Destiny and a Bottle of Merlot (21 page)

He called to her through the window. “Sasha, please. I need to talk to you. Let me in, honey… please.”

The wait seemed forever before she flipped the door lock to let him in. Josh grabbed the handle and pulled himself up into the passenger seat.

“Oh my God, finally.”

“What does that mean?” she asked, sarcastically. “You can’t stand outside for three seconds?”

“No, honey. I finally have a chance to see you and explain everything.”

“Really? It better be a damn good explanation then.”

“Can we go somewhere private, other than your truck? Jake is in the office. I don’t want an audience right now.”

“Fine… my house?”

“That’s perfect, I’ll follow you.” Josh climbed out and barely closed the door before Sasha roared away, not waiting one second for him. He ran into the office to tell Jake he wouldn’t be back after all. “I saw Sasha, Jake. I’ve got to explain this mess to her. If Candy stops by for any reason, say I’m out showing properties.”

“Will do. Good luck, man.”

The nervousness kicked into high gear. Sasha didn’t know if the urgency in Josh’s voice held good news, or bad. She decided to expect the worst, so the disappointment wouldn’t be as great.
Who am I kidding? I don’t want to hear any bad news. I need a glass of wine before he gets here.
Luckily, she didn’t need to crack open a new bottle. That would take too long. A tiny bit of Merlot remained from last night. Sasha popped the stopper and guzzled right from the bottle. The knocker banged against the door. She took another swig. Kismet cocked her head and whined. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy will be alright… sooner or later.”

Sasha wiped her mouth with her sleeve in case there was a telltale stain of wine on her lips. She opened the door. Josh had a bouquet of twelve red roses in his hand.

Wow… somebody drives like a bat out of hell. How did he get those roses and make it here in less than ten minutes?
“Hello, Josh, come in.”

There was a definite chill in the air.

“Sasha.” He panted the words, trying to catch his breath. “Can I have a glass of water?”

“Yeah, sure. Let’s sit in the kitchen.” Sasha jammed her hands deep in her jeans pockets so he wouldn’t notice the shaking. She had no intention of giving away her nervousness. He was the one that had explaining to do. “Merry Christmas, Josh. Oh yeah, that was a few days ago.” She deliberately wanted to make him squirm. She handed him the glass of water as he sat down. Kismet retreated to the living room once again, to lie under that warm, sunny window. “So?”

“Please sit down, Sasha. I’d appreciate it if you’d hear me out before you throw me under the bus.” He took a few gulps of the water and looked at her hopefully.

“Fine, go ahead and talk.” Sasha pulled a new bottle of wine out of the pantry and opened it. She already polished off the remnants from last night. She sat down and stared blankly at Josh.

“You aren’t making this easy on me.”

“Seriously? Now you’re a victim? I don’t need to make anything easy on you, and if you think I do, you can leave right now.” Sasha had gone from Nervous Nellie to Pissed Off Patty, in sixty seconds flat.

“Sorry. Okay… here’s what happened. When I got off the phone with you Christmas morning, I gathering the gifts to go to my folks house. The doorbell rang, and I assumed it was Jake, but it was Candy with a kid.”

“What the hell is Candy with a kid?”

“I mean, it was my ex-wife, Candy, with a kid… a boy… named Josh.”

“Are you telling me what I think you are?”

“Yes. Sasha please believe me when I say I had no idea she was coming, or that I had a son. She just showed up out of nowhere. We haven’t seen or talked to each other in almost ten years.”

“If this child is yours, then why didn’t you know about him years ago?” Sasha poured a glass of wine for Josh too. The anxiety was getting the best of him. Sweat beaded above his upper lip and on his forehead. “What does she want? I mean, why is she here?”

“That’s the mystery, honey. I wanted to call you on Christmas to tell you what was going on, but my phone disappeared. It’s still missing. I sent you an email, but… well, it doesn’t matter now. She’s at my house with little Josh, and she’s in no hurry to leave. She thinks it’s best if the boy gets acquainted with me. That’s her excuse anyway. She said she was married several times, but the last guy just recently picked up and moved out. I’m sure that’s why she’s here. She either wants someone to take care of the boy, at least part time, or money. I’m thinking both. I’ve already contacted my attorney. We were going to see him next week, but he wants to run a paternity test first, just to make sure I’m really Josh’s dad. Poor kid, he’s stuck in the middle of a really awkward situation.”

