Sold!: A Holiday Romance

by J. L. Campbell

  He called her again, and this time she turned, hoping that her nerves wouldn't be stretched any further. He stood at the end of the verandah with the security chief behind him. Carsten's hand rested on Jack's shoulder.

  She screamed Jack's name, held out both hands and ran toward him.

  He met her halfway, his eyes large as if he wanted to cry.

  She picked him up, unmindful of his weight and kissed his cheeks as she cried.

  "Mommy, I'm okay."

  "I know. I know. I'm just … " She couldn't continue and resisted when Carsten took Jack from her, turned back to where they'd been earlier, and plunked Jack on one of the seats.

  When she sat next to Jack, she couldn't keep her hands off him.

  He got up and opened the duffle, pulling out one of his rags. Gently, he dried her face with it. When he was done, he sat on the edge of the seat. "Mommy, I'm sorry. I wasn't lost."

  She looked up at Carsten, who sat on her other side. A moment before, he shook hands with the security officer who left the way he'd come.

  Her gaze went back to Jack and she took his hands between hers. "Where were you, hon?"

  "I came out of the bathroom and I didn't see you and I wanted to get back on the slide … " He let his shoulders droop. "So I didn't wait for you."

  "But why didn't you come back to the table? When I couldn't find you … " Her tears started again and she let go of him to dry her cheeks.

  "I went the other way to look at the next slide and then I saw the ride that went through the cave and I wanted to see how far it went."

  "I understand, hon, but next time please don't go off like that. You could have been lost or worse."

  He got up and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Mommy."

  "I know." She squeezed him to her chest. "I love you so much."

  "I love you too, Mommy."

  She dragged him between her thighs, kissing his cheek. A soft sigh left her and that's when she remembered Carsten.

  He was watching them, his gaze indulgent and something else she didn't want to analyze at that time.

  "Thank you," she whispered, blinking back the fresh tears that surfaced.

  Carsten gave Jack a grin meant to reassure him and then winked at her. "It's all right."

  She leaned toward him and touched his cheek, grateful but lacking the words to express herself. As she stroked his skin, it occurred to her that Carsten had grown on her and she was more than halfway in love with him.

  She looked away, hoping he hadn't seen on her face what was in her heart and on her mind.

  Chapter 17

  "I'm serious," Feechi said, in response to her mother's unbelieving stare.

  Dee and their mother shook their heads at the same time, which made Feechi want to hit the two of them.

  Dee and Feechi had come over for brunch as they did some Sunday mornings and were now enjoying the best part, talking over the past week. Their conversation was going great until it took a turn Feechi didn't like.

  "Of course, we know you're serious, which is why we think you need to have your head examined." Dee waved her fork in the air. "Mom, this man is the best thing since, I dunno, maybe cheesecake?"

  They wriggled their eyebrows at each other, which Feechi ignored until her mother asked, "So when am I going to meet this person I've been hearing about for the last month?"

  Feechi chewed her last forkful of Ackee & Saltfish before responding. "When the time is right."

  "I only know him because she couldn't exactly hide him from me."

  Feechi glared at Dee. "Who hired you to be his publicist?"

  Dee sat back, laughing. "Why are you so grumpy today?"

  "After what happened yesterday, how can I not be?"

  "See, you're the glass half-empty kind of person and I believe in the glass being half-full. How you can sit there moping when a considerate, sane, wealthy man is chasing you I do not know."

  Feechi couldn't help laughing. "Why would you mention his mental health?"

  "Because I'm beginning to question his sanity. He has to have a screw lose to put up with you."

  "Stop being mean to your sister."

  "Seriously though, Mom. The man is an angel."

  "That, I agree with," Feechi said. "I don't know what I'd have done without him when Jack disappeared."

  She leaned back to peek into her mother's living room, where Jack was watching television with Max, as usual. She'd had the hardest time convincing him the dog should stay home alone and as a result, Max had come with them. Their mother didn't mind, as long as Max didn't tear the place up and get on the furniture.

