Perfectly Unpredictable (12 page)

Kalia relaxed a little. It was fine. Roadside
assistance would bring some gasoline, and she would be on her way.

But how odd. The car had never run out of
gas so abruptly before. Last week, the problem with the infection. And now this.
Was it a sign? A bad omen? Alex warning her off? She frowned. That was too
fanciful. She dismissed the idea with a shake of her head.

It was close to an hour later when she was finally
ready to go. By the time the gas tank was filled, Mani needed to be breastfed. She
was buckling him back in his car seat when her phone rang.

“Hello. I’m calling from Rattle My Cage
daycare.”

“We’re on our way,” Kalia said.

“Oh. I was calling to tell you that the
last position for your son’s age group has been filled. It turns out we won’t
have a spot available, after all.”

“Really?” Kalia slumped in her seat.

“Yes, it was filled this morning. You’re
welcome to visit, but I don’t anticipate any openings for the winter or into
the spring.”

She sighed in frustration. “Oh, well,
thanks, but maybe we’ll leave it for now.”

“Sure. Feel free to call if you change your
mind.”

Kalia hung up and shook her head in
frustration. Now what?

She turned the car around and headed home. Try
to look at the bright side, she told herself. She wouldn’t have to drop Mani
off two days a week at a daycare that looked like a cage. And she still had a
month or two before she really needed to get back to work. She glanced in the
rear view mirror. Mani was happy. And she had a full tank of gas.

She hadn’t thought arranging childcare
would be this difficult. Maybe she needed to look at other options. One of the
moms at the park had a live-in nanny. Would that work for two days a week? The
easiest would be shared babysitting with another child. There were certainly a
lot of families in the neighborhood to tap into for that. She pulled into the
driveway. Sounded like she needed to do more research and a little creative
thinking.

“Seriously, Mama? I don’t really have the
time or energy to entertain,” Kalia said into the phone.

“Kalia, ma chérie. He’s only in town for a
few days. And he’s a lovely young man. I can help with Mani,” Geneviève
bargained.

Much as her parents seemed to accept her
having a baby without marriage and a husband, her mom had become a tireless
matchmaker. This was the third request for a blind date with a friend’s son or
an acquaintance of theirs who would “be perfect.” Kalia had managed to deflect
the first two, but something told her this time wasn’t going to be as easy.

Kalia struggled with the options. She
didn’t really want to get dressed up and have a formal, fancy date. She didn’t
want to leave Mani. She was a stickler for his routine and didn’t want to throw
him off. She’d rather have a casual dinner at home, something informal and
relaxed. The downside was getting the guest to leave when she’d had enough. Although
she could always play the breastfeeding card. That seemed to clear a room
fairly quickly.

She sighed. Is this what her life had come
to? Trying to think of ways to dissuade dates? Maybe she did need her mother’s
help. “Who is he, again, Mama?”

“His parents are Kathleen and Henry
Stockwen. You’ve heard me talk of them. We play bridge with them three or four
times a year. They’re a lovely couple. Cameron is their youngest boy. He’s an
architect and making quite a name for himself. He was just awarded the contract
for the new library in Rivermede. It was quite a coup for someone so young.”

“Have you actually met him?”

“Well, no,” her mother said hesitantly. “But
Kathleen talks about him all the time. I feel I’ve watched him grow up.” She
rushed on. “He’s in town for the month of March to meet with the engineers. And
then he’ll commute back and forth as he still has projects in Emerson.”

“Sounds like a busy guy,” Kalia said,
trying to stall.

“Mais, oui. But his mother said that he
would be delighted to meet you.”

Great, Kalia thought. He was probably
trying to dodge this, too. “Does he know I have a son?”

“Oh, I’m sure. I’ve certainly mentioned it
to Kathleen.”

“All right, Mama. I’ll agree this time. But
after this, I would like to do this on my own. No more blind dates,” Kalia said
sternly.

“Of course, ma chérie.”

Huh. Fat chance.

Two weeks later, Kalia slipped on a pair of
pale blue slacks and a long-sleeved white silk blouse, selected a simple
crystal aquamarine pendant with matching earrings, and looked at herself in the
mirror. She’d left her hair down, and it curled around her face. She looked
lovely.

She sat down on the edge of the bed. So why
did she feel so blue?

Cameron was coming tonight for dinner. She’d
made a chilled cucumber soup and a quinoa salad while Mani was napping. She had
salmon marinating and asparagus washed and ready to grill. The table was set
with bright orange placemats and a simple gerbera daisy in a glass bowl. It
looked fresh and informal.

