Heart's Surrender (18 page)

“Thanks.” Michael took several gulps before he handed her the half-empty bottle back.

“Wanna have another go?” She pointed at the playground.

“No.” He looked in the direction of the restroom. “Why do they always take so long?”

“Well, women are that way.”

He looked up at her. “You didn’t need that long when you had to go.”

She was saved from answering by a woman passing their bench with a crying boy clinging to her hand. He was about Michael’s age. The woman guided the boy toward the toilets. Only fragments of their conversation were audible, but it was obvious that the boy didn’t want to go with his mother.

A tug on her arm made Sam look down into eyes that were the same color as Gillian’s. “Yes, Michael?”

“Why is the lady so angry with the boy?”

“Well, I don’t know for sure, but maybe she wanted him to go to the ladies’ restroom and he didn’t want to.”

He nodded. “He’s a boy. He needs to go to the men’s restroom.”

She bit her cheek to stop herself from laughing. She would have to make sure that she wasn’t the one on toilet duty when he needed to go. “Yep, that’s right, pal. And look who’s on her way back,” she said, pointing at his mother and sister, who had just emerged.

She glanced at her watch again.
Perfect timing.
She had an ace up her sleeve to help win the children over. Something that she hoped both would enjoy.

A few minutes later they had left the playground behind. Sam listened with only half an ear to Angela’s story about last week’s soccer practice, her mind occupied with other matters while they slowly walked toward their next destination.

“…and then Mrs. Sand told Patty off,” Angela said, emphasizing her story with sweeping gestures.

Gillian nudged Sam’s shoulder. “Are you okay? You’re awfully quiet all of a sudden.”

“Yeah, sorry. I guess last week’s catching up on me. I’m a bit tired.” She gave her a reassuring smile. It wasn’t a lie; she
was
tired, although there was another reason for her absentmindedness. She wasn’t sure anymore if the surprise she had planned for the kids would really knock their little socks off.
Maybe they’ll think it’s boring. Or stupid. But then, children love cute animals, right?
She wiped her clammy hands on her jeans.
No, they’ll love it. Chloe would.

Up ahead, she saw the Nocturnal House, an unremarkable gray on gray building that gave no hint about what it held inside. It was her favorite spot in the zoo, a place where day turned into night, and night-active animals from all over the world could be watched. She sighed. If the playground was any indication, the zoo was too crowded today to enjoy a quiet Nocturnal House. She would go crazy if she had to stand in a crowd of shoving and squealing visitors in front of the lemurs or the bush baby’s enclosure. But then…they wouldn’t have to today.

A blonde woman, dressed in the typical khaki trousers and sweater of a zoo employee, stepped out of the building.
Maisie
.
Right on time.
Well, here we go.
Sam waved at her friend, who waved back. She ignored Gillian’s questioning stare. With determined steps, she walked over to Maisie. “Hi, it’s good to see you.” They shared a hug. “Glad you could make it.”

“Nice family you have there,” Maisie whispered.

“Yeah.” Releasing her, Sam rubbed the back of her neck. “Let me introduce you. This is Gillian, a good friend of mine, and these are her children, Angela and Michael.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She shook Gillian’s hand and smiled at the children. “Have you enjoyed your day at the zoo so far?”

The children nodded, one a bit more enthusiastic than the other.

“Good. I like hearing that. See, I’m one of the vets here,” she said. “Sam told me you might be interested in taking a look behind the scenes?”

“Oh, can we, Mom?” Angela’s eyes shone with an excitement that Sam hadn’t witnessed often today.

Well, maybe my idea wasn’t so bad after all
. A weight lifted from her shoulders.

Michael chimed in. “Yes, Mom. Please.”

Sam grinned. “Oh, please, Mom. We really want to.”

“I wonder who’s the biggest kid.” She chuckled. “All right, as long as I don’t have to touch a snake or kiss a crocodile.”

Maisie shook her head. “No, you’re safe. We have to release a slow loris back into his enclosure today. I thought it would be something you’d enjoy watching up close.” She took a bunch of keys out of her pocket and opened a door to their right. “Please follow me.”

