Fated Encounter

by Lesia Reid

  “They were sparing your feelings. But, I’m not going to argue, you can pay.”

  Chapter 3

  Sebastian was in full courting mode. Though Deana never returned his calls and chased him off the telephone when he called her at work, none of that discouraged him. Deana received a fresh bouquet of flowers every day from him. Travis frowned but never uttered a word.

  Deana liked receiving the flowers and the little notes he wrote. Some of the servers batted their eyes in jealousy while others enjoyed the bouquets with her. No one had courted her like this before, not that she recalled ever being courted. After Joey, it had taken every ounce of mental strength to work up a date. In fact, for the first four years of her son’s life, men were off limits.

  On Monday when the first bouquet arrived, she was pleasantly surprised and even blushed at his corny line: From your not so secret admirer, Sebastian Torrance.

  On Tuesday when the second bouquet arrived, it was Genie who gasped in surprise. Huge multicolored roses were spilling all over the side of the vase.

  “You are so fortunate,” Genie said in their late afternoon lunch break. “I don’t know,” Deana said.

  “Girl, if Sebastian Torrance sent me a bouquet and wanted a date I would think I died and went to heaven.”

  “I don’t know anything about the man and I don’t think I’m half interested.”

  “This is all you need to know,” Genie said. “He’s from the richest family in Florida and handsome like the devil.”

  “You just told me why I need to ignore him.”

  “I envy you.”

  “Hmmm.”

  When Sebastian showed up at the end of her shift that afternoon, Deana knew the reason for Travis’ tight lip. He had given her schedule to Sebastian. There was no other reason he knew exactly when to deliver flowers and knew she would be working late this afternoon.

  He was waiting by her car.

  “Did you like the flowers?” he asked.

  “I think they were a bit much.”

  “I’ll have to talk to the florist. Can we have a drink or an early dinner? We could pick up Joey and go.”

  “I’m busy.”

  “You can’t be busy all the time.”

  “I didn’t inherit a fortune,” she said in a tart voice.

  “How about breakfast then?”

  “Busy.”

  “Will you call me when you’re not so busy?”

  “Yes,” Deana lied.

  “You still owe me a rain check.”

  “No, we had lunch Saturday.”

  “That doesn’t count.”

  “Yes it does. I think you should stop sending flowers. It’s a very nice romantic gesture but I’m not in the market for romance.”

  “I’ve seen you shop. You’ve bought things not on your grocery list. Think of me like that, something you weren’t looking for, but you somehow found.”

  “I have to go.”

  “Let’s do dinner some time, please.” “You are persistent.”

  “Only when I want something or someone,” Sebastian said. “I’ll think about it. Now I have to go.”

  Another bouquet came the next day. Deana expected to see him Wednesday evening and she was surprised at her disappointment when he didn’t show up. On Thursday the bouquet came and Sebastian showed up at the end of her shift— two in the afternoon.

  “You can’t possibly blow me off at this hour.” He smiled a broad smile as she walked to her car. Somehow he always managed to find a spot next to her car.

  “You are the most persistent man I’ve ever met.”

  “I usually go after what I want.”

  “For the record, I can blow you off regardless of the hour. I have a lot of things to do. Besides, it’s too early for dinner, a bit late for lunch and if you know where happy hour is at this time, you’re not a happy person.”

  “How about ice cream? It’s always a good time for that.” “You’re not serious.”

  “I am gamed if you are.”

  “Okay, Sebastian. There’s a Diary Queen about a half mile from here. You can follow in your car. I have exactly fifty-eight minutes before Joey gets out of school.”

  “I’ll take you in my car then we can come back for yours. Or, I can hop in yours.”

  Deana looked at her beat up Mitsubishi and his Lexus Rx470 sport utility vehicle.

  “Separate cars are okay with me,” she said.

  “It’s ten minutes extra for me to get to know more about you.” “Okay, your car.”

  He opened the door for her and she climbed into the luxurious interior.

  He was at the front of the car when she snapped her seatbelt. By the time the reality hit her that she was seated in his car going for ice cream, he was getting in.

  “Comfortable?” he asked when a frown creased her brow. “Yes.”

  “Good. Now there is a Baskin Robbins about five miles from here. Since we have almost an hour, there’s plenty of time to get there and back.” “You’re pushing your luck,” she said as the vehicle eased out of the parking lot.

  He grinned. God, Deana thought, was it possible that my insides are doing the flip flop every time I look at that mouth.

  “Am I wearing you down yet?”

  “You’re trying,” Deana replied.

  “Do all your dates get such a hard time?”

  “What dates?”

  “Deana, you are a beautiful woman. I can’t imagine men not falling over you. I was just wondering if this was a Sebastian thing or you’re always like this.”

  “I don’t date often.”

  “It’s that tough exterior, but I think beneath it all, you are a softie that just wants to be hugged and kissed.”

  “How sadly mistaken you are,” Deana said. “Oh, since you’re headed this way, let’s just go to the ice cream counter at the Whole Foods market.”

  “I’ve never been there.”

  “They have soy ice cream.”

  “How do you like your milk, whole, one percent or two percent?” “We have only soy milk.”

