White Chocolate Moments (23 page)

"How did you look?" Sam asked, finding himself completely fascinated.

"Oh, hair pulled back as tight as I could get it, terrible glasses, and clothing large enough to hide everything."

Sam had it in his heart to feel sorry for Gage. Arcineh was a beautiful woman, and up to a few minutes ago he hadn't had a clue. "How do you know Gage Sefton?" Arcineh asked.

"He's my neighbor."

"Whose house did he buy?" Arcineh asked, picturing the houses all around where they'd lived.

"Actually, I moved into his neighborhood."

Nothing could have prepared Arcineh for this. She felt as though the wind had been snatched from her.

"How long?" she finally asked.

"Only about seven months."

"Why?"

"I was ready for something smaller, and it seemed a nice fit."

Arcineh stared at him. She couldn't picture him anywhere else but his old home. She went back to her meal, hoping she wouldn't cry.

"Next thing you'll be telling me you're retired:' she said, her voice saying he never would. When Sam didn't reply, she looked at him, her eyes growing large.

"I sold Bryant," he told her.

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"Why?" she asked again.

"Ready to be done. Weary of the travel:'

Arcineh had expected to hear remorse in his voice over this, but he was remarkably upbeat. She couldn't picture this any more than she could him selling the house, but then she hadn't pictured her grandfather like this either. Something was very different, and Arcineh couldn't put her finger on what it was.

While she was still thinking about it, Sam's finger went in the air. The hovering waiter came over.

"One of those white chocolate desserts, please. And more coffee

"Yes, sir:'

Arcineh waited only until his eyes came back to her before saying, "Thanks, Grandpa:'

Gage slipped in behind the wheel of his car but didn't bother to use the key. He didn't notice the cold. Like a man in a dream, he realized he
had
seen Arcineh Bryant before she joined his staff at Rugby Shades. Letting his mind drift back, he remembered exactly where it had been.

'All set?" Luke asked Erika when he and Gage picked her up from aerobics class.

'Are you in a hurry?" Erika asked.

"I don't think so. What's up?"

"Just a little something special I've been invited to. Come this way"

The men--Erika's husband, Luke, and her brother, Gage--moved to the stairway she was headed toward, slipped into a small balcony, and sat down.

"You're going to watch another dance class?" Luke asked. "Just for a little bit."

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The men sat down good-naturedly, waiting until the music started up. A slow song started the set, and Luke leaned toward his wife. "You've got to be kidding me," he whispered.

"Just wait," she said,
turning to him with entreating eyes and adding, "Please."

Luke rolled his eyes at her, and she smiled when she knew she had him. However, she did not forget her brother who had landed on her other side.

"Do you mind?"

"No, but if you rescind your offer of pie, I won't be so forgiving."

Before Erika could even say it was a deal, the music changed. All three pairs of eyes swung to the women on the floor, moving in perfect rhythm to a rock song from the '70s. The moves looked spontaneous, but no one missed a beat.

Gage watched in fascination as the bodies moved as one until his eyes found a dark-haired woman whose face was relaxed and not intense. Gage could not stop watching her. She was small but nicely shaped and didn't even appear to be trying.

"Pick it up, Brooklyn," the teacher said to someone, and Gage noticed the sound booth for the first time. "Here comes the new part," she said next. "Do what you can."

The tempo changed, and mistakes began to happen. Only the dark- haired woman and two others were able to stay with the instructor. The others backed away and watched the four moving as one. Gage didn't know the last time he'd been so transfixed.

A horn honked in the cold parking lot, and Gage came back to the present, wishing he could somehow replay the memory again. Arcineh Bryant had been the dark-haired woman. She was also the mousy little woman who had worked in his office and the woman laying tile in his great-grandfather's kitchen. To top it off, she was also the beautiful granddaughter of Sam Bryant, and she wanted nothing to do with him.

Gage finally started the car and took himself home. He didn't

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know what to do about any of this, and right at the moment he was too tired to care.

Sam and Arcineh talked until almost 11:00, the restaurant patiently bringing them more water and coffee as they wanted. Arcineh knew she would be tired in the morning, but it was one of the most wonderful times she'd had in years.

Sam drove her home, and because he could park where he could see the door, she told him not to get out.

"When am I going to see you again?" Sam asked before she could exit.

"I don't know. I mean, my schedule is pretty free:'

"Okay," Sam said, not wanting to press. "I know where you're working, and I know where you live. How about a phone number?" "I don't have a phone right now:'

"Did something happen or can you not afford one?"

"I can't afford one:'

Sam's emotions, which had been close all evening, almost got the best of him then.

"Please let me buy you a phone, Arcie," he requested quietly. Arcineh smiled at him. "I'm all right, but thanks for the offer:' "What do you do if something happens?"

"Go to the neighbors: They're very nice:'

Sam gave her a long-suffering look, but Arcineh could see the smile in his eyes.

"I'll see you later," she said, finally bidding him goodnight and scurrying in out of the cold.

Sam drove himself home, his heart so full he didn't know how he would stand it. He had taken his granddaughter to dinner. She was safe, and they had talked. And although she was different, she was still his Arcineh.

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And a few times she had looked at him. He hoped she was seeing how different he was. Indeed he had prayed for that very thing all evening. Now he must wait for just the right time to tell her how profound the change had been.

