Sold!: A Holiday Romance

by J. L. Campbell

  She opened it and unwrapped the disposables. As he watched her, Carsten was struck by a sense of déjà vu, as if they'd been here before and he was rediscovering something he'd missed earlier. But they hadn't experienced this scene before, so perhaps it was wishful thinking.

  "What is it?" Feechi asked.

  He blinked and moved the hair that had blown across her face, without breaking eye contact. He'd moved closer without realizing it, because he could almost count her eyelashes.

  When Carsten was sure their lips would meet, Jack's voice pierced the haze surrounding them.

  "So, are we going to eat now?"

  Feechi sank back on her heels, her complexion several shades deeper than it had been moments ago.

  Carsten also had the sensation that all the blood had rushed to his face. He needed a moment to think about what had nearly happened, but with Jack around that wasn't possible. The boy continued asking Feechi questions about the food as she took each item from the basket.

  Carsten sucked in a deep breath and reminded himself that with Jack around he had to be careful. Kissing Feechi in front of her son was a mistake he couldn't afford to make. It would be even worse if he muddled things before he was one hundred per cent certain he wouldn't hurt her, despite what his mind was telling him to the contrary.

  Chapter 11

  "That was stupendous," Jack declared, having taken the last bite of his sandwich.

  When Carsten's eyebrows gravitated toward his forehead, Feechi laughed. "Never mind him. That's one of his favorite words these days."

  "So you like roast chicken then, Jack?"

  His head bobbed vigorously. "I think you need to lend us your cook. She's better than Auntie Dee." He batted his lashes at Feechi. "Not Mommy though. She makes nice fried chicken."

  "You're ungrateful," Feechi said, laughing. "And you're probably saying that because I'm sitting here."

  "No, Mommy, it's true. Auntie is good with plantain and sausage and eggs, but not chicken."

  After wiping his mouth, Carsten said, "Jack isn't ungrateful, he's honest."

  Jack was silent for another moment before he sighed and rested on his hands. "We should have brought Max. He'd be running up and down right now."

  "That's what I'd be afraid of," Feechi said. Facing Carsten she added, "He goes crazy when he sees open spaces and it's hard to catch him."

  "But Mommy, that's 'cause he's locked up in the yard all the time. He doesn't go to school or get to visit his friends."

  When Carsten burst out laughing, Feechi threw him a bad look, but it didn't stop him from enjoying whatever had amused him so much.

  "You should consider sharing the joke with me."

  "It's the matter-of-fact way in which Jack said what he just did that caught me off guard."

  "Spoken like someone who's only around kids for a limited amount of time."

  Not content to be left out of the conversation, Jack waved his hand over the basket. "And he'd like the roast chicken too."

  Carsten nodded in agreement. "I bet he would."

  Feechi sipped from a bottle of cranberry juice, overly conscious of Carsten sitting across from her. Without looking, she knew he was studying her.

  His scrutiny made her clumsy and while juice dribbled from the side of her mouth, she reached for a napkin. Hand to her mouth, she met his gaze. "What is it?"

  He had that look in his eyes again, as if she was the only thing occupying his thoughts. "Nothing. Well, remember I asked if you liked the house? I was wondering if you'd ever consider living in the country."

  Before giving him an answer, she studied the area around them and pulled in a deep breath. His question was innocent enough, but was it as open as it sounded or was there something else behind it? She chided herself for getting bogged down by one question and opened her mouth to answer.

  The air brushing her skin was fresh and clean, far different from the sometimes smoggy atmosphere in the capital city. Plus, it was cooler even though the sun was brilliant.

  "I would. It's different in a good way."

  "You sound surprised by your answer."

  "I am, actually, because I've never thought about it seriously before." She glanced at Jack who'd plopped down with his head on a cushion and one leg propped in the air. "Jack, hon, you need to sit up."

  "But I feel better lying down."

  "You ate too much, so you can't do that yet."