  “Are you lactose intolerant?”

  “Are you a doctor?”

  “I’m curious.”

  “No, I’m not. Joey is. He’s always been so I changed my diet to suit his.”

  “Okay. So I know a few things about you. You like cheese steak, soy products, you’re a single mom and you intimidate would-be dates.”

  Deana chuckled.

  “You should stop sending flowers,” she said.

  “You don’t like them?”

  “I think Travis is worried I’m trying to be a florist. And I can’t take home one more plant.”

  “Isn’t there anything you want to ask me?”

  “No.”

  “You are not the least bit curious about me?”

  “Right turn at the next traffic light,” Deanna said.

  “Thank you side-seat driver.”

  “You said you’ve never been there.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t say I didn’t know where it is.”

  “Okay, I’ll shut up.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Deana didn’t reply and they said nothing else until he parked and opened her door for her.

  “Mad at me?” Sebastian asked.

  “No. But you better know you are paying for ice cream.” “Not a problem.”

  He reached for her hand and was pleasantly surprised when she didn’t pull away. Deana was aware of a few eyes on them when they entered the store. They walked to the ice cream counter. It took them a few minutes before deciding on banana splits.

  “I’ve never had soy ice cream before,” Sebastian said, taking a spoon. “It tastes better than I expected.”

  “It’s sort of an acquired taste. I remembered my soy milk transition. I only had the chocolate soy in the beginning, but gradually I got used to the taste then I got into the vanilla and now I have the original. After eight years my taste buds are well adjusted.”

  “One of
these days I want to find out how well-adjusted your taste buds are.”

  “Talk about coming on strong,” Deana said.

  “Would you prefer if I beat around the bush?”

  “I suppose not. You should be a fat man if you indulge in cheesecake and ice cream.” Deana wanted to change the conversation to something much lighter.

  “The cheesecake was for my mother and as for ice cream, it’s a rare indulgence.”

  Deana glanced at her watch. It was something she did on the days she picked up Joey from school, even though Thelma would take him home if she didn’t show up on time.

  “Am I boring you?”

  “Oh, sorry,” she said. “Force of habit.”

  “You know we could just go straight to picking up Joey and that would give us another ten minutes or so.”

  “You know how to push your luck. I should be home doing laundry or some other thing that needs getting done.”

  “What school does Joey go to?”

  “Kings Point Elementary.”

  “And you’re not from South Florida?”

  “No.”

  “The waiting list for that school is extremely long. I think Britney was on it the moment she was conceived. She starts in September.”

  “Britney?”

  “My god-daughter.”

  “Well, I happen to know the vice principal. Joey got in on a by but when he sat the matriculation exam, he aced it. There was no turning him away at that point.” Pride shimmered in her eyes.

  “He seems to be a very bright young man.”

  “He does well in school. Sometimes I think I allow him too many video games, but he keeps his end of the bargain. He’s only gotten one B since he started that school. It was in geography. He spent a month studying the state capitals and all sorts of miscellaneous information.”

  “Wow, you must be a strict mother.”

  “I don’t think I am. We barter grades for other things.”

  “As long as the system works,” Sebastian said.

  They were silent for a while eating their banana splits that were partially melted. Deana blushed under his gaze. The conversation focused mainly on Joey and school, and Sebastian really pushed his lucky by picking up Joey at school.

  In the daylight, he could see that she had done a lot of work on the house. The once drab lawn was neatly manicured and she currently had the water sprinklers going. The outside that was once an ugly shade of white, now had a soft coral color with a light orange trim. The driveway was newly replaced and a bright, colorful garden lay magnificently against the house. A bike was resting against the front porch. Sebastian parked his car behind hers. He hadn’t called ahead. He’d spent the better part of the week wearing her down. He succeeded, on Thursday afternoon she caved for a Saturday afternoon lunch.

  He rang the doorbell. He barely saw movement as Joey looked through the glass window on the right side of the door.

  “Sebastian!” The boy pulled the door open. “You are early. Mom said you might be dropping by for lunch. It’s barely passed breakfast, but I’m happy you’re here. Do you want to play video games? We could play Grand Turismo. I’m very good.”

  “Hey Joey,” he ruffled the youngster’s already ruffled hair. “If your mommy lets me stay, I’ll play GT. Where’s she hiding out?”

  “She’s remodeling her bathroom upstairs. It’s for—” he paused to think of the word. He rubbed the back of his neck, much the way his mother did. “Ah, forbidden zone. That means you can’t go up there.”

  “I should let her know I’m here,” Sebastian said as Joey locked the door behind him.

  “You should,” Joey agreed. “But she’s going to be mad if you mess up in there.”

  “Want to lead the way?” Sebastian asked.

  “Of course. If I don’t you’ll, probably get lost. Come on.”

  The wood beneath his hand on the staircase was new and firm. The staircase itself was unremarkable, but the sanded polished look lend an air or coziness to the house. Sebastian paused to admire the living room. The floors were laminate, but one had to have the developer’s eye to see that. The walls were painted in a bright golden yellow with only one wall in white. He would not have chosen such a bold color for a room, but here it looked natural and perfect. It blended with the style of laminates and seemed to add light and thoughts of carefree days to the room. Cherry toned crown molding ran along the ceiling.

