Carlton’s eyes narrowed as he hung up the phone. His heart raced, and he felt an infusion of heat sparking fire through his veins. Before he realized it he’d broken the small cell phone into two separate parts. Stunned, he looked at the mangled instrument for a second before throwing it against the wall. He didn’t bother going back into the meeting to tell the men he’d be leaving. He had to make it back home to his wife.
By the time Carlton made it back to Coconut Grove, it was almost ten in the evening. He found his wife in little Carl’s room curled up on the bed. Their son was tucked under the covers; she slept on top with a book on her lap.
Carlton sat in the rocking chair by the bed. Gazing at his wife, he tried to imagine why she would be kissing Jeff Weatherby. The past three years had been better than he would have ever imagined given the way they started out. Happier than he had ever been, he didn’t want it to end. She was a great mother. She loved their son beyond measure. He thought she loved him, though she never said it. Her actions were that of a woman in love. Why would she risk ruining everything for a fling with Weatherby?
She must have felt his gaze, because she stirred, opened her eyes and looked at him. She stretched without disturbing their son and sat up in the bed.
Her whole face lit up when she smiled and his heart did a flip-flop. She seemed genuinely thrilled to see him. Could Grandfather be wrong?
“You’re back early.” Her voice was a soft, husky whisper. She slowly got out of the bed in a concerted effort not to wake up little Carl. She walked over to the rocking chair where he sat. “I’m glad you’re home.”
He took a moment to think before getting up from the rocking chair.
She wrapped her arms around him. “I missed you.”
In that moment, a life without Latonya flashed before his eyes and he didn’t like the thought of it at all. Deciding not to cast any accusations, he would wait and see if she was really having an affair with Weatherby.
If she were, then he wouldn’t have a choice. She would have to go. He would not relive his father’s mistake of trying to hold on to a woman who wanted to be held by others. If she wasn’t having an affair and it was just some crazy fluke, a misunderstanding on Grandfather’s part, then she wouldn’t have to know about his doubts.
He followed her into their bedroom.
Wrapping her arms around him again, she stood on her toes and kissed him.
“So, what makes me so incredibly lucky? Did the negotiations go smoother than you expected, or did you just miss us?” Moving in close, she gazed at him with those beautiful brown eyes.
Letting his fingers run through her silky mass of auburn hair, he thought about how he should answer her.
When it became clear to her that he wasn’t going to answer, her gaze faltered a little. He realized by the nervous expression on her face that he must be showing more of his feelings than he intended.
“What’s wrong?” She appeared as if she really cared.
“Nothing.” Pulling away from her embrace, he walked away, removing his suit jacket and tie as he walked toward the bathroom. “It’s been a long day, and a long flight. I’m just tired. I’m going to take a shower and then hit the sack.”
He left her standing in the middle of the room, went into the bathroom and closed the door. He leaned against the door for at least five minutes before he finally finished undressing and turned on the shower. It was all he could do not to go back out there, make love to his wife and beg her not to throw what they had away on some silly affair. However, his pride wouldn’t let him do that. Until he figured out exactly what was going on between her and Jeff Weatherby, he would keep his distance.
Chapter 14
Latonya woke up yet again to a bed without Carlton in it. She didn’t know what was wrong with him. He had come back from his business trip a different man, a colder man. He didn’t seem to want anything to do with her. Her worst fears were coming true. He must be tired of me.
He wouldn’t touch her and would barely talk to her. He stayed late at the office now, and when he did come home, he usually went right to sleep. He seemed to be going to great lengths to avoid her and she couldn’t imagine why. Before he left for Barbados, they couldn’t get enough of each other. When he returned he couldn’t seem to stand her.
He’d been snapping at her for the slightest things. She almost swore the ogre that she knew in the beginning had returned. The one night that she did manage to turn his head long enough for him to quickly make love to her, made him even more irritated and angry.
She’d waited up for him as long as she could the night before because she had news she wanted to share. She’d missed her period and taken a pregnancy test on a whim. The results were positive.
Although they hadn’t really discussed having more children, the thought of having another child filled her with joy. She loved being a mommy to little Carl and she wanted him to have a sibling or two. The recent change in Carlton made her a little nervous about telling him.
She kept getting flashes of a memory from her childhood when her mom secretly told her that she would be getting another brother or sister. Her parents had a huge argument that night. Her father screamed that he didn’t want to be trapped with another kid on top of a sickly wife. The little brother that she’d hoped that she and Cicely would get never came and her father left soon after that.
Latonya quickly showered and got dressed. Deciding to put the memories of the past away where they belonged, she went to spend time with her child before meeting Jeff for lunch. Carlton and her father were two different people. Carlton would be just as happy about the baby as she was. Whatever had his mood so foul would be handled and she would get her sweet husband back. She had to believe that.
Pamela already had little Carl up, dressed and in his playroom when Latonya walked in.
“Mommy!” Her son came running toward her and latched on to her leg.
Latonya kneeled down and gave him a hug. “Hey! How’s my little man this morning? Did you have your breakfast already?”
He giggled and wiggled in her arms. “Yep!”
“Yes,” Latonya corrected as she tickled his belly. “Did you eat it all?”
“Yep!” Little Carl rolled out of her arms.
“Yes,” Latonya corrected again, and pinched his nose.
“Ye-es,” he repeated as he ran toward his blocks.
Pamela smiled as she watched them. “He was a big boy and ate all his oatmeal. Now he’s going to show Ms. Pamela how to build a fortress with blocks.”
Latonya stood up smoothed her outfit. “I’m going to be out for a bit today. I’m meeting a friend for lunch and I might even do some window-shopping—”
“Good! It’s about time you get out of the house and do something fun. We’ll be fine, right, Carl?” Pamela’s Trinidadian-accented voice chimed. “Go give your mommy a hug and tell her you will see her when she gets back.”
He ran over from his blocks and wrapped his arms around Latonya’s legs. “Bye, bye, Mommy. See you later. I going to play now.” He ran back to his blocks without a care.
Letting out a sigh, Latonya said, “Well, okay. Pamela, you have my cell phone number if you should need anything.”
“Yes, I do. Have fun. We’ll be fine,” Pamela said shooing her out.
The shopping trip turned out to be a bust. She didn’t find anything worth buying. By the time she met Jeff at the Tavern she only had one small bag to represent how she’d spent her morning.
The packed restaurant was filled with the business lunch crowd, and for a minute, Latonya missed her old life. Then she thought about little Carl, the new child she carried and her love for her husband, and realized she wouldn’t change a thing.
She scanned the crowded establishment and soon found Jeff sitting alone at a table in the center of the restaurant. She walked over to him and he stood up immediately to greet her.
Jeff embraced her in a hug and squeezed several times before kissing her on the cheek and letting go. “You look fabulous,” he complimented her.
She smiled. Even though she would never get used to people commenting on her appearance or the fact that a small part of her took pleasure in the compliments, it felt nice to have someone who knew the old her acknowledge her new look so favorably.
“Okay, now, tell me all about little Harry Cuatro,” Jeff teased.
“Hey, no silly little nicknames for my son.” Latonya pointed her finger in mock admonishment.
“What? You don’t like Harry Cuatro? We could make it young and hip. How about H4?” A feigned expression of concern crossed his face as he rubbed his chin.
“How about little Carl or Carlton Harrington IV?”
Pretending to think it over, Jeff said, “Nah, those don’t work for me. I’ll stick to Harry Cuatro. Anyway, how is married life? Are you happy? Because, you know if you aren’t, you can always leave him and come to me.”