  "Honestly though, I've been thinking if I hadn't been distracted by Carsten all of that wouldn't have happened."

  "Are you for real?" Dee asked.

  "Let's just say with all of the stress in the moment, the thought did cross my mind."

  Her mother grimaced and then said, "Hon, having responsibility for a child doesn't mean you can't enjoy life."

  "I never said that."

  "But sometimes you act that way."

  "Well, Jack is the most important thing in my life."

  "Speaking as your mother and a woman, I'd say you need to think about yourself too. You may have a dependent, but it's not all there is to your existence and frankly, I'm tired of singing the same song to you all the time."

  The small, but sturdy woman who'd raised them to be independent held her gaze and wouldn't let Feechi avoid her.

  "You've used Jack as an excuse not to do something with your life for way too long."

  "You're a fine one to talk. Our father left you and I can't remember you ever trying to replace him with anybody else."

  "I wasn't trying to put anyone else in his place. It would have been more important to me to find someone else who loved me. That didn't happen, so with the Lord's help, I did what I had to do."

  Frowning, Dee asked, "Have you ever heard from him in all this time?"

  "Now and then."

  Dee wore the same shell-shocked expression Feechi was sure she wore. She sputtered while putting words together. "What d'you mean? We thought he'd taken off for parts unknown."

  A deep frown line furrowed their mother's forehead. "Who told you that?"

  Feechi scratched her scalp, wondering if she'd missed something. "I guess we kind of assumed he'd run out on you since the two of you never sat down with us to discuss what was happening."

  "When he left, you were five. I guess it never occurred to us that you'd understand what was happening between us if we told you."

  "I'm sure if one or both of you had taken the time—"

  "Feechi, stop and listen for a bit." Their mother scratched her ear and bit her lip as if gathering her thoughts. "Your father isn't a bad man. We married too young and eventually he grew frustrated with the bills and the responsibilities that came with raising the two of you."

  "Isn't that what parents do?" Feechi asked. "Raise their children, come what may?"

  Their mother pushed her plate away and folded her hands. "Not everybody is cut out to be a parent and I discovered that about your father too late."

  "So you're saying you agreed he could go off and leave you to bring up the two of us?"

  "Sort of, I told him to make up his mind what he wanted to do. We agreed that he'd go on with his life and I'd keep the two of you."

  "It still doesn't make me feel differently about him, but I wish I had known this before."

  "What would it have changed, Fee-Fee?"

  "I wouldn't have wasted so much time hating him." A grimace twisted her lips. "And maybe if he'd stayed around, I would have known better than to fall for the same kind of man."

  Dee giggled. "That makes no sense at all."

  "Whatever. I know what I mean." Feechi looked at her mother. "Are you in touch with our father at all?"

  "Not for several years." Her mother picked up a tumbler of carrot juice and after drinking from it, she spoke. "I'm glad we're having this conversation because I'd f
eel terrible if you let this wonderful man go because you're still hanging on to things from the past."

  "Carsten treats Jack well, so I'm not worried where that is concerned and we haven't gotten to the point where we're discussing children."

  Dee's eyes lit up with mischief. "All I'm saying is that he's the cat's pajamas and if you're in your right mind you won't let him out of your sight."

  "He's coming by later, so there's no worry on that score."

  "Well done, Sis." Dee put up her hand and Feechi gave her a high five.

  "Don’t forget you're at the dining table."

  Dee and Feechi laughed because their mother also wore a grin, despite her warning.

  "After we help you clean up," Feechi said, "I'm gonna go because Carsten is coming over."

  Dee wriggled her eyebrows and chuckled. "I think I might stay over here for a bit and give you some room."

  Shrugging, Feechi said, "It doesn't matter. Jack and Max will be there, so it's no problem if you come home with us."

