his kid’s well-being at an almost-OCD level.
Though loving his son wasn’t a fault in anyone’s eyes.
And Wells seemed to be adjusting okay. Now he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, carefully peeling it open to show it was a form. He had a stubby pencil, too.
“We’re getting pledges for the run,” he said to Sara. “And the money we make is so we can buy new balls and stuff for a school in Mexico.”
“A worthy cause,” Sara said, understanding where this was going. “Is it possible that a friend, say, like me, might sponsor you during this event?”
“Sponsor me?” Wells repeated. “You mean pay me for each lap I run?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s why I’m here!” Wells said, as if struck by the serendipity of her offer presaging his specific request. Smiling, he bounced on his bare heels and shoved the pencil and paper toward Sara. “You put in your name and the amount.”
He studied the form when she handed it back and Sara looked to her butler friend. “Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?”
“No, I won’t take up any more of your time.”
They both glanced toward Joaquin, just as Wells thrust the paper at the man. “Do you want to pay too?” he asked.
Charlie and Sara squawked at the same time.
“Wells, no,” Charlie then said, with an apologetic look for Sara. “You don’t ask a stranger.”
But Joaquin already had paper and pencil in hand. “We’ve been introduced, so I’m no stranger. And I’ll be happy to do my part for a good cause.”
Sara and Charlie shared another look. But what could you do? They watched as Sara’s employer completed filling out his pledge.
Then Charlie took the little boy’s hand. “Off we go, Wells. Say thank you.”
“Thank you!” Then, just as they reached the steps to the beach, he spun. “I almost forgot,” he said to Sara. “You can come watch.”
“Oh. Well…”
“It’s a carnival and everything. At the school.”
A crowd. People. Sara fought her grimace. There might be someone there who would recognize her. “I don’t think—”
“My dad can’t come,” Wells said. “He has business. But you can be with Charlie.”
Sara shifted her gaze to her friend, who gave a little shrug. “I’m sure we can keep you from too much…sun.” A hat she meant. Big sunglasses. A shirt with the collar propped up to her ears.
The idea still seemed dangerous, but Wells appeared so hopeful, Sara found herself nodding. “Sure, kiddo. I’ll come watch.”
Wells grinned, fully exposing the gap where one of his front teeth should be. Then, clearly aware he was on a roll, his gaze slid to Joaquin. “You too. You can watch me run.”
“Uh… I don’t know…”
“My dad can’t come. My mom’s dead.”
“Wells,” Charlie and Sara said together.
The boy was adjusting okay with the exception of his propensity to announce My mom’s dead, at the drop of a hat—or when he wanted to get his way. Charlie reported he’d thrown that out at the ice cream store, the toy emporium in town, and sometimes when he was told it was time for bed.
“What?” Wells said, looking at the two women. “It’s true. My dad can’t come. My mom’s dead.”
Charlie gazed down on her charge, her usual cool only slightly flustered around the edges. “Yes, but—”
“I’ll be there.”
They all three turned their stares on Joaquin.
“What’s the big deal?” he continued. “I’ll be there.”
“Cool!” Wells decreed.
“But someone will have to tell me where I’m going,” Joaquin said.
The boy waved a hand in the air as he tugged Charlie down the steps in the direction of home. “Bring Sara. She’ll tell you where.”
“Good idea,” Joaquin replied, then wandered away into the house.
Sara stood where she was, hoping she wasn’t gaping like a fish washed up on the shore. But she felt as breathless. As out of her element.
Because instead of drawing that sure line between herself and her employer, she’d just been set up by a six-year-old. On something that sounded alarmingly like a date.
Chapter 3
In the detached five-car garage at Nueva Vida, Joaquin watched Sara halt on the way to the passenger side of his car to stare at the driver side of hers.
“My mirror,” she exclaimed, staring at the now-fixed device. He’d noticed it dangling at an odd angle that morning. “Did you fix it?”
There wasn’t much to see of her facial expression, due to the deep brim of her hat and her oversized sunglasses. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t. Apparently someone bumped into it in the parking lot at