by Lorin Grace
It took a moment for Araceli’s distracted brain to process the words. “I don’t think so. I told André I was going to work on the animals with the toddlers, so he didn’t worry about us finishing the frames without them.”
“Good enough. If you didn’t make any promises, we don’t need to wait to finish these.”
They worked for the next hour. The hand animals went ever so much faster not having to keep wiggly children still.
Chelsea began to laugh. “Oh no. Look at the creature between my giraffe and the monkey. It looks like they had a baby.”
Araceli looked up from her pink flamingos and laughed. “Darwin missed another one.”
Madison walked over from where she was working. “I wonder how long it will take before the teens use whatever biology they have learned to make the connection.”
Kyle stood. “If they are looking at mine, they will assume it was from an alien invasion.”
Everyone laughed.
A matron stuck her head into the hall and shushed them.
Araceli checked the time on her phone. “We need to do a few more palm trees and bushes. Then we’ll be done. I’d like this hallway to be dry by the time the others get back from school.”
Fifteen minutes later they started their cleanup. Kyle handed Araceli a baby wipe. “Either you are growing a lion mane, or Midas touched your cheek.”
Araceli raised the wipe to her cheek.
“Other side.” Kyle pointed to a spot below his own cheekbone.
Araceli tried to find the same place on her face.
Kyle covered her hand with his and gently rubbed, then took a step closer and raised her chin. “You have some more here.”
Araceli dropped her hand, nearly placing it on his chest before thinking better of it. His shirt still looked clean. She looked back to his face as he moved to another spot. She hadn’t noticed the fine lines at the corners of his eyes before. Smile—not squint—lines. Kyle stopped rubbing and for a long moment just looked at her.
A million tiny questions rushed through Araceli’s mind, but before any of them formed a complete thought, Madison cleared her throat and Kyle stepped back.
He handed the wipe back. “I think I got it all.” He stepped over the child gate and walked to his office.
Araceli turned to Madison, hoping Madison would speak first because she doubted her voice would sound normal.
Madison obliged. “I was going to ask where you wanted the paint, but maybe I should ask if you’d rather I didn’t go to Jacmel.”
“Let’s put the paint in the upstairs classroom.” Araceli grabbed a can. She didn’t have an answer to the other question. If Madison didn’t go to Jacmel, she would have a day alone with Kyle and the driver. Was her heart racing out of fear or anticipation? Araceli wasn’t sure.
A commotion from the front of the building drew Kyle from his office.
“This is not the plywood we chose.” Tanner told the driver.
Aselòm looked at Kyle when he answered. “It was what was on the dock when I went back to pick it up. It looked the same to me.”
Kyle stepped between Tanner and the driver. The problem more than likely was the result of a switch made by the store. “Did you inspect every piece when you bought it or just the first few on the top of the pile?”
“I looked at the first three and then told the worker I would take fifteen pieces.”
“Is it all marked the same?” Kyle had learned a bit over the years and knew the plywood should be stamped with the grade.
Boyd, Tanner, and Brandon lifted each piece and checked it. “It is all marked the same, but some of it is not the same quality.”
“We have a couple choices. We can take it back and spend a half day fighting the store, or figure out how to make do with the wood we have. Sadly, it is all marked the same grade, so it is going to be hard to trade.”
Wordlessly, Tanner pulled a tape measure from his pocket and made several measurements. “It is the center of the wood with the problem. I think we can cut out the cabinets and avoid the centers, but I may need one or two more sheets, and I am already at budget.”
“I’ll make up the budget loss. It is better than losing time.” Boyd reached for his wallet.
Kyle stopped him. “No need. I plan on a reserve budget whenever we have a building project since we always seem to need it. The variable quality of goods here is why I asked you to buy the hinges in the United States.”
“Let’s get this lumber to the back porch. We have cabinets to build.”
Kyle turned to Aselòm and reassured him in Haitian, “This wasn’t your fault. I told the guy at the store to hand select every piece of wood we bought, but I was busy elsewhere and didn’t remind him again.”
“No problem, boss. You were with Miss Araceli. I see why you want to be with her instead of men. She is beautiful and patient with all the children. She best woman you ever bring here. Will you bring her back?”
“If she is willing to come again.”
“My girlfriend is not angry at her anymore and finally believes I not cheating on her. I wish I knew she was your woman or I—”
Kyle placed a hand on Aselòm’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. You got her out of the manifestation safely. Nothing else matters. Now, I need to talk with you and the other drivers about Thursday. Let’s go find them.”
The last of the children were painting the final touches on their frames. Tia added flowers to hers following the technic of dipping her brush in multiple colors Araceli demonstrated. Getting to know the girl with the soulful eyes was not as easy as Araceli anticipated. Spending any one-on-one time with the older children was difficult as they grouped around her, each wanting attention. She didn’t have enough arms for the hugs or hours to talk with them all.
André walked around and talked to each one encouragingly. Araceli worked on adding a few more trompe-l’œil details to the wall so the flowers and crumbled wall were not the only points of interest.