It hadn’t been stressful. She had puttered
in the kitchen and figured she’d have enough leftovers for another couple of
meals. She’d even had time to take Mani for a walk. She glanced down at Mani
playing on the floor in her bedroom. He was breastfed, bathed, and ready for
bed.

So why did she feel so blue?

She missed Alex. This was the first date
she’d had since Mani was born. She hadn’t thought it would be so hard. When she
hung out with Mack, it was easy, probably because they weren’t dating.

He had been away for the last two weeks on
his European tour. She missed him, too.

It’s not like she wasn’t looking forward to
tonight, to meeting Cameron and having adult company. She sighed. Actually, she
wasn’t looking forward to tonight, to meeting Cameron and having adult company.
She wanted it to be Alex.

Her eyes filled.

Cameron was going to be there any minute
and she needed to pull herself together. Focus on something happy, she chided
herself. She looked down at Mani cooing and babbling. Out the open window, a
child laughed and a bird twittered in the still evening.

Suddenly, the curtains fluttered as a warm
breeze wafted in. She turned her head to catch it as it lifted her hair and brushed
her cheek. It gently caressed her and dried the tears from her eyes.

“Oh, Alex. I love you, too,” she said
softly, closing her eyes briefly and cherishing the warm softness that swirled
around and soothed her. Everything was going to be okay. She could do this.
More, she needed it. She needed to get out and connect with other people. Make
friendships and become part of the community. For Mani’s sake and hers.

Kalia glanced at the clock. And this was a
start. She reached down, picked up Mani, and cradled him close. “Time for bed,
little man.”

She carried him to his crib, kissed his forehead,
and tucked him in. After setting the music box to play Mack’s song, she left
the room. Mani babbled for a bit, but by the time the music finished, the room
was quiet.

Kalia went to the kitchen to finish
preparing dinner. She grilled the asparagus, drizzled a simple dressing over
top, and garnished the plate with raspberries and shredded gruyère cheese. When
the doorbell rang at eight o’clock, she removed her apron, straightened her
shoulders, and took a fortifying breath.

Cameron was dressed casually in a black
T-shirt and beige slacks. He had a mop of red hair and a boyish grin. He
offered her a bouquet of yellow roses and a bottle of chilled white wine.

“Thank you very much for the invitation to
dinner,” he said, stepping inside. “It seems our parents were keen for us to
get together,” he added a bit sheepishly.

Kalia chuckled. “Yes, I got that impression,
too. But it’s a pleasure meeting you.”

“I hope it wasn’t too much trouble. I
would’ve been happy to go out.”

“No, not at all. My son is only eight
months old and this is easier.”

They opened the bottle of wine and sat down
to enjoy dinner. Cameron wasn’t timid and wasn’t pushy. He listened to stories
about her work and shared funny anecdotes about his. They found they shared a
love of travel and laughed about their experiences that were similar. He was
easy company, and the evening was pleasant.

But there was no spark. It was like
spending an evening with her brother. Which was great. It was fun and low key,
but likely not what their parents were hoping for. She wondered if her parents
or his knew that he was gay.

Close to eleven o’clock, Kalia heard Mani whimper.
“That’s Mani. I usually breastfeed him one last time before he settles for the
night.”

“He’s been quiet.” Cameron checked his
watch. “It’s getting late. I should get going.” He rose. “Thank you very much
for dinner, Kalia. The food was delicious. When you’re more comfortable leaving
Mani with a sitter, I’ll have to return the hospitality,” he said with a smile.

Kalia smiled back. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the evening, too. Thank you for the flowers and the wine.”

“You’re welcome. It was really nice to meet
you.”

Kalia held the door and watched Cameron skip
down the stairs and fold himself into a little black BMW sports car. She waved
good-bye as he pulled out of the driveway.

“Who was that?”

Kalia jumped and her heart skipped a beat. “Jeez,
Mack. You scared me. I didn’t realize you were back.”

“Just got in. Was that your brother?” Mack
asked.

“No. It was my date,” Kalia said
impatiently, delight at seeing him again mixed with annoyance at his accusing
tone.

Mack’s eyes widened. “Your date?”

“Yes.” Kalia laughed at the outrage in his
expression. “What? I’m not allowed to date?”

“It was a guy,” Mack pointed out.

Kalia looked at him quizzically with her
hands on her hips. “Of course it was a guy. If you must know, he’s the son of
my parents’ friends. We had dinner. Look,” she said when she heard Mani cry,
“do you want to come in for coffee? I need to feed Mani.” She turned and raced
upstairs.

