White Chocolate Moments (2 page)

"Are you sure Arcineh can't live with us?" Tiffany asked her father again.

"Yes. Arcineh stays here:'

"Quinn cried herself to sleep just now, sure you would say no:'

"She's right:' Sam said without remorse. "I am saying no. Arcie can visit you this summer for as long as she likes, but I want her back in school as soon as she's able, and I want life to return to as close to normal as I can manage it. I can't do that if she moves 350 miles out of Chicago:'

"Oh, Dad:' Tiffany was distressed but not crying, and Sam was relieved. The grieving grandfather had spent days at the side of Arcineh's hospital bed with nothing to do but work out a plan to make life less painful for his youngest grandchild. Sending her away from him was not part of the plan.

Sam Bryant's marriage had broken up when his own children were 9 and 12. Not only did his wife walk away from him, but she also deserted their children. Trevor, the younger one, had drawn close to him and faired well. Tiffany's life had gone in the opposite direction. It had taken years for her world to look somewhat normal,

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and even at that, she did not have a perfect marriage or the greatest relationship with her two children.

Now Arcineh had lost not only her mother but also her father, and she had been equally close to both. Sam was not trying to maintain control for control's sake. He truly believed that sending Arcineh away from him and her familiar surroundings would be the worst thing he could do.

"You may not agree with me, Tiff, but I want your support on this:'

"But you could ask her:'

"She's not in a position right now to be making decisions, and if we did ask her and she didn't want to go, she'd feel bad about hurting Quinn. I don't wish to do that to either girl. I'll happily be the bad guy this time:'

Tiffany had not seen it that way, but she was not quite done.

"How about this summer? We could ask her once she's finished her school year here, and then she could move in with us in the fair'

"Not even then, Tiffany. It's not time for such plans, and may never be:'

Jeremy chose that moment to join them in Sam's home office and asked what they were talking about.

"Quinn and I want Arcie to move in with us," his wife explained briefly.

The surprise on his son-in-law's face told Sam he'd known nothing about this.

"You weren't in on these plans, Jeremy?" Sam asked, knowing his daughter had not meant to exclude him but wondering why it never occurred to her that Jeremy might want some say over what went on in the home they shared.

"No, but it would be fine, I guess:'

"He said no:' Tiffany said, her voice quivering a little, bringing her father's stern eyes to her.

"Don't start, Tiffany:' Sam said.

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Tiffany knew he meant it. She wasn't happy with her father right now, but she knew this was not the time and place to push the point. She hated telling her children no, and even though her father was the one who had denied Quinn's request, Tiffany knew the 12-year-old would take it out on her.

"She is welcome Jeremy offered, "but I wonder if moving her out of Chicago is a good idea."

"It's a terrible idea: Sam said bluntly, emotions and exhaustion playing a part in his mood. "As much as I don't want you to have to deal with this fire, Jeremy, I'm not going to let Tiffany and Quinn keep this on the table. I don't care how much they complain to you, my answer is no, and that's that:'

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here Tiffany interjected, sounding petulant. "She's my brother's only child she continued, lobbying for some sympathy and gaining none. Both men looked at her in a way that made her shut her mouth.

"I'm going to bed Sam said quietly, knowing he was close to losing his temper. "I'll see you in the morning:'

Husband and wife said goodnight but didn't move. Jeremy stared at his wife, still amazed that this had happened to all of them but also knowing that, grief or not, the idea of moving Arcineh had to be dealt with swiftly. He was not in the habit of getting into any of the battles Austin and Quinn had with their mother, but this time he was willing.

"Was this Quinn's idea?"

"Yes:'

"That was sweet of her, but I agree with Sam that we're not going to pursue it:'

"Do you know what she'll be like?" Tiffany let her head fall back against the chair, her weary eyes on the ceiling.

"No, she won't."

Tiffany's head came up. This was a voice she didn't often hear from her spouse.

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"I'll talk to her:' Jeremy said shortly. Tiffany opened her mouth to question him, but Jeremy shook his head. "Not now, Tiff. We need to go to bed:'

Like her children Tiffany Rowan did not like to be told no, but this time she did not argue. When Jeremy stood and headed for the door, she was right behind him. They put out the lights on their way to the stairs and retired in an effort to find some sleep.

"Are you glad she's gone?" Sam asked Arcineh when her cousin had left with her family.

"Not glad, but maybe relieved:"

"Was it the tears?"

Arcineh shook her head in confusion. "She can't stop, and I don't know how to help her:'

"She asked for you to come and live with them. Did she mention it?"

Arcineh looked as shocked as she felt.

"What did you say?" she whispered.

"No:'

Arcineh's relief was visible. She sagged on her crutches, and Sam's heart clenched at the sight.

"I can't leave you and Chicago, Grandpa. You understand, don't you?"

"Absolutely. I would never send you away:"

Arcineh stared at the floor for a long time, still trying to take it in but not succeeding. Her parents had come back to mind, and all she felt was loss. "I'm going to watch television:' she finally said, turning to the family room.

"I'll be in my office if you need me:"

"All right:'

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They went their separate ways, but not for long. Sam couldn't concentrate on a thing and soon went to check on Arcineh. He found her sound asleep, which turned out to be a good thing. Visitors began arriving the next day, and there seemed to be no end of them.

