Hot Stuff

by Weston Parker

  “Fine, I’ll go.” She threw the covers back and hurried across the room to her private bathroom and slammed the door.

  “What’s that all about?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe she wants to stay around to see Chloe, or she’s upset over the fact that Ava is leaving. I don’t think Chloe would have said anything about Edna to her.”

  After a moment, she came out of the room. “What about Grandma Edna?” She lifted her little chin and put her hands on her hips.

  “She called yesterday and wanted to know if you would like to go for a visit soon and perhaps stay a week with her?”

  Her eyes widened, but the look on her face wasn’t one of happiness. “A whole week?” She shook her head. “I don’t want to go back and forth again.” She started to whine and stomped her little foot.

  “How about just a quick visit?”

  “Will I have to stay the week?”

  “No. I promise I won’t make you stay a week, but she’d like to see you. You wouldn’t mind seeing your grandmother, would you?”

  My back stiffened as he promised. He had no way of knowing the law wouldn’t make him give Edna a week, and now if that promise was broken, she’d be disappointed and devastated.

  “I want to go spend a night or maybe two, but not longer. Wade will miss me.”

  “We would all miss you.” Gage knelt down and gave her a hug as Chloe came into the room to say good morning.

  “Give me a minute, Chloe; I need to speak to my husband.” I pulled him aside. “Why did you promise her?”

  “Because she needs to know I’ll protect her, and I’m serious. If she doesn’t want to go for a week, then I’m not going to make her.”

  “It’s the courts that will make her, Gage, not you. She needs to be aware that there is a possibility. That’s all I’m asking. She’s going to have faith in that until it’s broken.”

  “I’m not going to let her down.”

  “You hope. You may not have a choice.”

  Chloe cleared her throat. I turned to see that she had Ollie by the hand, and the little girl was all ready for school. “I just thought I could maybe drive her to school if that’s okay, and maybe take her to the donut shop on the way?”

  “That would be fine, Chloe, thanks.”

  “Okay, tell them bye, ladybug.”

  Ollie crossed the room to give us a half-hearted hug and then grabbed hold of Chloe’s hand. “Let’s get this day over with.” The poor kid sounded so defeated as she left.

  I followed Gage to the kitchen for some coffee to go. “I’m not sure what that’s about, but it’s got to be something.”

  Gage shrugged. “Is it me, or is everything falling apart?”

  “It feels that way, but it will be okay. This is supposed to be a time of coming together. We’ll make it through this and any obstacle that comes our way.” I gave him a kiss, and then we went to get dressed for the day.

  I left for work, knowing the issues would weigh on us both through the day, but hopefully, in the end, it would all turn out to be all right.

  Reed met me at the door when I arrived for work. “Glad you came in. I’m ready to talk about that big case before you leave again today.” He had a lot of nerve talking about how I’d left when he’d skipped out early for lunch.

  “Then let’s get down to business. What’s this one about?”

  Reed opened his case and took out a folder, which I took as I passed him on my way to my office. I sat down at my desk and opened it.

  “James Bivens?” I doublechecked the company and the defendant’s name. “This is one of Gage’s biggest partners. I’m not even sure if this isn’t a project he worked on.” The case was about an apartment complex fire due to faulty wiring. The project had been subcontracted, but Bivens was in charge.

  “We need this case; it’s one of my biggest clients.” Reed’s brow creased deeply, and he tugged at his collar.

  “I’m telling you there might be a conflict. Even if Gage is not part of this job, he’s affiliated with this man and his company, and if Bivens finds out that Gage’s wife-to-be is looking into a case against him, then I’m pretty sure it’s going to ruin their relationship. Not to mention we’ll have to throw the entire case out on a technicality. No way.”

  “Is this the man who Gage saved?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Well, he’ll probably live to regret that is my guess.”

  “Reed, that’s a horrible thing to say.”