Leaving the half-light of the Nocturnal House behind, Gillian stepped through the exit and squinted against the bright daylight. A light breeze ruffled her hair while the bamboo to her right whispered like the curtain in her bedroom sometimes did. As fascinating as the slow loris and Maisie’s explanations had been, she was glad that this event was over. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a connection between Maisie and Sam…that they had a past together. Once that thought had crossed her mind, Gillian had felt the green-eyed monster, otherwise known as jealousy, popping up.

Two kids ran past her. She recognized them from minutes ago when they had been told off for constantly pounding on one of the enclosure’s glass front. Thankfully, her children behaved differently.
Well, at least when I’m around.
She couldn’t delude herself into thinking that Angela and Michael weren’t normal children who misbehaved once in a while. Still, the way they had acted around the slow loris, how they had listened to Maisie’s instructions…it made her proud.

“Mom, that was so cool.” Angela appeared next to her, beaming. “I think I want to become a veterinarian. The slow loris was sooo cute.”

“That was great, Sam. Can we do that again?” Michael begged.

“Yes, Sam, please. Can we do that again?” Angela echoed her brother.

“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll ask Maisie and maybe there’ll be another opportunity sometime soon. Why not?” She smiled at the kids before her questioning gaze met Gillian’s. “Are there any particular animals you’re interested in?”

“Well, I find female mammals quite fascinating.” She held her breath, having no idea where that had come from.

Sam looked at her with wide eyes before she burst out laughing.

Gillian couldn’t help joining in, very aware of the children’s confusion.

“All right, all right. Sorry.” She laid a hand on her stomach, trying to calm down. “I don’t know about you, but I’m really hungry. Why don’t we discuss this over some food?”

“There’s a hot dog vendor just around the corner,” Sam said with a wide grin on her face.

“Great. Michael, Angela, why don’t you have a look and see if it’s open?”

“Yeah!” They shouted simultaneously and ran off.

“Are you okay?” Sam asked, her smile faltering. “Is something bothering you?”

God, was she so transparent? She attempted to smile, but it was strained. Maybe it was better to get this out in the open before it festered inside her. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Sam when she said, “I don’t know if this is the right place to talk about it. But I...” Her stomach churned. “You and Maisie…was there ever anything between you?”

“No, never. Why…oh, sorry. I see.” She took hold of Gillian’s arm and nudged her over to a side entrance that was partly hidden behind the bamboo. “Look at me Gillian, please.”

She grimaced. “Sorry, I know that was lame and—”

“No. Look at me.”

She forced herself to meet Sam’s gaze. “Yes?”

“There was never anything between me and Maisie.” Sam took her hand, lacing their fingers together.

“She’s good-looking,” Gillian pointed out.

“You do have good taste in women.” She grinned. “I won’t say that we’ll never run into someone I had sex with and yes, I’ve had a couple of short-term relationships with women who live in Springfield—but no, Maisie and I never happened. And honestly, there is only one woman I’m interested in. One woman that makes my heart beat faster. One woman who makes me smile. And that is you.”

Gillian’s face got hot. Jealousy really was a green-eyed monster. “I’m sorry. I just—”

“No.” Her fingertips fluttered over the inside of Gillian’s wrist. “Thanks for asking. We agreed to be open and honest with each other, right? And I’m being very open and honest now. You’re the only woman I’m interested in. And I’m well aware that you come with baggage. As do I. Just different baggage. And I like your kids. I really do.” Her smile was gentle and brilliant.

Gillian couldn’t form words. Fighting down the fluttering in her chest, screaming at her that they were out in the open, she went with the need to show Sam how much she felt. Taking a step closer she pressed their lips together in a soft, tentative kiss.

Sam’s arms slid around her waist.

Gillian released a contented sigh before she slowly pulled away. “Thank you for arranging the meeting with Maisie.”

Sam rocked on her heels. “My pleasure.”

Warmth flooded through her. “They like you too. The kids.” Unable to resist the urge to touch her again, she brushed Sam’s cheek with the back of her fingers. “Maybe it should scare me how easily you were able to win them over.” She hesitated for a moment. “The truth is, it doesn’t. You made today something very special…for the three of us.”

