by Zuri Day
“I heard the news about your getting a job with CANN International.”
“I heard you’ve been spreading quite a bit of news about me and you need to stop.” Said as quietly as Joi’s warning, and as sweetly as though honey had been poured over the words. But the glint in Sam’s eyes conveyed “don’t start none, won’t be none.”
A slight narrowing of Joi’s eyes was the only hint that Sam’s words had hit a mark.
“You two obviously know each other,” Nick said, as tension crackled.
“We’re family,” Joi replied, with a fake laugh that made Sam’s skin crawl. Her mind whirled with possible motives for Joi being here. None of them were good.
Sam turned to Nick. “Not anymore. Joi is my ex-husband’s sister. She’s how he and I met.”
“Ah, I see.” Nick looked at Joi with renewed interest and an unreadable expression. Sam imagined that information caused him to look at this overly friendly interruption in a new light. “Yet you didn’t recognize Trey?”
Good question, Sam thought. Would-be actress Joi didn’t miss a beat.
“It’s been a couple years since I’ve seen him. He was just a baby when a myriad of business opportunities brought me back to live full-time in the States. He’s gotten so big!”
She looked pointedly at Sam. “Wonder where he gets his height? My brother is average height, as are most men on that side of the family.”
“My brother’s tall,” Sam said before reaching for Trey’s hand. “So is my dad. It’s understandable you’d be confused since you never met my side of the family, and since the few interactions we had at the palace were too brief and infrequent to develop a bond.”
“Since we’re both back in America, maybe we can change that. You and Oba are divorced. But I’m still Trey’s aunt, right?”
In light of no good answer, Sam remained mum.
Sam didn’t want to leave Joi alone with Nick, but she couldn’t stay and watch the Oscar-worthy performance one moment longer. There would come a moment when Sam could tell Joi just what she thought of this messy charade. But not today.
“We’ve got a date with a puppet or two,” Sam finally said, forcing a casualness into her voice that she didn’t feel.
“Hang on,” Nick said. “I’ll bring Christina.”
“Enjoy the fair,” Nick said, already turning to walk away from Joi.
“Goodbye, Joi!” Sam kept her voice light, tried to hide how much she’d been affected by the exchange. She was only partly successful. The smile in Sam’s voice did not reach her eyes.
When they neared the tent where the puppet theater was housed, Sam sent Trey in with Gloria. Nick followed suit with Christina and her au pair. Once alone, Nick’s concern was immediate.
“You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Sam snapped back. It was enough that Joi had come and effectively ruined what in spite of her roiling, disjointed emotions and unplanned romp in the sack with her boss had been a pretty awesome day. Had Nick picked up on it?
“That was a pretty tense situation back there.”
Yes, he had.
Sam shrugged. “Joi’s known for starting trouble. I don’t care much for folk like that.”
“Yet she’s the one who introduced you to your ex.”
“I rest my case.”
Nick chuckled. “I don’t remember ever meeting her. Then again, I meet a lot of people so it’s entirely possible that she and I traveled in the same circles. As I always say, this town is small.”
“Speaking of small, I’m going in.” She nodded toward the theater tent. “Are you coming?”
“No. I think I’ve met my kid-stuff quota for today. I was going to suggest we become kids ourselves and enjoy some of the adult rides.”
“Thanks, Nick, but I’m going to have to pass. I head to South Carolina first thing tomorrow and have quite a bit to get done. After this show, I’m going to take Trey home.”
“Come here.” Before Sam could react, she’d been pulled into Nick’s arms. “Today was amazing,” he whispered, his voice wet and hot against her ear. “Thank you.”
“Sure. See you later.” Sam hurriedly ducked inside the tent, her body thrumming from his embrace, her mind whirling from seeing Joi and reliving conversations with Oba.
That night, she sent him a text.
I saw your sister today, which you probably know. I didn’t appreciate your threats about Trey. I don’t appreciate your sister’s, either. Back off, Oba. Let me rebuild my life.