  “Well, it might be, but he could choose better friends. No telling what kind of suits will start coming out of the woodwork now that this one has come out. You need to talk to him about it, and tell him what a case like this could mean for us. I will understand if you can’t do it, but I can’t lie and say I’ll like it.” Reed turned and walked out the door as I covered my face with my hands. Coming back to work was a mistake, and with this happening on top of everything else, it was like a dark cloud had come to settle over our happy home.

  Chapter 6

  Gage

  I had just gotten the baby down for a late nap when I looked at the time and noticed it was nearly lunch. With Ava leaving, I’d have to go fend for myself in the kitchen and was about to do so when my phone rang. The number was unknown, but I knew to answer it. Lauren had given my number to a handful of the businesses which we were coordinating with for the wedding, mostly the food, so she wouldn’t get bombarded with questions when she went back to work.

  “Hello, Gage Riley speaking.”

  “Hello, Mr. Riley. This is Jasmine. I just wanted to let you know that there’s been a problem, and I’m afraid I can’t complete your order. We had a fire last night, and I’ve lost the business. I’m prepared to give you a full refund.”

  A full refund was nice, but I wasn’t sure what I was losing. Did our wedding venue burn to the ground? “Who are you with, Jasmine?” I didn’t even know if I was supposed to be freaking out inside, but it sure seemed like it.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Riley, I just assumed that you remembered me. It’s Jasmine from Jazzy Cakes. I was booked to make your wedding cakes.”

  “Oh, I’m so terribly sorry, Jasmine.” I remembered the pretty little cake lady from our tasting. The shop had been a happy little place with lots of pink and black.

  “I’m terribly sorry. If there was a way to help, I would. But I’m completely out of business. The oven caught fire and destroyed the entire shop, all of my tools, everything.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Sounds like you have enough to deal with. I’ll break the news to Lauren.”

  The lady gave a sniffle. “I’m so very sorry, sir. Have a good day.”

  The line went dead, and I sat there staring at the wall, thinking about how happy Lauren had been about the cake. She’d searched all over to find the perfect cake, and Jazzy’s was one of the only businesses she felt could pull off the style of cake she wanted and still taste amazing. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to book anyone else just days away, and she was going to be heartbroken.

  I got up to go to the kitchen where I found Chloe. “It’s not fair. I don’t care what you think you have; I didn’t do it. You’re making a mistake.” She turned, and before I saw the tears running down her cheeks, I heard her voice break.

  I wanted to say something, but she was still on the phone, and I didn’t want to interrupt, but I wasn’t leaving her there to cry. I knew I’d have to offer some comfort, and hopefully, that wouldn’t be awkward as hell.

  “Lucky? Should I feel lucky? Fuck you!” She held out her phone and dramatically poked the screen to end the call. “Assholes.”

  “I take it you’re having a bad morning.”

  “I guess losing my job constitutes a bad morning, yes.” She walked over and leaned against the counter to pour a cup of coffee.

  “You lost your job? What happened? Don’t tell me it’s got to do with you taking off for the wedding.” Not only would I feel awful, but Lauren would be devastated.

 
She got a strange look on her face and then looked at the floor as if she were ashamed to admit what happened. “I was accused of something I didn’t do. I’m not sure, but I’m assuming others were fired for the same reason.”

  “Accused of what?” She had worked for a doctor’s clinic in collections, but that was all I knew about her job.

  “Stealing money. I’m completely innocent, and I think I know who was stealing and how, but they are upper management, so no one is going to believe me.”

  “You should tell anyway.”

  “I tried. It didn’t help. They found a video of me walking out of my cubicle with a stack of bills, but that was only to pass them off to the lady I think has been pocketing the money. We’re supposed to use a special envelope, but I was all out of them, and my manager was right in the next room. We’ve done it a million times, but she used me as her scapegoat.”

  “I think you should have Lauren look into this for you. They can’t fire you unless they have proof, can they?”

  “Well, I’m not sure if it’s legal, but I’d assume when you’re an employer, you can let someone go for suspicion, especially if you’re job is dealing with the amounts of money mine was.” The tears were steadily flowing down her cheeks. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “Have you said anything to Lauren?” I couldn’t imagine her keeping something this big from her best friend, but then I’d kept me and Lauren from mine.

