by Linda Verji
Damián held his gaze for a long moment then said, “We’ll see.”
His father leaned back in his seat. “Now, what’s this favor you need?”
“I need information about a man,” Damián said. “His name is Lincoln Ware.”
“Lincoln!” Archie sat up and his eyes flared with shock.
“You know him?”
“No… uh, yes,” the older man stumbled over his words. “I read about him when I was investigating Aiko for you.”
Damián suppressed the urge to remind his father that he had never asked him to investigate Aiko. Instead, he asked, “Did you find anything important then?”
“Nothing much.” Archie shook his head. “Just that he was killed in an explosion in Iraq.”
“Well, he wasn’t killed in that explosion.” Damián added, “Lincoln is very alive, and he’s here in Montgomery.”
Shock still glimmering in his eyes, Archie asked, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Damián nodded. “He turned up at Samuel Vaughn’s house around two weeks ago.”
His father’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “But how… where has he been all this time?”
“That’s what I want to know.” Damián smiled thinly. “Lincoln claims he can’t remember.”
“And you don’t believe him?” Archie interjected with a raised eyebrow.
“No, I don’t.” Damián scowled. “Besides that, there are just too many inconsistencies with his story and his military records. I need to know the truth about who he is and where he’s been so I can decide if it’s safe for Aiko and Seraphina to be with him. Josiah tried to do some digging but he came with nothing.”
“Josiah came up with nothing?” Archie whistled. “That’s a first.”
“So you see why I need your help?”
“I see.” Archie stroked his chin. “Does Aiko know that you’re looking into her ex?”
“No. And she won’t know.” Damián looked pointedly at his father. “I don’t want to alarm her unless it’s necessary.”
Archie was silent for a long time then he nodded. “Okay, I’ll see what I can find out.”
NOT TOO FAR away, Aiko was hard at work. The Swan’s fundraiser might’ve revealed hidden enemies, but it seemed to have sparked increased interest in her matchmaking skills. She and Cara had been fielding clients and calls since the moment they’d opened. Aiko smiled as she penciled yet another client into their appointment book. At this rate, she’d need to hire extra help to deal with the influx of clients. Yay!
The ringing of her personal phone cut into her happy thoughts. A quick glance revealed that it was a number she didn’t know.
“Hello,” she greeted.
“Is this Aiko Vaughn?” a woman asked.
“This is she.”
“Oh, good. Hi, it’s Caroline.”
“Caroline?” Aiko couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. “Hi. What can I do for you?”
“Actually, I just-” Caroline paused for a moment. “I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize? Whatever for?”
“For my mom.”
“Your mom?” Aiko racked her brain in an attempt to figure out why Caroline could be apologizing for her mother, and couldn’t think of any. As far as she knew, she hadn’t even met the woman.
“You might know her as Bitsie,” Caroline clarified.
It was then that it all came rushing back. Caroline’s mother was Carmen’s friend a.k.a. the Chief Gossip in the ladies’ room. Aiko drew in a sharp breath. “Oh, that Bitsie.”
“I’m so sorry about what happened in the ladies’ room. I just heard it from one of my friends.” Caroline rushed on to say, “If I’d known about it last night I would’ve made Mother-”
“It’s water under the bridge,” Aiko interjected. “You don’t need to apologize.”
“Yes, I do. You were our guests and you shouldn’t have been treated like that. Again, I am so sorry.” The other woman offered, “You must let me make it up to you.”
“That’s not necessary,” Aiko refused, even though she was warmed by the woman’s apology. Anyone else would’ve pretended that yesterday hadn’t happened.
“Please, Aiko. It would make me feel so much better about the situation.” Caroline wheedled. “Let’s do lunch, on me. Whatever day you’re available.”
Feeling painted into a corner, Aiko started, “Well, this week is a little tied up-”
“Then next week,” Caroline cut in. “Let me know what day and I’ll pencil it in.”
“Okay, why don’t I look through my diary and call you back.” Aiko responded. “Is this your number?”
“Yes, it’s my personal line,” the other woman said, “but if it’s not working just call our firm and ask for me.”
“Will do,” Aiko agreed though all she knew was that Caroline was a senior manager at some big-time advertising firm, and not the firm’s name. But that was no big deal. By the end of the call Caroline would’ve already forgotten about the offered lunch anyway. Though they were both attached to successful people, Aiko had no illusions that they belonged in the same social strata. Caroline was so far above her, she couldn’t even see her with binoculars. People like Caroline just didn’t do lunch with people like Aiko. It was just the way of the world.
Once the phone call was over Aiko went back to work but barely a minute in, her cell-phone rang again; this time it was a hidden number. Frowning, Aiko answered the call, “Hello?”
“Aiko.” The familiar voice on the other end of the line rushed to say, “Please don’t hang up on me.”
Great! They were using hidden numbers now. Mentally sighing, Aiko said, “Carmen, what can I do for you?”
“I wanted to talk… to talk about what happened last night,” the older woman stumbled over her words.
“I think you said it all,” Aiko retorted.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of it, cariño,” Carmen said.
That endearment brought a bitter taste to Aiko’s mouth because she knew it was as fake as the woman herself.