His response? A smiley face.
Seriously?
Sam didn’t bother trying to interpret what that meant. She forced her focus from what had happened at the fairgrounds to the three homes on the Carolina islands and what she needed to accomplish next week. Hopefully her text was enough to throw off Oba or anyone else from thinking Nick was Trey’s dad. Either way, she needed to tell Nick the truth. Time was running out.
Twelve
Nick had planned to fly over to the Carolinas the day after Sam arrived. But other CANN business demanded his focus the first part of the week. It wasn’t until Thursday afternoon that he boarded Christian’s private jet and headed to the other side of the country. He told himself it was to see in person the 3-D images and photos Sam had sent over. The truth was, he wanted to see her. Just moments from landing in Charleston, he texted Sam of his whereabouts and invited her to dinner.
Dinner?
Yes. Landing in Charleston.
Charleston, SC?
Nick smiled. A slightly confused Sam was adorable. Yes, beautiful. I have impossible-to-get reservations at a quaint spot with only ten tables. Highly recommended.
A minute passed. Then five. Ten.
Nick began to get nervous. That never happened.
Can’t. She finally texted back. Contractors on the island. Problems. Call after landing.
We’ll talk tomorrow. I’ll be there at 8.
Nick was disappointed but of course he understood. He also realized he’d been highly presumptuous to think that someone with the type of deadlines Sam had could drop everything to skedaddle over to the mainland for a ridiculously expensive candlelight meal personally prepared by an award-winning chef. As for problems with construction, they were as common as dust. He’d worry about those tomorrow.
Knowing from Sam’s photos that furniture had yet to be delivered, Nick had Anita arrange a room at a hotel, and set up one of the chefs who’d responded to their targeted ad for personal service on the islands to be at the house the next morning. He planned for Sam’s day to start with a delicious, satisfying breakfast. No matter how busy the day was, she had to eat. Once those plans had been made, he forwarded them to Sam so she wouldn’t wake up to a stranger knocking on her door.
“What are you doing here?” was her greeting the next day.
Not quite the warm welcome he expected but again, he understood.
“Good morning.”
“That’s debatable.”
Sam looked haggard, as though she’d hardly slept. “Come here.”
She gave him the briefest of hugs. “I know this is your baby, Nick, but there’s a ton happening today. I can’t believe that you’d arrive unannounced.”
“It’s good I did from the looks of things. Did you get any sleep last night?”
“Very little and thanks, but I’ve got this. I know how to call in reinforcements if needed.”
“I wouldn’t have hired you had I not thought you capable. I wanted to see you, okay? As Nick, not your boss.”
Those words seemed to break through the wall of frustration around her. When he again invited her into his arms, she stepped in and squeezed back when he wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her cheek, eyes, forehead.
“Did the chef arrive?”
“In the kitchen.”
“
Hungry?”
“I could eat.”
Nick looked around at the empty rooms.
“There’s a railing outside on the patio where we could sit,” she said.
Someone behind them cleared their throat.
“Excuse me, good morning, sir.”
Nick turned to the chef in a signature white coat, his long locs neatly wrapped into a bun at the nape of his neck.
“Hi, I’m Nick.”
“Gregory, sir. Nice to meet you. I’ve set up a bit of a beverage station in the other room. My instructions were to forgo taking personal orders and fix something amazing.”
“That sounds like Anita,” Nick said, smiling. “Thanks, Gregory. We’ll help ourselves to the drinks and be waiting outside.”
“I’ve taken the liberty of preparing a spot out back, sir. There was a picnic table and benches set up. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” Nick looked at Sam.
“It’s where the construction crew eats. Let’s get our drinks and head out there.”
They walked into the other room where Gregory had set up a table with coffees, teas and juices.