  He sat up, reaching for the neon-orange ball. "When can I lie down then?"

  "Not for a few minutes. Be patient."

  His loud sigh had Carsten smiling again.

  Feechi cut her eyes to him. "Don't say a word."

  He shrugged. "Who me? I didn't plan to say a thing."

  "Right." She yawned, brushing Jack with her gaze. "I know how he feels. I'm feeling a little lazy myself. Your cook is good. I don't know how you're not fat."

  "I go to the gym three days a week."

  "Where d'you find time?"

  "You say that as if you don't know there's a gym at the office."

  "Really? I didn't know."

  "Now you do, you should make it a point to go. Not that you need it, but all work and no play, you know the saying … "

  "You actually use the gym at work, with other people in it?"

  Frowning, he asked, "Why wouldn't I?"

  She shrugged and curled her legs close to her body. "Most bosses wouldn't use the same facility as their staff."

  "I'm not most bosses and I don't consider myself more important than the people who work for me."

  Which was why he probably thought it was okay for them to be fraternizing. She still had her doubts about that, but if he was comfortable, she wouldn't fight him.

  As he'd said, she definitely expanded her knowledge today listening to him with the valuator who'd arrived at the same time they did. To her surprise, the two men conducted their walk-through in just over an hour and talked for another fifteen minutes before the valuator departed.

  She understood why Carsten was successful. From observing him, she gathered he was thorough and listened keenly before speaking. He also didn't hesitate to ask questions if he wanted clarification.

  "Well, you're certainly different in that respect."

  "Which is why I have the best team."

  His self-satisfied grin raised an answering smile from her. "You sound like a little boy bragging about his marbles."

  He spread both hands. "Hey, I'm proud of what I've built and the people who helped me build it."

  When she attempted to ask another question, he held up both hands. "Enough about work. Tell me more about your name."

  Jack got up and stretched. "Mommy, can I go look through the fence?"

  She said yes, since the metal railings were within her line of sight.

  Carsten picked up one of the cushions and stuffed it behind him, before leaning against the narrow bougainvillea trunks. The gentle breeze dislodged a shower of fuchsia blooms that fell around them.

  Magical. If only they were in the right setting for romance. That startled her and her brows crumpled. When had she started thinking about romance?

  Since Carsten, was the reply her mind supplied. She cleared those thoughts away for fear that somehow he'd figure out what was going on inside her head.

  She kept her eyes on Jack for a while before Carsten's voice nudged her out of her world.

  "So about your name … "

  "Yes, it means a woman who worships God."

  "And do you?"

  "That's a strange question."

  "Not from where I sit. Are you a believer?"

  "Yes, and I try to teach Jack what my mother taught me."

  Curious about what he'd say, she shot the question back at him. "Are you?"

  "For sure." He leaned backward and supported his weight on his hands. "As much as things aren't as they should be in this country, most of us are God-fearing."

  She shifted position, pulled her knees to her chest and nodded. "That's true.
"

  "So tell me about Hadiya. What does it mean?"

  "It's Swahili and it means 'gift'."

  "I bet the two of you had problems in school."

  "Say that again. Until we were twelve or so, our classmates used our names to torment us."

  "Kids can be kind and yet so cruel, eh?"

  "Yup, and it gets worse when you have a last name like ours."

  "Tell me about that. Your accent says you're Jamaican through and through."

  "That's true, but my father was from Ghana I hear."

  "Do I sense a little resentment?"

  "No, you sense a lot of it."

  Shifting a little, Carsten touched her hand. "What did he do?"

  "Other than abandoning my mother with the two of us? Not much."

  "Don't think I'm being flippant if I point out that you turned out okay, but you did."

  "Sure, but things would have been different if he'd stuck around and lived up to his responsibility."

  "You don't know that, hon."

  Her gaze jumped to his and she searched his eyes, wondering if he'd heard the endearment.

  "I'm just going on the basis that working as a team makes parenting easier."