Sasha reached across the table and placed her hand over Josh’s. “I’m sorry I thought the worst. I love you, Josh. I was afraid I was losing you, with no idea why. I’m in this for the long haul, whether you have a son or not.”

“Sasha, I love you too. I would never treat you like that intentionally. I’m so sorry I couldn’t call you until I got to my office this morning. I tried twice, but you didn’t pick up.”

“Yeah, I was outside with Kismet. I saw the number when I came in, but I didn’t recognize it. I deleted the calls.” Sasha walked around the table and sat on Josh’s lap. With her arms around his neck, she snuggled in closely, holding him tight. “You have to tell Candy about us, Josh. I don’t want her trying to dig her heels in. You’re spoken for, and there’s no way I’m going to let her get between us. If Josh is your son, we’ll figure it out. If he isn’t, she needs to disappear. Now, would you like your Christmas present?”

“Of course, but you’re the best gift of all. I have your present at my house. Why don’t we just wait and exchange them in a more romantic, intimate evening together?”

“I like that idea. So what’s next, as far as the Candy thing goes? You can stay here with me, and she can stay at your house until this ordeal is over with. That’s if she won’t go to a hotel.”

“She only has next week, then as far as I know Josh has to go back to school and she has a job to go to. I’m going to tell her, better yet, let’s go together and tell her we’re a couple. I’ll stick it out for the week just because I feel bad about Josh. If he really is my son, I’d look like a jackass if I wasn’t spending time with him.”

“You’re right, let’s go. It’s time for me to meet Josh and your ex-wife Candy.”

Candy already made herself at home in Josh’s house. They found her lying on the couch with a bag of potato chips when they walked in. Judge Judy was playing on TV, and young Josh occupied his fingers with games on his tablet. Candy jumped up and brushed the crumbs off her chest when the door opened.

“Josh, I didn’t hear the car pull in. Who’s this?” Candy grabbed the remote and muted the TV. She fumbled with the rubber band around her wrist, trying to take it off so she could secure her hair into a ponytail with it.

“Candy, this is Sasha, my girlfriend. Josh, say hi to Sasha.”

Josh looked up for a second to acknowledge Sasha, said hi, and went back to his game.

“Nice to meet you both,” Sasha said.

The elephant in the room created an awkward silence, lasting way too long.

“I’ll make coffee,” Josh said.

“I can do that.” Candy got off the couch taking the potato chip bag with her into the kitchen. She clipped the bag and threw it in the cupboard.

Sasha and Josh followed her and sat next to each other at the table.

“I wish you would’ve told me you were bringing a guest over, Josh. I could have cleaned up a bit.”

Oh, no way in hell are you going to pull this shit on me
, Sasha thought. “Excuse me, Candy, but I’m not a guest. I come and go as I please, and it’s the same for Josh at my house. If anyone is a guest, it’s you, and where I come from, guests know their place. You’re only staying the week, right?”

“For now,” Candy responded, with a definite snarl.

“Good. I’d suggest the next time you visit us, to get a hotel. I hear there’s several nice ones at the far edge of town. Coffee anyone?”

Josh squeezed her hand under the table and gave her a wink. Sasha casually stood up, got three cups out of the cabinet and set one in front of each of them. With the grace of a gazelle, she carried the carafe and three saucers with spoons to the table, followed by the cream and sugar bowl.

“So we’re clear?”

Candy glared at Sasha, knowing she wasn’t going to win this battle. “Yes, we’re clear.”

Sasha glared back at Candy while she stirred her coffee. “Wonderful.”

Nothing would be settled between Christmas and New Year’s. Most government offices were half staffed at best during the holidays. The results of the paternity test would take weeks to come back. The only thing decided between Josh and Candy was the visitation arrangement. That would only come into play if little Josh was actually Josh’s biological son. Candy returned to Omaha the Saturday before New Year’s Day, feeling completely defeated.

“We’ll be back as soon as the paternity results are in. See you soon, Josh.” She kissed Josh on the cheek and loaded the trunk with their suitcases. Josh watched from the porch as Candy and little Josh waved goodbye. She left for LaGuardia to return the rental car, and board the outbound flight to Omaha.

Thank God that’s over for now
, he thought, as he went back inside the house. Josh was fond of the boy, but until he knew for sure what the test results were, he wasn’t going to dwell on it.