Sam filled a tall mug with coffee. Nick poured tea. Both grabbed glasses of orange juice, then walked outside to a beautiful, slightly humid day in the Palmetto State. The dusty construction area had been transformed into an idyllic scene. The area around the table had been swept of debris. White linen covered the table where a vase of wildflowers sat in the center of the table.
“Hope you’re hungry.”
“A private chef, Nick. I appreciate the gesture but seriously... I would have been fine with a breakfast sandwich.”
“Each vacation home comes with a staff, including a chef. The guy fixing breakfast is on an audition of sorts for one of three positions on this island that will need to be filled.”
“These magnificent homes and a private chef, too. I’m almost afraid to know the nightly rate.”
“The smaller homes go for just under 10K, nightly. The price and amenities go up from there.”
“Crazy that some people can spend in one night what could pay somebody else’s rent for a year.”
“Rich people are going to spend money, babe. Might as well be with us.”
Sam held up her orange juice. “Touché.”
While waiting for Gregory, they engaged in small talk about the weather, Nick’s family and the kids.
“Speaking of, where is the young equestrian?”
“Back in Vegas with Gloria so that he can attend his cousin’s birthday party.”
“Sounds like she’s working out for you.”
“She’s a godsend, and very good with Trey.”
Once the food had been brought to the table, Nick returned to business. “I’m very pleased with the progress I see so far. Tell me about the problems you’re having.”
Over a superb breakfast that included crispy spiced chicken over fluffy pecan waffles, truffle-infused egg whites and mouthwatering crab cakes, Sam shared the challenge with suspending the bridge as her drawings had rendered, over a sizable koi pond. Later, they met with the contractor and with Nick’s insightful suggestions, came up with a workable alternative. Sam loosened up. Nick spent the night. With Sam obviously having forgotten about them not repeating their sex romp, they christened the shower with their lovemaking, then cuddled in a twin-size futon, the home’s lone piece of temporary furniture until the main shipment arrived next week. He returned to Breedlove spent and satiated, able to once again focus on work.
The day after returning back home and having put in almost ten hours at the office, he called his brother to hopefully shoot some hoops.
“Twin, let’s ball,” he said, once Noah answered.
“You’re back?”
“Yeah, where were you today?”
“Working from home.”
“How’s Dee?”
“Better. The premature contractions stopped and there’s been no bleeding.”
“Whoa, TMI, dude!”
“Hey, it’s all part of bringing another being into the world.”
“I’m happy to leave that up to my brothers and be the best Uncle Nick in the world.” Noah didn’t respond. “That was a joke.”
“When are you coming over?”
The seriousness in Noah’s voice could not be missed. Had he caught attitude because of Nick’s joking comment? Nick chalked it up to Noah being concerned about his wife and the health of his child. Damaris “Dee” Glen Breedlove helped save his brother’s life once. Nick knew Noah would do all he could to return the favor.
Nick stopped by his place, changed clothes, then continued down the road, around the bend and toward the mountains to his brother’s new home. Noah and Dee had designed it together, a combination of the styles Dee grew up seeing in Utah and the rustic yet modern touches Noah enjoyed. There were cows for fresh milk and chickens that provided Dee’s preferred organic eggs, a pet pig named Rosy, two dogs, and a cat. Dee had changed his twin brother, no doubt about that. It made him wonder what kind of changes someone special would bring into his life. An image of Sam floated into his mind. Remembering there was no time in his life for that kind of special, he pushed it away.
He knocked on the door. Dee answered. “He’s out back,” she said, her hands dusty with flour.
“What are you making?”
“Pies, and yes, I have one for you.”
Nick gave her a thumbs-up, then jogged around to where Noah was putting up free throws on the combination basketball and tennis court located several yards beyond Dee’s garden. Anyone else would see a guy loose and relaxed, casually playing a sport. But Nick knew his twin almost better than himself. Something was going on.
“What’s up, bro?”
“You got it.” They exchanged a fist bump. “How was the Carolinas?”
“Hot. Humid.”
Noah jogged for a layup. Nick jumped up to block it. Noah faked left, rolled around and easily laid it against the board.
