Page 90 of Rumor Has It

“I had to step out of the meeting to take a call. Somehow that made me the man who drew the short straw, and I was told to check on the status of lunch.” He wiggles his cell, dropping it in his pocket and rolling back on his heels.

I’ve gotten to know Ben’s voice over speakerphone. He’s shown up on the road more than once. He’s here today to check up on Isaiah because Will is on his honeymoon.

“Your timing is almost perfect. I was just packing it up to send over,” I say, scooping the hot final batch chips with a spatula and covering the container.

As I try to snap the lid on the ranch dressing, Aria lunges, fussing that I’ve taken it away from her.

“Jeez! Wait, kid.” Ben attempts to catch the baby as she slips down my side. He winds up holding her, facing outward. “I think I got her.”

“Thank you… I’m so sorry!” Aria’s ruddy-faced. Unamused that she can’t have the entire container of dip, she’s a bomb I need to diffuse. “This’ll keep her occupied and hopefully keep her sticky fingers off your suit shirt.” I snag another chip off of my plate. Aria wrestles it from my grip, plunging it into her mouth. “Do you mind? Just while I put everything else in the basket?”

“That’s fine. I’ll charge Isaiah for my dry cleaning,” Ben replies in a joking manner. He regards Dillon and sighs. “You know, Cassidy, it’s difficult not to feel like a traitor saying this, but you’re good for him. I know Kylie was… It’s my turn to be sorry. I can’t speak poorly of the dead… Maybe what I’m trying to express is while I was on her team, I understood they weren’t ever on the same wavelength and maybe the vows they took meant something different to each of them.”

Ben’s face flushes. Initially, I take his reaction as embarrassment over what he’s saying in mixed company. After all, both men on the bus were more than acquaintances with Kylie. Dillon was her driver. Ben managed her career. But Ben clears his throat and I’m certain it’s more. He slept with her. Ben slept with Isaiah’s wife and he’s assuaging his guilt by telling me I’m the better choice.

Stilling as I place the last of the lunch in the picnic basket, I codfish.

Oh, God. What if Ben’s Aria’s father? I feel possessive of her. Defensive of Isaiah. How could Ben? How could Kylie? How many times did she cheat on her husband with her manager? Will searching for every man Kylie slept with, who could possibly be this little girl’s father, be like finding a needle in a haystack?

I’ve never hated Kylie for breaking Isaiah’s heart. For Aria? This child deserves so much better than the lot she was dealt.

Ben sees the moment I read between the lines and his eyes go wide. “They wouldn’t have worked out is all I’m saying. Kylie wasn’t ready for kids. Isaiah clearly can’t get enough of your daughter. So, don’t beat yourself up over the tabloid headlines. Don’t let the fans get to you and let them undermine a good thing.”

“Is your advice because you need me to keep Will’s client happy?”

We hastily switch the baby for the lunch basket.

“He’s on top of his game. I’d be stupid not to want a client to stay there as long as possible. But I mean it sincerely. Isaiah, he had white knight syndrome, and I think her death made him realize he’d never save Kylie from her demons. I’m glad he moved on. I’m glad he found someone worth scaling the wall for. You balance each other well.”

“Did you really draw the short straw?” I ask pointedly.

“I was headed in this direction.”

I tilt my chin toward Aria and brush my lips over her forehead. She shoves a huge hunk of my hair in her mouth.

“If you have everything you need, I have to get her fed.”

“Yeah, sure. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” The response is automatic.

Ben exits the bus. I strap Aria into her high chair and give her chopped pieces of spinach, tomatoes, cheese, and some more chips. Dillon sits opposite me at the table. He’s finished his lunch, but neither of us seems to know how to break the tension.

“Ben’s not off the mark.” Dillon finally speaks. “She wasn’t a bad person. But every one of us who saw them together knows it’s different between you two.”

“Mmm-a-mmm.”Aria grabs my attention, holding a chip for me the way she makes Isaiah eat puffs.

“You need a bath after this!” I take the chip and tickle her.

Aria wiggles and giggles and hums some more.

“She certainly loves you,” Dillon says as a glop of drool runs down the baby’s chin.

“So messy,” I say, making the baby squeal and giggle. “So messy!”

Our life is so messy. Our life is so blessed. Am I supposed to tell Isaiah my hunch about Ben and Kylie? Will it make a difference if Ben’s affair with Kylie doesn’t coincide with Aria’s birth? Is it worth hurting Isaiah? Can I let Aria go with Ben? Someone who looked like he was about to crawl out of his skin holding a baby?

“Ah, here. Lemme get a clean napkin for you.” Dillon unrolls the paper towels on the tabletop. He rips off several, and I use them to wipe Aria’s face. She finds it hysterical and spits some more. What’s she going to be like with that smash cake on her birthday?

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