Josh drove to his office to get some much needed paperwork done. His mind was far too preoccupied during Candy’s stay to think clearly. Thankfully, the week between Christmas and New Year’s was quiet anyway. The light flashed on his office phone.
I hope there wasn’t too many calls last week.
Jake was doing most of the work during Josh’s absence. Josh listened to the messages, one being from his mom. She found the missing cell phone under the couch cushion while she was cleaning the living room. With his phone again, things fell back into the normal side of daily life for Josh.
I’ve got to call Sasha to let her know Candy’s gone and I have my phone.

“Josh, you found your phone.”

“Hi, hon. Yeah, my mom found it under her couch cushion. I just picked it up. Of course it was completely dead so I’m talking to you with it on the charger. Do you want to celebrate Christmas tonight?”

“That sounds wonderful. What about Candy?”

“They left this morning. I’m so relieved, even if it is temporary. I’ll pick you up for dinner, say at six? We’ll go somewhere nice. Then we can go back to your house afterward, exchange gifts and have our own celebration. Does that sound okay?”

“It sounds perfect. See you at six. Bye, Josh.”

“Bye, sweetheart.”

Josh planned to take Sasha to The Riverview Inn at Croton-On-Hudson. The inn was a beautiful, upscale dining establishment that had been there since the mid 1800’s. Originally, it was a general store and a location where trappers sold their furs. The quaint, antique furnished interior would surprise and please Sasha, and that was just what Josh wanted to do.

Sasha thought out her wardrobe for the evening. She didn’t know where they were going, but Josh said it would be somewhere nice. That meant dressy in her mind. She chose a fitted, red velvet dress. It was sexy and festive, but not over the top. Red, being a holiday color, was the perfect choice. Sasha showered, sprayed perfume in her most intimate places and slipped the dress over her lacy black bra and panties. Jimmy Choo stiletto heels and a matching clutch finished off the look, accented by a diamond necklace and diamond stud earrings. The reflection in the full length antique mirror startled her. It brought back memories of the way she used to dress regularly when she was with Jack. That person was long gone, and a better person took her place.
I have substance and character now. I’m not the old Sasha who was immature and petty. I’m Martha Destiny, and I like myself. The way I’m dressed tonight is for fun and to excite Josh. He’s the only person I’ll dress like this for, ever again.
Sasha accepted the look, even though these days she was far happier in jeans and a sweatshirt. She touched up her makeup and finger spiked her hair.
There… done and perfect for Josh.
The timing was dead on. She glided down the staircase just as the door knocker banged against the door. Sasha pulled the heavy wooden door open.

“Woman, you’re going to put me in an early grave,” Josh said, as he looked her up and down. He handed her a large box wrapped with gold flecked paper. “This is for later.”

Sasha giggled and blushed. “Do you really like how I’m dressed?”

“I love the way you’re dressed. The question is, can you walk in those heels?”

“Of course I can. I’ve had lots of practice.”

Josh helped her with her coat and held her hand as they walked to the car. He wasn’t about to let her slip on the driveway in those mankiller heels.

Sasha oohed and aahed at the wonderful ambiance at The Riverview Inn. She loved everything about it. The stone fireplace they were seated next to in the main dining room was massive. A large beam ran across the top as a mantle. Soft music played in the background. The room had a cozy intimate feeling that warmed Sasha’s skin.

“Josh, I’ve never been here. It’s so beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it, honey. Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are with the fireplace glowing against your face? Sasha, you’re stunning, and every man in this restaurant wishes they were me right now.”

“Josh, you’re making me blush. Nobody is looking at me… are they?”

“Are you kidding me? They can’t even eat their food because their mouths are gaping open.”

“Stop it!” Sasha whispered, with a laugh. “I only have eyes for you anyway. Nobody else matters.”

Josh ordered a bottle of their finest champagne. “It’s been a tough week filled with tension and misunderstandings. Let’s enjoy tonight and celebrate us.”

“I like that idea. I can’t wait to celebrate Christmas when we get home too.”

They had a fabulous dinner and ordered dessert and coffee afterward. Back at Sasha’s house, Josh took Kismet out for her last potty walk of the night. Sasha opened a bottle of Merlot and set it on the coffee table to breathe. Two wine glasses waited next to it. A crystal candy dish filled with chocolates sat nearby. Sasha stoked the dwindling fire with the poker and tossed another log on it. It erupted into a warm, crackling blaze that added a nice glow to the room. Josh returned with Kismet and dried her snow coated feet. She was done for the night and curled up near the fireplace, dozing off within seconds. Josh sat on the couch next to Sasha and poured each of them a glass of wine.