“How’s Sam?”
Nick couldn’t help smiling. “She’s good.”
Noah stopped bouncing the ball. “What does that mean?”
“There are a few challenges but so far we think this build can stay on schedule.”
“I meant the smile.”
“Oh. That.”
“Are you sleeping with her?”
“Wow, kind of blunt, don’t you think?”
“Well, are you? I have my reasons for asking.”
“Which are?”
Noah began bouncing the ball again but made no move toward the hoop. “Really, Nick, I don’t even want to respond. It’s all gossip, and you know how much I hate being a part of something like that.”
Nick stole the ball and rested it on his hip. “What’s the rumor?”
“It’s about Sam.”
Nick’s heartbeat increased. Was she getting back with her ex? Was there another man?
“What about Sam?”
“And Trey,” Noah said.
“Spit it out, twin.”
Noah sighed. “I guess that’s best. There’s talk going around that the dude in Nigeria, the African prince, isn’t Trey’s biological father.”
Nick began breathing again. Was that all? Since the two were divorced that didn’t seem so important; may have even been why they broke up.
“Doesn’t sound like any of my business,” Nick said, pausing to shoot three from the top of the key.
He headed over to retrieve the ball. Noah intercepted him and grabbed it instead.
“Word is the father lives here, in Vegas.”
Nick shrugged. “I still don’t see what that has to do with us. I hate gossip as much as you do. Someone obviously has too much time on their hands. Wait a minute. Where’d you hear this?”
> “Lauren. She has a client who’s opening a high-end boutique and travels in certain societal circles, the bougie crowd and whatnot. Said Sam’s son didn’t belong to the prince.”
“Was the person who put this bug in her ear named Joi by any chance?”
Noah’s brow creased. “Who’s Joi?”
“Oba’s sister. Sam’s ex-sister-in-law. I met her last weekend at the carnival. Sam was with me and it was clear that there was no lost love between them.”
Nick swiped the ball from Noah. “I wouldn’t put too much stock into that kind of gossip, man. Come on. Twenty-one. Let’s go.”
“Normally, I’d say you’re right. I wouldn’t give those kinds of rumors the time of day. But this one is different, bro.”
“Why?”
“Because of who they’re claiming is Trey’s father.”
“Who?”
“You.”
Thirteen
Sam woke up with a bad feeling, a complete paradox given she was working in what looked like a swampy paradise. She got up, made coffee and tried to shake it off. She called Gloria, texted Danni and her dad. Everyone was fine, yet the feeling persisted. She finally allowed herself to consider that the continuing angst was from the incident with Joi at the fair. The text she’d sent her ex and the reply she’d gotten. And how he’d gone radio silent since then.
What an impossible situation. It seemed that every major decision she’d made since that heavenly night she initially spent in Nick’s arms had been less than smart. Not telling Nick that she was pregnant. Moving to Africa. Marrying Oba. Returning stateside to Las Vegas instead of LA. Taking the contract for CANN Isles. Not telling Nick about Trey after they began working together. Underestimating Oba’s greed. Not telling Nick the moment Oba threatened to do so, then sleeping with her child’s bio dad more than once. Thinking that any of this would be easy, that Nick would somehow understand her betrayal. How could she think he’d be understanding when she was finding it increasingly difficult to justify her actions? At the end of the day, Sam had to face the hard truth. There was only one person to blame for what was happening right now.
Her.
Sam’s mind settled enough for her to start the workday. Admitting her role in this mess, acknowledging that what she was experiencing was something that she in large part had created, was strangely liberating. In taking responsibility Sam felt some of her power being restored. She’d felt vulnerable after the confrontation with Joi, as though someone else had the ability to call the shots on her life. That was an illusion. It wasn’t true. She’d made mistakes, but it wasn’t the end of the world. Most importantly, the end result of that night hadn’t been all bad. It had produced that which she treasured most in life. Her son.