When she returned to the kitchen with Mani
in her arms, Mack was helping himself to a cup of coffee. Mani gave a happy
gurgle when he spotted Mack and held out his arms.

“Hello, big guy,” Mack said as he stroked
Mani’s hair lightly. “Do you want one?” he asked Kalia, pointing to the coffee.

“No, but I’d love another glass of wine. My
glass is there.”

Kalia sat down on the sofa and lifted her
blouse. Mani rooted for her breast and sucked hungrily. She threw a baby
blanket over her shoulder as Mack walked over to hand her the wine. “Thanks. There’s
a fruit tart there if you’d like some.”

“No, coffee’s good.” He took a sip and eyed
her over the rim of the cup. “So, you had a date.”

“Yes,” she replied absently, adjusting the
blanket over her shoulder.

“A date date. Like a dinner date.” He waved
toward the table obviously set for a romantic dinner.

“Yes.”

“With a man.”

She looked up at him with a frown. “Yes,”
she repeated. “With a man.” She shook her head and laughed. “Why do you keep
asking me that?”

Oh. Mack thought she was gay. She hadn’t
thought it mattered. But, um, apparently it might. Wasn’t that interesting?

“What does your gay partner think about
that?”

“Oh, well, yes. Um, well actually . . .” She
stalled. She burped Mani quickly and put him to the other breast. “Krista moved
out a few months ago.”

“Really?” he drawled.

“Yes. And actually I’m not gay,” Kalia
said, looking Mack in the eye.

“What?”

Kalia squirmed. “I’m not gay. Krista was,
well, is,” she stammered. “But I’m not and never have been.”

“You’re not gay.”

“No.”

“You’ve never had sex with women.”

“No. I’m straight. Only have sex with men.”

“How many men?” Mack asked with chagrin.

Kalia laughed and looked at Mack with a
smirk. “Mind your own business.”

Mani stopped sucking and drifted off to
sleep. Kalia gently patted his back until he burped. She fleetingly wondered
how Mani could sleep when the air was sizzling with Mack’s energy.

“I just need to put him in his crib again,”
she told Mack as she lowered her blouse. “I’ll be right back.”

She carried Mani to his crib and gently laid
him down. She covered him with a thin blanket and turned off his night-light. Leaving
the door open a crack, she walked slowly back to the living room, where Mack
waited.

He was sitting on the sofa with his legs
outstretched, cradling his coffee, a brooding expression on his face. He set
the coffee aside and stood up when she walked in the room. Kalia felt a tingle
from her scalp to her toes at the look in his eye.

“I just have to try something,” he said as
he ran his hands up Kalia’s arms, framed her face, and pressed his lips gently to
hers.

Kalia groaned and pressed closer as his
tongue danced and teased her lips apart. Zero to one hundred in ten seconds
flat, she thought.
Oh my. Oh my.
She
felt herself go wet, her nipples harden, her breasts become heavy. She tangled
her hands in his hair. So soft and full.

“I’m so happy you’re not gay,” Mack
managed.

“Me, too.”

He crushed his lips to hers and his hands
roamed, leaving a trail of tingling skin in their wake. She ached to touch him,
slipping her hands under his shirt, loving the feel of his rippling muscles and
the smooth skin of his back. She pulled his shirt up, and he stopped and with a
fluid motion, pulled it over his head. Kalia’s heart jumped at the sight of his
naked chest.

She placed her hand on his heart and felt
the wild beating. She raised startled eyes to his.

He gave a crooked grin. “That’s what you do
to me.”

She reached for his hand and cradled
against her chest. “Me, too.”

A spark flared in his eyes. He pulled her
close, and his lips devoured hers.

“My bedroom’s upstairs,” she whispered
between kisses.

He swooped her up. “Which room?”

She laughed. “First door on the left. But I’m
too heavy.” She cradled her head against his chest. “Not that I want you to put
me down . . . ”

He smiled with his eyes. “I want to hold
you and cherish you.”

Emotion swirled in her chest. She couldn’t
speak. She stroked his cheek, and he bent to kiss her.

He walked into the bedroom and set her
gently on the bed. He stepped back and reached to unbuckle his belt.

“Do you have a condom?” she asked,
unbuttoning her blouse.

“No. Shit. Good point. Shit.”

She looked at his stunning six-pack, the
bulging muscles of his arms, and his beautiful eyes. Her shoulders slumped. She
couldn’t do it. Been there. Done that.