Page 31 of A Night To Remember

“Hi, Charlie. That’s a nice arrangement you have there. Who sent it to you?” Sandy asked without preamble, batting her eyelashes innocently.

“No one special,” Charlie answered nonchalantly. Of all the people who saw this arrangement, why did it have to be this nosey heffa?

“Hmm, seems like a pretty expensive arrangement for it to just be from no one special,” Sandy pressed, casually bending over to take a whiff of the floral scent.

“What can I say?” Charlie shrugged, wishing the bothersome woman would go away or jump off a cliff. At the moment, Charlie preferred the cliff. Sandy reached over to pick up the card but Charlie beat her to it, snatching it up before the busybody could get a peek. “That’s private, if you don’t mind.” Charlie smiled insincerely. This woman had balls the size of grapefruits.

Sandy pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s the big secret? I mean, if it’s from a friend like you say it is, I’d show it off to everyone in the office. If I got an arrangement like this I would tell the world.”

“I’m sure you would,” Charlie said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Sandy seemed oblivious to the dig. Charlie wouldn’t get rid of her that easy. “You’re hiding something. Are they from Steve?”

“What? Why would you think that?” If Sandy didn’t leave within the next minute Charlie was going to lose her temper.

“Well, everyone knows how he’s been asking you out.”

Charlie used the same technique she used with Kristy and silently counted to ten. Why didn’t this blasted woman just go away? “Sandy, I don’t know why you have such an insatiable need to gossip but it’s not cool. If you can’t take a hint, I’ll have to be blunt. This is none of your business. If I didn’t answer the question the first time you asked, what makes you think I would answer it the second or third time?”

Sandy recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “Well, you don’t have to get so nasty about it. I was only trying to be friendly.” Sandy sniffed, sounding offended.

Charlie wasn’t fooled for one second. Sandy could probably make a career as an actress if she set her mind to it. Realizing she’d have to make something up to get the pest off her back, Charlie said the first thing that popped into her mind. “It’s a secret admirer, Sandy. Let’s leave it at that, shall we? As a matter of fact, since you’re so interested in these flowers take them.” Charlie picked up the bouquet and stuffed them in Sandy’s hands.

“You’re giving these away? You’re crazy.” For once Sandy seemed to be at a loss for words.

“Maybe so, but if you don’t mind, I have a lot of work to do. Take them and enjoy.” Charlie handed them over with her blessing.

Sandy walked away with the flowers, a confused look on her face.

Charlie sat down at her desk hoping she wasn’t in for any more surprises today.

Jake decided to throw in the towel for the day around five. He normally didn’t leave so early, but he wanted to catch his nephew’s little league game. Jennifer was packing up as well as he stepped out of his office. “Let’s walk down together.” He waited for her at the door.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving this early with the rest of us worker bees, Jake,” Jennifer teased.

“Yeah, I guess I am. Helen has been on me about attending more of my nephews’ events, so I’m going to a little league game tonight.”

“That sounds like fun.”

They chatted easily as they took the elevator downstairs. When they made it to the lobby, Jake saw an older black man sitting on one of the couches with a little girl on his lap.

“Isn’t she the most darling little thing?” Jennifer observed.

“Mommy!” The little girl shrieked with delight, wiggling out of the man’s lap. Jake watched the child run across the lobby to the woman she called mommy. When Jake saw who she belonged to his heart sunk to his feet.

Frozen to the spot, Jake watched as Charlie scooped up her daughter and gave her a big hug and a kiss. The little girl hugged Charlie back as if she didn’t want to let go.

“Dad, I thought you guys were going to wait outside for me.” Charlie approached the man who stood up from the couch.

Jennifer looked at her boss with concern. “Jake, what’s the matter? You’ve gone as white as a sheet.” She tugged at his arm, but he couldn’t stop staring at the scene in front of him.

Charlie was holding her daughter. She must have sensed his intense stare because she turned toward him, noticing him standing there for the first time. She nearly dropped the toddler. Their eyes locked. Blood pounded in his ears as his anger slowly began to rise. The girl in Charlie’s arms didn’t look four, and she had his eyes!

Chapter Ten

“Jake, what’s wrong?” Jennifer looked from Charlie and then to Jake.

He didn’t answer right away, unable to tear his eyes away from the little girl who had his eyes. It felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. Hard.

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