she’d come over each day and help you with whatever you need, while Isabel’s at school.”

  Jane tried to choose her words with care. “Maya and I haven’t spoken to each other since New Year’s Eve. Frankly, I’m astonished that she offered.” A sudden suspicion struck her, and she narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t ask her, did you?”

  Ryan raised his hands. “Nope. I’ve been avoiding her lately, but she’s constantly calling to check up on you. Then she offered to help. I had nothing to do with it, I promise.”

  “I’d have sworn I’d be the last person she’d offer to help.”

  He shrugged. “Family is unconditional. As Uncle Pascal says, Familia es la familia. Family is family.” He shot her a worried look. “Are you okay with it? Will you let her try?”

  “Sure, as long as she doesn’t try to poison me,” Jane teased, then sobered. “Ryan, you don’t think she’d actually try to do something to me, do you?”

  Ryan chuckled. “Of course not. In fact, I think something good may come of all this. I’ll invite her to come over tomorrow, and you two can talk.”

  ****

  “Hello?” Maya called from the front door.

  Knowing that Ryan had given Maya a key to their house, Jane had been forewarned that she would let herself in.

  “I’m in the bedroom off the kitchen, Maya,” she called in a tone two octaves higher than her regular voice. If she was ever going to get on Maya’s good side, this seemed like the best time to do it. Determined, Jane plastered a smile on her face and waited for Maya to enter the bedroom. And waited. And waited some more. Her ears perked at the sound of kitchen cabinets and drawers opening and closing. Next, she heard the refrigerator and freezer doors open, then close after a minute or two.

  Finally, Maya strolled into sight in the open doorway of the bedroom, writing in a spiral-bound notebook. “I took a quick inventory of what you have on hand, and I’m making a list of what you need. Reyo told me your diet restrictions, and I started a menu, if you’d like to take a look at it.” She pulled a folded white sheet of paper from the notebook and held it out, from her spot at the bedroom door.

  Jane blinked. “Um, that’s okay. I don’t need to see it. I’m sure I’ll like anything you make.”

  Maya nodded once. “Good. I’ll plan on making extra when I cook for my family. Of course, I won’t add salt to yours, or any other ingredients that are on the restriction list. Other than food, what else do you need me to do?” she asked, with a neutral expression that seemed to look right through Jane.

  “Um, well, I’m not supposed to get up without someone around, so I’ll need to time my bathroom breaks around your visits. Ryan helps me in the morning, so I don’t need any assistance bathing or anything like that,” she explained hurriedly. “Maybe just a fresh pitcher of ice water. I’m supposed to drink a lot of water.” Which, unfortunately, made her pee. Which she wasn’t supposed to do without someone around. It was a vicious cycle of frustration.

  Maya sauntered to the bed table and lifted the empty pitcher. “Do you need to get up to use the bathroom?” she asked Jane, as if she was addressing an annoying child.

  “Yes, but I can manage it on my own, thank you.” Jane slowly slid to the side of the bed and lowered her feet to the floor, as the nurses had taught her, then held onto the bedpost as she stood. She could swear that she felt the heat of Maya’s stare as she shuffled to the bathroom and closed the door. Jane took care of her business and twisted the hot water faucet, letting the steamy water flow over her hands. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Part of her wanted nothing more than to have it out with her future sister-in-law, but she knew it would kill Ryan. She swallowed her pride and decided to take a different approach with Maya: she’d kill her with kindness.

  Jane came out of the bathroom just as Maya placed the refilled pitcher of ice and water on the bedside table. A fresh glass with a straw sat beside it. But as soon as Jane was safely resettled in bed, she left the room without a word.

  A few minutes later, Maya returned, carrying a plate of grilled chicken wrapped in a homemade pita. Jane’s mouth watered. Even though Maya clearly wasn’t interested in chitchat, at least it was becoming apparent that Jane would be well fed.

  “It smells wonderful. It’s really nice of you to help me,” Jane offered, another over-the-top smile.

  “You’re welcome. But let’s get one thing straight. I’m doing this for Reyo and the family. If you don’t need anything else from me right now, I’ll clean up the kitchen and go.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours, before I pick Isabel up from school.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Weeks passed, and no day differed much from the first. Maya stopped in twice a day to deliver delicious food and help Jane with her necessities. Jane tried to be as nice as possible, even though her patience was coming to an end.

  The squeak of the front door opening woke Jane from a nap. She rubbed her stomach as the baby gave her a swift kick in the side. In a way, she was grateful for the discomfort. It meant the baby was doing well.

  Beyond the bedroom door, she could hear Maya shuffling around the kitchen as usual, clanging dishes, opening and closing cabinet doors. After a few minutes, when her footsteps came closer, Jane sat up in bed. Propping herself with pillows, she ran a hasty brush through her hair in an attempt to look halfway human. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d applied makeup.

