First Class Stamp (14 page)

“I hope you don’t mind,” Ben apologized again. “I had no
idea this was going to happen and when the Lathems’ get an idea there really
isn’t any way to stop it…kinda like a tidal wave.”

“It’s fine, really,” Sophia repeated for the third time. “I
can’t say I’m not a little anxious, but…”

“They really are very nice,” Ben tried to calm her fears.
“And I know they’ll all love you.”

Sophia managed a weak smile and slid into the waiting taxi
outside the store. Alex was already seated in the middle of the back seat and
Ben ran around and climbed in the other side.

When Maureen had called to remind Ben of dinner after mass,
something she’d done every day since he’d moved out into his own apartment,
he’d attempted to decline, citing a previous engagement. After a nearly thirty
minute phone call, she’d finally pumped him for enough information that she’d
decided it might be the last time they could enjoy the park in perfect weather
and had moved the family dinner to join Ben on his date. He tried to be livid
with his mother. How dare she meddle with his private life? How could she take
over his day like this? But in reality, somehow, he really didn’t mind all that
much. That thought, however, pissed him off. He should mind! He should be angry
but he kind of wanted Sophia to meet his family. He knew that she’d get on well
with his sisters-in-law and he knew she’d love all the children. So as he sat
in the back of the cab on their way to Central Park, he was actually looking
forward to the afternoon ahead.

When Maureen Lathem planned a family event, no detail was
left to chance. As Ben took Sophia by the hand and interlocked his fingers with
hers, they walked to the designated area and saw his family already starting to
gather. Alex jogged ahead, seeing Christopher running towards him. The reunion
of the two boys was nothing short of sweet as Alex fell to his knees and
Christopher wrapped his short little arms around his neck.

“This is my oldest brother’s youngest son. They played cars
at one of the ball games before it started and I think Alex has made a friend
for life.”

“He’s a beautiful little boy,” Sophia smiled as they walked
closer.

“He is a perfect combination of his parents, according to my
mother,” he grinned. “Speak of the devil,” he chuckled as Maureen rose from her
chair and hurried towards them.

“You must be Sophia,” she smiled and embraced her warmly.
“Thank you very much for allowing us to join your party.”

“You really didn’t give us a choice, did you mom?” Ben
grinned.

“Oh Benjamin!” Maureen swatted at his arm. “Come and introduce
this lovely young lady to your father.”

And so introductions were made to all the family as they
arrived and Ben and Sophia settled on a blanket next to a cooler. That however
turned out to be a mistake as they were continually passing beverages throughout
the afternoon. Sophia didn’t mind. She whispered to Ben that it had helped her
to remember everyone’s name.

At the end of their meal, fried chicken, salads, bread rolls
and cupcakes for dessert, several of the men, including Ben, took the kids, Alex
included, to play some Frisbee. That left the women, Rory and Peter to clean up
and then relax as they watched their husbands and children play. They ran and
laughed and threw the Frisbee and the children rolled on the grass and then
Paul, Mark and Matt ended up on all fours as Christopher, Ella and Gregory rode
them like horses.

Sophia laughed and chatted and got to know these wonderful
women. Lindsey was pregnant with her first child, due in just a few months and
she and Sophia talked about morning sickness and hemorrhoids. Peter, bored with
the topic of conversation, muttered about finding a ball and going to play
catch. Maureen patted his backside as he left and returned her attention to her
family at her feet.

“Sophia,” she interrupted, “tell us about your family.”

So Sophia talked about her family and her childhood and then
of Alex and the joy he brought into her life.
Yes,
thought Maureen.
I
like her. I really like this one.

Several hours had passed and before they knew it, it was
time to go home.

“But I don’t wanna go home,” whined Ella.

“You need a good night’s sleep because we have school
tomorrow,” Nic said.

“Okay,” Ella acquiesced. “Are we going to do something fun
tomorrow?”

Nic, Ella’s kindergarten teacher, smiled at her star pupil
and niece and nodded. “We are, but you’ll have to go home and go to bed so you
can find out tomorrow.”

“Mama?” Ella ran to Janie. “We gotta go right now!”