  "Nah, you guys need some family time or at least Carsten needs to know how that will feel."

  "Whatever you say, Sis."

  "I'm serious. How are ya'll going to know if you can stand each other when you're alone if I'm there butting into everything?"

  "You have a point, especially since you can't mind your own business."

  "That's so not funny. Anyway, just try not to wreck things before I get home, 'cause I know you and you can't help yourself."

  Although Feechi dismissed Dee with a wave and a snicker, she crossed her fingers that she'd put aside her misgivings and enjoy the time she'd be spending with Carsten later in the afternoon.

  Chapter 18

  Feechi had just rearranged the fluffy white material and gift boxes around the Christmas tree when Carsten arrived. Max had made a bed in the fabric and scattered the boxes, undoing the work she'd done early that day before visiting her mother.

  Max lay snoozing with his head and front feet resting on Jack's legs, while he read a book.

  "Max, this is off limits, you hear?"

  He perked up one ear and looked at her out of one eye.

  "Don't make me catch you lying anywhere near the tree."

  She'd dragged out their tree and decorations last night. Although it wasn't the real thing, it had brightened their living room for the past couple of years. She ensured that Jack helped her load on the colorful balls, garlands and pepper lights, which was fun for him.

  Christmas was now three and a half weeks away and Feechi was satisfied she could make this one extra special for Jack. Suzanne had confirmed they could keep Max because she'd made up her mind that after she came home in January and left again, she wouldn't be back for another six months.

  Feechi had no reason not to take Max, given those terms and her improved financial position, but decided to leave that fact as a surprise for Jack.

  When she let Carsten into the house, Jack introduced him to the tree, pointing out the pieces he'd put on it.

  "Somebody's ready for the season," Carsten murmured to Feechi before taking a seat.

  "I figured I'd get it done before Jack starts asking. He loves Christmas."

  "What about you?" Carsten asked, pulling her to sit on the arm of the sofa.

  "I love the whole season, but when it's a struggle it takes the fun and joy out of it."

  "I understand. You want to go for a ride?"

  "Where would we go?"

  "There's a place twenty minutes outside of the city, in the mountains. We could eat and relax and they have a nice garden with an open area where Max and Jack can have some fun."

  The first thought to enter her mind was that a garden was enough space for Jack to do another disappearing act. She opened her mouth to say so, but before she did, Carsten laid a finger across her lips. "It'll be a nice change of pace. Put aside your fears and let's do this."

  She sighed and tried taking his advice. "Give us fifteen minutes and we'll be ready."

  "Good girl."

  She got Jack on his feet on her way out of the living room, giving him the task of picking out something to wear.

  Just for the heck of it, she threw on a blue wrap-around dress that was almost the same shade as Carsten's polo shirt. With her hair up in a bun and a bit of lip gloss applied, she was ready to go.

  Eager to be on the way, Jack had chosen a white tee-shirt with a super-ant action hero on the front and a pair of jeans. After she laced and tied Jack's sneakers, all she had to do was get Max's leash and her purse.

  With a couple of minutes to spare, they were pulling out of the driveway. That's when Feechi called Dee to let her know where they would be. She listened to an earful of instructions about enjoying herself until her sister got off the line.

  "Sounds like you're under strict instructions to have fun."

  "Yeah, Dee insists on it."

  "Smart girl," he said before turning on the radio.

  Feechi closed her eyes and sent up a prayer of thanks for Jack's safe return yesterday. She'd watch him like a hawk after prey today, just in case he decided to do any sight-seeing without her permission.

  He was strapped into the seat behind Carsten, with Max propped on his legs and his attention fixed on the street. She'd been reluctant to take Max, but since Carsten didn't have a problem with it, she gave in. The only precaution she took was to bring along some newspaper to prevent him from making any kind of mess in the car.

  Ten minutes into the ride, Feechi relaxed and let her worries roll away.