"I've got a bit of work for you:' Arcineh's teacher, Mr. Sutter, said kindly. "There's no hurry, but when I spoke with your grandfather, he said you'd talked about it:'

Arcineh nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Sutter. I'll get it done as fast as I can:'

"There's no hurry Arcie. You're so far ahead in almost every subject that you could miss the rest of the year, but we're still working on that World Lit project, and I want you to get going on it again:'

Arcineh nodded, but she didn't feel as calm as she looked. All the work she'd done on it was at her old home.

"Is there something I can get you? Library books or anything else?"

"I don't think so. I'm going to try to get back to class next week. Grandpa wants the doctor to approve:'

"There's no hurry, Arcie. We miss you, but your grades are not going to suffer:'

Arcineh thanked Mr. Sutter again and walked him to the door when he left. He had been with Fetterman Academy, a small private school that Arcineh had been attending since she was seven, for ten years. He had been her teacher for two years.

Fetterman Academy was run very much like a homeschool, with a low student-teacher ratio and more than one age-group in a class. All subjects were covered, and covered thoroughly, but great amounts of time were also spent in subjects of interest to each child. Arcineh learned best when subjects were taught in solid blocks, and much of her schoolwork had been tailored with that in mind. In the fall,

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she had spent weeks and weeks on math and almost nothing else. Following math was science, with refresher tests for math, and after that social studies and history, again, accompanied by regular refresher tests in each subject.

But afternoons were much more open. Whatever a child wanted to study could be accommodated. Reports and papers were expected--it was not a time when a child could be idle--but the very nature of allowing the students to choose their own topic was unique. One year Arcineh had spent the entire first semester researching the life of Lewis Carroll. Another year, she had done four projects in the same amount of time.

"Is your teacher gone?" Sam asked, suddenly beside her, causing Arcineh to realize she was still standing by the front door. "Yes. He left some work."

Sam studied her face and knew something was wrong. "If you're not ready, Arcie, just say so."

"That's not it." Her voice was flat. "I'll need some papers from home."

Sam was now just as quiet. It might have surprised his granddaughter to know that he was not looking forward to that trip any more than she was.

More visitors arrived over the next few days, including kids from both school and dance class, as well as her closest friend, Daisy Cordell. They had been in school together for the past three years and were very close. Both were children of privilege and only children.

"I brought you a flower:' Daisy said; it was a daisy. "Your grandfather's house is far enough away from ours that I don't know how often I'll get here. It's to remind you of me."

"Thanks, Dais:' Arcineh said sincerely. She really was a very good friend, and Arcineh loved her.

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"So how is it?" Daisy did not believe in mincing words. "It's horrible if I think about it, so I try not to:'

"Have you been home?"

"No, but I have to go soon. I need some schoolwork:' "Can't someone else go?"

Arcineh shrugged, and Daisy dropped that line of questioning. As a rule she would have told Arcineh exactly what to do and how to think, but things were not normal anymore. Her friend looked pale and thin. And Daisy knew better than anyone how much Arcineh loved dance, making her cringe at the sight of Arcineh's crutches.

"How is school?" Arcineh asked.

"You won't believe it:' Daisy replied, swiftly becoming her animated self. "Miss Moore is getting married!"

"Moore the Bore?"

"Yes! She's floating in and out of rooms like a fairy, and all she does is look at her ring:'

Arcineh giggled. She loved Daisy's descriptions and could so easily see the school's librarian and secretary acting just that way. She was a mousy woman in a school full of wealthy, gifted, and highly confident students who could at times be ruthless.

"When's the big day?" Arcineh asked.

"This summer. Rumor is she won't be back in the fall. Good riddance!"

For some reason the last comment bothered both girls. Their eyes caught, and Daisy looked ashamed.

"Promise me something, Dais," Arcineh almost whispered. "Anything!"

"That you won't stare at me when I get back to school:'

"Not only will I not stare Daisy said fiercely, "I'll pinch anyone who does:'

Arcineh relaxed again. As long as everyone else was acting normal, she could give herself permission to do the same.

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Mason Beck, Sam's assistant and right-hand man for at least 20 years, sat across from him in his home office, taking copious notes on the words his employer was firing at him. He had been doing this for years and found it routine. The only problem he ran into was Sam's habit of thinking that once he'd given an order, the job was somehow magically done.

"Is Trevor's house ready?" Sam asked.

"Yes:' Mason was able to reply, although the order to make sure all was in readiness was just 24 hours old. Mason had gone himself--taking Violet and a few others with him--to Trevor and Isabella's home in anticipation of Sam and Arcineh's visit.

"You saw to it yourself?"

"I did."

Sam grew quiet and thoughtful then, something Mason rarely saw.

"How did it seem?" Sam eventually asked.

"Just normal. We opened things up so the house could air out. Violet cleaned out the fridge and left everything smelling fresh. She even brought back the dirty clothing we found in the bedrooms and plans to wash and box them."

"Where are the boxes?"

"Somewhere here, I imagine. Out of sight:' Mason added, wanting to be sensitive. In all the years he'd worked for Sam, he hadn't seen him like this, a bit soft-spoken and unsure. Sam Bryant was an exacting man, expecting his orders to be carried out with precision and demanding only the best from those. who worked for him. He paid each person well, and they saw bonuses on a regular basis, but he didn't always remember that his employees had families and lives of their own.

The marble that Sam provided to companies all over the United States was without equal, but to accomplish that Sam was married to

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his business and expected his employees to be as well. Mason got the worst of it. He was paid a small fortune for his trouble, but truth be told, had his family not become so accustomed to the life he provided for them, he would have quit on the spot.