by Beth Rinyu
“What’s that?”
“I pick the place.”
“Wherever you’d like,” he said as we stopped at a black BMW.
“Is this yours?”
“Yeah it is. Where to?” he asked as he clicked the remote and unlocked the doors.
“Shake Shack. I’m dying for a shake and a burger.”
“You’re a cheap date.” He grinned as we got in the car.
“Actually, I’m really not,” I replied, causing us both to spew with laughter. Every time I was with him it did feel like I was on a date instead of work…and I kind of liked it.
Chapter 11
Over dinner I learned a lot more about Jack. As he spoke about him, I could just sense in Simon’s voice the love and admiration he had for his son.
“So, who is he with tonight?” I asked.
“My in-laws. They live upstate. He spends one weekend a month with them. They’re keeping him a few extra days this month. He’ll be coming home Tuesday night just in time for his birthday on Wednesday.”
“How old will he be?”
“Five, and his one and only request for a birthday gift is a puppy. I need to think of something quick to take his mind off that.”
“Why, do you not like dogs?” I asked, taking a sip of my milkshake.
“I do, but having a puppy is like having a baby, both of which I have no time for.”
“Why does it have to be a puppy? You know there are some older dogs that are already trained and a lot less work that could use good homes.”
He shook his head, still not buying into my sales pitch.
“In fact, I know a really sweet dog who just may be the perfect fit for Jack.”
He gazed at me in confusion. “You just happen to know a dog?” He smirked.
“As a matter of fact I do. Her name is Macy. She’s about three years old and super cute.”
He opened his mouth to protest once again, but I shut him down before he could get the words out.
“And how weird is this? They’re having an adoption event at the animal shelter where she’s located on Wednesday night—the same day as Jack’s birthday. I’d say that’s fate.” I raised an eyebrow.
“And I’d say you’re delusional,” he teased.
“I’m telling you, you should really consider it. An animal can be very therapeutic for him…and for you.” I reached into my wallet and pulled out the business card that Hannah had given me. “Just in case you change your mind and decide to give your sweet little boy his birthday wish. The adoption event is Wednesday night.”
He reluctantly took it from my hand and shook his head. I knew chances were slim to none that he’d go, but I figured it was worth a try.
I was sad when the night came to an end, angry at myself for wishing he had scheduled an overnight. It was so wrong, but not matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help myself. Part of me wanted to march into Margo’s office in the morning and tell her I couldn’t see him anymore, while the other part of me got a sick feeling in my stomach just thinking about the day he would no longer require my services. I knew the right thing to do, but I couldn’t bring myself to come to those terms. There was something about him that went past the business aspect. I related to him. He acted as if my profession didn’t define who I was as a person, and he accepted me for who I was—the same way Hannah did. Maybe I was setting myself up for disaster, but for the time being I wasn’t ready to let him slip out of my life.
***
The next few days went by in a blur. I was robotic in my work, maintaining the same businesslike demeanor that I always had with my clients—the same way I should have been with Simon. Even my thoughts betrayed me. He was no longer Thursday Afternoon in my mind. He was Simon. I was a fool to believe that we could have some type of relationship beyond a working one. Even in a normal business, fraternizing outside the workplace always ended badly, and our situation was anything but normal. I realized I had overstepped my boundaries by getting involved in his personal life and even wanting to know anything about his child. I knew that all had to change, and I needed to treat him the same way I treated all of my other paying customers.
By the time Wednesday rolled around, I had decided that I wasn’t going to attend the adoption event—that was until Hannah called me in a panic, begging me to go because they were so short-handed. I finally relented, knowing I was in the clear of socializing outside the workplace with Simon—Thursday Afternoon. I knew he didn’t have any intention of stopping by the animal shelter, just from the look on his face when I’d suggested it.
Seeing all the dogs broke me from the funk I was in. Hannah hadn’t been exaggerating when she said they needed extra help. It was nonstop with a steady flow of people. I was happy to see a few of the dogs get adopted, but not nearly as many as I had hoped.
“Hannah, kennel three needs to be cleaned,” Sheila barked from her stool behind the desk—the same stool she had hardly gotten up from all night.
“Oh, sure thing!” Hannah snapped into action like a puppet on a string.
I glared at Sheila as she gawked at something on her computer screen while lifting up a jumbo-sized bag of M&M’s to her mouth, pouring them down her throat.
“Hannah!” I called just as she started to walk away to do her duty.
“Yeah?” she responded.
“Why are you cleaning up dog shit—”
“Bree!” Hannah scolded.
“I’m sorry, but why are you cleaning up dog...poop…when Broom-Hilda over there hasn’t done a blessed thing to help out all night?”
“It’s fine, Bree. Really it is.” She turned back around and headed into kennel 3 while Sheila began digging her way through a bag of potato chips.
I shook my head in disgust, readying myself to put her in her place when the sight of him walking through the door halted my actions. My knees went weak, and not even the sound of Sheila’s smacking lips could stop my heart from beating a mile a minute.
“Simon?” I finally uttered, still unable to move. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
“What can I say? You’re a pretty convincing sales girl, and I have a very eager customer. Besides, Jack knows we are just here to look at the dogs.”