Chelsea came upstairs with Jade. “We need to get some photos.”
Araceli watched as they gathered the children in groups and posed in front of the wall. Jade handed out clean brushes and told two or three children to pretend they were still painting. For a couple of the photos, Jade even ordered the volunteers to pick up a brush. Occasionally Marci would take a child out of the grouping. Oddly, Jade didn’t protest her choreographed masterpiece getting unbalanced.
“I think we have enough now.” Chelsea put her camera away.
Marci led the group of children she’d pulled out of the other photos over to Chelsea. “You need to take a couple photos of them.”
“I thought you said they couldn’t be photographed.”
“Their photos can’t be used outside of approved board uses, but they need to have their picture taken just as much.” Marci left them and came to stand by Araceli as Jade choreographed several shots.
Araceli dipped her brush in a deep blue. “Why did you do that?”
“Some children can’t have their photos on the website or social media. Some of them are in the adoption process. Others for their own protection.”
“So, am I done here? I need to take some photos of the men building the cabinets,” said Chelsea.
“Did you get any photos with Araceli?” asked Marci.
Chelsea aimed her camera at Marci and Araceli and took a couple of photos.
Marci jumped out of the way. “Not with me in them. André come over here, and Marie and Tia and you two.” She pointed to a couple more children. Araceli put her arm around Tia’s shoulders. Tia leaned into the half-hug.
Jade didn’t orchestrate the photo, and Araceli sighed in relief when Chelsea finished taking a couple shots and left. Posing for pictures wasn’t her favorite thing. It must not be Marci’s either.
She’d managed to duck almost every photo taken on the trip so far. Araceli needed to take lessons.
Kyle came up the ramp. “It’s four thirty. Do you need help cleaning up?”
“I’m going to finish up with this hibiscus before I clean up.” Araceli looked around the room. “But it looks like there is plenty to clean.”
“You have red paint on your forehead.” Kyle handed her the baby wipe container.
“And you didn’t even get a spot of paint on your shirt. How do you do it?” Araceli wiped a baby wipe across her face. Yup, red paint. It would have been in the photo too.
Kyle made a show of checking his T-shirt. “I guess I am naturally clean.”
Araceli raised her brush full of hibiscus-red paint. “I could change that for you.” She aimed the brush for his nose.
He caught her wrist only inches from his face. “Don’t start something you don’t want the children to imitate.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” She dropped her brush back to her palette.
Kyle leaned close enough to whisper in her ear. “If they were not around, I would have let you and got you back. I like flirting with you, Celi, ma belle.”
Araceli nearly dropped her palette. She could feel her face heating to the shade of red on her paintbrush. The turn of the old phrase calling her his beautiful Celi robbed her of any other thought. “I . . . um, you could start cleaning in the classroom.”
Kyle took a step away, then back toward her. “Madison told me she wants to go to Labadee, so that means it would just be the two of us for Jacmel. You okay without a crowd?”
Yes! No! Maybe? “It’s fine.”
“I’ll arrange for the SUV, then.” Kyle smiled at her before he walked away.
Her hand was shaking as she lifted the brush to the flower.
The news that there would be an excursion to Labadee was well received. The director arranged to stay at the orphanage all day Thursday on the condition that Aselòm remain with the men since they might need a driver. Kyle considered this more than fair as Aselòm spoke the best English and often stayed around during the day to help with the construction. This meant Kyle needed to send his second-favorite driver with the trip north. It left Kyle with Kervens.
Kervens only spoke common English phrases. Not only would Kyle be basically alone with Araceli all day, the driver wouldn’t be able to understand most of what they talked about. Considering he’d come close to kissing Araceli twice today, the relative privacy might not be a good thing.
Kyle ran his hand through his hair. He wasn’t here to flirt. But it was the Caribbean—it was supposed to be romantic.
Double-checking his mosquito netting, he laid his head on the pillow. He wondered if Araceli was having as hard a time falling asleep as he was.
eighteen
Parasites. Araceli tried not to think of the word as she rinsed her hair. The reason they were told to wear flip-flops in the shower was parasites. Brushing their teeth with bottled water because the tap water wasn’t safe to drink hadn’t been hard to get used to, but as she wrung the water out of her hair, she couldn’t help but wonder what might still be lurking in it. She blamed her jitters on Kate, who’d emerged from her shower last night in a state of near panic after seeing a bug in the bathroom. Parasites were too small to be seen.
Between nightmares of giant bugs growing out of everyone’s head and feet, and dreams of Kyle, she had a restless night. The worst was when a parasite growing out of Kyle’s head wanted to kiss her.
Araceli dried her hair the best she could. She would need to put it up before they left for the orphanage in an hour. If only she’d thought to bring a blow dryer, but she hadn’t known if it would survive the electricity issues. The guesthouse boasted excellent wiring—at least Kyle trusted the power enough to plug in his computer.
