Cabin Fever (3 page)

Turning back around, I laugh. Leah always had a way of painting pictures with her words. She and I were the perfect buddies; she painted with words and I with acrylics.

“I can imagine.” I take a sip of my hot tea, burning my throat in the process. “So, how did you two meet? Seems like he’s not the kind of guy you normally date. Are you dating, or are you married?” My gaze slips to her left hand. There’s a diamond there but no other band.

“We’re not married yet, but we will be. Next summer maybe, if I can hold out that long.” Her hand drops to her waist and she rubs her stomach.

It’s the first time I notice a slight bulge there.
Is she pregnant? Should I dare ask?

“We met earlier this year when I found a ring he lost … actually his brother lost it … and I tracked him down, and we just kind of fell in love.” Her expression goes dreamy.

“A ring?” This story is getting better by the second. “How did you find it? How did you know it was his?”

“Actually, it was an engagement ring he bought for someone else, and I found out it was his by the laser engraving on the diamond. He’d bought it at Cartier, so I just went there with the laser-number and they knew he was the owner.”

“Wow. That’s just … wow.” Talk about destiny. I’m jealous that the universe is so obviously in her corner. What does a girl have to do to get that kind of power on her side? I wish I knew. It makes me even happier that I came here. Maybe some of her good karma will rub off on me.

“I know. It’s a long story, but it ended up well.” She rubs her belly again. Suddenly she seems very shy. “We found out we’re pregnant pretty much right after we moved in together. I’m five months along. Almost six.”

“Congratulations!” I reach over and touch her hand as it rests on the table. If it were me finding out I was pregnant just after moving in with a guy, it wouldn’t be a congratulatory moment, but she seems to be happy about her situation. And who am I to judge? I’m nobody to be moralizing over anyone’s decisions. I don’t even have a place to live anymore, and I’m hoping to sponge off a friend I’ve neglected for way too long. Yeah … judging is the very
last
thing I should be doing.

She’s all dreamy again, oblivious to my discomfort. “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. I was scared to death at first, of course, but after taking care of Cassie every other weekend and getting to know James better, I know it’s a good thing. Karma took good care of me.”

I look at the baby, trying to see her features on a man’s face. “So who is Cassie? Is she his daughter?” This is getting juicer by the second. I can’t believe my friend is so cool with taking care of some other woman’s baby like that. Cassie can’t be more than nine months old.

“No, she’s his niece.”

“Oh.” That makes a lot more sense.

“His brother has kind of fallen off the map, so James and his sister Jana take turns with Cassie.”

I’m not sure I understood correctly. “Fallen off the map? What does that mean?”

Leah’s face loses its sparkle. “It’s a really sad story. Eight, almost nine months ago, Jeremy — that’s James’s brother — was married to this girl named Laura. She was nine months pregnant. One day she went out by herself, and she got hit by a car.”

“Oh my god.” My heart seizes up just hearing the story, and I don’t even know these people. Poor Jeremy. I wonder how old he is, if he’s James’s younger or older brother.

“Yeah. It was bad. So Cassie was born as her mother died. It was all very tragic. Jeremy adored his wife, and from everything I hear, I guess she was a pretty special person. James and Jana loved her so much.”

“That’s so sad.” Tears are welling up in my eyes for complete strangers.

“Yeah, it is. And ever since her funeral, Jeremy’s been on a mission to basically drink himself to death.”

“Oh, God. Awful.” I’m shaking my head, picturing this man at a bar slumped over and wallowing in pain.

“Yes, it’s awful. Worse than awful. James and Jana had to go to court and get guardianship over Cassie. Jeremy never even showed up to the hearing. Now they can’t find him.”

“That’s horrible!” My tea has gone cold, but I don’t care. I need to drink it to keep my hands busy. I feel like crawling into bed and crying myself to sleep. And I thought my life sucked…

“So, poor little Cassie here has to deal with me playing mom and Jana playing mom and James trying to be a stand-in dad.” She reaches out and takes the baby’s hand, leaning over to kiss the back of it.

Looking at Cassie again, I see her in a whole new light. No wonder she’s so serious. Even at less than a year old, she’s aware of her circumstances. I can see it. “What about her real dad? Doesn’t he come visit her at least?”