I gazed down at that same adorable boy I remembered from Hannah’s class as he clung tightly to his father’s hand.
“Bree, this is Jack. Jack, this is Bree,” Simon introduced us as they took a step closer.
One look at those adorable little dimples and those long blond lashes batting up through his glasses, and any thought of strictly business was out the window. This kid had a direct line to my heart from the first day I’d laid eyes on him. Why did he have to be so stinking cute, and why did his dad have to be so extraordinarily handsome? The two of them made it impossible to stick to the rules.
“Happy Birthday, Jack.” I smiled, bending down to his level.
He turned to the side and hid his face in Simon’s leg, trying to conceal his smile.
“Oh, boy, someone is bashful,” I teased, smiling up at Simon before standing up.
“Trust me, he is anything but bashful.” Simon lifted Jack up, and he couldn’t contain his laughter. “Aren’t you going to say hello to Bree, Jack?”
He was still giggling, burying his head in Simon’s shoulder.
“Well, I guess if you can’t talk to her then she won’t be able to show you the puppies.”
His attention was piqued and Jack lifted his head, finally making eye contact with me, revealing a shade of blue that matched the same intensity of his father’s green ones.
“Do you want to see some dogs, Jack?”
He replied with an enthusiastic nod, taking me off guard when he reached for me to take him from Simon.
“Jack!” Hannah exclaimed, coming through the double doors just as Jack landed in my arms. Shit! I totally forgot about the whole Hannah/Thursday Afternoon connection. The bewildered look on Hannah’s face said it all, and I knew I had some serious explaining to do.
�
��Sister Hannah!” Jack’s face lit up.
“Oh, Hannah, you know Jack?” I feigned naivety, hoping that she was too flustered that day in her classroom to remember that she had pointed him out to me.
“Yes, he’s one of my students.” Dodged that bullet! Thank goodness her memory had failed her. “How do you know Jack?” she inquired.
“How do I know Jack?” I repeated, stalling for time to come up with an adequate answer. “Well, umm…”
Hannah’s gaze was intense. Pull it together, Bree. Think of something!
“Jack’s father and my brother used to work together and are very good friends.” Fumble and recovered. But there was still some doubt in Hannah’s eyes? “I can’t wait to tell Paul I ran into you, and I can’t believe how big Jack has gotten.” I turned my attention to Simon, trying to play it up and hoping he’d catch on.
“Yeah, he’s definitely grown.” Simon hesitated.
Hannah gaped at the two of us as the knot in my stomach tightened. “Oh, what a small world.” She finally spoke, easing my tension ever so slightly. “Are you thinking about adopting a dog, Mr. Grace?”
“Please call me Simon.”
And with that, the jig was up. Hannah’s eyes widened. She raised an eyebrow at me and I looked away.
“Oh, okay, Simon?” Hannah enunciated, glaring at me once again. “Let me take you back to see them.”
I placed Jack down, and he took Simon’s hand. Hannah led them back to the kennels while I opted to lag behind, trying to regroup from the little mishap. After a few brief moments of overthinking, I decided I’d just deny whatever Hannah had surmised. Pulling it together and putting on my best authentic face, I proceeded back to the kennels to join them.
Jack held his hands over his ears to try and block the clamor of the barking dogs while Hannah took him around, showing him all of the smaller dogs, walking right past Macy’s pen.
“Hannah!” I shouted over the racket, causing them all to turn around and look at me. “What about Macy?”
“Oh, I don’t know if Macy would be a very good fit.”
“Why not?” I took offense.
“Well—”
“I wanna see Macy, Daddy!” Jack exclaimed, pulling on Simon’s hand.
Hannah trailed behind them, shaking her head in uncertainty. “Macy takes a while to warm up to people,” Hannah warned as she unlocked her pen. “So I’d advise having Bree introduce you to her slowly, since she’s really taken a liking to her.”
There were no introductions needed. As soon as Macy’s gate was open she happily approached Jack with a wagging tail.
“Stick out your hand and let her get to know you, Jack,” I advised.
But before I could even get the words out or before Simon could stop him, Jack was already bending over and wrapping his arms around her. Macy returned his affection with sloppy kisses all over his face.
I couldn’t contain my smile. “Told ya so,” I whispered to Hannah, whose mouth was agape over Macy’s affection for Jack.
“Hi, doggy!” Jack nuzzled his face into Macy’s fur.
“I could never get tired of watching kids with dogs,” I remarked, unable to take my eyes off Jack and Macy and the instant bond between them.
Hannah excused herself when Sheila beckoned to her, allowing me time to talk to Simon.
“I know it’s a huge responsibility, but people do it all the time and manage to make it work with their schedules. Take it from someone who knows: a dog can provide a lifetime of memories and a whole lot of healing.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.” He grinned.
“I love her so much, Daddy,” Jack said in between planting kisses all over Macy’s head.
“Years of happiness are worth a little aggravation.” I continued with my sales spiel. I bent down next to Jack and played with him and Macy when Simon excused himself to take a call. I was half paying attention to them and admittedly half paying attention to Simon’s conversation.