  Maya appeared in the doorway, carrying a tray, but Jane noticed that she also had an overnight envelope wedged under her arm. “I hope you don’t mind tortilla soup again,” Maya said, setting the tray on the bed table.

  “I love your tortilla soup,” Jane said, rubbing her belly. “So does the baby.”

  Maya nodded toward Jane’s stomach. “That baby is a quarter Latina. It’d better like tortilla soup.” She handed Jane the envelope. “Here. This was on the doorstep.”

  Jane peered at the return address. It had to be the client ad proofs she’d been waiting for. She tore open the envelope and pulled out the mockups.

  “Sure. Work before feeding the baby,” Maya muttered as she strode to the door.r />
  It was the last straw. “I’ve had a lot of time to try to figure out why you hate me so much,” Jane said, shoving the papers back into the envelope.

  Maya turned around and opened her mouth to speak.

  Jane raised her hand. “Actually, I’ve come up with three possibilities. One, I’m not Latina. Two, I’m divorced. And three, I have a career outside the home. Which one is it, Maya? Because I really want to know.”

  Maya’s eyes grew in rage. “You want to know? It’s all three, plus you’re an outspoken bitch. Why didn’t you just stay in New York? I’m sure you could’ve found a man-whore up there who could’ve scratched your itch. But no, you had to sink your hooks into my brother, and now look what you’ve done?” Her hand waved over Jane’s belly.

  “You think this was some type of master plan? You think I wanted this to happen?”

  “You love the fact Ryan is jumping through hoops for you. He’s working his ass off for you, and you throw it in his face with your work. You don’t trust him to take care of you? Is he not good enough for you, Jane?”

  “You have it wrong. I love and trust Ryan more than anything, but you can’t believe that. In your eyes I’m not the ideal person for him because I’m different. But your mother and father came from opposite ends of the culture spectrum, and they had a wonderful marriage. You and Ryan are a product of that marriage, so aren’t you being hypocritical?”

  “You’re confusing heritage with culture. My mother and father came from different heritages, but culturally they were very similar. Family came first, always. Marriages were forever, not until you got sick of the other person. Husbands and wives worked out their differences. Divorce was not an option, and a woman’s place was in the home. Period.”

  Jane let Maya’s words sink in. “I see. And I assume you subscribe to those same ideals.”

  “Our whole family does. I thought Reyo did, too, until I learned about his stint as a gigolo.”

  “He was an escort.”

  Maya let out a snort. “Same thing.” She pointed at the tray. “You should eat.”

  Jane picked up the bowl and swallowed a few spoonfuls before returning it to the tray, thinking carefully about what to say next. “Ryan started escorting for good reasons. It got him the means to live his dream. You should respect that about him.”

  Maya’s eyes bored into Jane as she moved closer. “Respect? Don’t you dare tell me about respect. Not when you obviously had no respect for your marriage or for Ryan. If you did you wouldn’t need to work. I know what’s best for him, and it’s definitely not you. You’re going to chew him up and spit him out just like you did to your first husband.”

  Jane narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. My husband was a cheater. That’s why I left.”

  Maya paused. “He cheated on you?”

  “Get out of my house,” Ryan’s booming voice sounded from the doorway. His eyes were wide with a fury of anger. “I’ve let your comments slide for weeks because I thought you were making an attempt to accept Jane. But you’ll never change, Maya. Never.”

  “Reyo, I—”

  He held up a palm. “I don’t want to hear it. Get out. Now.”

  Maya’s gaze moved from Ryan to Jane before she lowered her head and shuffled to the door. Ryan stepped aside to let her pass.

  Jane heard the front door open and close as Ryan sat on the edge of the bed. “You shouldn’t have thrown her out. I think I was getting somewhere with her.”

  He shook his head. “She’s too pigheaded and set in her ways. I can’t subject you to that any longer. It’s not good for you or the baby.”

  Jane studied his face. She’d never seen him look so tired. “Lie with me.” Ryan stepped out of his shoes, and Jane made room for him on the bed. He slipped in next to her and wrapped one arm around her shoulder. His free hand rubbed her bulging belly. The baby shifted under his touch.

  “I have all that I need right here. This is my family.” His lips touched hers as her fingers trailed up his arm and tangled in his hair. His tender kiss becomes more urgent as his tongue parted the seam of her mouth. Jane sighed and deepened the kiss pulling him closer, draining him of his sadness, filling him with love.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  As if Jane and Maya’s blowout wasn’t enough, his streak of bad luck continued. It had started when he’d learned that his order for a specific vintage from Napa had been delayed. The wine was for a special order placed by a California tech company that had reserved Vine’s private room for the coming evening. Ryan knew all too well that the party contained a bunch of corporate bigwigs from Silicon Valley who would only drink wine from their own state, and that the CEO favored a certain vintage. So he had spent a good chunk of his morning hitting four area liquor stores, paying retail, just to fulfill their request. Then his best server called in sick, and he’d discovered that the butcher had cut his order of porterhouse steaks too thin. He’d stopped home to check on Jane on his way back to Vine, to find his sister verbally attacking his bed-ridden future wife. He was convinced Maya had no heart in that little body.

