by Lori Wick
"I'll tell you later:'
"But if she can help:' Gage began.
Sam turned his full body to the younger man.
"I don't know what's going on between the two of you, but right now you need to trust me when I tell you that now is not the time. I will get back to you on this:'
Gage looked into the older man's eyes and nodded, a tough thing
to do when he was up to his ears in litigation with the design firm
from Italy and suddenly saw Arcineh as a potential lifeline.
Sam walked to Arcineh next, reminding himself not to hug her. "Will you have dinner with me tonight?" he asked.
Arcineh looked surprised but still asked, "Just the two of us?" "Yes:'
"I would enjoy that:'
"Let's dress up," Sam said next.
Arcineh laughed a little. "My hands are pretty rough these days:' "You'll look beautiful:' he said sincerely, his eyes on her face.
195
Arcineh smiled at him, not sure how she was keeping from falling apart.
"I'll pick you up," Sam said next. "Just give me the address, and I'll find it:'
Arcineh told him, but suddenly grabbed his arm.
"How is Violet?"
"She's fine. She just left for a six-week trip to Europe:' Arcineh's mouth opened, and Sam laughed.
"How did you talk her into that?"
"It wasn't easy:' Sam said, his smile lighting his whole face. Arcineh studied him, thinking he was the same and yet very different. She wondered how she seemed to him.
"What time can I pick you up?"
"Well, I get home about 5:30. I could be ready by 6:15:' "I'll be there:'
Sam didn't stay around. He could feel the emotion welling up inside of him and knew that Arcineh was close to tears. With a word of thanks, Sam exited, Gage close behind him.
"Do you want to tell me who that is?" Nicky asked of Arcineh when they had the old kitchen to themselves.
"My grandfather, Sam Bryant:'
"Arcineh Bryant. I never made the connection:' Nicky said, thinking out loud. "And he knows Gage Sefton?"
"He must. How do you know Gage Sefton?"
"This was his great-grandfather's house. He's the main benefactor on this project:'
Not at any point had Arcineh heard this, and she wondered if it hadn't been talked about or if she was spending too much time lost in her own little world. She eventually went back to work, her head full of what had just happened and trying to make sense of it.
196
"Your granddaughter?" Gage questioned Sam as he drove them both back toward the financial district.
"Yes."
"Why was she working for me?"
"I don't know. We've been estranged. Today was the first time I've seen her in more than four years:'
Gage didn't know what to say. He wanted to jump right back to the issue with Siena Designs but knew how insensitive that would be. And indeed he was sensitive right then. Sam's face was thoughtful, but he didn't have much to say. If he hadn't seen his granddaughter for four years, he was probably in a little bit of shock.
Gage was happy to make the drive back in silence.
197
Chapter Fifteen
"This is nice:' Arcineh said, looking around the restaurant but not seeing many people. Her grandfather had clearly asked for a private table. She was glad. She had already cried at work, and then in the shower after work, and she knew it would happen again.
"I picked it for a special reason:'
"Why was that?"
"They have a white chocolate dessert that I think someone will love:'
Arcineh had to look away. He remembered the white chocolate. She knew if she looked into his smiling eyes any longer, she was going to burst into uncontrollable tears.
"We can cry later:' Sam teased her gently. "Why don't we order?"
Arcineh nodded, and sure enough a waiter was headed their way. It took a little doing--the menu was diverse--but when he left they went back to talking.
"How is Quinn?" Arcineh asked. Somewhere along the line she'd run out of anger. She didn't want to live with her cousin, but she did care.
197
198
"She has a baby:'
"A baby? Did she ever get married?"
"Yes, and she's already in the midst of a divorce."
Arcineh looked stunned.
"The marriage was not a good thing. The same day she learned she was pregnant, she also realized Tayte was cheating on her:' "Tayte? She married Tayte?"