“There’s no possible way I can sit down with him tonight. It’s my son’s birthday. Then let him walk…”
This isn’t your business, Bree. Stop listening to his conversation.
“Ahhh, her nose is wet,” Jack giggled when Macy pressed her nose against his cheek.
His happiness was contagious; just being with him and Macy made me forget that any of my problems existed.
“Everything okay?” I asked Simon, who had just ended his conversation as I stood back up.
He shook his head, and for the first time in the short time of knowing him, I could sense he was angry. “Just about to lose a million-dollar deal because the client can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Yikes,” I whispered. “Well, what’s the problem? Why can’t you go tonight?”
He motioned toward Jack. “I’m not going to drag him along for god knows how long. He hasn’t even eaten dinner yet, and he has school tomorrow.”
His frustration was mounting and, foolishly trying to alleviate it, I blurted, “I can watch Jack for a few hours if you need me to.” I realized how crazy that sounded before the words were even out of my mouth. Of course he wouldn’t want someone like me taking care of his most precious possession.
His eyes lit up, and I knew I had taken him off guard with my proposal.
“I’m sorry, that was just way too forward for me to even suggest.”
“No, I appreciate that a lot, but I couldn’t impose on you like that.”
“It’s really not a big deal. I don’t have any other plans for tonight.”
He was deep in thought, finally nodding in agreement. “Are you sure you’re okay—”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t okay with it. I can take him to get something to eat, and by the time we’re done, hopefully you’ll be done.”
His smile was full of gratitude. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“No problem.”
Simon bent down next to Jack, who was still ecstatic over Macy. “Jack, Daddy has to go back into work for a little while. Bree is going to take you to get something to eat, and then I’ll be done.”
“Okay. Can Macy come too?”
“Oh, Jack, it’s Macy’s bedtime soon, so she’s gotta stay here to get some rest,” I explained.
“Oh.” He frowned. “Daddy, can I come back to visit her again?”
“Sure.” Simon smiled. “I will try and make this as quick as possible, and I’ll text you as soon as I’m done,” he said to me as he stood back up.
“Not a problem. Are you ready, Jack?”
He nodded enthusiastically, giving Macy one last kiss.
“I’ll call you as soon as I’m done.” Simon reached into his wallet and pulled out some money.
“For dinner.”
“My treat.” I smiled.
“Bree, just take—”
“Nope.” I wasn’t backing down.
He shook his head in defeat. “Jack, be a good boy for Bree.” He placed a kiss on Jack’s cheek and wasted no time making his exit.
I looked at Jack, wondering what I had just gotten myself into. I wasn’t used to being around kids, so it was going to be a whole new experience for me, but strangely it was one I was looking forward to.
Chapter 12
I managed to dodge the barrage of questions I was certain Hannah was going to have over my relationship with Simon, but I was only prolonging the inevitable—she was probably going to pepper me with them the next time we were alone. Jack chose pizza for dinner, and he opened up so much in our short time together. It was hard to believe that the silly, inquisitive little boy sitting across from me was the same one who had been hiding in his dad’s shoulder just an hour before. We talked about everything from school, his favorite cartoons, his favorite toys, and his favorite person…his daddy. He was your typical little boy. He liked drawing, playing soccer, digging in the dirt, and even at his young age it was apparent the love he had for animals. It was so nice to see that his mother’s death hadn’t ha
d a negative impact on him, and I was certain that had a lot to do with Simon.
After dinner, I still hadn’t heard from Simon, so we stopped off and got some ice cream. Jack was just diving into the whipped cream of his sundae when my phone rang.
“Hey there,” I answered.
“Bree, I’m so sorry. I’m just finishing up now.”
“No problem, Jack and I are just getting started on some ice cream.”
I gave him the address of the ice cream parlor, and Jack and I finished up our ice cream while we waited for him to get there.
“There’s Daddy!” Jack exclaimed as Simon walked through the door.
He took the seat across from me and next to Jack.
“Did everything work out okay?” I asked.
“Yes, everything went perfect,” he replied with relief in his voice.
“Daddy, I ate this whole thing.” Jack proudly patted his belly.
“Oh boy, I see you coming down from a serious sugar high very shortly,” Simon joked.
“Daddy, open your mouth and close your eyes.” He waited for Simon to do as he was told and then picked his cherry from his bowl and placed it in Simon’s mouth. Jack’s amusement over the whole situation was so refreshing that I couldn’t help but relish in his delight just hearing his laughter.
“My favorite,” Simon said.
As I observed the two of them, thoughts of my own childhood rushed through my mind. How I had wished that my father and I were that close. He was always too busy working, leaving very little time for me. I knew he was only doing what was needed to do to keep a roof over our heads, but sometimes I had wished he would just acknowledge that I needed him more. As I became a little older, I began to wonder if he avoided me on purpose. He never afforded me the same time or attention that he did my brother, and the reason why became very clear—I was a constant reminder of why he had lost the love of his life. When I moved to New York to attend school, I actually sensed some relief on his part, and the pain that caused me festered deep inside and carried into my adulthood. Simon and Jack’s situation was so similar to mine and my father’s; the only difference was, Simon didn’t resent his son because of it.