Maybe it was me.
“Did Jace tell you we were here for a field trip?” I asked.
“I figured that out on my own.”
I laughed. “I suppose it isn’t often you have wandering eight-year-olds in your office.”
He shook his head. “No, not often.”
“We’re from San Francisco. Are you from Santa Clara originally?”
“Yes,” he answered.
I bit my lower lip to keep from growling in frustration. “I see.”
We got to the cafeteria, which was also a surprise. Theo grabbed a tray and handed it to Jace. I grabbed my own. I watched as Jace followed Theo to get in line. Everything Theo grabbed and put on his tray, Jace grabbed. I was a little more selective as I followed them through the line. We took our food and found a table.
“What’s this?” Jace asked, pointing to the Styrofoam bowl.
“Why did you take it if you didn’t know what it was?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Theo did.”
“It’s potato chowder. Today is Thursday. Thursday is chowder.”
I smiled, looking down at my tray. “I think you need to try it, Jace.”
“What’s chowder?” Jace asked.
“Try it,” Theo encouraged.
We both watched as Jace took a very tiny bite of the chowder. He looked to Theo and smiled. “I think I like it.”
“I like to add hot sauce to mine,” he said, adding a very healthy dollop of sauce to the bowl from the bottle sitting on the table.
Jace reached for it. I put my hand on his and gave a brief shake of my head. “I don’t need you burning your guts out.”
Theo smiled. “Your mom is right. It’s hot.”
“I like hot,” Jace argued.
“It’s too hot for little mouths. When you’re an adult like Theo, you can try some.”
Theo shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry, kid. Maybe some salt.”
Watching the two of them interact was very amusing. They were two peas in a pod. I talked and talked. Both of them barely said a word. It was a very typical day for me.
“Thank you for the tour,” I said after we had finished our lunch. “I think everyone else is going to be very jealous of our VIP treatment.”
“You’re welcome. I have to get going. I have a meeting with Sawyer.”
“I understand. Look, I know this is probably not appropriate, but I was wondering if we could schedule a time to sit down and talk.”
He frowned. “Talk?”
“Yes, I have an important matter I’d like to discuss with you,” I said.
He sighed. “You sound like the woman that has been hounding me all week. The woman has called me repeatedly. I have no idea what she could want, and I certainly don’t have anything to say.”
I looked down. “Um, I think that was me.”
“What was you?”
“Me. I’m the woman that’s been calling you.”
“Why?” he asked with complete confusion.
“Because I want to discuss something with you,” I told him.
“You called a lot.”
“I’m sorry. I can be kind of persistent.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I didn’t mean to make a nuisance of myself, but I wasn’t sure anyone was getting my messages. No one returned my calls.”
“Uh, sorry about that,” he mumbled. “I thought Sawyer was going to call you back.”
“It’s okay. I’ll admit, that’s why we’re here.”
“You came here to see me?”
I shrugged. “Yes, basically. I mean, I also wanted to do the tour, and it was fun for the kids. It was all about killing two birds with one stone.”
“I can meet with you tomorrow, say ten or so?” he offered.
“I can do that.”
“Can you come back here?”
“Yes! Definitely.”
“Great,” he murmured.
There was an announcement over the PA. The school tour was loading up. “We have to get going.”
“It was nice to meet you, Jace,” Theo said.
“It was nice to meet you, too. Good luck with that pumpkin pie taffy. Don’t forget to add some sweetness.”
Theo offered him a small smile. “I’ll do that.”
“I’ll be here tomorrow, ten o’clock,” I said before grabbing Jace’s hand.
“I’ll see you then.”
I stopped and turned around to face Theo. “Um, I’m really sorry I thought you were a pedophile earlier. I’m just kind of protective over my kid, and when he said a strange man offered him candy, my mind went straight to creepy creeper.”
He looked confused. “Okay.”
I grabbed Jace’s hand and rushed toward the exit door. We met the rest of the kids at the bus. The other kids were all bubbly and chatting with one another. In that moment, I understood what Jace was dealing with every single day. Not one of those kids realized he’d been gone for most of the tour. He was a ghost to them. He was insignificant.
I pulled him against me, holding him tight. My heart hurt a little for the guy. I wanted him to know he mattered. He meant the entire world to me, and I would always hunt him down. I would know when he was gone. I would know when he was missing.
“I had fun today,” I whispered.
He looked up at me, sitting in the same seat he’d been in on the bus ride over. “I had fun too.”
The words were music to my ears.
Chapter 9
Theo
I flipped through pictures of pumpkin pie on a Thanksgiving table, trying to find a picture that matched the candy I had created. I wanted it to be the perfect image. My marketing team was good, but sometimes, I needed to help them see what I saw. By providing an image, I could help give them an idea of what I wanted.
It was so much easier than trying to explain it with words. A picture really was worth a thousand words. I clicked the mouse, the images rapidly flipping across my screen. The buzz of my phone interrupted my clicking.
