“What time do you think he’s gonna come?”
Cora and I were in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Finn was curled up somewhere upstairs reading a book. I’d taken an excuse to go come home early from Mr. Sturm, citing my reason as wanting to get started on the manuscript revision which I couldn’t complete at the office. He seemed doubtful, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Thankfully, he made no further comment and said that I could leave.
Cora had gone shopping for soup items before coming home with Finn. “He said he’d round up with his office work by seven, so we should expect him by seven thirty.”
I darted a glance at the small silver clock hanging above the freezer. We still had over an hour more till he got here. I watched in amusement as Cora washed the sliced chicken laps, her hands shaky and eyebrows were strewn in concentration. “Whoa, you need to chill out, girl. Why are you so jumpy?”
She barely spared me a glance, dousing the oven tray with oil. “He’s my boss, Elaine. I have to make sure everything is up to his taste. From what I heard from my colleagues, he never visits them in their houses. This is the first time he’s accepting something like this.”
“How charming of him.”
She turned after placing the tray into the oven, swatting my arm.
“Ow.”
“Stop being sarcastic. This dinner date means so much to me, Elaine. I bet you’d be in a similar rush if you asked MacDonald Guy to come over for dinner and he accepts.” She wiggled her brows, nudging my side.
I rolled my eyes, pushing a few strands of hair that was falling off from my bun behind my left ear. “Firstly, not in this life will that ever happen. Secondly, he’s an arsehole.”
“That’s the only thing you’re holding onto. It’s not concrete enough, girl. Boys will be boys.”
“Which is exactly why I don’t want to have anything to do with him. Even though my heart can’t seem to stay away, I’m willing to try. There’s little chance that anything would happen between us soon.”
“I think fate has something in store for the both of you. You just have to be ”
“Mommy! Mommy!” Finn came running in excitedly, his feet bare and shirt soaked. I blocked him from moving any closer to the condiments on the island. He was clutching a magazine.
“What’s the matter? And why are you all soaked?”
“I was playing ship and sailor with my paper boats in the bathtub,” he jumped in glee. I suppressed the urge to scold him, zeroing in on the picture of the man in the magazine he was holding.
Holy fucking Christ.
My jaw dropped.
Mr. Sturm.
Finn continued talking, oblivious to my shock while Cora closed the oven door and turned, giving us her full attention. “And then all my captains abandoned ship because they were sinking. I went through Aunt Cora’s cupboard and look what I found!” he waved the magazine. “My teacher told us about him the other day. I want to be a successful businessman and writer like him when I grow up.”
I sucked a breath, shaken. Cora moved over to him and ripped the magazine away from his grasp gently, her facial expression horrified.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Finn frowned. “You don’t want me to be a writer?”
I exhaled sharply, squatting so I was face level with him. “Now, now, Finn. Being a businessman is nice, but…”
“But Mommy would prefer if you become an engineer,” Cora chipped in helpfully. “You’d make more money building ships. You’d be more famous than him.”
“Really?” his blue eyes brightened. “But…all my friends want to become engineers too.”
“Honey, there are different fields to engineering. We have civil engineers, marine engineers…lots of them. There’s space for everyone.”
“Yes, Finn. You can all become engineers. There’s plenty to go around.” Cora beamed, ruffling his hair. “Now come, let’s get you cleaned up. We have an uncle coming over and he hates dirty little boys.”
I placed a hand on my chest, letting out a relieved breath as they disappeared up the stairs. That was…close. Never had I imagined that Mr. Sturm would be studied and used as a role model for kids. That horrible man! I bet the teachers kept the bad side of him away from the kids. I didn’t expect Finn to get so inquisitive about him. Maybe Cora was right. I couldn’t keep Mr. Sturm a secret from Finn much longer. I needed to tell him about his father sooner or later.
But what if I met a nice, divorced man with grown-up children who would love Finn the way I did? I know I was getting ahead of myself here, but that would be a worthy solution. Finn would be five in a few weeks and would get even more inquisitive. I needed a father figure for him to get used to before he grew wiser.
I needed to start dating.
———–
“What do you wear for a dinner with your boss?” Cora asked as she trailed her fingers unconsciously on the glowing pearl beads around her neck, drowning in the exquisite pink chiffon dress she secretly bought without my knowledge. I was seated on the vanity, running a comb through my curls.
She turned. “I need your honest opinion, Elaine.”
Heaving a sigh, I got up and went over, inspecting the dress. “I’ll tell you what I won’t wear. That dress! For God’s sake, Cora. It’s an indoor dinner. Not your wedding.”
Her lips curled into a pout, brows strewn into a frown as she huffed and began holding up the pairs of dresses scattered all over the place. “You don’t seem to get why I’m so fidgety. None of these clothes are fashionable enough.”
I used to be the one unsure about the dress I’d wear to any occasion, whether it was an indoor girls’ hangout or an outdoor, big, birthday bash. Cora was the ever-confident one – having no trouble in selecting wears and looking absolutely gorgeous in them. It felt weird to see her stressing over what she was good at.
Pulling out a black strapless knee-length gown from the lot, I pressed it to her bosom with a hum. “This is beautiful.”
She snorted in disapproval, pushing the gown aside. “Feels too simple.”
Just then the doorbell rang, and I heard Finn squeal downstairs. Cora’s eyes widened and it seemed as though she wanted to burst into tears. “Now what do I do?”
“Mommy! Uncle’s here!” Finn’s light footsteps as he ascended the stairs stirred the anxiety building up in the air. I shut my eyes, thinking of a solution. None came.
I held up the black dress. “Come on, Cora. It’s perfect.”
“But what if he doesn’t like it?”
“Hey, hey, love,” I raised her chin with a finger, beaming. She exhaled sharply, failing in an attempt to force a smile. “You look pretty in whatever you choose to wear, so stop fussing. I’ll go down to him while you get ready.”
Finn tugged at my dress, bringing my attention to him. I bent, kissed his forehead, and scooped him up, fitting him on my waist. We descended the stairs slowly, Finn pulling my tendrils and clapping his hand excitedly. “Uncle is here! Uncle is here!”
“Don’t forget your manners, sweetheart. Good boys greet and are nice to their uncles.” I said before drawing the door open. A wave of no almost knocked me out flat at the sight of the man standing before me. He was beautiful – with inky black hair and stunning blue eyes that reminded me of Mr. Sturm. At least six foot four, he towered over me, staring at Finn who was hiding his face in my neck now.
I shook my head gently and cleared my throat. “Good evening, Sir. I’m Elaine Matthews, Cora’s best friend. It’s nice to finally meet you,” I held out my hand.
He shook it warmly, locking eyes with me for the first time. Where have I seen this face before? He’s so familiar. “Nice to meet you too, Elaine. I’m Manny Salazar.”
My jaw dropped to the floor. “M-manny what?” I asked again to make sure I was hearing right.
The skin of his forehead drew together into a slight frown. “Manny Salazar. Cora’s boss,” he raised an eyebrow. “Is anything the matter?”
Oh my God.