  It was amazing, the simple touches that made the room vibrant. The furniture was mainly wood. The choice was pine that bore an interesting grain and they all had a natural coat that allowed the beauty of the wood to shine through. Save for Joey’s video games, everything was in place. He continued up the stairs behind Joey, observing all he could. The staircase was against the wall. The wall leading up was white. There were three paintings on the stairs; Sebastian did not recognize the artist’s signature.

  Like the room below, the colors on the canvas were bold, bright. Sebastian saw a painting of a woman lying on a picnic blanket. The woman was in the nude, but the skillful hands of the artist had a blanket just barely draped over her more revealing parts. The grass looked so real, he could smell them. He could pluck the grape that dangled from one hand. And he could hear the soft gush of water from the fall in the background. It was excellent work.

  The other two paintings were remarkable. One was of Joey. A striking resemblance that not only captured the boy’s beautiful face, but the childish exuberance Sebastian had seen in him. It was such an intimate painting the artist had to have spent hours with the boy to render such a complete picture. The third was a melancholic abstract. The shapes, images and pictures were jumbled; it was sad, yet beautiful. He would have to get the name of the artist. The paintings were excellent.

  He got to the landing at the top of the stairs and white gave way to beautiful sea foam green. This was a house of shades. The fusion of colors was bold, but they worked surprisingly well together. She must have spent a small fortune with an interior designer. The entire hall way was sea foam green, and the floors were not of the same stain as the floor in the living room. This was a natural tone that lifted the space, making it seem larger and more airy. Torrance Construction should definitely consult with this interior decorator. The look was so fresh and art deco.

  There were four doors off the hallway. There was one to the right, one in the center and the other two to the left. Joey led him to the right. “We have to go through the bedroom. She’s working in the master bathroom,” Joey said.

  The bedroom was huge. The centerpiece was the bed that was against the wall, just below the window. It flowed into paneled wall and wood cabinetry. Two antique lamps were bolted to the wall on either side. The rest of the room had a cheerful relaxing shade of watermelon pink. Here, the floors were natural pine, contrasting the cherry of the paneling and cabinetry. There was definitely an eye for color and flare here.

  To Sebastian, she looked divine in cutoff jeans that stopped just an inch below her buttocks. Joey saved her from being ravished and even then he had to distract himself by studying the room.

  He looked at the bathroom, the bench top tile cutter on the floor, the beautiful roman tiles and the woman with a wet sponge and a silicone sealant in her hands. He recognized the sealer from its pungent odor. Her back was towards them and she was squeezing sealant along the rim of a tub.

  It was a beautiful bathroom. The shower stall was completed in glass blocks on three sides, the exterior wall and two interior walls. Though the walls were opaque, the glass shower door was fully transparent. The step up and into Roman tub was a few feet away and had a huge bay window from where the tub met the wall to just a foot or so below the ceiling. He could see outside. It was the west side of the house and the view was of the garden below and the backyard that sat on a lake. He suspected that the tint only allowed for one-way vision. The natural lights make the room large. He saw a few recessed lights in the ceiling and above the washbasin. Deana was a beautiful woman who o
bviously liked beautiful things.

  “Mom,” Joey said. “Sebastian’s here.”

  “Tell him I’ll be down in a minute, honey.” She didn’t turn to look at them.

  “He’s here,” Joey said.

  She whipped around so fast she almost lost her balance. The sealing gun shifted and sealant fell on the tiles.

  “Merda!” she said, wiping the mess with a moist sponge.

  “We’re going to play GT,” Joey said. “I just wanted you to know he was here.”

  “Sorry,” Deana apologized. “I thought you were coming for lunch. I still have a lot to do.”

  “No problem,” Sebastian said. “I will hang with Joey.”

  “I’ll be down in a few minutes,” she said.

  “Mom, take your time,” Joey said and grabbed Sebastian’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  Deana swore for the third time in the five minutes since Sebastian had arrived. She had managed to clean the mess up, but he had thrown her schedule off. It was laundry day and she had not started her supermarket shopping as yet. She glanced on the clock in the bedroom as she exited the bathroom. It was nine thirty— he was very early. She wriggled her nose as she realized she stank of sweat and silicone sealant.

  Jeez us, she thought. Why did he have to show up when I’m at my worse?

  Worse or not, Deana was determined to get through as much of her morning chores as possible. The master bathroom was finally done, but there was still cleaning up and she had not finished the wooden tub rack that was in the garage.

  She grabbed a fresh change of jeans shorts and tee shirt from her closet. She stepped out into the hallway. The noise from the video game was deafening and added to that Joey and Sebastian were in a shouting match. Well, as long as they were having fun. She hurried to Joey’s bathroom for her first shower of the day.

  When she finally made it down the stairs, showered and fresh, laundry basket hugging her hips, the video game was off. She panicked for a minute before she realized she could hear them in the kitchen. She felt silly. She had checked out Sebastian Torrance as much as she could. He was indeed the head of a multinational construction company. She wouldn’t have invited him in her house or even left him with her son if she had not done that.