Fated Encounter

by Lesia Reid

  “If you say so. I’m going to play Fatal Frame now.” Britney eyed Deana suspiciously before turning her attention to Joey and the video game. Sebastian had a huge grin on his face when she stepped in the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter with a glass of lemonade in his hand. “Jeez thanks for nothing,” Deana said, walking towards him. “I know better than to get between two women arguing a point. So am I going to get a lecture?”

  Her lips were on his before he could finish the sentence. The surprise didn’t stop him from responding appropriately.

  “I’m not complaining, yet. Even though I should kick your ass for not rescuing me from Britney,” she said, stepping from his embrace.

  “My closing on this house was moved up to Thursday. I have to be out by Saturday. I knew I should start moving but I was too emotionally attached to this house. Thelma and Carlton were going to help me on Friday, but this is better. I am absolutely grateful for your help but it would be out of character if I didn’t protest your generosity.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before, I could have done this sooner?”

  “You were grounded, remember?” She smiled at him. “Sebastian I am so scared we are moving so fast and I have Joey to consider. He’s so totally in love with you. He sees you without telling me and I’m just—”

  “We’ve had this discussion before,” Sebastian said. “Joey will have me all his life unless he chooses otherwise. It’s us that need some work and I’m ready for it. I want it. Let’s all three of us go away next weekend.”

  “I can’t just up and go. I have to work and move by Saturday.”

  “Take the weekend off. I promised the moving crew also. They’ll be here on Wednesday to photograph everything. Just set the time and they will come. They will fix everything as it is now, you’ll just have the two extra bedrooms empty. Let’s go sailing and so there’s no pressure, Bridget, Britney and Jaime will come also.”

  “I’ve never been sailing,” Deana said.

  “It will be wonderful. The fresh air, the open sea, we could go to the Bahamas and back.”

  “You’re twisting my arm nicely,” she said. “Okay, but let’s see what Joey thinks.”

  “Hey Joey,” Sebastian called. “Can you pause that game?” He had to shout over the noise in the living room. But the game was paused almost instantly, which surprised Deana. She usually had to yell a second time, bribe or threaten for that immediate response. Joey and Britney were in the kitchen in a double.

  “How would you like to go sailing on Friday?” Sebastian asked. “Sailing?” Joey’s eyes were wide as saucers. “In a boat?” “A yacht, it’s slightly bigger than a boat.”

  “Sounds cool,” Joey said. “Can my friend Trevor come?” “Sure, but I think Deana would have to ask Thelma.”

  “This is so cool,” Joey said. “Friday’s the last day of school. We leave at two, can you pick us up or have Angus pick us up, and that would be super cool?”

  “Joey,” Deana cautioned.

  “Sure,” Sebastian said. “No Angus though. Your mom and I will pick you up after school and we head straight for the marina.”

  “Great, are we going fishing?” Joey asked.

  “We could if you want. I still have a fishing license somewhere. But we’re going to the Bahamas.”

  “Where is the Bahamas?” Joey asked.

  “About fifty miles or so away,” Sebastian said. “We will take it slowly, but we can spend all of Saturday and we start back on Sunday.”

  “Great,” Joey said. “Can we go back to the game now?” “Sure.”

  The kids ran back to the living room and the video game could be heard again.

  “Something’s wrong with my son,” Deana said.

  “Huh?”

  “With news like this, I’d have to fight him to get off the phone with Trevor. He’s excited and he’s in the living room playing video games with a girl. Oh,” she said after a brief pause, “she’s not really a girl, she doesn’t play with dolls.”

  “This must be a mother-son moment,” Sebastian said.

  “Sort of.” She felt guilty for his exclusion so she explained. “Joey hates wearing button-down shirts and slacks. I told him when he starts dating and want to show off, that’s what he’ll wear to impress. He said he wouldn’t want to date a girl because all they have to talk about are dolls, except Britney, she was good at video games.”