What she said was true, but what she didn’t say went even deeper. If she hadn’t already known her feelings for Sam had turned from lust to something much bigger, better, and more frightening…today would have revealed the truth. She was falling in love with the woman who could make her blood boil, make her feel safe, and who treated her children with such respect. However, this was neither the time nor the place for such a declaration.
I’ll tell her on our next date. We’ll find a way to make it work between us.
She squeezed Sam’s hand before letting go. “Come on. I’m sure the kids are already waiting for us.”

Moments later, they nearly bumped into both children, who sped around the corner like a couple of cheetahs before skidding to a halt.

“Where were you?” Angela demanded, frowning.

“Sorry, child of mine,” Gillian replied. “We are old women. Our feet don’t move as fast as yours anymore.”

“Mom, you’re not that old.” Michael rolled his eyes.

“Thank you.” She turned to Sam. “These are the kind of compliments one simply hungers for at our age.”

Sam chuckled. “She’s right. You’re really not that old.”

Gillian playfully swatted at her. “Thank you…not.”

A line had formed in front of the food pavilion. Chirping birds hopped around the garbage cans, picking at whatever tasty morsels had fallen on the ground.

Joking and laughing, the four of them stood in line until it was their turn to order. Four hot dogs were delivered quickly.

“Sam, could you help Angela and Michael carry their food over there?” She pointed at a table where a family of five was just leaving. “I’ll pay and join you.”

“Yep, can do.” Sam took two hot dogs, which left the kids to deal with only one each. “But you better hurry or I’ll eat yours.” She winked at Gillian.

“Don’t even think about it, Freedman.” She shot Sam the most evil glare she was capable of. She handed the money over and grabbed some more napkins. Toppings were a sure road to disaster in her kids’ hands—and on their clothes.

“Gillian. Gillian Jennings. Is that you?”

She froze. Even though she hadn’t heard that voice for a very long time she recognized it.
Shit.
What were the odds of meeting someone from Derrick’s law firm on a Saturday in the zoo?
And Ben Shacker, of all people.
Turning around, she cleared her throat and plastered a fake smile on her face. “Ben. Hi. It’s good to see you.”

Ben pushed his shell-rimmed glasses higher on his nose. “Yes, what a surprise.” He ran a hand through his thin, gray hair. “Hang on a second.” He turned around. “Tamara, honey?”

A tall redhead who was at least half his age reacted. “Yes, honey?”

“I’ll be right with you. Give me a minute.”

The redhead’s answer was a smile. At least she tried to smile as best as the Botox allowed.

Gillian’s stomach churned. She knew Ben’s wife, Winnie, from several summer parties and other events associated with the law firm. Winnie had been nothing but nice to her and had helped her settle into the group of ‘significant others’ as the wives were called in the firm. Political correctness was in high demand these days. Not too long ago, she had heard through the grapevine that Ben had replaced his wife with a younger woman. And, well, here they were.

“I haven’t seen you in ages,” he said while his gaze slowly travelled down her body, “but I must say…you look really good.”

She wanted to throttle the sleazy guy or push her fingers into his eyeballs. Instead she mustered all the politeness she was capable of. “Thanks, Ben. How are you doing?”

“Oh, I’m doing great. I partially retired last month, which means more time for the grandkids and for Tamara.” He waved over to Botox woman, who was glaring in their direction. “Are you here with your kids?”

Self-consciously Gillian looked over her shoulder to the small table where Sam sat with Angela and Michael. All three were laughing about something, looking so carefree that she had to fight the urge to simply leave Ben and join them.

Sam caught her gaze, frowning and tilting her head in Ben’s direction.

Gillian straightened her shoulders and focused back on Ben. “Yes, I am here with my kids and a very good friend of mine.”

Ben followed her gaze. “Nice.”

“I’m sorry. I have to go. They’re waiting for me.”

“Sure, sure. It was nice to see you.” He flashed her a smile. “Hey, we could meet up for drinks sometime. Talk about the good old times. Why don’t you give me a call? I’d like to catch up. Maybe spend some time with each other. You must be lonely without Derrick.”