  Ryan pulled into his parking spot, grabbed his phone from his pocket, and tapped the speed dial button for Vine.

  Gretchen answered after the first ring.

  “Send one of the busboys out to the lot with a hand truck. I have a couple cases of that Napa wine for the private party.”

  “Oh, good! Glad you found some. I tracked down the truck, and they’re still in Austin. Not sure they’ll get here in time, and the white’ll need to be chilled. Hey, Cole, grab the hand truck from the back and take it to Ryan in the lot. He’ll be right there, Ry.” She paused before continuing, in a whisper, “Hey, there’s someone here to see you.”

  “Who?”

  “Hold on a second. I’m going into the office.” After a few moments, he heard the click of the door. “Okay. She came in and asked for you. I told her you’d stepped out and I didn’t know when you’d be back, but she said she’d wait for you. Didn’t want to tell me her name. Just said that you two were old friends.”

  Old friends? Ryan figured it was probably a former classmate. “What does she look like?” he asked, hoping a description would jog his memory.

  “Attractive, but hard looking lady. In her forties, I’d guess. Blonde dye job. Long blood-red nails. She’s sitting at the bar, drinking her fancy martini, looking bored,” Gretchen said with a chuckle.

  But Ryan wasn’t laughing. He had an uneasy hunch that the blonde visitor wasn’t an old schoolmate. “How’d she order her martini?” he asked, with a sinking sense that he already knew.

  “I took her order. Dry with a twist.”

  Camille.

  Ryan closed his eyes. His day had now officially turned from “bad” to “good” to “I don’t need this shit”. He groaned as he heard the hand truck’s tires bumping along the pavement of the parking lot.

  Ryan popped the trunk and pointed to the boxes, then slumped into the front seat of his car again, blowing out a shaky breath.

  “You know who she is?” Gretchen asked.

  “Yeah, I have a pretty good idea.”

  “Want me to get rid of her, Ry? I can chase her out, if you want.”

  “Nah. Let her know I’ll be there in a few minutes.” There was no point in making her leave before he got there. He was sure she’d just wait outside for him. When Camille LeVan had her mind set on something, she usually found a way to get it.

  “Got any more boxes to unload, boss?” Cole called from behind the car.

  Ryan lowered the phone from his ear. “No, that’s it. Head back, and put the white in the chiller right away. We need to cool those bottles down before the party gets here,” he told Cole, before wedging the phone back between his ear and shoulder. “Gretch, did we get the new meat delivery?”

  “Yup, and the steaks are beautiful. Oh, and Carly offered to come in on her day off to serve the party. Crisis averted. I have it covered.”

  R
yan smiled into the phone. “You always do.”

  “So, you gonna to tell me about the Blonde Bitch?” she asked playfully.

  “Nope, and you probably wouldn’t believe me if I did.” He tapped the “End” button and leaned his skull against the leather headrest, recalling the last time he’d seen Cam.

  What the hell did she want, today of all days?

  There was only one way to find out. Ryan stepped out of his car and trudged toward Vine.

  He thought about slipping into the restaurant from the back, so he could get a look at her before she noticed him, but he decided it was better to meet her head on.

  He marched through the front door like he owned the place, because he did. He chatted with Gretchen for a few minutes, intentionally keeping his gaze trained away from Camille as she tried to catch his attention. Then Ryan wrapped up his conversation with Gretchen and strode to the empty stool next to Camille.

  “Hello, Ryan,” she said. “You look well.”

  He stared straight ahead, his gaze fixed on a beer tap. “I asked you never to come here.” Ryan clenched his jaw. He’d taken great care to shield his staff from any awareness of his prior career, and he had no intention of letting Camille blow the lid off his past now. “Follow me.” He pushed the stool out and marched to his office.

  The clicking of her heeled sandals followed close behind.

  He held the door for her, then shut it with purpose after they were both inside his office. Ryan took a deep breath, steadying his nerves before turning to her. “You have a lot of nerve coming here after stealing from me.”

  Camille laughed and strode to the lone window in the office. “Stealing from you? Now that’s a serious claim.”

  “What would you call taking a client’s money even after the date was canceled then deducting your fee from the money you owed me? Sounds like stealing to me.”

  Camille spun around. “You told me to keep my fee.”