White Chocolate Moments (11 page)

"All subjects:' Arcineh's voice had grown even quieter. "Do you know what?"

Arcineh only shook her head no.

"I knew that:' Miss Knepper confessed, her voice dropping a little. "I checked your records. You're an amazing student. I just wanted an excuse to call you up here and tell you that:'

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Arcineh couldn't stop her smile.

"Ah, so she does smile" The teacher's voice had turned warm with gentle teasing, and Arcineh laughed a little. "You don't have anything to fear in this room:' Miss Knepper said next. "It's going to be a fabulous year:'

The smile Arcineh gave her this time was full wattage. Miss Knepper smiled right back, handed Arcineh her test, and told her she could go back to her work. Arcineh didn't miss Mr. Sutter for the rest of the week.

cS19

"Who is this girl?" Sam asked, having been met at the door on Friday night with a long, not-even-pausing-for-breath story.

"Her name is Hillary Littman, and she's a junior. She likes my shoes and wants me to shop with her. She asked me! We're in the same class:'

Sam couldn't contain his smile. She was so excited about this, and this was the first time he hadn't come home to find her aching for him.

"You can't just tell her where you found the shoes?" Sam teased gently.

"Well, she didn't ask that:' Arcineh was utterly serious. "She asked me to shop with her:'

"And I suppose you need something too?"

"Well, I never did find all the sweaters I needed. Vi and I looked for ages:'

Sam nodded and studied this girl that had become his own. It was no surprise that this Hillary person wanted something Arcineh had. Yes, she dressed in the latest styles from the most upscale stores Chicago had to offer, but it was more than that--Arcineh had a style of her own that was captivating. Isabella had been the same way. Like

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a young Jackie 0, the woman who had married his son had been amazingly classy.

"I would want to meet her," Sam said, yanking his mind back to the present. "And if after she arrives, I'm not comfortable with this, you won't be going in her car. I could drop you off maybe, but I want some sense that she's not going to get you both killed."

"Grandpa," Arcineh replied, looking horrified. "Do you know how embarrassing that would be? Please just say I can ride with her--please."

"Those are the terms, Arcie. Take it or leave it."

Looking as though the weight of the world had just landed on her shoulders, Arcineh's shoulders slumped. She stared at her grandfather and shook her head in dismay.

"Are we agreed, Arcineh?" he pressed her.

"We're agreed,
Samuel."
She stressed his name and brought a reluctant smile to his face.

Seeing that he wanted to laugh, she tried one more tactic, but Sam held his ground. He also laughed, but he waited until Arcineh had left the room, wondering how many more surprises she would bring, considering the school year had just begun.

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Chapter Seven

Arcineh climbed into Hillary's gleaming black Mercedes, buckled up, and sat ready to go. It took a moment for her to realize that Hillary had climbed in behind the wheel but just sat staring at her.

"What's the matter?"

"You live here?" Hilary checked.

"No:' Arcineh replied, having learned she could tease her. "I live next door. I just hang out here:'

Hillary laughed a little but still didn't start the engine. "What's the matter?" Arcineh asked, starting to frown. "That house is amazing

"Okay:' Arcineh said, her voice saying she didn't get it. "I'm sure you live in a nice house too:'

"Until today I thought I lived in a
mansion,
but my house is not in this class. What does your grandfather do?"

"He owns his own company:'

"What company?"

"Bryant Marble:'

"I've never heard of it:' Hillary admitted.

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"Do you have marble or stone at your house?"

"All over:'

"Your house has heard of it," Arcineh said dryly, making Hillary laugh and admire Arcineh all the more. She was so collected for an
almost
13-year-old. True, Hillary was only 16, but she considered herself quite mature.

Still working on what it was about Arcineh Bryant that she wanted to emulate, she started the car. It was time to shop.

CREVE COEUR

"Why would we go to Chicago?" Jeremy argued with his wife. "It's Arcineh's birthday. Why would we take Quinn anywhere near the girl?"

Tiffany didn't know when she'd been so hurt. Her husband had made it sound as though it was all Quinn's fault, and Tiffany was sure that could not be the case. Yes, Quinn could be difficult, but it was just a stage.

"We didn't go last year either:' Tiffany pointed out, hoping another tactic would work. "What is she going to think of us?"

Jeremy stared at his wife, wondering if she was in reality at all. Arcineh never even saw them off these days unless Sam sought her out and forced her to come down. And even when he'd ordered Quinn to say goodbye, she'd ignored her own father and stomped to the car. He well remembered his thirteenth birthday. He'd had a great time of celebration surrounded by people who loved him. Why would he try to ruin Arcineh's day by adding Quinn to the mix?

"We're not going:' Jeremy said flatly, his voice final.

Tiffany, however, was not done. She cried and cajoled for the next hour, but to no avail.

