Chapter 12
CARI
How is it that I’ve resigned from my job, but now I’m going on a three-week trip to Bermuda with my boss and his daughter?
How did this even happen?
How will I explain this to Eliana?
I think back to what Jett said—that he didn’t want to take me, but he had no other option. His words keep replaying in my mind, over and over, along with the other bombshell. He and Alicia split up. I was so convinced they were celebrating together in Sacramento. I imagined everything, but I was wrong. He was on a business trip, and now he’s single again.
And I’m going to Bermuda with him, for three whole weeks.
I freeze when I open the door to my apartment and hear laughter from the kitchen. That voice—it belongs to my aunt.
She’s here!
A surge of happiness swells in my chest. “Aunt Scarlett!” I rush into the kitchen, my heart light with excitement. And I can smell chicken and dumplings. Something wholesome and hearty—just what I need.
Eliana is chopping vegetables at the counter, and Aunt Scarlett is stirring a pot on the stove. It smells so delicious.
My mood has made a one-eighty flip at seeing two of my favorite people. My aunt grins as she turns to me, enveloping me with a hug so tight that we hold it and stand like that for a few moments. I breathe her in and smell my mom. Reminders of her come flooding back—comfort, love, home. A bittersweet wave of happiness and grief washes over me. There are similarities in their faces and mannerisms that make me yearn for my mom. I feel happy and sad all at once.
“Cari, my sweet girl, I’ve missed you.” Aunt Scarlett squeezes me tighter.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I murmur into her shoulder. I’ve always loved Aunt Scarlett. She was there for us, for me and Mom, through everything. She finally releases me, and I step back, my heart feeling fuller. Aunt Scarlett is the adventurous one, always off on her latest journey, but she’s never far away when I need her. “How are you doing, hon?”
“I’m good,” I reply. “How about you? How was your trip?”
She smiles, her eyes twinkling. “Finished the Appalachian Trail. I’m heading out again soon, but I wanted to see you first.”
“We’re making dinner,” Eliana announces proudly, shooting me a playful look. “I told her you resigned.”
My aunt throws an arm around me, grinning. “Well done! I’m so proud of you for doing what’s best for you .”
Guilt creeps up my spine. She doesn’t know about the crush I have on Jett. Sure, she overheard me once, after Mom passed. I told Eliana about how Jett had shown a different side to him that day—how he was gentle, kind. Ever since then, my feelings for him have shifted to something deeper. But that’s not something I can talk about. Not in front of Aunt Scarlett.
“And about time, too.” Eliana steps forward, beaming. “I bought some more wine when I heard Aunt Scarlett was coming, so we’re going to celebrate some more tonight!”
I chew my lower lip, wondering how to tell them. “Something happened.”
Eliana tilts her head as if she’s bracing for the news. My gaze ping pongs between her and my aunt, who goes back to stirring the pot. “What happened, hon?” she prompts gently.
“I … I ...” I can't get the words out.
Eliana’s eyes narrow at me. “Tell me you resigned. Don’t tell me you lied to me.”
“I did resign, of course I did!” My heart pounds in my chest. “But now … now I’m going to Bermuda with Jett for three weeks to take care of Brooke. Anna quit, and he doesn’t have anyone else to look after her so I have to go.” The words rush out of me.
Eliana’s jaw drops. She stares at me, her expression one of disbelief. “You don’t have to go. You’re a PA, not a nanny.”
“Who’s Brooke? And Anna?” Aunt Scarlett asks, clearly confused but still stirring the pot like everything’s fine.
“Why am I not surprised?” Eliana mutters, her voice thick with disapproval. She sets the knife down on the counter, her expression hardening.
“Let’s eat. Dinner’s ready,” Aunt Scarlett says, sensing the tension.
“We can't eat, Aunt Scarlett!” Eliana cries. “Didn't you hear? Cari's going to Bermuda with her boss .”
“She's still working for him, and she still has to work out her notice period,” my aunt says, ever the diplomat. She sets the pot on the table.
“She's in love with him! She has been for months, possibly years. He breaks her heart every day she goes into that office. This is bad, Aunt Scarlett.”