“Nope. Never. Even when he was around, he never mentioned her.”

“But why? She’s so beautiful.” I reach out and stroke her little head. Her hair is so soft and silky. She looks at me calmly as she shoves another Cheerio in her mouth.

“It’s too painful for him. He told James once that he talks to his wife’s ghost. He’s really messed up.”

“And you don’t even know if he’s around?”

“Nope. James hired a private investigator and everything. He’s disappeared without a trace.”

“Doesn’t he have a job? Or need money to pay for all those drinks?”

“No, he doesn’t work anymore. He used to renovate houses with his wife, but he only did that to keep busy with her. All of the Olivers have a ton of money they got from their parents and grandparents. He’s not using his credit cards, though. That much we do know.”

“You said James is a surgeon?”

“Yeah. He does it to keep busy too.” She refills her tea and sighs. “It’s not that he doesn’t love it, he does. But he doesn’t
need
to work. He just … does it to keep everyone happy.”

“Everyone like who? You?”

“Me? Heck no.” She snorts. “As if. Honestly, I think he’s doing it to keep himself from having to deal with Jeremy right now. I try to get him to slow down, but it’s not easy. He doesn’t really know how to relax yet, but we’re working on it.” She sips more of her tea. “I work for him part-time and for a friend part-time in her shop. Otherwise, I hang out, decorate this place, or take care of Cassie.” She shrugs. “I’ve had friends of Jana’s ask me to decorate their places, but so far I’ve said no. I’m too busy with Cassie, and soon I’ll be busy with my own baby, so…”

“Sounds like a great life.” I really mean that. I’m not just giving her the response that’s called for after hearing her story. There’s drama here, for sure, but I can sense the love they have in this family. It comes through in her tone, and in the fact that this man from a completely different world from us let this crazy girl come in and turn his life upside down, and gave her a job. I actually envy Leah, when before I think it used to be the other way around. I
used
to have my stuff together, back in the day, back when I thought I knew what I was doing with my life.

“I was going to bring Cassie back to Jana’s place. Do you want to come with us or rest before dinner?”

I stand, bringing my teacup over to the sink. “I think I’ll rest if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Take a nap, shower, do whatever you want. James and I will be back around seven thirty or so and we’ll have dinner after.”

“Sounds good.” I pause to hug Leah and then kiss Cassie on the top of her head.

The little angel turns her head sideways and then tilts it way back to be able to see me behind and above her. She blinks her eyes a few times, looking wise beyond her years.

I’m holding back tears looking at her beautiful face. “See you again soon, Cassie, I hope.”

“Oh, you will. She’s here a lot.” Leah busies herself with wiping the baby’s face as I leave the kitchen.

After a quick pitstop in the bathroom, I’m back in my borrowed bedroom. I lie down on the bed and use the throw-blanket at the foot of it to keep warm, thinking I’ll just sleep a half hour or so to refresh myself.

The next thing I know, it’s eight o’clock and time for dinner.

Chapter Four

A TALL MAN IN DARK gray suit trousers and a white shirt with the tie mostly undone is standing in the middle of the living room, a glass of what looks like whiskey in his hand.

“You must be Sarah,” he says, lowering the glass and walking over to me, smiling.

I smile back and grasp his much larger, outstretched hand in mine. “Yes, and you must be James.” Thankfully, he’s not one of those guys who tries to prove his manhood by crushing knuckles, nor is he the type to act as though he’ll bruise me by having no grip at all. I’m impressed already.

“Yes. Welcome.” He looks around the room as our hands disconnect. “To our very colorful home.”

“I saw the before-picture. This is a pretty big change.” I’m testing him to see how he really feels about Leah’s work. I get the impression a guy like him doesn’t take to change all that easily.

“Night and day,” he says. His voice goes softer. “I never realized how bland my life was until Leah came into it.” He winks.

I laugh, relieved to find he’s truly accepting of her influence. “No one could ever call life with Leah bland, that’s for sure.”

Walking over to a bookshelf, I take in the titles. There’s
Shakespeare’s Complete Works
,
The Count of Monte Cristo
, and
David Copperfield
among others I know Leah would never read. “Looks like she didn’t get rid of everything.”