  Jack was quiet except for when he saw something that fascinated him and launched into a series of questions that surprisingly, Carsten was able to answer to his satisfaction.

  "Wow!"

  Feechi's eyes flicked open and she sank her teeth into her lip. Jack's reaction was on point. Before them, a flood of color representing blooming flowers crowded both sides of a huge gate and extended in two dazzling arcs.

  Two huge columns bracketed an ornate black gate, which swung open on their approach. While the security guard spoke with Carsten, Feechi sat up to take in well-manicured grass that made her want to check to be sure it wasn't artificial.

  The parking lot was located across from the main building, which reminded Feechi of a luxurious villa. After she put on Max's leash, they approached the building.

  At the entrance, a hostess greeted and escorted them through to a small garden to one side of the building. When they sat in a gazebo on padded, wrought iron chairs, Feechi absorbed the beauty around her, barely noticing the conversation between Carsten and a waiter.

  When Max trotted away, Jack wriggled as if to get off the chair. The leash stopped the dog short and he came back whining, which was an invitation for Jack to go with him.

  Feechi shook her head and Jack sat still, disappointment written on his features. He looked at Carsten as if asking for help and Carsten turned his eyes on Feechi, gripping her wrist. His thumb brushed the back of her hand as he leaned closer. She expected him to make a verbal request, but he didn't. Without him saying a word, she knew what he was asking. She bobbed her head, and he smiled.

  "It's okay, Jack," she said, "you may go, but stay where I can see you."

  He wriggled out of the seat and trotted off, taking Max with him.

  "I'm not always overprotective," she said, staring after Jack who stood by the wooden railing inside the chain link fence.

  "I never said you were."

  "But you're thinking it."

  "Feech, you can't know what I'm thinking."

  The shortened form of her name surprised her, but she didn't react.

  "Although I could kinda guess what was going on in your mind when we were coming back from the country."

  "And that was?"

  The waiter returned and brought their drinks—beer for Carsten, fruit juice for Jack and something pale purple for her. She raised her glass. "More lavender lemonade?"

  "You seemed to like it."

  "You remembered."r />
  "There's not much I don't remember about you." He swallowed a few mouthfuls of beer and put the mug back on the table. "But there's a lot more I want to know."

  "Like what?" she asked, watching Jack trailing behind Max as he sniffed along the edge of the flowerbed.

  "What's Jack's last name?"

  That startled her and her brows crept closer to each other. "Why d'you want to know?"

  "Curiosity and something I wanted to disprove."

  "I'm not sure I like the sound of that, but his name is Anoduro."

  "Why would you give him your name?"

  She wasn't going to enjoy this conversation, but figured the least she could do was satisfy Carsten's need to know.

  "Like I told you, his father and I stopped being an item shortly after I told him I was pregnant, so I didn't feel I had a choice."

  "What if the day comes when he wants to be in his son's life?"

  "Then we'll talk about it and decide what's to be done." Swallowing hard, she asked, "Why is this important?"

  "I've been thinking since yesterday's incident."

  She didn't move or say a word, but prompted him to continue with an intense stare.

  "On our way back into Kingston, even before we left the water park, you shut me out totally." He turned his head to where Jack was now sitting on a stone bench with Max beside him. Then, he added. "A woman used to managing things on her own and who doesn't need any help."

  She didn't deny it because his words expressed exactly what she felt.

  "You do realize that if you don't plan to rely on anybody but yourself, our relationship won't work."

  She wanted to ask him exactly what was going on, but didn't because a boulder filled her throat and wouldn't budge. Despite knowing Carsten was keen on her, something about this conversation wasn't right and it made her uneasy.

  "I haven't met any of your friends. Who are they?"

  "Dee and Suzanne. I don't have many friends."

  "No, Feechi," he said gently. "You don't have any friends outside of those two names you mentioned and you prefer it that way."

  "Look, I may not be what you want me to be, but it's who I am."