Fresh Temptation

as medical care for a sinus infection.
    Since the room was noisy and the people at this table seemed nice, Cara looked around for her supervisor. She then made a split-second decision to look at her phone.
    She forced a big, fake smile, hoping they wouldn’t notice her watery eyes. “Is it okay if I set this tray down on the table for a sec?”
    Victor returned her smile. “Sure, honey. Take all the room you need.” He took the tray from hand and placed it directly in front of him.
    “Thanks.” Cara didn’t notice the redhead’s jealous glare as she pulled her phone from her pocket. She looked down at her mother’s message, which said, “Surgery Monday morning. Call soon.”
    A few tears escaped Cara’s eyes and she wiped them away. If a doctor deemed it to be an emergency, the cost would be completely covered, either by her insurance or by one of the free hospitals in the area. And even if that fell through, she would find a way to pay for it herself. A hefty monthly payment plan, a new credit card, another job. Whatever it took. She felt a sense of relief, knowing Isaac would soon be back to his fun-loving self.
    She took a deep breath and reached down for the tray. “Thanks.”
    Victor’s eyebrows crinkled. “Everything okay?”
    She grinned. “It will be.”
    The redhead stood just as Cara lifted the tray. “Was that a cell phone I just saw?”
    Shit. Cara’s tone was sheepish. “Um…yeah.”
    Victor shot the redhead an angry look. “Alexis, don’t.”
    Alexis walked around his chair and looked Cara in the eye. “We were assured the staff wouldn’t spend their evening on their cell phones. It’s very unprofessional and this is an expensive event.”
    Cara felt a giant knot form in her stomach. “I’m really sorry. I know I could get in trouble but I have a three-year-old in the emergency room. He’s really sick.”
    The guests at the table were now looking at Cara, their mouths gaping.
    Betsy Kisch spoke up. “Oh dear, what’s wrong? Is he all right?”
    Alexis shook her head. “You’re here, working, instead of taking care of your sick son?”
    Cara’s mouth dropped open. “Yes, as a matter of fact.” Her fear quickly turned to anger as she looked in Alexis’s judgmental eyes. “You know, some of us weren’t born with silver spoons in our mouths. Some of us have to work hard for a living, even when we have sick kids at home.”
    Alexis scoffed. “Yeah, whatever.” She turned on her heel and scurried away, her long dress flapping against her perfectly toned calves.
    “That’s just great.” Cara sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and closed her eyes, hoping the tears wouldn’t come. She knew she would lose her job over this.
    The people at the table all spoke at once. Cara was too shaken to discern any of their words. She simply reached down for the tray, opened her eyes, and headed back to the kitchen as fast as her feet would allow. She was almost there when she heard someone following her.
    “Hey.” Victor put a hand against her back. “I’m so sorry about her.”
    Cara paused to look in his eyes. “That wife of yours…” She shut her mouth. Maybe you won’t get fired. No need to mouth off and make your situation worse. She grunted and walked on through the swinging kitchen doors.
    Victor followed her inside. “She and I aren’t together. She’s a fucking bitch. I’ll talk to your manager. Alexis is probably angry because I’m ignoring her and she thought I was flirting with you. She’s really selfish.”
    Cara let out a cold chuckle and sat the tray on top of the counter. “Yeah well, maybe I’m better off. I need to go check on my son anyway.”
    “Is he okay?”
    “He will be.”
    “Is there anything I can do?” Victor’s brown eyes were full of compassion. “Let me make this right.”
    Cara couldn’t look in his eyes for long. She sensed his sympathy, and she didn’t want it. She stared off at the wall. “No, please. You wouldn’t understand.”
    “Come on, try me. At least tell me which emergency room.” He put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
    Tears suddenly flowed freely down her face. His touch sent her over the edge, and she wasn’t sure why. Maybe deep down, she really did ache for his sympathy; for the touch of a handsome man who offered help of some kind. But she thought again about the sequins and shiny jewelry flaunted in that ballroom. At a ten-grand-per-plate dinner. It was shameful, and she wanted no part of it. No, her