"I'm afraid so:'
"That's sad:'
"She's doing well now:' Sam added. "I bought a house in Schaumburg, and she lives there with the baby. When the divorce is through, I'll gift it to her:'
"And everyone else?"
"About the same:' Sam said. "Jeremy and Tiffany are still in Creve Coeur. Austin and Lexa are married and have a child:'
"Wow. You're a great-grandfather:' Arcineh said, watching when he didn't smile.
"I know you didn't mean it this way, but it's got to be said, Arcie. I haven't been a great grandfather, and if you don't want anything to do with me, I'll understand. But I hope you'll allow me to apologize."
Their salads arrived just then, and that was good. Arcineh needed a moment to regroup. It was such a shock to hear him say that. But there was still something she needed to make clear.
"It was never you," Arcineh said softly. "I just couldn't live with Quinn."
"I know that now. She confessed everything to me, all the lies and manipulation. I was a blind fool where she was concerned." "She told you?"
"Everything she could remember. She's a different person now:' Arcineh didn't know what to say. This was the last thing she
expected. All this time she pictured Quinn and her grandfather in
the same place, but that image had been all wrong.
"How is your salad?"
199
"It's very good. I was hungry:'
"You look very nice, by the way."
"Thank you. I noticed your suit. You're still classy:' Arcineh said, thinking that his hair was almost all white these days. It made him very distinguished. His face on the other hand, had no more seams in it than the last time she saw him.
"I was nervous before you picked me up:' Arcineh admitted, "and drank a bunch of water. Will you please excuse me?"
"Of course. I would stand up, but then I'd have to slide back into this booth:'
This made Arcineh laugh before she scooted off to take care of matters. Sam continued to eat, but it wasn't long before he looked up and saw Gage walking by. The younger man just happened to glance that way, and Sam waved.
"Hello:' Gage said, taking the edge of the booth. "I didn't expect to see you out:'
"I'm here with Arcie."
"I'm glad, Sam. I won't stick around:'
"Why don't I call you tomorrow?"
"Sounds good:' Gage agreed, and moved to go. He changed his mind when Arcineh chose that moment to return.
She was dressed in a little black dress that, although not overly tight, showed Arcineh's true figure to him for the first time. It was simply cut and not at all revealing in the neckline, and stopped midway down her thighs to show those dancer's legs. Gage could only stare. Her hair was dark and thick around her face and shoulders, and so were the lashes around large, dark eyes. Her skin looked creamy, and just in time, Gage pulled his mind back from studying her mouth.
At last he looked at Sam, who was watching him in confusion.
"I'll call you tomorrow," Sam repeated.
"Yes, I'll plan on it:'
Sam waited only until Gage was out of sight to turn to Arcineh, but she had the first question.
200
"Why was he here?"
"Just a coincidence, I assure you," Sam answered before asking, "What happened just now? He looked at you like he'd never seen you before."
"He hasn't. At least, not like this."
Sam looked comp
letely confused but waited.
"I had to dress down to get a job. Carlee advised me about that a long time ago, and not until I'd been turned away by everyone in the financial district did I remember. I dressed down, and Rugby hired me on my first interview."
"How did you look?" Sam asked, finding himself completely fascinated.
"Oh, hair pulled back as tight as I could get it, terrible glasses, and clothing large enough to hide everything."
Sam had it in his heart to feel sorry for Gage. Arcineh was a beautiful woman, and up to a few minutes ago he hadn't had a clue. "How do you know Gage Sefton?" Arcineh asked.
"He's my neighbor."
"Whose house did he buy?" Arcineh asked, picturing the houses all around where they'd lived.
"Actually, I moved into his neighborhood."
Nothing could have prepared Arcineh for this. She felt as though the wind had been snatched from her.
"How long?" she finally asked.
"Only about seven months."
"Why?"
"I was ready for something smaller, and it seemed a nice fit."
Arcineh stared at him. She couldn't picture him anywhere else but his old home. She went back to her meal, hoping she wouldn't cry.