“Yes?” I asked, pushing the button for the intercom.
“Your ten o’clock appointment is here,” my assistant said.
“Send her in please,” I said, not taking my eyes off the images on my screen.
There was a soft knock on the door, followed by the woman from the day before walking in. I barely looked up at her. “Good morning. Have a seat please.”
I heard her sit and knew I had to pull myself away from the images. I sighed, clicking off the page, and turned to look at her. She was very pretty. She had long blonde hair that hung loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes were the same color blue as the little boy’s. There was an energy about her that made her glow. She was vibrant and beautiful.
“Good morning,” she greeted with a perfect, white smile.
“Good morning.”
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome. Your messages sounded important.”
She laughed softly. “I feel like it is.”
I stared at her, trying to get a good read on her. She wasn’t crazy, or at least she didn’t seem to be. Spunky, definitely, but not crazy.
“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding yesterday,” I said again. I had talked with Sawyer, who explained how the situation would have been perceived from the woman’s point of view. I was horrified that she could have thought such horrible things.
“It’s okay, really. Jace couldn’t stop talking about his visit with you. You made a real impression on him.”
“He’s a good kid, very smart. He reminds me of myself at that age.”
She smiled, her whole face lighting up. “He’s very smart. I’m glad you see yourself in him. I could only hope he would be as successful as you when he grows up. Did you start this company? Was it one of those little boy fantasies that you made come to life?”
Her energy was hard to miss. She talked a lot. But unlike most people who incessantly talked, she seemed to be truly inter
ested in what she was saying and me. She was actually interested in what I had to say, which was different. I was used to being dismissed by most people or people going through the motions but not really giving a shit about what I had to say.
“My dad started the company,” I answered. “He started it before I was born, and when he died, I inherited it.”
“Oh, so it’s in your blood!” she exclaimed.
I shrugged. “Something like that.”
“Was your dad a creative genius like yourself?”
I slowly shook my head. “Not really. He was more about the business and making the company great. I prefer to make candy. I like to experiment. He was the kind of guy who talked to everyone and was able to do a lot of marketing and schmoozing. I’m not good at that.”
She smiled bigger. “I get that from you. We all have our strengths. It’s what makes the world go around. Creativity is a gift. It’s a rare gift, and I envy you.”
“Thank you,” I said, studying her a little closer. She was a beautiful woman, but not like the models I saw every day on the billboards around the city. She had a quality about her I couldn’t quite put my finger on. She reminded me of a modern fifties’ woman, curvy and gorgeous with minimal makeup. I decided I liked that.
“Well, I don’t want to take up a lot of your time. I’m sure you’re busy. I reached out to you because I was hoping we might be able to work together.”
“You want a job here?” I asked with surprise.
“No, no. I have a job. I want our two jobs to work together.”
“Oh,” I said, no less confused.
“I’m the coordinator for Halloweenfest. It’s a big celebration held every year. This year, the festival is going to be in Los Angeles. It’s going to be huge. The competition to bring in people is fierce. I want to do something spectacular, unique, something that people won’t find anywhere else.”
I nodded, having no real idea where she was going with the information. “I think I saw a flyer about it.”
She grinned. “I’m sure you did. We’ve been papering up and down the west coast for weeks, trying to drum up attention.”
“And you want my company to sponsor it?” I asked.
“No, I don’t need sponsors. I need companies that want to get a little free advertisement and exposure. Your company is one of the most popular candy manufacturers in the country. Everyone knows the name. Everyone knows you guys are always putting out new flavors. I was hoping to get your company to be a part of the festival. It is Halloween, and the draw is the trick or treating, so if you could hand out candy, that would be great, but I wouldn’t require it. Although it just makes good business sense to hand out candy.”
The woman talked a lot. And fast.
“I see,” I said, trying to process all she was throwing at me.
“This is a great way to ease into things.”
“Ease into things?” I repeated.
She bobbed her head up and down. “I can see you’re not really very comfortable talking to others, and that’s perfectly okay. But I saw how you were with my son, and he was drawn to you. You could just pop into the festival, hand out some of your candy, and then fade into the scenery. You wouldn’t have to step too far out of your comfort zone.”
“I don’t do a lot of social engagements.”
She smiled. “I know. You wouldn’t have to talk to anyone if you didn’t want to. Just being there will be enough. I can add your name to the lineup. You’re a modern-day Willy Wonka. People are interested in you. I could see how that could be overwhelming. Your spokesperson, Sawyer, he could do the talking, and you could just kind of smile and nod.”
She was talking so fast I felt like my head was spinning. I heard everything she said. She was essentially repeating what Sawyer had been telling me for a while now. I had to get myself out there. I didn’t want the business getting the reputation that the head of the company was a freak.
“I see,” I said, not committing to anything.