“Thank you!” Janie mouthed to Nic with a smile.

The party broke up and all the men carried blankets and
coolers to their parents’ car.

“We’ll follow you home so I can unload those for you,” Paul
informed his parents.

“You’re a good boy,” Maureen smiled as she patted her son on
the cheek.

Goodbyes were said, hugs were given, and Lindsey and Sophia
set a date for lunch for the coming Thursday. All in all, that afternoon had
been perfect and in the taxi on the way back to the Financial District, Alex
voiced his approval.

“I like your family,” he said. “They’re all really nice.”

“Thank you,” Ben replied.

“Yes,” Sophia agreed. “You have a lovely family.”

I want a lovely family
. The thought came from nowhere
but Ben didn’t push it from his mind. He was now very aware that he hadn’t been
happy and content like he’d been telling himself all this time. But he thought
that perhaps he could be.

*****

“Brett is on the line for you,” came Emily’s voice through
Ben’s phone on the corner of his desk.

It was a call that he’d been waiting for. Brett had been
sent to Rio to investigate the mess of the accident at Crystal Towers and sort
it all out with the insurance company as part of the sale contract. Ben was
anxious to hear what he’d discovered.

“You’re never gonna believe it!” Brett said a few minutes
into the conversation. “During questioning, the police were able to discover
that the driver of the truck had been on the payroll of the janitorial company
that had the cleaning contract for the building.”

“So he worked there?” Ben was shocked.

“Well, not anymore. He was one of the employees let go when
we adjusted the contract, based on the reduction in tenants.”

“A disgruntled former employee drove his truck through the
front of the building?”

“Yep. Nothing to do with the protestors at all, but it made
for a great smoke screen.”

“So the protestors made the tenants feel unsafe, which made
them cancel their leases, which then in turn has us amend our janitorial
contracts, which then ended up with this man being laid off?” Ben asked
incredulously.

Brett chuckled. “Crazy, isn’t it?”

“In fact, if the man drove his car into our building as revenge,
he hit the wrong target. He should have been aiming for the mob.” Ben shook his
head in bewilderment. He was glad to wash his hands of the whole situation. The
two men discussed the repairs and then Vicente Rivera’s name came up.

“He’s there?” asked Ben.

“He came to assess the damage after the sale had been
completed,” Brett replied. “He was concerned with how long it would take to
repair but your money has bought the most skilled contractors and they have the
added incentive of the bonus you offered for completing it quickly. They should
be wrapping up tomorrow or the day after.”

Ben was relieved to hear that all was going well. “So with
Latin World now owning the building, the tenants should return?”

“It’s already looking like they are,” Brett confirmed. “I
did some digging into him like you asked. There really is nothing of malice to
report. It appears that Vicente has purchased several buildings in Rio over the
past few months and is in the process of buying up a couple more. I really
believe that he is capitalizing on the unrest but nothing more. I think I can
put your mind at ease by saying he is a reputable man that only engages in
honest deals.”

It did ease Ben’s mind and he was grateful for the
information Brett had provided. Ben ended the call and was just about to call
Vicente Rivera when Emily announced that Maria was here to see him.

“Typical Monday morning,” he muttered as he put down the
phone and leaned back in his chair. He greeted Maria with a smile and she sat
in the chair in front of his desk and fidgeted with her hands before lifting
her eyes and looking directly at Ben.

“I owe you an apology,” she winced.

Ben was speechless. He had no clue what she was talking
about. “Uh…no you don’t.”

“I do,” she nodded. “This is really hard but I need to say
this so that the air between us can be clear.”

Hearing those words made Ben slightly nervous. He sat up and
tried to prepare himself for what was coming, although he had no idea what it
was.

“All those years ago you gave me a chance and hired me and I
have tried to work hard so that you would never regret that decision,” she
began.

“And I haven’t.”

Maria smiled and continued. “That first day I thought there
was a spark…that we clicked…a mutual interest in each other and then you’d
taken us to dinner and then the car! Oh the car! What an amazing gift that was
and I’ve wondered for the past few years if maybe…”

“It was just a gift Maria,” Ben interrupted. “It didn’t mean
anything more than giving you transportation to work. You needed a car and I
had the rental that I thought would suit you.”

