Fresh Temptation

”
    “There’s nothing you can—”
    “How’s a ten grand sign-on bonus sound? In addition to relocation expenses? ”
    “No, I really can’t—”
    “Twenty grand. That’s as high as I can go. And you’ll start out at fifteen grand over what you were making when you left. ”
    “I can’t be worth that much.”
    “Yes, you can. Compared to the cost of hiring someone new who doesn’t have your experience? You’re a steal. ”
    Cara whined as she spoke. “I’m sorry. It hurts me to say no but I have to. If only you’d called me before I got this job…”
    “ Yeah, yeah. ” Justine’s tone was sad. “ Well, call me if you change your mind in the next few days. I’ll have to make a decision to hire someone else soon. ”
    “I will.” Cara’s phone beeped. “I’m sorry, I gotta go. Getting another call.”
    “Okay, bye. ”
    “Bye.” Cara took a deep breath when she saw it was Victor. “Hello?”
    “ Hello, querida. ” He yawned. “ I’m sorry. How rude of me. It’s been an exhausting day .”
    “What happened? Who’s in the hospital?”
    He paused for a long moment. “ Douglas Whitt .”
    Cara gulped. “You mean, Alexis’s dad?”
    “ Yes .”
    She shook her head, confused. “Why are you there? Did she call you? Why would you spend all day at the hospital with her?”
    “ It wasn’t about her. He was my friend. ” Victor’s voice was quiet and sober. “ And he didn’t make it. He passed away a little over an hour ago. Massive stroke. ”
    “Oh no. I’m so sorry.”
    “ Me too. He was a great man. I’ll miss him. ”
    Cara held the phone to her ear with no idea what to say. All day, Alexis had been in her head, tormenting her with anger and doubt. And now, that woman’s own father was dead? It was hard to imagine.
    After a while, Victor inhaled deeply, then said, “ I’ll have to cancel our dinner plans tonight. And since I had to shift my schedule around today, I may not see much of you tomorrow. I’m sorry. ”
    “I understand.”
    “ Good. ” He sighed in relief. “ Before I go, I need to tell you Alexis apologized for everything. Says she feels terrible about it. ”
    Cara scoffed. “Yeah, okay. I don’t know what to say to that.”
    “ Me neither. It really surprised me. ”
    “You don’t really think she’s changed, do you?”
    “ I think she’s in shock. She’s grieving. Probably saying a lot of things. ”
    Startled by the genuine sympathy she sensed in his tone, she let a few thoughts slip loose, in haste. “Is that why you’ve been with her all day? Are you comforting her? Will you be with her tonight?”
    “ No! God, Cara. I’m here because Douglas was asking for me. And yes, I’ve tried to be kind to Alexis. Her father just died. I’m not heartless. ”
    “I didn’t mean to imply you were. I’m just a little confused.”
    Victor yawned again. “ It’s fine. We’ll talk about it later, okay? I’ve gotta go. I’m sorry. ”
    Several minutes later, Cara was alone with her thoughts as she drove home. Her mind was still reeling from the news about Alexis’s father. Having lost her own father as a teenager, Cara wanted to have some empathy for Alexis but all she could think about was the cruelty Alexis had shown her. Surely, she was crazy enough to use even this tragic situation for her own gain. She could see it in her mind. Alexis batting her eyelashes at Victor, playing on his kindness.
    Victor wouldn’t fall for that, would he?
    When Cara entered her mother’s house for the night, Isaac jumped up into her arms as usual. She hugged him extra tight.
    Patty strolled in from the kitchen as Cara was setting Isaac on the floor. “What are you doing home so early? You should’ve called while you were on the way. I figured you’d call later to tell me you were staying the night with you-know-who.”
    “You know who” had become their code name for Victor when Isaac was around because every time the toddler heard the name “Victor” he nearly threw a fit and demanded to see him.
    Cara let out a sad sigh. “It’s a long story. He had to cancel because Alexis’s father died today.”
    “Oh no.” Patty brought her hand to her chest. “She didn’t have something to do with it, did she? You know, to get an early inheritance?”
    “I don’t think she’s that crazy. Supposedly, he had a stroke.”
    “Hmm.” She nodded, deep in thought. “What’s that have to do with him canceling dinner?”
    “He was close to her dad.