Carmen continued, “I’m not like that – like - like them. But they are my friends, and you know how sometimes your friends talk and you find yourself saying things to fit in-”
“No, I don’t know. I don’t say things to fit in,” Aiko cut off the silly excuse. The woman was almost sixty and she was claiming peer pressure? It would’ve been better if she’d just stopped with the apology.
Carmen paused for a moment then she asked, “Did you tell Damián?”
“No,” Aiko retorted curtly. She’d considered it, but ultimately decided that there was no point. She was already the reason Damián and his father weren’t talking so she didn’t want to ruin his relationship with his mother too.
“Oh, Gracias.” Carmen’s sigh of relief reverberated across the line. “Thank you for not telling him, cariño.”
I didn’t do it for you, Aiko wanted to say. But she kept quiet.
“What are you doing for lunch?” The older woman suggested, “Maybe we could talk-”
“I’m busy,” Aiko said.
“What about tomorrow?”
“I’ll be busy too.”
“I could come by your office in the morn-”
“Carmen, I have a call coming through,” Aiko cut off the wince-inducing back and forth. “Can we talk later?”
“Of course. Of course.” Her mother-in-law drew in a breath then said, “I’ll call you later to arrange something, cariño.”
Did the lady not get a hint? Aiko stifled a groan and instead said, “Yeah, sure. Bye.”
Aiko ended the call first, unwilling to give Carmen one more minute of her time. She was already dealing with enough problems as it was, she didn’t need to add fake friends into it.
CHAPTER 13
Later the same evening, Aiko picked Seraphina and Zoe from school then headed to her childhood home. Zoe and Seraphina went off to play with the other kids while Aiko joined Femi and Brenda in the
bakery. With four extra people in the house and a home-business to run, Femi was overtaxed. Even though Lincoln had taken to helping out in the bakery when he wasn’t entertaining his family, Aiko felt it was only fair that she also help out.
“You know, if it wasn’t for you I don’t think Lincoln would be doing so well,” Brenda, who was whisking the batter for fudge brownies, complimented Aiko. “He’s been through a lot and it really helps that you were around to take care of him.”
Aiko, who was working on the opposite side of the counter separating her white cake into three layers, murmured distractedly, “Yeah, well, he would’ve done the same for me.”
“That’s true.” Brenda poured in melted chocolate into her concoction. “I remember how he used to talk about you. From the way he described you in his letters, I really thought you were imaginary and that my son had lost his darn mind. No woman could be that perfect.”
All three women laughed.
“He might’ve exaggerated my perfection.” Aiko chuckled.
“Ya think?” Femi, who was scooping batter into cupcake liners besides her, teased earning herself a sharp jab in the elbows that had her howling. “Ow.”
“He really loves you,” Brenda said, when their laughter quieted down.
Noting the older woman’s use of the present tense, Aiko and Femi shared a look before Aiko offered a non-committal, “Mmm.”
“You two made such a great couple,” Brenda said.
“Wow, look at my cupcakes. Don’t they look good?” In an unsubtle attempt to change the conversation Femi gushed, “Brenda, what do you think?”
“They’re lovely,” Brenda glanced briefly at Femi’s tray before turning her attention right back to Aiko. “He’s at his lowest point right now and he needs someone to pick him up.”
Someone like you. The unsaid words hung in the air between them. Femi subtly nudged Aiko’s side with her elbow to show that she’d picked up on them too. Aiko sighed internally. She was dealing with her own personal guilt already, she didn’t need Lincoln’s mother piling it on.
“Lincoln is much stronger than you give him credit for,” Aiko said as she filled a piping bag with whipped cream. “In the last three weeks, his health has improved, and he’s interacting much more with the family.”
“Yes, because he’s been with you and his daughter. He needs you, Aiko.” Brenda held Aiko’s eyes. “You’re a good girl, not someone selfish. I know you won’t desert my boy.”
Aiko would’ve had to be as daft to miss the concealed message within the older woman’s words, and it sent fresh guilt and confusion threading through her. Lincoln had done so much for her that Brenda’s demand that Aiko be his keeper didn’t seem unreasonable. Had she been selfish to choose her happiness instead of Lincoln’s well-being when he’d thrown away his own safety so he could save her life?
Aiko was conflicted as she decorated several more cakes. Suddenly she was second-guessing her choices in life; wondering if Damián was indeed the right man for her to be with. By the time they were done baking the next day’s confections she was a confused mess of emotions.
They found dinner already on the table courtesy of Cara and Will. At her family’s insistence, Aiko and her kids stayed for dinner. It was closing in on nine p.m. when she finally bundled Zoe and Seraphina into the car and set off for home. They arrived to find Damián mad as hell.
He held his temper until he and Aiko were alone in the bedroom then erupted, “Nine p.m.? You know it’s a school night, right?”
“I know,” she said as she sat down on the edge of the bed. “But I had to help Femi with the baking, and by the time I was done it was already dinner time there so-”
Damián, who was leaning against the door with his arms folded over his chest, shot her a narrow-eyed look. “And you couldn’t even call to tell me all this?”
“I tried but your phone was busy.”