My mouth falls open. Eliana looks guilty, as she should, ratting on me like that. I know she did this out of love and concern, but I didn't want her to burden my aunt with that news. Also, I wanted to keep it between me, Eliana, and Bianca. Now my aunt will worry even more.
“You must be hungry, hon,” my aunt says, a slight grin on her face making me wonder if she already knows.
“She's hungry for Jett Knight,” Eliana grumbles under her breath, her arms crossed over her chest.
My aunt shoots her a warning look. “Let’s just enjoy dinner. I’m back on the road soon, and I wanted to spend time with you girls before I head out again.”
I step closer to my aunt, grateful for her warmth and presence. She makes me feel like I belong to something, like I still have family. Eliana is my best friend, but there’s something about Aunt Scarlett that makes me feel like home isn’t so far away after all.
Aunt Scarlett uncorks a bottle of red wine, and pours glasses for all of us. We sit and eat, I feel full already because my heart is content. Sitting around me at the table is proof I am not alone.
Unlike Jett.
My thoughts drift to my boss. When I lie in bed tonight, I will wonder how I'll survive the Bermuda trip.
“This is good!” I say, savoring my meal.
“Ummm hmmmm.” Aunt Scarlett licks her lips and sighs. “I miss this.” She places her hands over mine and Eliana's. “I love sitting down and having you girls to come back to. Being on the road all the time is fun, and coming back is the best, but …” She pauses, and stares at the table, as if trying to compose herself.
“I know,” I say softly. The void is hard to fill. We all carry the emptiness in our lives after my mom’s death. “I think of her all the time, too,” I say, a tear rolling down my cheek.
She presses her lips together and inhales a deep breath, as if reaching inside for reserves of courage. “Your mom would like this.” She nods. When she looks up, her eyes are shiny.
“She would,” I croak. I don’t know when the pain of this loss will subside. My wound is still raw. “You know we love it when you come back, Aunt Scarlett.” I manage a smile.
My aunt put her freelance work on hold when mom was ill. Now she’s away more often, so mom’s old apartment stays empty a lot of the time. I still go there occasionally, when Aunt Scarlett is away, to soak in the fading but familiar scent of the place my mom occupied. I love that my aunt always pops up in my life, often unexpectedly. She’s more like an older sister to me than an aunt. There was such a big age gap between her and my mom. She’s a maverick, wild and carefree, and never wanted to settle down, get married, or have a family. She treats her life like an adventure.
Eliana's face is hard. She's eating quietly and drinking wine as if it's water. We finish the meal in silence. Then Aunt Scarlett refills our glasses, opening the second bottle.
“How handsome is this boss of yours?” she asks, sipping daintily.
I blush, hoping the wine is what’s making my skin heat.
“Handsome enough that your niece has been crazy about him for years. Years, I tell you,” Eliana says.
“Is that right?” Aunt Scarlett eyes me, the corner of her lip turning up.
I shrug, hating the interrogation. “I saw him at a Christmas party, and he's ... not bad,” Eliana admits, reluctantly. “Dark hair, strong jaw, mesmerizing eyes. Built. Wide shoulders. The man looks pretty sharp in a suit. He’s tall and—”
“Sounds to me like you’ve also got the hots for him,” my aunt shoots back, mischief swimming in her eyes.
“I absolutely do not,” Eliana protests. “But I can see why Cari’s obsessed with him.”
“I’m not obsessed!”
Eliana tsks, shaking her head. “You’re so far gone, babe, but you are. Bianca and I have dissected your behavior, and we wholeheartedly can confirm that you are indeed obsessed.”
Aunt Scarlett chuckles, then sips her wine. “He sounds pretty delectable to me. A hot boss. Mesmerizing eyes. Tall and built. What’s not to like?”
“Aunt Scarlett!” Eliana slaps the table. “You're not supposed to encourage her!”
“Why not?” Aunt Scarlett winks at me. “Why can't a girl have some fun?”
Eliana’s blinks furiously. “Because he's ten years older than her and—”
“Experienced—” My aunt says, approvingly.
I spit out my wine, and grab a napkin to wipe my mouth.
“He has a daughter!” I retort.
“I heard. And his wife died a few years ago.”
I blink as my aunt recounts this news. “How do you know?”
“Your mom told me.”