Arcineh did not hear the door. She was working along, her mind intent on the grout, when the most wonderful smell assailed her nose. She turned her head to find it and saw Sam.

"Did I miss lunch?" he asked.

"No." Arcineh laughed a little. "What have you got there?" "Oh, just a little something I picked up:"

Arcineh came toward him. He was utterly out of place in his elegant coat, hat, and gloves, but a most welcome sight. He even had a tall thermos that Arcineh assumed held something hot to drink.

"Can you eat now?" he asked.

"Yes:' she said, so pleased to see him. Arcineh looked into his face and realized the time they'd lost.

"It's all right:' Sam said, seeing the tears in her eyes; his eyes filled too.

"I missed you:' she whispered.

Sam held out his arms, and Arcineh walked into them. She cried against his chest like a lost child.

"I'm so sorry I drove you out of our home Sam said, his throat thick. "I can't tell you how I've regretted it."

It was a while before they got to the picnic hamper, but worth it because Sam had outdone himself. Chicago pizza was inside, along with salads and bread. The thermos held hot coffee with cream and sugar. They sat together in that dirty workplace, taking the teasing of men who smelled the food and came looking, but mostly lost in catching up, both secretly deciding they never wanted to be separated again.

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"Do me a favor?" Sam had asked just before leaving Arcineh to her work.

"What?" Arcineh had returned, wary of his tone.

"Talk to Gage."

Arcineh made a face at the time, but Sam still had a smooth way about him. Inside of ten minutes, he'd talked her around. Now on Saturday she sat in a restaurant booth with both men and tried to tell her story.

"You gave notes to Patrice and she ignored them?" Gage repeated in disbelief. "She wouldn't do that."

Without warning, Arcineh was on her feet, gathering her coat to leave. She didn't know how she would get home, but she wasn't going to stay any longer. Arcineh stood on the street, trying to figure out where to go. Sam was suddenly beside her.

"Here, take my keys."

"What will you do?"

"Gage can give me a lift:'

Arcineh didn't take the keys. She looked across the street at nothing, frustration filling her. To be called a liar by someone who didn't even know her was hard to take.

"You could also come back in, and I'll explain things to Gage. I've been there. I can make him understand."

Arcineh didn't know why she agreed to go back, but when she did, her grandfather took charge.

"You have to understand," he began, "Arcie would not lie to you about this. She has better things to do than play games with people's lives. If she tells you this happened, you can believe her. What you do with it is your choice, but don't accuse Arcineh of making this up. I made that mistake a long time ago, and the cost has been enormous. I don't want to see you do the same:'

Gage had not expected this, but his respect for Sam Bryant won

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out. He turned back to Arcineh, whose face was not open, but he was ready to try again.

"Will you do me a favor and tell me about your employment with Rugby?"

"From my start in the file department?"

"Yes--how you came to have that job, and how you got to the fourth floor."

Arcineh did as he asked, keeping it brief and to the point.

"When you left on the day of the babysitting debacle Gage asked next, "why was none of your personal information correct? The number we had on file was no longer in use, and I tracked down the house but no one was home. Did you actually commute from that neighborhood?"

"Just for the first month I worked here. The folks who lived there

changed their number sometime after I moved out"

"But why didn't we have updated information on you when you moved to my office?"

Arcineh shrugged. "No one asked, and I didn't think to mention

Gage shook his head. "That was highly unprofessional:'

"That's not all that was unprofessional:' Arcineh said, and Gage looked at her.

"I'm going to want to know what that means, but will you first tell me everything you remember about that meeting? I won't interrupt you."

Arcineh began again, and Gage couldn't keep the amazement from his face. To hear that deception was discussed while they all sat there unaware was astounding to him. He had researched Siena Designs for a long time and thought it couldn't be a better match for Rugby Shades.

"Did you and Patrice talk about it after the meeting?" Gage wanted to know next.

"Mr. Sefton:' Arcineh began.

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"Gage he corrected her, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Gage Arcineh started again. "I don't know if I'm the best person to tell you this:'

"Why wouldn't you be?"

Arcineh looked at Sam.

"Are you afraid of what Gage's relationship might be with this woman?" her grandfather guessed.

Arcineh nodded. "I think there was a serious error in judgment, but I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble or fired:'

"You can tell me Gage said, and waited for Arcineh to do just that The waitress brought more coffee, and when Arcineh had added cream and tasted it, she started.

"Nothing else I could tell you will make sense if you don't know how Patrice views you:'

"How she
views
me?"

Arcineh saw no help for it. She took a breath and plunged in.

"My first conversation with Mallory was her telling me to remember that she and the other women put up with Patrice only for the money:'

Gage looked stunned over this, and Arcineh waited. She wasn't sure if he was hurt by the statement or wanted to argue.

"Why did she say that?"

"Because Patrice had laid claim to you. I feared speaking to you or looking at you for fear of losing my job:'

"Did you really believe that would happen, Arcie?"

"You probably don't remember this, but one day I was in the lobby looking at the new brochure and you sat down with me:' "I remember:' Gage put in softly.

"Well, Patrice saw us, and that's when the job changed for me. None of us were allowed to get close to you. After that she criticized everything I did, so that when I sent her those notes, she wouldn't even consider that I might know what I was talking about:'