“Really?” His eyebrows shot up so high, she was surprised they didn’t hit the roof. He snapped, “You couldn’t try again later?”
She wanted to tell him that she’d forgotten but she had a feeling that that would only anger him more. So she said, “Sorry.”
“Sorry.” He guffawed. “Do you realize how common that word has become in your vocabulary?”
“What do you want me to say?” she asked tiredly.
“I want you to say that this won’t happen again,” he sniped. “That you’ll stop neglecting your own family because you’re taking care of another man..”
Her own temper flared then and she shot to her feet. “I’m neglecting my family?”
“What do you call keeping them out so late on a school night?” he retorted. “Have they even had dinner?”
“Yes.” She pressed her fist to her waist and glared at him. “They’ve had dinner.”
“We’re supposed to have dinner as a family, not with strangers,” he returned. “You were the one who instituted that rule?”
“I’m sorry? My family are now strangers?”
His eyes flashed with anger. “You know damn well that’s not what I meant.”
“No, I don’t know what you meant, and I don’t know what you are so angry about,” she countered. “We were late because… well, reasons. I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about it.”
“I’m making a big deal about it since this isn’t the first time it’s happening. Or do I have to remind you about the museum thing?” He moved away from the door and closed the distance between them in two strides. “Ever since Lincoln turned up, you seem more interested in him than us.”
“Really, Damián?” She glared at him for a long angry moment before tapping her forehead. “Oh, I get it now. You’re making this a big deal because you’re jealous.”
“Me. Jealous.” His upper lip lifted in a sneer. “Why the hell would I be jealous?”
“Yeah? Then explain this…” She stepped forward until they were toe to toe. He was so tall that any other woman would’ve been intimidated. But Aiko knew her man well enough to know that no matter how angry he was he’d never hurt her. Staring him down, she said, “This isn’t the first time I’ve been late home. I’ve been late before because I had to help Femi with something, or Daddy needed to be taken to the doctor. You didn’t say anything those times. Why now?”
“Maybe I didn’t say anything because I was waiting for you to figure it out for yourself. We’re your new family now. We should be your first priority.”
“And you are. You’re just not my only priority.” Sucking in a deep breath to cool her temper, she said in a softer tone. “Damián, I’ve never hidden that my family were a pretty important part of my life. You knew that coming in, and it never bothered you. Not until Lincoln came into the picture. This is about Lincoln. Just admit it.”
She waited for the admission, but all he did was glare at her then spin on his heels as if to move away. She grabbed his arm before he could.
“Damián, no.” Her grip on his arm tightened. “You don’t get to walk away while we’re discussing something this important.”
“You sure don’t act like it’s important to you. Didn’t you just say that I was making a big deal out of nothing?” he threw her words back at her.
“Because you are.” She took in a breath to calm her temper – not that it helped. Her tone sharp, she said, “Yes, we were late getting home. But it’s only because I had to stay and help Femi bake. She’s already hosting my guests; it wouldn’t be fair for me to just let her take care of them on her own. And yes, Lincoln is one of those guests. Even if he was the only one there, I’d still go there to take care of him. I have to. I owe him. Not only is he the father of my child, but he also saved my life. I owe him.”
“And he milks the hell out of it,” Damián muttered the words so low under his breath, she almost didn’t hear them.
“What?”
“Forget it.” He pulled his arm from her grip. “You’re right. I’m making a big deal out of nothing. It’s perfec
tly okay for you to sashay into your own house at any hour of the night because you were taking care of your ex. Perfectly okay.”
“Damián,” she called out when he moved towards the bathroom. “You know that’s not what’s happening here.”
“Okay, if you say so,” he threw over his shoulders before entering the bathroom.
“Dam-” Her words were cut off by the loud slamming of the door. A couple of minutes later she heard the sound of water running.
Ridiculous. She kissed her teeth. Damián was being so pig-headed and deliberately misunderstanding the situation. He was acting like she was having an affair with Lincoln or something. Ridiculous. Well, if he wanted to sulk then that was his problem. She wasn’t going to feel guilty for helping out a friend or her family.
HE SHOULD’VE SPENT the night on the couch. It would probably have been warmer than their bed last night. Aiko had slept so far away from him he’d been afraid she’d fall off the bed in the middle of the night. He felt awful about their argument, but not enough to apologize because in this situation he was right and she was wrong. She’d claimed that their family was her top priority, but from her behavior it was clear that they weren’t. Every time Lincoln called, she rushed to his side so fast that Damián was surprised she didn’t leave smoke behind her. But when Damián called, she didn’t mind being late or making excuses.
Then she’d tried to turn it on him, claiming he was jealous. Maybe he was. Maybe he wasn’t. But it didn’t matter, because that wasn’t the issue here. He just wanted her to start giving him – sorry, their family – as much attention as she was giving the Vaughns and Lincoln. Correction - he wanted her to start giving him and the girls more attention because they were her family now, and her top priority. How would she feel if he started spending every evening with Archie and Carmen because they were his parents? That would definitely cause some friction. So why was his asking to be a top priority so ridiculous?
“Daddy,” Zoe cut into his thoughts. “You missed the turn to our school.”