“My mom told you?” Something tells me that Aunt Scarlett has an idea about my crush. “How? When did mom tell you?”
She sets down her glass. “Toward the end, hon … toward the end, your mom told me that your stories about work entertained her, but she was also worried about you. Though, she seemed to think that your boss was a good man, and he’d been good to you.” Her mouth twists as if she’s about to say something.
“What?” I frown, because I sense she’s hiding something.
“Your mom was very lucky to get onto that clinical trial so quickly, and it was a miracle that there were no extra costs. I mean …” She pauses.
“What, Aunt Scarlett?” That trial was the breakthrough we’d needed. It was our last hope, especially when the surgery didn’t remove the whole tumor and the chemo after didn’t entirely kill it off. This was a new clinical trial, in early stages of development, but within a week she was on it. I didn’t think about it much at the time. I’d assumed it was just luck.
“The doctor said a kind benefactor made a huge donation to the hospital and that certain strings had been pulled, and your mom was one of the lucky ones.”
I sit back in relief and shrug. “There are plenty of philanthropists in New York.”
She nods. “There are.”
I swallow the lump in my throat when I think of my mom. I used to tell her about Jett Knight, but I never told her outright that I had a crush on him. I guess instinct told her. It hurts to know she was worried about me. That's the last thing I wanted.
“He's always dating,” Eliana adds.
Aunt Scarlett waggles a finger at me. “You can't go there if he's attached.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. Cari has no plans to get anywhere near him, even if he was attached!” Eliana cries. “Our girl likes to wallow in the misery and torture of unrequited love.”
I fix my friend with a pointed stare, irritation crawling along my spine at the poor opinion she has of me.
“He's unattached at present.” I lift my wine glass smugly.
Eliana snorts. “He's ... what ? What happened to Alicia?”
“Who's Alicia?” Aunt Scarlett asks.
“A hotshot hot attorney,” I reply. At this they both look at me like I am nuts.
“I hear you on the misery and torture.” Aunt Scarlett points her wineglass at Eliana.
“They broke up recently,” I clarify.
“Sweet!” Aunt Scarlett points her glass at me. “You can have some fun now, if things progress on vacation.”
I want to fan my face, but dare not with four eagle eyes trained on me.
“Aunt Scarlett! Do not encourage her. A man like Jett Knight would eat her for breakfast and spit her out by lunchtime,” Eliana protests.
“Then she’ll surely enjoy the breakfast.” My aunt winks at me.
Eliana howls with laughter, thumping the table as she doubles over. “That might help her get him out of her system.”
“Aunt Scarlett!” I am shocked.
“She’s right.” Eliana has a shit-eating grin on her face. “You’ve handed in your resignation, and he’s taking you on vacation—”
“He not taking me on vacation. He's taking Brooke. He promised her, but Anna quit. Anna is Brooke’s nanny,” I explain to my aunt.
“That man can't keep the nannies around for longer than a year, but Cari's been there for a few years now. This might be your chance to get him out of your system,” Eliana says to me, “because, boy, do you need to get this dinosaur out of your system.”
“He’s not a dinosaur—he’s only in his thirties!” I protest.
My aunt and Eliana exchange looks. “Told you,” Eliana says, as my aunt refills our glasses.
“When are you leaving?” Aunt Scarlett asks.
“On Tuesday.”
Eliana bangs her wine glass down. “Tuesday! You don’t have long to get ready.”
I need to buy some clothes this weekend, because I don’t have anything suitable to wear in Bermuda. I’m not sure what Brooke and I will do, but I’m assuming it will involve going to the beach. I’ll need a new swimsuit and something suitable to wear if we're invited out in the evenings.
“Look, my sweet girl,” Aunt Scarlett says. “You've resigned. You're an adult. He's an adult. If you want to have fun, go for it.”
I shake my head, as if this is the most ridiculous thing my aunt has ever said. Even if I fantasize about these things, reality is something else.
“I was going to go shopping for a few things,” I murmur.
Aunt Scarlett claps her hands together. “We’re going shopping, together . I’ll be back in a few days, and then, girls, we’re going to make a weekend of it.”
“I don’t need that many clothes,” I say.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Aunt Scarlett says, giving herself another helping of the chicken and dumplings.