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“Guess what I’m getting at is that stuff happens. All we can do is live for the moment and hope for the best. So,” he said, looking as if he was making an effort to lighten his expression. “How about one of my world-famous, chili-cheese omelets?”
ALL THROUGH BREAKFAST, Jake watched.
Bonnie with Candy. Candy with Bonnie.
And all through breakfast, one thing became abundantly clear: Candy would make a great temporary mom. If only he could convince her of that fact.
In the brief time he’d been there, he’d already seen dozens of positive signs. Sure, at first, she’d been tentative about the whole baby thing, but no doubt about it, she was softening. The squeezes, the kisses pressed to Bonnie’s forehead, the unconscious yet meticulous care taken with repositioning her hair bow. Could the morning’s plans be proceeding any more smoothly?
In fact, things were running so smoothly, that in the living room, Bonnie had even sacked out in the portable playpen Jake had brought in from the car. Nothing—and he meant nothing—was more irresistible than sleeping Bonnie. She was so cute that he wouldn’t be surprised to find Miss I-Don’t-Care-For-Babies sneaking in there for a few quick rump pats!
“That was good,” Candy said, pushing her empty plate aside to make room for a cup of coffee. “At first, I have to admit to having doubts about your creation, but now I bow to your omelet prowess.”
“Thanks. I perfected these babies on the last company camp-a-thon.”
“Camp-a-thon?”
“Yeah. Me and the other board members get people to sponsor us to camp on the roof of Galaxy Sports headquarters. It’s grown into a pretty big deal—customers drive by, honking at us and dropping off cash donations. This year, we raised a bundle for Special Olympics.”
Grinning, Candy said, “Why doesn’t it surprise me that you don’t host simple, black-tie, fund-raising dinners like other business tycoons?”
“What’s the fun in that? I mean, come on, how many CEOs do you know who get to spend a whole week sleeping under the stars and playing rooftop volleyball all in the name of charity?”
“You’ve got a point there.”
Inside, Jake couldn’t help but preen. Candy’s improved mood could only mean one thing. Not only had he seduced her with his cooking, but she’d seen what a love bug Bonnie was and didn’t even need the rest of the week to decide to remarry him. A fact that put him in the mood to party. “Say, Candy Cane, if you don’t have anything going on today, how about we head down to the lake for a sail?”
She choked on her latest sip of coffee.
Good sign or bad? Man, oh, man, what had gotten into him to have accidentally called her “Candy Cane”?
“That sounds nice,” she said, “but I have to pack. And this afternoon, I should head over to the shop. I want to make sure there’s a surplus of everything when the new owners take charge. They’re friends. Greg and Betsy Hammond. Remember them from high school? They were a grade ahead of us.”
“Sure. How are they?”
“Good. Betsy just had their fourth boy. I think she was hoping for a girl this time, but…” Fidgeting with her hands, she said, “Anyway, they’re about the only ones happy with my decision to sell. Kelly’s finally cutting me some slack, but when I first told her, she read me the riot act.”
“So why are you doing it? I mean, why take such a drastic step as to outright sell? Why not leave it in the hands of your most trusted employees? Surely someone could run the place while you take time off?”
Head bowed, Candy said, “It’s not that simple. I need the money to travel, and I’m afraid what I’m looking for can’t be found in a few days. Something’s missing inside me, Jake.” Palms pressed to her chest, she said, “I feel lonely in crowds, like there’s a piece of me out there that I haven’t been able to find. I have to take this trip. I’m sorry if my selling Candy Kisses hurts people’s feelings. It’s hurting me, too. That business is my only family aside from you—or, I mean, at least you used to be my family. Now…” She flopped her hands on her lap. “I don’t know, I just feel restless.”
At first, Jake thought every word his ex muttered about needing to find herself had been hogwash, but now, seeing the sadness in Candy’s eyes, made the part of him that would always care about her wonder if maybe she was on the right track. Because, shoot, who was he to say running off on some great adventure wouldn’t be the key to unlocking whatever tormented her soul?
Problem was, if Candy took off to find her soul, that left him losing his. For if the state took Bonnie, Jake knew he’d be done for. Oh, no matter how bad it hurt, he’d abide by the law and give her up, but doing so might very well kill him.
Toying with his coffee cup, Jake said, “I don’t mean to pressure you, Candy, but I can’t begin to explain how much Bonnie means to me. I can’t—”
“No, Jake. Don’t do this. Please don’t play the guilt card. It isn’t fair.” Candy pushed back her chair, reached for their plates, and stormed to the sink.
Jake followed suit.
At the sink, he spun her around to face him. “Mind telling me what is fair? You can go on this trip of yours anytime. I’m not asking you to cancel flat-out, just to postpone. If you want to be stupid enough to throw away a business that has the potential to one day become a family legacy like Hershey or Godiva, be my guest. All I’m asking for is a year—maybe even less—of your time.”
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