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The changes in Arcineh just two months after the school year started were noticeable to all. It wasn't so much her attitude, although that had slipped into occasional arrogance, but the confidence with which she did things. The phone rang from the moment she arrived home from school, both male and female voices asking to speak to Arcineh.

Sam had to put a moratorium on the phone during the dinner hour because the sound of it was driving him crazy. He was married to his work--he was willing to admit that--but his workers knew he did not want to be bothered at home, so he was simply not used to the phone ringing constantly.

On top of that, his traveling schedule had increased. It seemed he was on a plane somewhere every other week--he was traveling that very day--and even though he hated to admit it, he could feel a distancing between him and his granddaughter. The last time they had done more than share a few words at a meal had been her thirteenth birthday three weeks past. They'd gone to the Shedd after school and then out to dinner and had a marvelous time. Sam asked himself why he worked as hard as he did. He'd run out of things to spend money on, but then it had never been about the money. He'd always just loved to work, as his wife had pointed out to him many years past. It had cost him his marriage.

"Grandpa--" Arcineh began talking from the moment she entered the kitchen.

"Arcineh." Her grandfather stopped her. "Why don't you come in and sit down before you start the conversation?"

"Oh" She looked surprised but amenable and took a seat. "A bunch of kids are going shopping on Saturday. Do you think I could go?"

Sam thought about this. A bunch of kids was a little harder. Sam had approved of Hillary--he genuinely liked her--but unbeknownst to Arcineh after she had asked permission that first time, Sam had been on the phone to Mason, having Hillary's family checked out.

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Had all not been in order, Arcineh would not have been allowed to ride with the girl.

"Are you thinking about it?" Arcineh cut in.

"Yes, Arcie."

"Well, hurry, Sam" she teased. "I have school."

"And you have to know today?" he asked pointedly, secretly thinking it funny when she called him Sam.

"Well, it would be nice. I'm sure I could be in Hillary's car if that's what you prefer."

"And is anyone else even close to your age?"

"Landon just turned 15, and he'll be going," Arcineh said carelessly,

flipping her hair over one shoulder and reaching for the toast rack. "What is that?" Sam suddenly asked, leaning toward her. "What's what?"

"On your ear?" Sam was no longer having fun.

"Oh, yeah!" Arcineh held her hair away from her ears to show the extra piercing she'd gotten on both sides. "Do you like 'em?"

"Where was I when you did this?" Sam asked, his voice growing agitated.

Arcineh caught his tone and reacted in kind. "Belgium or France," she said with mild sarcasm. "I've lost track"

Sam didn't know when he'd last been so angry.

"Pack your things," he said quietly, pushing away from the table. "You'll be going to Italy with me this afternoon"

"What?"
Arcineh could not believe her ears. "I have school!" "Oh, you'll be in school all right," Sam muttered and stormed from the room, his breakfast forgotten.

Arcineh turned in horror to Violet. That, lady's brows rose before she spoke.

"What did I tell you about those ears?"

"I know," Arcineh had to agree, "but I forgot."

Violet's brows only rose a little more, reminding Arcineh of the housekeeper's reaction the day she'd come home with Hillary and

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showed them off. Violet had warned her that she was on dangerous ground to do such a thing when Sam was out of the country, but Arcineh had not been worried, assuring the older woman that he would love the new look. Arcineh had then forgotten to tell her grandfather she'd had them done.

Arcineh realized she had only one choice: apologize to Sam and plead her case. She exited the kitchen intent on doing that and headed to his office. Too late. He was already on the phone, giving terse orders to someone on the other end, booking a second seat on his flight. When he hung up, she still tried to lobby concerning school, but he'd taken care of that as well. They would be stopping on the way to O'Hare and getting her assignments for the next week.

°SID

ROME, ITALY

"This is Sarafina," Sam said quietly to Arcineh the morning after they arrived. "She's here to teach you:'

"Teach me?" Arcineh asked, having not said much to her grandfather since they left Illinois. The girl's eyes darted between her grandfather and the 30-something Italian woman he'd just let into their suite.

"Italian:' Sam answered. "Your lessons begin the moment I leave'

"What about my schoolwork?"

Sam's look said he wasn't falling for it.

"We both know that the work Miss Knepper sent will take you only about two hours to complete"

"But I didn't know I'd have to learn Italian:' Arcineh protested, panic setting in.

"If you recall," Sam responded firmly, "you complained about not being in school, and I said you would be."

Arcineh knew he meant it. She told herself she was not going to

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cry in front of this strange woman, but it was going to be an effort. Sam saw the fear on her face and hardened his heart. He was not going to let Arcineh get away from him, and if drastic measures like sweeping her out of the country without warning was what it took to remind her he was in charge, he would do it.