  "Sure, but sometimes relationships don't work the way they're supposed to and it's easier and more peaceful for some couples to live apart than together."

  "I guess, but when you have kids … "

  He gripped her by the wrist, which stopped the flow of her words.

  "D'you know all the circumstances that led to him leaving?"

  She raised both shoulders and let them drop. "I guess not."

  He released her wrist and sat back. "Then you shouldn't be so strident in your judgement."

  She wanted to slap him with a feisty comeback, but his observation made sense. Now that she thought about it, she didn't know everything about her parents' relationship but was sure her father was at fault. As if to reinforce her thoughts, she reminded herself that no man with a conscience would leave his family, no matter the circumstances.

  "We should agree to disagree." Carsten said, clasping his hands between his knees.

  "Guess so."

  His smile was lopsided and widened into a grin. "I can tell you'd do this guy some harm if he crossed your path."

  "You're wrong. He's so not worth it."

  His smile disappeared and he took her hand. "Tell me about Jack's father."

  The two of them turned their heads toward where Jack was running back and forth along the fence line while dragging a stick against the rails.

  Feechi drew a breath to tell him to stop, but glanced at Carsten before she did. As she expected, he was looking at her.

  "What?"

  "He'll be all right."

  "Nobody said he wouldn't."

  "The expression on your face says otherwise."

  "What expression?"

  "A mixture of anxiety and expectancy. As if something will go wrong."

  "He's a boy and they run everywhere and get into things."

  Carsten chuckled. "Kinda like Max?"

  She laughed with him and when they stopped, he tapped her under the chin. "You shouldn't worry so much. It takes the fun out of living."

  Moving sideways, she cut her eyes toward him. "Are you telling me how to live and raise my child?"

  "In some sorta way."

  She wanted to say they'd done just fine before him, but figured it would sound rude so she stayed quiet.

  "I can almost see those thoughts rolling through your head," he said.

  Keeping her eyes pulled wide, she bluffed. "Whatever it is, I'm not thinking it."

  "Yeah, you are." Their gazes met and he continued, "You're thinking you're getting along just fine, so who am I to try and tell you what to do."

  She gasped and a giggle escaped from her. "How did you do that?"

  "My sister acts just like you. If she could prevent it, Janelle wouldn't allow a mosquito to land on Ricky." A chuckle punctuated his story. "And if she lets him out of her sight and I take him anywhere, you can bet she'll be calling me after fifteen minutes."

  "You're lying, she can't be that bad."

  "I have no reason to lie. My sister is more overprotective that anyone else I know. I keep telling her boys are tough. Despite the bumps and scrapes, they'll survive."

  "Honestly? I've heard that a time or two, but it's hard when … well, I nearly lost him at birth so that could be why I am the way I am."

  "I understand, but you should try and cut yourself some slack." He waited a moment before asking, "So what happened with him?"

  "I had a long delivery and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. When he was finally out, it took a while before he responded."

  "Anxious moments can't describe what you must have gone through."

  She nodded and then said, "You're right, it doesn't, so I guess you understand the way I feel about him."

  "I do." His gaze collided with hers again. "So are you going to tell me about his dad?"

  Feechi inhaled deeply, wrapped her hair around her hand and pulled it into a loose knot in a few deft moves. "It's a mystery to me why I've told you all this stuff about my life, since we don't know each other well enough for me to tell you all that I have."

  His smile was mischievous. "I've been told I'm a good listener."

  "I don't doubt that's true. I watched you with that valuator." She let a moment go by before trying to come up with an answer. "I met Dennis when I was young and stupid. He was an intern, looking to get into a practice and I wanted to be a nurse, so I was working at the same facility.

  "I had an 'in' with the doctor, who was my mother's friend. Dennis needed a shortcut and a leg up and he got it. After I was pregnant with Jack, I found out we wanted different things."

  "I'd say I'm sorry, but that won't mean much now. I'm relieved you're not still with him."

