Chapter 12

David was thinking of his son as he sipped a warm apple cider. With his wife by his side, he felt that he was partially responsible for the way Gael viewed the world. Having no desire to love anyone or get married was no way for a man to live.

He had been fortunate to love twice, once with Gael’s mother and now his wife. Gael was yet to find love, and he saw the way his son was with that girl. However, Gael was too arrogant to admit he liked her, or maybe he didn’t realize it. Hopefully, his plan would work, and his son would find some happiness.

Leaning across his armchair at the lodge a few miles from the homeless shelter, he spoke softly. “I think we should take up Bob and Jen’s offer and spend the night.”

After spending a couple of hours handing out hot meals at the shelter, they’d come to the lodge to freshen and have a drink with their friends. Robert, aka ‘Bob’ was a longtime friend of twenty years along with his wife, Jennifer.

“Stay the night. Why would you want to return to an empty house alone? There’s plenty of room, and the more, the merrier,” Bob had said.

“We are not …” Marla had begun but he’d jabbed her and shook his head.

“We’ll think about it,” he cut in.

He placed the now empty cup on a coffee table and waited for her response. Marla looked at him with creases in her forehead. “What are you up to?” she whispered.

“I think Gael likes that girl. Let them get to know each other a bit.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure? There seems to be some tension there.”

“It’s called chemistry, honey,” he replied, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “Chemistry,” he repeated.

“You’re so naughty.” She giggled.

“Is that a yes?”

She nodded. “Hmm, but I remember who she is.”

He raised a brow and smiled. “Is that so?”

“That magazine I buy twice per year, she’s in it. I just received the Christmas issue. I don’t know why I never recognized her before.”

“The hair, that could fool anybody.” He chuckled, remembering Gael referring to her as Unicorn.

“Her name is Zoe. She’s been modeling for nearly ten years, and she holds a college degree to boot,” she said wonderingly.

David squeezed his wife’s hand. “It’s not too late for you. You could go to college too.”

“Naw, I would rather do something else,” she replied happily.

“What’s that?”

“A flower shop. I want a flower shop.”

“Then my girl shall have what she wants,” he replied, his eyes gleaming.

Needing to get away from Gael, she made a run to the kitchen to clean it before his father and stepmother got back. She took the time to settle whatever conflict was happening in her mind.

She disliked him, and men like him, yet, she was reacting to him like a schoolgirl with a crush. It didn’t make sense. There was no reasonable explanation except that the morning incident may have triggered some chemical reaction that she could not control. According to her own logic, so long as it was purely physical, resisting him was a piece of cake.

When she got back to the living room, he was busy on his tablet, so she headed to her room to call Florine. The woman must have been going out of her mind, not knowing where she was.

Florine answered after the first ring. “Where are you?” her voice was pitched high.

“I’m with a friend,” she replied softly. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound good.”

She sighed. “I got the flu, but it’s not so bad now.”

“Where are you?” Florine asked once more. “I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday.”

“I told you I’m with a friend. Don’t worry.”

“I finally was able to get someone to the airport last night, and you weren’t there. I thought you got caught in the storm and perhaps something terrible happened,” Florine’s voice cracked.

“I’m sorry. The network kept slowing down, perhaps due to the volume of users. Plus I was so sick; I was passed out half the time.”

“Which friend are you staying with?” the other woman asked.

Florine had never pressed her about her friends before; therefore, she knew the woman was worried about her. How could she tell her she was with Gael Matheson and that she was in the middle of a dangerous game?

“I told you not to worry. I’m a big girl,” she reassured her.

Florine’s sigh came loud and clear through the cell phone. “Okay. You’re a big girl.”

“I’ll call you later.”

“Make sure to do that, or I will report you missing!”

That was no joke. Knowing her guardian, she’d call in the feds at the drop of a hat. Since the woman took her in, she’d treated her like a mother, maybe because she didn’t or couldn’t have kids of her own.

“I promise,” she reiterated before hanging up.

They chatted for a while longer before Florine finally let her go, making her promise to call her later that night. After she hung up and checked the time, it was near one o’clock, and she was now hungry. Not having eaten her fill that morning made for a battle in her stomach.

She went back to the kitchen to have a chunk of the casserole while Gael was still on his tablet in the living room. While she let the food heat in the microwave, it occurred to her that he might be hungry as well.

After a few minutes of conflict, trying to decide if she should also fix him lunch, she made up her mind and headed to the living room. As she entered, he looked up from his device.

“I’m heating some of the casserole. I didn’t eat much this morning,” she babbled. “Would you by any chance like me to fix you some?”

“Sure, that’d be great.” He grinned, and she lost her nerve.

Whirling around, she tottered back on wobbly legs. Her stomach fluttered as she pushed the door, entering the safe haven of the kitchen. It was a bad idea, she concluded. Now, they’d have to sit across from each other. How was she going to eat with him at the table?

“Crap!” she cursed under her breath.

By the time she was done heating the food and getting some salad from the fridge, Gael presented himself. He was holding a bottle of red wine in his hand and two glasses.

She took one look at the wine and frowned. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Maybe,” he replied easily. “Are you scared?”

Another challenge, she thought. Yes, she was freaking scared. “Of course not!” she chortled.

“Good. I didn’t think you were.”

Is he making fun of me?

She set the table while he poured the wine. Since it was just the two of them, she made sure they would sit as far apart as possible. That meant they would be directly facing each other. It was better than having to rub legs with him.

However, as she sat, she realized it was not much different because his knees kept touching hers. Other than that, the meal wasn’t very unpleasant. Gael didn’t talk much, perhaps sensing her need for silence. The wine was mild, and she suspected that it contained minimal alcohol. After eating, they both went back to the living room.