“The festival is going to be huge this year. I’m anticipating more than a thousand people will visit. It’s an excellent marketing opportunity, and it isn’t going to cost you a thing—except your time. I have a lot of other candy companies joining us as well. It’s going to be so much fun!”
I sighed, knowing it was a great opportunity and exactly what Sawyer had been trying to get me to do. “Okay.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Okay?”
“I’ll do it.”
She grinned. “Awesome! That is amazing! I will send over some information when I get back to my office.”
I didn’t want her to leave. I liked having her around. “I’d be happy to give you and Jace a private tour of the factory,” I blurted out, hoping it didn’t sound too creepy.
She smiled, leaning forward. “You’ve given us a tour.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling like an idiot.
“But I would love to get together,” she offered.
“You would?”
“Yes. I’d love to visit some places, like maybe a farmer’s market or a boardwalk. You’ll be able to get a good feel for what the festival will be like. I’m guessing you don’t do a lot of public outings?”
I shook my head. “Not really.”
“We’ll get you out there and help desensitize you to the chaos that can sometimes be a little overwhelming at these kinds of things. I think you’ll find it’s a lot of fun to mingle in a crowded environment.”
I cringed. “Fun? I don’t think that’s fun.”
She giggled. “Which is why we can slowly dip you into big social gatherings.”
“Why?” I asked her.
“Why what?”
“Why would you want to do that? With me?”
Her face softened. “Because I like you, and I want this little business arrangement to be a success. I don’t want you to back out at the last minute because you’re freaked out by the idea of being in a very busy public gathering.”
I wasn’t sure what to think of her. “I suppose I could do that.”
She burst into laughter. “Don’t sound too enthused.”
“You’re right about me and the social thing. It’s really not my thing. I prefer to be alone most of the time.”
“I understand that, but I think if you give yourself the chance to get out there and explore this beautiful world we live in, you’ll be inspired. I’m guessing you’re a creative guy, always looking for inspiration and input?”
I shrugged. “I suppose.”
“Smells, tastes, sounds, they are all the things that can inspire you. If you’re in your sterile lab all the time, you won’t get to spark that creativity. It will be fun.”
I was warming up to the idea. “You talk as if you know me.”
“I don’t know you, but I would like to get to know you better,” she replied.
I slowly nodded. “I’d like to get to know you better, too.”
“Good. Should I call you?”
“Yes.”
“Can I have your phone number? I am not calling that stupid voicemail again.”
A small smile played on my lips. “Ah, but you are so familiar with it.”
“Ha. Ha. Now that you’ve met me, you can see I’m not totally crazy. I’m just very passionate about what I do, and I know that can come off as a little too much for some people.”
“I think you’re just enough,” I said before I thought about what I was actually saying.
“Well, thank you. I’m going to call you. Don’t dodge me. I know where you work, and I think we both know I will be right back here at your door if you try to ghost me.”
I smiled again, handing over my personal number. “I believe you.”
“It was very nice to meet you, Theo, like really meet you. I look forward to spending more time with you.”
“I’d like that,” I said, actually meaning it.
I watched her walk out the door, not missing the gentle sway of her full hips. I liked the way she dressed,
I decided. She had that classy style that was flattering but not overly sexual. I was drawn to subtlety. Her personality was anything but subtle, but there was something about her that touched me deep in my soul.
Chapter 10
Harper
I was buzzing with excitement. My meeting with Theo had gone very well. I liked him. I liked him more than I probably should have for a man that was way out of my league and a potential colleague. Could I call him a colleague? I didn’t know, but I was damn sure going to call him.
“Hey!” I greeted Kylie when I walked inside the small office I rented downtown.
“You sound perky,” she commented.
“I’m always perky!”
“You’re especially perky. Did you have a good meeting?”
I sat down in the chair across from her desk. “I did. Guess who I just got to agree to have a booth at the festival?”
She shrugged. “I have no clue.”
“Saunders! I got Saunders Sweet Treats!”
“No way! Seriously? Those guys are notoriously reclusive. They never do much of anything. I reached out to them last year and never got a response.”
“I know, and I know why. The owner is a little shy. Not just a little shy, but a total hermit.”
“You met with him?”
I nodded. “I have a confession, and you cannot make fun of me or scold me.”
She groaned. “Oh god, what did you do?”
I bit my lip. “I arranged a tour for Jace’s class at the factory so I could accidentally on purpose run into the owner or at least someone who resembled someone in charge.”
She grimaced. “You used your son.”
“It isn’t like him and the other kids didn’t benefit from it. They had a blast. Which reminds me, that place is amazing. They do tours. You should totally go some time.”
“You’re changing the subject. What did you do?”
“To be fair, I called like a million times, and I couldn’t get an answer. I gave them every opportunity to get back to me.”
“So, you stalked them,” she said dryly. “Oh, Harper. You are going to have a reputation in this state if you keep hounding people.”
All About The Treats Page 6