Chapter 7
“W hat’s this I hear about you trying to ruin my business?” Lizette’s tone was light, but Zack knew she meant business. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked that question, and bright and early on a Monday morning, too. She peered at him from the computer screen as if trying to dig up his deepest, darkest secrets.
“Ask your brother.” He pointed at Eli, who sat at the other end of the table on their parents’ patio.
“I thought that’s what I was doing.” She shook her head and sighed. “Anyhow, you were the one at the center when the incident happened.”
“What incident?” Eli looked up from his computer, frowning.
“We almost lost a new client because of Champ.”
“Why?” Eli asked, stroking his beard. “And how come this is the first time I’m hearing about it?”
Zack glanced at his brother, whose face reflected his concern, before he said, “It happened Friday evening when you dropped him off.”
“Always knew that dog was trouble,” Eli groused.
From where he lay sunbathing on the grass in the backyard, Champ let out a half-hearted woof.
Grinning, Zack said, “You know how he feels about you.”
“Same way I feel about him.”
“Real talk.”
They laughed, acknowledging that man and dog only tolerated each other because of their parents. Eli accidentally stepped on Champ’s tail when he was a puppy, and since then the dog steered clear of him.
Friday afternoon was an exception to their parents’ rule about seeing to Champ’s welfare themselves. Anthony and Icilda went for their comprehensive health checkup, which fell on the same day as Champ’s appointment with the vet. Since Zack was at the daycare, the visit with the veterinarian fell to Eli, who didn’t dare tell their mother he wouldn’t do it. Nobody said no to Icilda Winters.
Lizette giggled, then sipped from a coffee mug. “I don’t suppose Champ feels any differently about you after his trip to the vet.”
“The issue is, he thinks he’s one of us.” Eli looked up from his laptop again. “I don’t know who gave him that impression.”
The three of them had a good laugh until their mother appeared in the doorway with a tray in her hands. “What’s so amusing?”
“Lizette and Champ,” Eli said, to which the dog gave a sharp bark.
“It’s breakfast time,” Mom declared. “Get the computers off the table and let’s eat.”
“The queen has spoken,” Zack said, “Gotta go, Liz.”
“Hi, baby.” Their mother laid the tray down, hunched next to Zack, and waved at the screen. “Love you, but the boys need to eat and you know how I feel about technology mixing with mealtimes.”
“I understand, but we were discussing how your son and your dog are trying to put me out of business.”
“Nobody sent me the memo, but I’m sure they’ll fill me in while we eat. Later, sweets.”
“Talk later, Z,” Lizette said, “And don’t make me have to reach out first.”
“I’ll do it when I get to Wintertime.”
“You better.” She smiled sweetly at him. “You look nice in uniform.”
He smirked and looked down at the black polo he wore. Although he’d only be at Wintertime for a short stint, Lizette insisted he look the part and got him a few shirts.
“Goodbye, Lizette. Enjoy today’s session.”
“Love you too, big brother,” was her snappy comment.
Zack closed the screen and sighed. He’d been uncharacteristically upbeat when Gina walked into the center and laid down money for her son’s care. While she was in-house, he forgot about the ring she wore and enjoyed the short time her company.
She was the opposite of Alana in some ways, and maybe that’s what attracted him. Her focus and the air of independence that said she was all business until it came to her son. Then, she turned into a fierce mama bear.
He lowered the laptop screen and set it on the lounge chair a few feet away, while Mom placed the dishes on the table and went back inside. Eli and he pulled the place mats with wrapped silverware in front of them as their father emerged through the glass sliding door.
Anthony Winters was a vintage copy of his sons, as he liked to say. They preferred telling folks they were the more vibrant version of their dad, teasing him about his salt-and-pepper beard. He sat at the head of the table and unwrapped the cutlery. “Good morning. Since you’re helping Lizette, I didn’t expect to see you today, Zack.”
“Mom ordered me to come. She thinks if she doesn’t feed me, I won’t eat.”
“And I’d be right,” she said, setting a plate in front of her husband.
They poked fun at Zack and his tendency not to eat until late in the day when his stomach was growling for all to hear, while Mom laid out the rest of their meal. Champ drew closer, hoping to score scraps from their plates, but backed away when Mom gave him a stern look.
When she finished saying grace, they passed around dishes filled with eggs, ham, fried dumplings, and ackee and codfish—their national dish.
For a while, they didn’t talk, a habit from when they were children and taught not to speak with food in their mouths.
“What’s the plan for today?” Mom asked, placing her teacup on the saucer.
Eli stretched and earned a frown from her, which made him lower both arms and sit straight. “I’m doing some coding. Hopefully, by the end of the day, I can wrap up this project.”
“Meanwhile, I’ll be over at Wintertime babysitting.”
“Now don’t complain.” Eli wagged a finger at Zack. “We drew lots between that and taking the dog to the vet. You lost fair and square. Plus, Lizette trusts you more with her clients.”
“Mmm.” Zack swallowed a mouthful of orange juice, then grinned. “I want to know how I still have to help you with the build out for this app.”
“Our work doesn’t concern what we do for the rest of the family. If we weren’t in Jamaica, we’d still have to earn a living.”
“You have me there, but next time I’m not getting the short end of the stick. Just saying.”
Eli winked and popped a piece of dumpling into his mouth. “I hear you loud and clear. Just make a better choice next time.”
The second Zack opened his mouth to respond, Mom gave him a warning look. “Be the bigger man. Helping your sister this way is a big deal. It means she can enjoy her trip without worrying about her business. Never regret doing good.”
“Well said, Icy.” Dad patted her hand as he rose from the table. “Excuse me.”
Zack picked up the water glass and hid his smile. Mom was right. He shouldn’t complain, because he’d hit the jackpot while helping others. If he hadn’t been at the mall and Wintertime, he wouldn’t have met Miss Regina Wright.
His mind strayed to the diamond on her finger, their exchange at the mall, and then at the office. The ring said one thing, but her reaction to him said another. Their interaction poured fresh energy into him, reminding him life wasn’t over.
More than that, he discovered Alana hadn’t wrung him dry of emotion as he’d thought. That fact brought him a measure of relief, since he’d resigned himself to not trusting any woman after the way Alana shattered not only his confidence, but his heart.
Seeing Gina at the office on Saturday stirred an overwhelming need to know more about her. Zack wasn’t big on religion or spirituality, to their mother’s disappointment, but he said a fervent prayer that his interest in Gina wouldn’t end with him being let down.