breakthroughs in the past ten years. And although she wasn’t privy to his medical records, she had no reason to think that he wasn’t in the best health and could father her child. The man was as virile as they came.
Caroline picked up the sticky note she’d written the date and time on. She checked her watch. It was just past 1:00. She shut down her computer and jotted some quick notes for the night staff. The bakers took over the kitchen once the day’s decorating was complete. The kitchen was kept cool, but the oven heat and the summer heat combined to make it nearly impossible to allow the bakers and decorators to work at the same time. Fondant was a necessity in the business, but it didn’t handle heat or humidity well.
As she walked to the door, her office phone rang. She leaned over the length of her desk, nearly knocking over the stacks of invoices waiting to be filed. She’d question the logic of leaning versus walking a few extra steps only if they did actually slide to the floor, creating yet another task that would have to be completed before she could leave.
“Caroline’s. This is Caroline. May I help you?” Stretching her arms to catch the files as they kissed the floor, she smothered a curse.
“Hello?” Pulling the phone from her ear, she stared at the handset and then at the numbers running across the small display screen on the base. It wasn’t a local number, and the area code didn’t look familiar.
“Hello?” She could have sworn she heard breathing. A prank call? In the middle of the day?
“I’m going to hang up know. If this is a legitimate call, please feel free to call the sales line, and one of the counter girls will be happy to assist you.” No need to be rude even though this was taking up precious spa time.
Replacing the handset, she eyed the invoices littering the floor crossly and vowed to leave them there until she returned. Pulling her office door shut behind her, she ran through her to-do list and nearly jumped when her cell phone rang. She tapped “answer” and heard her sister ask, “Have you really thought this through, Caroline?”
Leave it to her sister to call multiple phones and try to make her crazy as she neared one of the most important days of her life, she thought, rolling her eyes. Ignoring the urge to insist her younger sister lose her phone numbers altogether, she took a calming breath and determined that if she left now, she could make her spa appointment, get her toes done, and still have time to contemplate any last minute details before Malcolm arrived at 6:00.
She tucked the phone deeper into her shoulder, waved to the decorating staff and stepped out into the sale space. She smiled at the customers waiting in line, waved to the counter girls and breathed deeply as the sun shone brightly on her face.
She’d come to terms with her sister over the past few months. Her sister had married, created a life separate from that of their mother, and become a new person. Sarah, the middle child, after getting a degree at NYU, had joined her mother in the family marketing business. This decision had initially increased the gulf between the sisters. At their mother’s side constantly, Sarah was guided away from her sister and harassed when she failed to comply.
On a business trip to France, Sarah had met Cody Miles. He’d pursued Sarah persistently and finally succeeded in capturing her heart. He’d brought a balance to her life that she hadn’t experienced before. He’d also brought a sense of family and belonging. He’d been adamant that Sarah could and should repair the relationship she had with her family, at least with as many as she could, so that their children could benefit from the tight network of love that he’d experienced in his early years.
“Caroline?”
Sarah didn’t have to repeat her question for Caroline. She knew what Sarah wanted to hear. “Honestly, I think so. I just can’t believe this is all a coincidence. I have
Caroline picked up the sticky note she’d written the date and time on. She checked her watch. It was just past 1:00. She shut down her computer and jotted some quick notes for the night staff. The bakers took over the kitchen once the day’s decorating was complete. The kitchen was kept cool, but the oven heat and the summer heat combined to make it nearly impossible to allow the bakers and decorators to work at the same time. Fondant was a necessity in the business, but it didn’t handle heat or humidity well.
As she walked to the door, her office phone rang. She leaned over the length of her desk, nearly knocking over the stacks of invoices waiting to be filed. She’d question the logic of leaning versus walking a few extra steps only if they did actually slide to the floor, creating yet another task that would have to be completed before she could leave.
“Caroline’s. This is Caroline. May I help you?” Stretching her arms to catch the files as they kissed the floor, she smothered a curse.
“Hello?” Pulling the phone from her ear, she stared at the handset and then at the numbers running across the small display screen on the base. It wasn’t a local number, and the area code didn’t look familiar.
“Hello?” She could have sworn she heard breathing. A prank call? In the middle of the day?
“I’m going to hang up know. If this is a legitimate call, please feel free to call the sales line, and one of the counter girls will be happy to assist you.” No need to be rude even though this was taking up precious spa time.
Replacing the handset, she eyed the invoices littering the floor crossly and vowed to leave them there until she returned. Pulling her office door shut behind her, she ran through her to-do list and nearly jumped when her cell phone rang. She tapped “answer” and heard her sister ask, “Have you really thought this through, Caroline?”
Leave it to her sister to call multiple phones and try to make her crazy as she neared one of the most important days of her life, she thought, rolling her eyes. Ignoring the urge to insist her younger sister lose her phone numbers altogether, she took a calming breath and determined that if she left now, she could make her spa appointment, get her toes done, and still have time to contemplate any last minute details before Malcolm arrived at 6:00.
She tucked the phone deeper into her shoulder, waved to the decorating staff and stepped out into the sale space. She smiled at the customers waiting in line, waved to the counter girls and breathed deeply as the sun shone brightly on her face.
She’d come to terms with her sister over the past few months. Her sister had married, created a life separate from that of their mother, and become a new person. Sarah, the middle child, after getting a degree at NYU, had joined her mother in the family marketing business. This decision had initially increased the gulf between the sisters. At their mother’s side constantly, Sarah was guided away from her sister and harassed when she failed to comply.
On a business trip to France, Sarah had met Cody Miles. He’d pursued Sarah persistently and finally succeeded in capturing her heart. He’d brought a balance to her life that she hadn’t experienced before. He’d also brought a sense of family and belonging. He’d been adamant that Sarah could and should repair the relationship she had with her family, at least with as many as she could, so that their children could benefit from the tight network of love that he’d experienced in his early years.
“Caroline?”
Sarah didn’t have to repeat her question for Caroline. She knew what Sarah wanted to hear. “Honestly, I think so. I just can’t believe this is all a coincidence. I have
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