"Next thing you'll be telling me you're retired:' she said, her voice saying he never would. When Sam didn't reply, she looked at him, her eyes growing large.
"I sold Bryant," he told her.
201
"Why?" she asked again.
"Ready to be done. Weary of the travel:'
Arcineh had expected to hear remorse in his voice over this, but he was remarkably upbeat. She couldn't picture this any more than she could him selling the house, but then she hadn't pictured her grandfather like this either. Something was very different, and Arcineh couldn't put her finger on what it was.
While she was still thinking about it, Sam's finger went in the air. The hovering waiter came over.
"One of those white chocolate desserts, please. And more coffee
"Yes, sir:'
Arcineh waited only until his eyes came back to her before saying, "Thanks, Grandpa:'
Gage slipped in behind the wheel of his car but didn't bother to use the key. He didn't notice the cold. Like a man in a dream, he realized he had seen Arcineh Bryant before she joined his staff at Rugby Shades. Letting his mind drift back, he remembered exactly where it had been.
'All set?" Luke asked Erika when he and Gage picked her up from aerobics class.
'Are you in a hurry?" Erika asked.
"I don't think so. What's up?"
"Just a little something special I've been invited to. Come this way"
The men--Erika's husband, Luke, and her brother, Gage--moved to the stairway she was headed toward, slipped into a small balcony, and sat down.
"You're going to watch another dance class?" Luke asked. "Just for a little bit."
202
The men sat down good-naturedly, waiting until the music started up. A slow song started the set, and Luke leaned toward his wife. "You've got to be kidding me," he whispered.
"Just wait," she said, turning to him with entreating eyes and adding, "Please."
Luke rolled his eyes at her, and she smiled when she knew she had him. However, she did not forget her brother who had landed on her other side.
"Do you mind?"
"No, but if you rescind your offer of pie, I won't be so forgiving."
Before Erika could even say it was a deal, the music changed. All three pairs of eyes swung to the women on the floor, moving in perfect rhythm to a rock song from the '70s. The moves looked spontaneous, but no one missed a beat.
Gage watched in fascination as the bodies moved as one until his eyes found a dark-haired woman whose face was relaxed and not intense. Gage could not stop watching her. She was small but nicely shaped and didn't even appear to be trying.
"Pick it up, Brooklyn," the teacher said to someone, and Gage noticed the sound booth for the first time. "Here comes the new part," she said next. "Do what you can."
The tempo changed, and mistakes began to happen. Only the dark- haired woman and two others were able to stay with the instructor. The others backed away and watched the four moving as one. Gage didn't know the last time he'd been so transfixed.
A horn honked in the cold parking lot, and Gage came back to the present, wishing he could somehow replay the memory again. Arcineh Bryant had been the dark-haired woman. She was also the mousy little woman who had worked in his office and the woman laying tile in his great-grandfather's kitchen. To top it off, she was also the beautiful granddaughter of Sam Bryant, and she wanted nothing to do with him.
Gage finally started the car and took himself home. He didn't
203
know what to do about any of this, and right at the moment he was too tired to care.
Sam and Arcineh talked until almost 11:00, the restaurant patiently bringing them more water and coffee as they wanted. Arcineh knew she would be tired in the morning, but it was one of the most wonderful times she'd had in years.
Sam drove her home, and because he could park where he could see the door, she told him not to get out.
"When am I going to see you again?" Sam asked before she could exit.
"I don't know. I mean, my schedule is pretty free:'
"Okay," Sam said, not wanting to press. "I know where you're working, and I know where you live. How about a phone number?" "I don't have a phone right now:'
"Did something happen or can you not afford one?"
"I can't afford one:'
Sam's emotions, which had been close all evening, almost got the best of him then.
"Please let me buy you a phone, Arcie," he requested quietly. Arcineh smiled at him. "I'm all right, but thanks for the offer:' "What do you do if something happens?"