  “Uh-hmm,” Sebastian understood. “Joey’s first crush.”

  “Don’t let him hear you say that. You’ll probably lose a friend. Plus, he doesn’t realize it. I should start putting a snack together for your—my crew.” “I’ve already taken care of that. I just promised them dessert after the job is finished. They have a week.” He pulled her into his arms.

  “Thanks for sharing that Joey moment with me. It’s not like his first steps, but it’s something.”

  Chapter 10

  On Wednesday evening Sebastian took them to dinner at the upscale La Plaggio restaurant. Deana gasped when she opened the menu.

  “Is something wrong?” Sebastian asked.

  “No,” she said.

  “Deana?”

  “Forty dollars for char-grilled chicken breast,” she said. “I hope the fowl was worth its weight in gold.”

  Sebastian chuckled and covered her hand with his.

  “When you taste it, you’ll know. For now, I suggest you ignore the price column.”

  “I’m just saying—”

  “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

  “No. It’s just—”

  “Deana, its dinner, and I’m not robbing the bank to pay so enjoy it. So Joey, do you see anything you like?”

  “Not yet,” Joey said. He wasn’t really looking over the menu. He was thinking how nice it was that Sebastian took them to dinner. His mom was a good cook and Cronus had good food, but he’d never been to a restaurant like this before. He liked it, though his mother had forced him to wear a buttondown shirt.

  A server came and took their dinner and soup order. Sebastian also ordered the appetizers.

  “Sebastian Torrance,” a beautiful petite woman came up to their table.

  Deana looked up at the young woman as Sebastian got out of his chair. He had a broad grin on his face.

  “Anna,” he hugged the woman, “I didn’t know you were back in town.”

  “I got back a few days ago. I was planning on looking you up,” she stepped from his embrace.

  “New York didn’t work out?”

  “It seems I couldn’t get a certain someone out of my head.”

  “Lucky fellow,” Sebastian said. “I want you to meet Deana and Joey Lang. This is Anna Truman.”

  “Oh, hello,” Anna said.

  The woman smiled as she shook their hands but Deana sensed insincerity in her smile.

  “We should get together some time,” Anna said to Sebastian. “Sure. The number is still the same.”

  “Well, I should let you to your dinner. It was nice meeting you, Deana and Joey.”

  “Who’s your date?” Sebastian asked.

  “I’m afraid I’m dining solo tonight."

  “Why don’t you join us?” Deana asked.

  “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “No intrusion,” Deana insisted.

  “Well, okay.”

  A server placed an extra setting at their table and amended the orders to include Anna.

  “Aren’t you the handsomest little man,” Anna said to Joey. “Thank you,” Joey said.

  “How are Jamie and Mack?”

  “Same old,” Sebastian said. “Mack’s having a baby—soon.” “Great, do I know her?”

  “I don’t think so. She was long after your time.”

  “You look a lot like your brother,” Anna said to Deana. “Or maybe your brother looks a lot like you.”

  “What?”

  “Joey is Deana’s son,” Sebastian said.

  “Oh. Sorry. You look pretty young to be a mother.”

>   “I get that all the time. I guess you and Sebastian are old friends.”

  “Yeah, we go way back. Back in the days when his father was alive and he wasn’t such a sturdy character. I’ve never heard of a Lang family down here. Of course, I’ve been gone for two years, but word always gets around.”

  “I’m not from Florida.”

  “Oh.”

  “Deana honey, have you decided what you’d like? How about you, Joey?”

  “I’m going to have the char-grilled chicken,” Joey said. “I think it’s on the junior menu.”

  “Good choice,” Sebastian said. “Honey?”

  “A good old fashioned steak,” Dean said, closing the menu. “Why do I have the feeling you’re not his secretary?” Anna said. “She’s my girlfriend,” Sebastian said.

  “Oh,” the excitement in Anna’s voice could chill the room. “I didn’t know this was a family affair.”