"I'll be back this evening," Sam said quietly, watching Arcineh's fear turn to anger. Her chin lifted as their eyes met. Sam had to keep himself from laughing when he said, "Goodbye, Arcie."

"Goodbye, Sam," she spoke just as cordially, but her eyes were shooting sparks.

"Shall we start?" Sarafina asked in gently accented English when the door closed on Sam's heels.

"I guess so," Arcineh said none-too-graciously, but Sarafina ignored the tone. She began by pointing to every object in the suite and having Arcineh repeat the Italian word. Carpet, bed, lamp, dresser, pen, paper, sheet, curtain, window, pillow, shower, towel, and on and on it went. Arcineh thought she would lose her mind, but this woman, for all her gentle ways, had a will of iron. Until Arcineh could say every word by memory and to Sarafina's satisfaction, they did not move on.

Arcineh, as with every area of learning, was a quick study. By noon she was saying simple sentences with a charming accent and gaining approval from Sarafina when that woman would suddenly point to something in the room and Arcineh remembered what it was from two hours past. Not until her head was pounding and her insides rumbled did Arcineh begin to resist.

"What's the word in Italian for 'I'm starving'?"

Sarafina studied her student for a moment. Sam's child had taken it very well, and Sarafina was impressed, but she remembered his warning not to go easy on her.

"We will go downstairs and eat in the small restaurant here in the hotel, but from the moment we leave this room, you will not speak a word of English."

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"How am Ito order my food?"

"You will have a menu. You will read it and figure it out:" "Where did Sam find you?" Arcineh asked, speaking her thoughts. "Right here. My father owns this hotel."

Arcineh took time to put on makeup and fix her hair, but Sarafina would not allow a change of clothing.

"You're eye-catching enough:' that lady said quietly while ushering her charge out the door.

Arcineh considered the fact that she was in Italy. The morning before she'd woken up in her own bed. All the way down on the elevator Arcineh told herself she must be dreaming.

By 4:45 Arcineh's head was pounding and she could not go on. However, Sam was nowhere in sight. Sarafina was reticent to leave Arcineh alone, but Arcie sincerely assured her she didn't want to go anywhere.

As soon as Sarafina left, Arcineh lay on the sofa and stared into space, but that only lasted for ten minutes. She was sure that her grandfather would be back by 5:00, and when the clock crawled on to 5:30, Arcineh's temper began to rise. By the time he opened the door at 6:15, she was in full-blown rage.

"Do you know what time it is?" Arcineh shot, immediately on the attack.

"I'm sorry it's so late, Arcie. I got held up:'

"You're sorry!" Arcineh flopped into a chair, not sure why she was so put out save the fact that she hadn't wanted to come along in the first place.

"I've got something for you."

"No, thank you, Sam," she responded, using his name and hoping to irritate him.

Sam still came to her chair and held out a small gold box.

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"What is it?"

"Take it:' Sam urged. "Try some."

Arcineh wasn't happy with him, but she took the gift. She found small white blocks of candy inside and picked one up.

"What is it?"

"Just try one."

Arcineh bit in unwillingly, a frown still on her face. But that soon changed. She sat very still as the confection melted in her mouth. She took another bite and let it melt again. Only then did she look at Sam.

"What is this?" Her voice had softened.

"White chocolate."

"I don't think I've heard of it."

"They make it in Turin, in northern Italy"

Arcineh finished the piece, her whole body melting with pleasure. Not until it was completely gone did she look up into Sam's eyes. "Thanks, Grandpa"

"You're welcome." He smiled at her. "How did the lesson go?" Arcineh answered him in Italian, and Sam stared at her. "Now that didn't occur to me:'

"What's that?"

"That you would learn to speak Italian better than I do:'

While Arcineh was still smiling over this, Sam asked, "How about some dinner?"

"Can we leave the hotel?"

"Yes:'

Arcineh was out of her chair in a flash and headed to change. She would give him no time to change his mind.

Given the choice, she would have stayed home, Arcineh realized, but four days later, sitting on a plane bound for Chicago, Arcineh

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knew she would never forget her time in Rome. Starting on the second day, Sam allowed Sarafina to take Arcineh from the hotel. Sarafina demanded she speak in Italian at all times. Arcineh was often tempted to scream at the woman and run away, but in truth she'd come away with a fine education on the language as well as the city:

Sarafina had even taken her to her home, a lovely villa not far from the hotel, where she could relax in comfort, all the time working her brain for her exacting teacher. She learned that Sarafina was not a teacher by trade, but a retired model. She was to be married in the spring, and Arcineh had even met her handsome fiancé.

Arcineh realized right then that she'd actually enjoyed herself. It also occurred to her quite suddenly that she hadn't thanked her grandfather for taking her along. She turned to do just that but held her tongue. Sam Bryant was sound asleep in his seat and looked as though he would stay that way all the journey home.