Last night, before Kate had lost it over the showers, Jade had said some seemingly inappropriate things to Marci about the family’s wealth. Araceli didn’t think of the Evans family in terms of dollars. She had been in her late teens before she’d realized they were anything other than middle class. Mr. Evans was just one of Dad’s friends. Jade’s family, by all accounts, was also wealthy, so it struck Araceli as odd she would be so concerned about Kyle’s net worth.
Someone tapped on the bathroom door.
“In a minute!” Araceli threw on an old T-shirt bearing the paint of several different projects. She should have taken Candace’s advice and brought a couple of nicer shirts. But she wasn’t trying to impress her fake boyfriend anyway.
She could have sworn the face in the mirror called her a liar.
Not wishing to stay in the room and hear more gossip, Araceli slipped out to the terrace. It was warm enough out there that maybe her hair could dry faster.
She found a spot with no shadows, leaned over, and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to separate the strands. Then she whipped her head back and forth, forcing the air through the strands until she was nearly dizzy.
“Is that as fun as it looks?”
Araceli straightened so fast she nearly lost her balance, but Kyle grabbed her arm, saving her from further embarrassment. “Careful there.”
Araceli lifted the hair out of her face. “Morning. You should try it. Twice as fun as a blow dryer.” He didn’t have any parasites sticking out of his head. But did he have to look so put together in his shirt and khakis? GQ cover model versus too pathetic for secondhand. Jade was right about one thing. Kyle was definitely out of her league. Now, if her heart would listen to her mind and slow down. Not happening.
He reached for a strand and wound it around his finger. “This is the first time I have seen you with your hair down.”
“After reading about scabies and lice, I figured I best keep my hair up. These silly curls attract the darnedest things.”
“Like men?”
“No! Like flying bugs and stuff.” Stupid blush. She didn’t need a mirror to know her face had turned a deep pink.
Kyle stepped into her space. “They probably attract more men than you know.”
“You saw the chat the other night, so you know that isn’t true.” Her cheeks were burning. No wonder they called it fire-engine red.
“Being attracted by beauty is easy. The bravery needed to act on the attraction is hard.” He tucked the lock he was toying with behind her ear. “Ready for breakfast?” He offered his arm. Araceli took it. She could get used to dating someone who treated her like this.
So far, the day was running smoothly. The on-site nurse had completed the immunizations for several of the infants and toddlers. Kyle was no stranger to the controversies on social media about vaccines, but they’d never witnessed what disease could do in a third-world country. The nurse helped him bring the records up-to-date. Marci entered the new files into his laptop. One of his pet projects was to get all the orphanage records digitized. They would still need a paper copy on the premises as even dial-up would be iffy if the electricity weren’t an issue. But the electronic records would be a backup if the paper ones were destroyed.
“The K’s are done. Will you hand me the L’s?” Marci’s request interrupted his thoughts. Just as well, as they would have ended up on Araceli in a moment. Kyle set the folders for the L section on the desk near Marci.
Marci didn’t open the folders. “So, I am curious. You told everyone on Monday night you were faking the entire dating thing, but I saw you clean paint off Araceli’s face in the nursery hall yesterday. You can’t act that well. What’s up with you and Araceli?”
Kyle pulled up a plastic chair. “I’d say none of your business, but I think you are right, or at least I hope you are.”
“To be clear—this isn’t fake?”
“Wipe that silly smile off your face. I don’t know how to fake what I am feeling.”
&nb
sp; “I knew it! That is why I suggested to Jade that two groups wouldn’t be a problem. Tanner already asked me about not going, and I told him to talk to you.”
“Are you trying to play matchmaker?”
“Not at first, but the more I watch her . . . she doesn’t seem to be whiny or anything. And she isn’t after your money. After Jade’s comments last night, I think I’d know that.” Marci opened the top file.
“What did Jade say last night?”
“Same old stuff. Prying about how the fortune will be divided, how many cousins I have, etc. The conversation started with me reminding her I didn’t want my photo all over social media showing I was in Haiti. Then she went on this rant about how dumb it was I went to public school, even a magnet school.”
“Some days I wonder how Cassie and Jade became friends. Sometimes I think Mom wants me to give her a second chance.”
“I think Mom just wants you to get settled. Maybe because Grandpa is getting older and stuff. Anyway, Jade survived Haiti, which is on your list. But as far as that item, Araceli seems to be thriving here. She even asked André to teach her a few Haitian words.”
“I didn’t know that.” Kyle refiled the K folders in the cabinet.
“I bet you could teach her some Haitian tomorrow. Mwen renmen w.”
I love you? “I’m not ready to say that.”
Ban m yon ti bo.”
Kyle walked behind Marci’s chair and kissed the crown of her head.
She batted him away. “That is not what I meant.”
“But you said ‘Give me a kiss.’”
Marci blew out an exasperated puff of air. “I was thinking of Haitian-Creole words you could teach Araceli.”
“Any more advice?”
“Whatever you do, eat lunch someplace reputable so you don’t get food poisoning.”
“I’ll do that. I’m going to go check on the group projects. Do you need anything?”