  “No. I feel so stupid. It’s embarrassing. I don’t know how they’d think I could steal money or that I did. I mean, it’s not like I’m coming in with new handbags, like the manager I believe it to be does every week. Hell, I can barely pay my rent most months.” She set the untouched coffee on the counter and then turned away from me to break down.

  I had no idea she’d had it that bad. I grabbed her arm and pulled her into an embrace to comfort her. “You should have said something, Chloe. You’re like family to us. Very special. If you’re struggling with that job, then maybe there is something better for you. Lauren and I will help any way we can.”

  “I just didn’t want her to worry about me with the wedding coming up. It’s not something you want to tell everyone, anyway. I can’t even tell my family because they already see me as a failure and told me I’d never make it in Chicago alone. I only moved there to be with my fiancé, and after he turned out to be a jerk, I was stuck.” I hadn’t heard much about Chloe’s story, but I knew enough to know she’d been through a tough time. Calling her ex a jerk was putting it mildly.

  I held her close to soothe her, and she cried against my shirt, leaving little tear-stains. “It will work out. I promise.”

  About that time, Lauren came into the kitchen. “I’m sure there’s a good explanation for this?” She gave me a little smirk, and then her eyes widened when I pulled away and she saw Chloe’s eyes red with tears.

  “What happened?” She rushed across the room to hug Chloe, and the girl met my eyes over Lauren’s shoulder as if she didn’t want to confess what had happened. “Did someone die?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. I should have told you sooner, but when I came down early, it was because I was suspended from work. A couple of us had been accused of stealing money, and I’ve been under investigation. There hasn’t been any proof found, of course, because I’m innocent, but they went ahead and fired me just to be safe.”

  “What? How come you didn’t tell me? I could have represented you.”

  “You have a million other things going on in your life, and you don’t need any of my problems.”

  “Nonsense. You’re my best friend.” Lauren’s eyes were ringed with red.

  “See? This is the last thing you needed.”

  “What’s one more thing?” Lauren asked. Then she turned and gave me an exhausted look. “Make that two.”

  “You heard about the cake?” I figured she’d heard about the fire in town.

  Her shoulders slumped, and she looked like someone had just thrown up on her. “The cake? What the hell happened to the cake?”

  “Then make that three.” I let out a long breath. “The bakery burned down. Jazzy’s Cakes is no more.”

  She pulled out a chair and sat down, and Chloe joined her with her coffee, which she’d finally gotten the strength to sip. “Will you be able to book a different bakery?”

  “There’s no way I can get the cake I wanted. Why do I feel like everything is falling apart? Maybe we aren’t supposed to get married now.”

  “That’s ridiculous. If not now, then when? Life is like this at times, baby. We’ll get through it, and we’ll help our friends through it.”

  Lauren let out an exhausted breath. “I’ll call your job, and we can threaten legal action for unlawful termination if you’d like?”

  “I would love to, but I don’t want my job back. I don’t think I could go back to work for those assholes after this. Especially since I’d have to look at the manager and work with her. I have a feeling she’s the one who has been pocketing the cash.”

  Lauren leaned over and gave Chloe’s hand a pat. “We will figure something out, and we’ll find you another job.”

  My eyes lit up. I had an idea.

  Chapter 7

  Lauren

  Gage was sweet to be concerned about Chloe, and when I saw his eyes light up, I thought he would suggest that he knew someone who needed a hand.

  “Do you know how to cook?” he asked.

  Chloe shrugged. “Me? A little.”

  I knew a little about her cooking experience. She wasn’t so bad. “Chloe and I used to watch Food TV and try and recreate the dishes. We had a few bombs, but for the most part, we did okay.”

  “Yeah, remember the exploding soup?” She let out a wicked laugh, and Gage’s eyes narrowed.

  “How does soup explode?”