"We'll plan on Christmas," Sam said to Jeremy on the phone the week of Thanksgiving.

"Yes:' Jeremy agreed. "I can't seem to lick this cold, and with the kids not getting along, I'm just not up to it, Sam."

"I understand, and that will give me a whole month to make it clear to Arcineh that she's to get along with Quinn:"

"I appreciate that, Sam, but Quinn isn't getting along with anyone right now."

"What's that about?"

"Some of it is her age, but it's also not having you without Arcie. I wouldn't want Arcie to be anywhere else, but Quinn is threatened by it."

"Tell her when she's here, we'll go to breakfast--just the two of us, like old times:'

"I'll tell her, and you have a good holiday up there."

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"Thanks, Jeremy. You too:'

The men got off, and Sam sat thinking about Quinn for a long time. In truth, he didn't see any less of her than he ever had, but Jeremy was correct: Arcineh had not been around in the past, not nearly so much anyway, and Sam still believed with all his heart that Quinn was a sensitive person.

"Just like her mother," Sam said quietly in the office, wanting to do a better job with the next generation.

"This is what I'm talking about:' Sam spoke patiently into Arcineh's upturned face, remembering his breakfast with Quinn that morning and determined to gain Arcineh's cooperation on this. "Getting along at this moment means taking Quinn with you:'

"She doesn't even know my friends," Arcineh replied, managing to stay calm. "I don't think she'll even want to go:'

"But we're going to ask her, and if she wants to, it's a done deal:'

Somehow Arcineh knew she would not win this one. Sam had made up his mind that she was the problem, and Arcineh was still holding to her vow to never compete with Quinn. However, where her friends were concerned, she knew that boundary lines were needed.

She waited patiently while Sam asked Quinn if she wanted to go to the mall with Arcineh and her friends, and to Arcineh's surprise, her cousin said yes. Arcineh stayed calm in the face of all of this, but while she and Quinn walked out to Hillary's waiting car, Arcineh made herself heard.

"I put up with enough with Grandpa when you're here, Quinn, but I draw the line at my friends:'

"I don't know what you mean," Quinn made the mistake of saying.

Arcineh stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked her cousin in the eyes. Quinn had a hard time meeting Arcineh's gaze.

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"We both know exactly what I mean. No games and no lies tonight. If you even attempt it, I'll humiliate you so badly in front of my friends you'll never want to show your face in Chicago again:'

For once all arrogance and defensiveness drained away from Quinn. She nodded in sincerity and climbed in the back when one of the guys jumped out to let her in.

Arcineh made the introductions, and Quinn, rising to the occasion, blended right in. In fact, they had a marvelous time. They shopped in the pre-Christmas throngs and then went to a restaurant for huge slices of cheesecake.

For the whole evening, Arcineh had the old Quinn back. She was fun and bright and looked happy. Jordan, one of the guys along, seemed quite taken with her. And Arcineh could see why. She'd bleached her hair since the last time they'd seen each other, and it looked good. In Arcineh's opinion, her makeup was too dramatic, but somehow it suited her. Quinn even thanked Arcineh as they climbed the steps back to the house.

"It was fun:' Arcineh said. "I'm glad you came:'

"Jordan is sure cute:'

"Yes, and he couldn't take his eyes off you:'

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

"No. Did he ask for your number?"

"He started to and then remembered that I would be here:' "Did he invite you for the day after Christmas?"

"He did:"

The girls were at the door now, but Quinn stopped Arcineh with a hand to her sleeve.

"Are you all right with that?"

"Sure," Arcineh said, wanting to add that Quinn would have to remember what she expected, but she left that alone.

The two slipped inside and found everyone in the family room. They joined them and talked about their evening. Arcineh didn't miss

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the fact that her grandfather looked extremely pleased. She was glad for him but still wished there was a way to make him understand.

"What time today?" Sam asked of Arcineh concerning her dance performance.

"Two o'clock at the studio, and then we'll go to the community center"

"All right. Make sure Geneva doesn't schedule anything big for you next week. I want you to go with me to Paris:'

"Why?" Arcineh asked, her voice telling him she thought she was in trouble again.

"It's almost April, and I've not seen much of you since Christmas. I want you to go:'

"You could stay home more she muttered, and got
the look.
Arcineh lowered her eyes, knowing she'd been out of line.

"Plan on the trip:' Sam was done being kind. "I thought you'd appreciate a bit of notice, but evidently not:'

"Why am I going exactly? More languages?"

"I hadn't thought of that:' Sam said, hiding his hurt that she didn't want to go. "But it's a fine idea. I'll make the arrangements:'

Arcineh didn't reply. She was just rebellious enough not to admit that she'd enjoyed learning Italian and was still working on it in her mind. She didn't think leaving next week would be that much of an issue, but something inside of her didn't feel like going.