James joins me there. “She knows what’s important to me and what’s not, and she works around the things I like to keep.” He takes a sip of his whiskey before continuing. “I don’t expect her to, but she does.”

“Leah was always pretty sensitive.” I don’t tell him that she was always up for taking on a hopeless case and doing everything within her power to fix it, whether it be a person or a business. I still remember the used bookstore she turned into a tiny coffee shop place with both used and new books. She didn’t even own it; she was just an employee. But it’s still standing today, even with all the other independent shops in town closing up. “She has a knack for not just color but … harmony I guess you could say.”

James bursts out laughing, startling me. “Harmony? Oh boy … I’m not sure I can agree with that one.”

I frown, but my next question is cut off by the sound of a door opening and then Leah’s voice. “Hello, family! I’m home! James? Can you help me with this?” Banging ensues.

“Duty calls,” he says in a stage whisper, putting his glass on the bookshelf and leaving the living room for the front foyer.

I follow behind, hoping to help.

Leah’s halfway through the door, carrying the baby, a carseat, a giant diaper bag, and another bag of groceries. “I was going to bring Cassie over to Jana, but Jana was running late, so I offered to keep her a little longer.”

“How’d you get all this in here?” James asks, relieving her of everything but the baby.

“Emile downstairs helped me. He’s so nice.”

“He likes your tips, I know that,” James says under his breath.

“You won’t miss the tip money, but it’ll make a big difference to him,” she says, coming into the room. There’s a note of censure in her voice.

“Yes, dear,” James says, not without humor. I get the impression that this is a conversation they’ve had before and they’ve agreed to disagree. Or James has let Leah have her way. It makes me like him even more. Gorgeous, generous,
and
understanding? Leah’s hit the jackpot.

Leah grins at me. “Are you ready for dinner? I got take-out. I’m still a terrible cook.”

“You’re not wearing your takeout dress, though,” James says, earning a frown from Leah.

“Shush,” she says, quelling whatever inside story it is they’re sharing.

I grin, not quite getting the joke but wanting her to know I don’t expect her to cook for me. “I love takeout, especially in Manhattan. What can I do to help?”

“Unpack it. Jana will be here any minute.”

“She’s eating with us?” James asks, banging away in the front hall closet as he puts things away. “It’s Friday night. I thought she had a life.”

“She does, but she wanted to meet Sarah.” Leah winks at me. “No pressure, but you’re going to meet my brother, too.”

My jaw drops open. “Brother? Since when do you have a brother?”

She grins super big and lifts her shoulders. “Since this year! I’ll tell you all about it at dinner.” She leaves the front hall, expecting me to follow. “Let’s set the table before they get here.”

I hold the baby as Leah expertly dresses the table. It goes from boring oak to a carnival of colors in five minutes. She takes Cassie from me and puts her in a highchair near the far corner. A few toys on the tray keep the little girl busy.

“You like?” she asks, standing back to admire her work.

“I
love
.” I shake my head in amazement at her talents. “I never realized you were so good with color before.”

“I know, right?” She leans in closer and talks in a whisper. “I think James’s bland stuff sent a shock through my system or something. Woke up a part of my personality that was in hibernation.”

“Are you talking about me again?” he asks, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He leans in and kisses her on the neck.

She giggles and spins around in his arms, lacing her hands behind his neck. “Always. I talk about you all the time with anyone who will listen. Everyone’s getting sick of hearing your name.”

I turn away as they kiss, embarrassed by the passion I see there. No wonder she got pregnant right after they moved in together. Now I really feel the need to cut this visit short. I’m obviously right in the middle of a honeymoon period in their relationship. Talk about a lame houseguest. Just call me Sarah The Wet Blanket.

“Okay, enough of that,” he says, smacking her on the butt lightly. “We have a guest we’re making uncomfortable and I’m hungry.”

Leah separates herself from her man with a sigh. “Fine. I have appetizers, by the way. Let me just find them…” She picks up the bag of groceries from the floor and places it on the corner of the table. “Somewhere in here…I have some … springrolls…”

James retrieves his glass from the bookshelves and walks back over to us. “Can I get you something to drink, ladies? Wine? Scotch? Juice? Water?”