  “I’m not sure, but that’s what it looked like happened. Why do you ask? About the cooking, I mean?”

  “Well, with Ava leaving, we’re in need of a cook, and I’ve wanted to hire some help with the kids as well. If you’d be interested, we could work something out.”

  I couldn’t believe he was making such a sweet offer, and my heart warmed. “That’s an amazing idea! I just thought that if we had to replace Ava, I’d have to worry about someone else around the kids. Chloe is the only person I trust them with.” I realized she’d have to give up her life in Chicago. “Oh, you’d have to move, though. Would that be a problem?”

  “Heck no! I mean, I would lose my apartment, but I’m sure I could find a place here.”

  “Oh, you don’t understand, Chloe. We’d need you to live here. I’d like a live-in housekeeper, kind of like I had before.”

  “Oh no, we want much better than you had before.” I thought of that evil woman he’d had working for him and cringed. I had never been so glad to see someone lose their job as the day he fired her.

  “Of course, much better,” he agreed with a look of certainty.

  “The last one used to threaten Ollie, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about her.” I’d told Chloe everything. “You wouldn’t have to worry about that with me; I love the kids as if they were my own niece and nephew. Ollie doesn’t call me Aunt Chloe for nothing, and I see it as an honor.”

  “So, are you up for it?” Gage seemed eager to know her answer.

  “I am, if you’re sure you want to take me in.” She gave a little laugh, and I could tell she was as humble as usual.

  “Yeah, you stay with us, forget those people at your old job, and let’s move on to something better. I’m still going to contact the proper channels to get an investigation going. Those people shouldn’t be able to treat people that way.”

  “Good, maybe if they do something about that manager, it would help other people who work beneath her. I really think she used me as her scapegoat.” I think she was right about that. There were so many cases like that, where someone abused their power for personal gain. Which reminded me that
I needed to talk to Gage about James.

  Gage poured himself a cup of coffee and then grabbed the sandwich fixings from the fridge. “Anyone else want a sandwich?”

  “Wait!” Chloe jumped up from her chair and crossed the room to help. “Allow me. I may as well get used to how you like your sandwiches now, since I’ll be doing this from now on.” She tied on Ava’s apron and then washed her hands before taking the bread roll and slicing it in two.

  Gage nodded. “I’ll just have a little mayo, spread to the edges, and I like it with turkey, ham, and swiss.”

  “Sounds easy enough.” She went about preparing his sandwich and then looked up at me. “Do you want anything?”

  “I’ll have the same, actually, and make yourself one if you want. We need to talk a little more about your responsibilities and what I like to do for myself.” Even though she was being hired, I had certain things I liked to do unless specifically requested.

  “Right.” She finished up and then walked the plates to the table where she sat with us. “Anyone want chips or a drink? There’s lemonade in the fridge.” Ava had left her special lemonade, and it was the one thing I was going to miss her preparing.

  “Yes, please. We’ll toast to Ava. You’ll have to learn how to make lemonade, you know?” It was one of Ollie’s favorites, and I knew she’d appreciate her carrying on the tradition.

  She held her hands up. “I’m not sure I can learn everything that Ava did, but I’ll do my best.” She got the chips and poured us each a glass of fresh lemonade as Gage wasted no time taking a bite.

  “This is sandwich perfection,” Gage said with a laugh as Chloe smiled and gave a weary look. “You don’t have to learn everything Ava did, and I don’t have any expectations after the exploding soup confession. As long as you don’t give us food poisoning and Ollie’s happy, we’ll be happy, too.”

  Chloe smiled. “Sounds good, and I’ll stay away from soup if it helps.”

  “It does.” I gave a soft laugh, remembering the condition we’d found my stove the night of the exploding soup. We’d gone to look for a movie and left the soup on, and when we returned, it had bubbled over the pot and vegetables were everywhere. It had spilled down the sides and somehow hit the rug on the floor below. “I threw away a perfectly good rug that night.” We shared a laugh, and Gage shook his head, taking another bite before I could eat my first.