"Go to the neighbors: They're very nice:'
Sam gave her a long-suffering look, but Arcineh could see the smile in his eyes.
"I'll see you later," she said, finally bidding him goodnight and scurrying in out of the cold.
Sam drove himself home, his heart so full he didn't know how he would stand it. He had taken his granddaughter to dinner. She was safe, and they had talked. And although she was different, she was still his Arcineh.
204
And a few times she had looked at him. He hoped she was seeing how different he was. Indeed he had prayed for that very thing all evening. Now he must wait for just the right time to tell her how profound the change had been.
Arcineh did not hear the door. She was working along, her mind intent on the grout, when the most wonderful smell assailed her nose. She turned her head to find it and saw Sam.
"Did I miss lunch?" he asked.
"No." Arcineh laughed a little. "What have you got there?" "Oh, just a little something I picked up:"
Arcineh came toward him. He was utterly out of place in his elegant coat, hat, and gloves, but a most welcome sight. He even had a tall thermos that Arcineh assumed held something hot to drink.
"Can you eat now?" he asked.
"Yes:' she said, so pleased to see him. Arcineh looked into his face and realized the time they'd lost.
"It's all right:' Sam said, seeing the tears in her eyes; his eyes filled too.
"I missed you:' she whispered.
Sam held out his arms, and Arcineh walked into them. She cried against his chest like a lost child.
"I'm so sorry I drove you out of our home Sam said, his throat thick. "I can't tell you how I've regretted it."
It was a while before they got to the picnic hamper, but worth it because Sam had outdone himself. Chicago pizza was inside, along with salads and bread. The thermos held hot coffee with cream and sugar. They sat together in that dirty workplace, taking the teasing of men who smelled the food and came looking, but mostly lost in catching up, both secretly deciding they never wanted to be separated again.
205
"Do me a favor?" Sam had asked just before
leaving Arcineh to her work.
"What?" Arcineh had returned, wary of his tone.
"Talk to Gage."
Arcineh made a face at the time, but Sam still had a smooth way about him. Inside of ten minutes, he'd talked her around. Now on Saturday she sat in a restaurant booth with both men and tried to tell her story.
"You gave notes to Patrice and she ignored them?" Gage repeated in disbelief. "She wouldn't do that."
Without warning, Arcineh was on her feet, gathering her coat to leave. She didn't know how she would get home, but she wasn't going to stay any longer. Arcineh stood on the street, trying to figure out where to go. Sam was suddenly beside her.
"Here, take my keys."
"What will you do?"
"Gage can give me a lift:'
Arcineh didn't take the keys. She looked across the street at nothing, frustration filling her. To be called a liar by someone who didn't even know her was hard to take.
"You could also come back in, and I'll explain things to Gage. I've been there. I can make him understand."
Arcineh didn't know why she agreed to go back, but when she did, her grandfather took charge.
"You have to understand," he began, "Arcie would not lie to you about this. She has better things to do than play games with people's lives. If she tells you this happened, you can believe her. What you do with it is your choice, but don't accuse Arcineh of making this up. I made that mistake a long time ago, and the cost has been enormous. I don't want to see you do the same:'
Gage had not expected this, but his respect for Sam Bryant won
206
out. He turned back to Arcineh, whose face was not open, but he was ready to try again.
"Will you do me a favor and tell me about your employment with Rugby?"
"From my start in the file department?"
"Yes--how you came to have that job, and how you got to the fourth floor."
Arcineh did as he asked, keeping it brief and to the point.
"When you left on the day of the babysitting debacle Gage asked next, "why was none of your personal information correct? The number we had on file was no longer in use, and I tracked down the house but no one was home. Did you actually commute from that neighborhood?"
"Just for the first month I worked here. The folks who lived there
changed their number sometime after I moved out"
"But why didn't we have updated information on you when you moved to my office?"