  “It’s nothing,” Deana said. “We do this all the time.”

  “Well, Mrs. T must be happy,” Anna said. “Wife and child.”

  “They haven’t met mother as yet,” Sebastian said. “And we’re not married yet, either. When Joey gets back from summer camp, we’ll do the meeting and all of that. So what brought you back this time?”

  “I finally felt my biological clock ticking.” She laughed a dry laugh. “I’m kidding. I took the Vice President position here. As I said New York wasn’t working that great because I had these things in my head.”

  The night seemed to move very well. Deana got over her initial impression of Anna up until they met in the ladies room. She’d only extended the invitation to the woman because she was Sebastian’s friend.

  “So, what’s with you and Sebastian?” Anna asked.

  “We’re dating.”

  “I can see that. Look like he’s pulling this daddy thing very well.” “I beg your pardon?”

  “Your son,” Anna said. “They seem to get along very well.” “They do.”

  “Well, that should keep his mother off his back.”

  “What?”

  “Come on, you may be young and pretty, but it doesn’t take a stranger to see that he’s way out of your league. The last time I saw Sebastian he was begging me to stay in town.”

  “Ah,” Deana said. “You’re the ex.”

  “Depends on how you look at it,” Anna dropped her lipstick in her bag. “I like to think I’m his future.”

  “I hate her,” Deana said when Joey was in bed and her and Sebastian were having tea in the living room.

  “Who?”

  “Anna.”

  “You didn’t have to invite her to the table. She’s an old friend, but tonight was our family night. Anyway, how’s the house remodeling coming along?”

  “Pretty good, they’re almost done. But I’m sure you knew that already.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m peachy.”

  “Sure?” he asked.

  “So she knows Jamie and Mack?”

  “I guess everything is not okay.”

  Sebastian sighed and put his empty mug on the coffee table. He turned and took her hands in his so they were meeting eye to eye.

  “Anna is ancient history.”

  “I’m curious.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you a right to be curious. Deana, there were other women before you but if you give me the chance, there’ll be none after you. I’ve known Anna for a long time, and we were involved for a while, that was it. And it wasn’t special like we have.”

  “Am I sounding like the jealous girlfriend?”

  “Are you jealous?”

  “Well, she seems to fit perfectly in your world. She’s beautiful, intelligent and confident, though she talks too much. I’ve never seen anyone give Joey a run for his money.”

  “She’s all of that, Deana, but she’s not you. You fit perfectly in my world. You’re the most beautiful, intelligent and confident woman in the world to me. Not to mention the bravest to raise a wonder child such as Joey. What you and I have is special. What I had with Anna is over and done with.”

  “I—”

  “Shhh.”

  He kissed her lips as he pulled her into his arms. He wanted to kiss away her doubts and concerns.

  “Why did she say your mother must be happy?” Deana asked as soon as they stopped kissing.

  “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  “Sebastian.”

  “You don’t trust me,” he said, getting up.

  “This has nothing to do with trust. I just want to know what she meant.”

  “My mother wants nothing more than me to get married and start the next generation of Torrances.”

  “Oh.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “That oh meant something. What is it?”

  “It’s nothing, really.”

  “I’m going home.”

  He took his keys from where he’d dropped them on the coffee table. Deana didn’t miss the anger in his voice.

  “It’s nothing, Sebastian.”

  “Ah ha,” he started towards the door.

  “You’re mad at me,” she was behind him.

  “I’m not mad. I’m leaving before I get mad.”

  “Sebastian?”

  “Good night, Deana.” He closed the door without looking back.

  Deana thought about it when she was in bed that night. The thought had crossed her mind for a second that she was indeed tailor made to be a Torrance, but it had disappeared. Why was she letting Anna’s words bother her? Sebastian had declared his love for her. Why was she questioning his feelings when he’d made her feel loved more than any other time in her life?

  She sat up as the thought slammed into her like a block of ice. She loved Sebastian desperately and she wanted him in her future.