  She couldn't help the glance she threw his way. "Why?"

  "I said you weren't ready for a relationship with anybody, but I never said you wouldn't be."

  She'd have been silly if she thought he'd given up on her, but she also wasn't going to pursue anything with him while his signature was on her pay check.

  Eyes closed, she wrapped her mind around Carsten's statement. When she understood what he was saying, Feechi opened her eyes and met his.

  His coppery skin and well-defined facial features distracted her, but the message in his eyes was unmistakable. He was more interested in her than ever.

  Chapter 12

  The drive to Kingston was leisurely and for Feechi, colored with a tinge of regret. The break from the city was more welcome than she realized and being with Carsten was exciting and restful in parts.

  While they were on the way in, Dee had called to say she'd be with their mother and would see her later. Feechi couldn’t do anything about it but didn't want to be alone with Carsten, although technically with Jack and Max around that wasn't the case.

  When they drew up to the gate, Max lay with his head on his paws watching the street. His ears pricked up and he got to his feet. Then he went mad, running back and forth on the verandah. His excitement came to a head the minute Jack stepped out of the van and made it through the grille. Max jumped and twirled around Jack's legs as if he'd been gone for a week.

  After opening the front door, Feechi went back to the van with Carsten, who insisted on bringing the basket inside. His helper had packed too much food for the picnic, and Carsten insisted the leftovers shouldn't be wasted.

  Feechi agreed with him where the pound cake was concerned, knowing she and Dee would finish it in a few servings.

  She entered the living room, waving toward the chairs. "Sit down while I empty the basket."

  Carsten moved to the large couch, stepping around Jack, who had spread himself on the carpet. Max was draped over Jack, licking his face, which sent Feechi into a minor tizzy.

  "Max, stop! Jack, how many times have I told you not to let him lick your face?"
<
br />   "He's just happy to see me."

  "Make him stop, and go wash your face."

  Jack got to his feet, scratching Max at the back of his neck. "Come, boy."

  Feechi turned away with the basket, speaking over her shoulder. "You can turn on the television. I'll be back as soon as I empty this."

  She unloaded the cake on the counter and put the leftover sandwiches in the fridge, along with the remaining bottles of fruit juice. Carsten's helper clearly thought they needed feeding for the entire weekend and not the afternoon. She was grateful though, because it meant she wouldn't have to cook anything.

  She threw out the sandwich wrap and empty bottles and walked into the living room with the basket over her arm. The table close to the front door was a convenient spot where Carsten wouldn't forget it. She was about to tell him that when her eyes popped wide.

  Max lay in his favorite position, with his head on his legs, and he'd stretched his body across Carsten's feet. Only the Lord knew what Carsten thought about having a dog use him as a mattress.

  "Max, get off!"

  The dog stirred, but didn't move. Jack scratched his ear, but didn't seem overly concerned.

  Feechi sucked in her breath to call Max again, but Carsten stopped her, waving away her concern. "It's okay, I'm fine with it."

  "I hope you remember that when he climbs into your lap and starts licking you to death, ugh!"

  Carsten laughed outright at that, and Jack continued rubbing Max's ear while leaning against the sofa.

  Max raised his head, cocking it toward Feechi as if he understood what she was saying.

  She ignored Max and pointed to the basket. "It's there when you're ready to go, Carsten."

  The gate opened and Jack sprang up off the floor. "Auntie!"

  He rushed past Feechi and through the front door to greet Dee.

  While Dee clanged the grille on the way inside, Jack gave her—at the top of his voice—the details of their trip.

  Dee's smile carried an extra-bright sparkle when she greeted Carsten. "It's great to see you again. I hear you're the best deal since Max landed."

  "I don't know about that, but I enjoyed my time with Jack and Feechi."

  "I also hear you're leaving us some goodies." Dee threw her bag on one of the sofas and went in the direction of the kitchen with Jack tailing her. "I can't wait to taste the cake Jack told me about."