“I understand that now,” she said as her brow wrinkled. “And
then you wrote to Luca for all that time and he idolizes you and he’s never had
a father figure and…”

Ben exhaled loudly. “I didn’t mean to lead you on or if
Luca…”

“Ben,” she stopped him. “You have been nothing but kind to
us and I misread it as something more. I think it’s just that Luca wants a
father and try as I do, I can never fill that void.”

Emily’s voice through the speaker on the phone interrupted them.
“Alan Welton is here, Ben.”

“Give me five minutes then send him in.”

Maria stood to leave.

“No Maria, sit. You don’t owe me any apology. I’ll admit
that there was a spark, just as you thought, but I don’t date women employed by
this company. It wouldn’t be professional and it’s a line I won’t cross. And I
have tried to keep our friendship above board so that there could never be any
speculation or accusation of impropriety on my part...or yours for that matter.
But I
do
consider us friends. I’d like to remain friends. I enjoy
spending time with Luca but it can never be anything more, not only for the
reasons I just stated, but because I’m in love with someone else.” The words
were out of his mouth before he realized what he’d said. It shocked him.

“Well, I’m glad,” smiled Maria, genuinely happy for him.

“You will find someone that makes your knees weak, that you
can’t imagine your life without them in it, and you’ll know.”

“You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”

“I think I do,” he muttered, somewhat bewildered at the
realization.

“I also brought you your jacket,” she said as she laid it on
the arm of the chair. “You left in such a hurry.”

“I apologize. I...”

“On the contrary!” Maria grinned. “If you’re in love with
someone else you shouldn’t have stayed. In fact if I was your woman I don’t
think I would’ve wanted you there at all!”

Your woman?
Is that how he felt about Sophia?
My
woman?

Emily opened the door and in walked one of MEL Holding’s
many attorneys that represented the company.

“Alan!” Ben strode to the door with his hand outstretched.
“Come on in.”

Alan didn’t respond to Ben…at all. His eyes were focused on
Maria and hers on him. “I’m Alan Welton,” he smiled and closed the gap between
himself and Maria.

“Maria Calvo,” she blushed as she looked up at the handsome
man in front of her. He was taller than Ben and had blonde hair and light blue
eyes. He wore an expensive suit and Italian loafers on his feet. After giving
him the once over she liked what she saw. His voice was low and commanding but
his smile was dazzling and as she took his offered hand, she didn’t feel a
spark…it was a bonfire shooting through her body.

“Well,” Ben said. “Shall we sit?”

A few seconds ticked by before Alan released Maria’s hand
and looked up at Ben to see his amused expression. “Um, yes.”

“I’ll leave you two to business then,” Maria said and stood
to leave.

“NO!” snapped Alan. “I mean…um…would you like to have dinner
with me?”

Maria blushed again and lowered her head. “I can’t but thank
you.”

“Why?” asked Ben. He was going to enjoy this.

“There’s Luca and…”

“When were you thinking Alan?” Ben butted in.

“This evening?” he said, hope filled his eyes.

Maria shook her head. “I can’t with such short notice.”

“I’ll take Luca,” Ben grinned. “Then you can enjoy a night
out.”

Maria shot him a look and Ben just kept on grinning. He’d
known Alan for years. His wife had passed away several years before leaving him
to raise their daughter, Alison, who was probably in high school by now. She
lived with his parents in Connecticut and Alan spent the weekdays in the city
and the weekends with Alison. Alan was a good man and Ben hadn’t seen that kind
of response to a woman since his wife had died. And he knew Maria. She deserved
to be happy. He could certainly play matchmaker to two people he deeply
admired. And it appeared the match had already been lit.

“So tonight then?” Alan asked.

Maria looked at Ben, who nodded, and then to Alan. “I guess
tonight it is.”

“Great! Should I pick you up here?”

Maria asked for his phone, which he happily handed to her,
and she added her contact information. “At my apartment. Seven?”