  “No,” she said aloud. “No.”

  But the voice of reasoning prevailed. And it wasn’t just jealousy. It was a two-headed beast. Anna was an excuse if they didn’t work out. She could always say she wasn’t in the same class as the women he was used to. Anna had made that painfully obvious.

  “God, no,” she said.

  Yes, the voice of reasoning replied. You are in love with Sebastian Torrance.

  “Did I mention how sorry I am about last night?” Deana said. She was on her lunch break and on the telephone with Sebastian. She was mildly surprised he’d taken her call so quickly.

  “You’ve said it once or twice before.”

  “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “It’s okay. I’m not going to say your jealousy is good because it’s not. You are my present and my future. Maybe I haven’t made it abundantly clear. I will try to make up for that this weekend.”

  “You have. I am sorry.”

  “Are we good now?”

  “We’re perfect. Will I see you tonight?”

  “No. I’ll be working late then I’ve got to see Anna. I’ll be over some time around midday tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  “Deana, I love you. There’s no one else and Anna and I are just business.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  Chapter 11

  The only person in the SUV happier than Joey was Trevor. Deana couldn’t understand how Sebastian was keeping up with them. They were loaded with questions about the yacht and how they would get to the Bahamas. Trevor was ecstatic because neither of his parents had ever been on a yacht or to the Bahamas.

  “I’m going to get my dad a sou— What did he call it Aunt Deana?” Trevor started calling her Aunt Deana when Joey started on his Aunt Thelma and Uncle Carl.

  “Souvenir,” Deana said.

  “Yes,” Trevor said. “How big is this boat again?”

  “Pretty big,” Sebastian said. “It belonged to my father.”

  “I’ve never been sailing,” Trevor said. “This is so cool.”

  “I don’t know if he has sea sickness
,” Deana told Sebastian. “I don’t know if Joey has either so you may have a rough weekend.”

  “They’ll know they are on water only when they are above deck. Plus I hired some extra help in case there are any emergencies.”

  “I’m sorry Mack couldn’t make it,” Deana said.

  “It’s nothing. The doctors didn’t think it was wise for Stacey to leave at this time.”

  They got to the marina and Sebastian parked his car. He got both boys to follow him like good little soldiers. The size of the yacht not only caused Trevor and Joey’s mouth to fall to the floor, but Deana’s. It was a behemoth. Bridget, Jaime and Britney were already there.

  “Come on,” Sebastian said. “Let’s get her sailing.”

  Three men approached and took their bags. Sebastian ushered everyone aboard. Introductions were made to crew and Trevor and the yacht started its journey.

  If the limousine and the sight of his house had knocked her off her feet, this nearly killed her. It was a fifty-six meter triple Decker with rooms for up to twenty-two guests and about the same amount of crew. She must have looked as she felt because Sebastian squeezed her hand.

  “I’ve arranged it so the boys will share the same cabin. I have a nurse who will stay with them at nights. I want you to stay with me,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I promised Thelma I would see to Trevor.”

  “Please,” he whispered. “The nurse is very competent. We have two because one has to stay with Britney.”

  “They are my responsibility,” Deana said stubbornly.

  “Okay, let’s go play host and hostess. We can discuss this later.” “I should find the kids,” Deana said.

  “Don’t worry,” Jaime said. “Sebastian has six eyes on them at all times, plus Britney’s been on this boat all her life. Captain and First Lady, we are ready.”

  Despite Jaime’s reassurance, Deana went in search of the children as soon as they took off. Thank heavens for the sound of three kids shouting or she would not be able to find them.

  “Hello,” Deana said, stepping into the room.

  “Oh hey, Mom, let us know when we get moving, I want to see it.” “We are moving,” Deana said.

  “No way,” Trevor said.

  She barely caught Trevor and Joey as they tried to dash pass her to the deck. She tried to get hold of all three kids and get them onto the deck without losing her footing.