The Perfect Rose Read online

  THE PERFECT ROSE

  By Felicia Rogers

  Published by Astraea Press, LLC

  www.AstraeaPress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  THE PERFECT ROSE

  Copyright © 2011 Felicia Rogers

  ISBN 978-1-936852-05-5

  Cover Art Designed By Elaina Lee

  Edited by Stephanie Taylor, Elise McCallister

  To my grandmother, Carmen, and the loving family that adopted her.

  Chapter One

  She should be here any moment. Mabel had said ten o’clock and assured Caleb the lady was never late. Now here he sat, sipping hot coffee and watching Joshua make snow angels in the yard. His mind relaxed and drifted to his earlier conversation with Mabel.

  “You need help with that boy.”

  “I know I do. But not just anyone will work. Joshua is special.”

  “Yes, Caleb. I know all about his intelligence. And the lady I have in mind is perfect for him. Besides, she needs you as much as you need her.”

  “Tell me about her. Why would she be willing to work for me?”

  Since Kelly, his wife, had left him almost six years ago, Mabel a nosy friend from church, had been hounding him to find a housekeeper for his home. ‘A woman’s touch, that’s what it’s missing’—was her favorite thing to say. Her intentions good, Mabel was an old biddy to some but like a second mother to others.

  When Mabel mentioned Ariel to him, Caleb knew she had his best interest at heart. She explained that Ariel worked with children in the church nursery and that she was different. When he pushed for more information, Mabel would only say it would be good for Ariel to be around Joshua during his birthday.

  Now he waited, in the freezing cold, on a woman he’d never seen and knew nothing about. Caleb Reed, ex-fitness trainer, turned writer was going to depend on a stranger to clean his home, cook meals, and care for his child. All the things Kelly should have done. But he wasn’t going down that road again.

  Caleb sighed as depression threatened to hit again when Joshua ran toward him with a huge grin. He fell into Caleb’s lap, hugged him, and galloped off inside.

  The door banged shut and Caleb heard a car pulling into the driveway. Looking toward the driveway he realized, he’d formed assumptions about Ariel based on Mabel’s descriptions and they’d all been wrong. He’d thought she was sending him a little old lady, or perhaps a Mary Poppins character. But his expectations hadn’t been the girl stepping out of the small sedan.

  First of all, Ariel looked to be around twenty-five and around five foot seven in height with a slender frame. Light brown hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. She wore jeans and a sweat shirt that read, “Bona Fide Jesus Freak”. Her hands were stuffed in her pockets, as she approached the porch. A smile spread evenly across her face. When her sunglasses were removed, he saw a sparkle of emerald green eyes.

  Whistling low under his breath, he stood. Caleb was going to have to have a talk with Mabel. Was she trying to find him a housekeeper or a model? This young, wisp of a thing reminded him of a rare specimen, a rose in a garden that begged for a passerby to stop and smell it. With her beauty, the party scene was probably more her thing. There was no way this girl was going to want to stay at home and just play house.

  Holding out her hand, she spoke, “Hello. My name is Ariel Lauren. Mabel sent me.”

  Caleb felt goose bumps tingle down his spine at the sound of her voice.

  Ariel held an air of authority in her squared shoulders. She gazed at him, with a smile on her lips. Confidence exuded from her tone, but when Caleb looked deeper into the green depths of her eyes, he thought he saw a hidden sadness.

  A sudden urge to delve into her feelings and decipher what had caused such a look on her youthful face overcame him, but instead Caleb offered his hand in a formal greeting, enveloping her small, soft hand in his larger one. “Hello. I’m Caleb Reed. It’s nice to meet you. Mabel’s told me a lot about you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you as well, Mr. Reed. I hope everything Mabel said was good.”

  “Of course it was. You know Mabel. Oh, please call me Caleb. Mr. Reed makes me seem so old,” he answered, with a light hearted smile.

  “Okay,” she said, shyness overcoming her.

  The feeling of camaraderie passed and silence descended. Caleb was on the verge of talking, when she spoke again, “Mabel told me you needed someone to help around the house and to watch your son for a few months?”

  “I do.”

  “How much do you pay?”

  Direct and to the point, that was good. “I’ve taken the liberty of writing down a figure.” Caleb handed her a slip of paper. Ariel’s eyes rounded as her jaw went slack. He wasn’t sure from her reaction if she thought it was too little or too much. “Is there a problem with the figure?”

  “No, no problem,” she stuttered, still glancing down at the numbers. “When can I start?” she said, stiffening her spine and adjusting her purse on her shoulder.

  “Well, I thought I might take a few days to check your references, if you don’t mind.”

  “No, of course not. I understand.”

  “Do you have a resume?”

  “A resume?”

  Judging from her frown, he figured the answer was no. “Yes. Do you have a list of your previous places of employment? Is there anyone who can vouch for you and your skills?”

  Ariel’s head fell, her eyes facing downward. She looked around at the neighborhood, her brows furrowed as lines of worry appeared upon her face. After a few moments, she lifted her head with renewed optimism and smiled. “I don’t have a resume prepared. I’m sorry. I had the impression from Mabel this was more of an informal position. But what about a trial run? I’ll work free for a week. If you’re unsatisfied, then you can release me, no questions asked.”

  Caleb’s first instinct was to flat out refuse her offer, but something about her called to him. What was her story? There was no denying it; there was a story. Mabel was a sneaky one, no doubt about it. And she had a reason for recommending Ariel. Caleb hated to admit it, but he was curious.

  He found himself agreeing to her terms. He nodded. “One week.”

  “One week,” she agreed.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, Ariel arrived at seven. She knocked on the back door and Caleb appeared. He pulled the door open and she gained admittance to the most beautiful kitchen she’d ever seen.

  It was light in color with several windows letting in the early morning sun. The countertop space was a dark, sparkling granite. A large island sat in the middle of the room that also served as a bar area with several stools. On the island sat two cups of steaming, hot coffee.

  Caleb picked up a mug. Sipping the liquid, he leaned against the island and watched her as she ogled the kitchen. He allowed Ariel to study her surroundings before pointing toward the island, and saying, “Would you like to sit down? I just made a fresh pot of coffee.”

  With an uneasy smile, Ariel sat down on the stool and sipped the hot, bitter brew. It burned going down, but at least it helped stave away the chill she’d picked up outside. Caleb grabbed a typewritten list, sat down across from her on the opposite stool, and began going over it.

  “These are the things I’d like you to ge
t done today. I’ll be downstairs working if you have any questions,” he said. As he handed her the paper, their fingers touched. A feeling of electricity shot up Ariel’s arm. She glanced at Caleb but his face was a blank canvas. Had she imagined the feeling?

  To avoid looking at Caleb, she peered around the room then asked, “What about Joshua?”

  “Yes, of course. I think Mabel told you he’s homeschooled.” Ariel nodded and he continued, “He’ll sit at the table and do his studies. If he asks for help just do the best you can. Anything you don’t know, write it down, and I’ll help him with it later.”

  Ariel nodded. The kid was eight and in the third grade. She could answer any questions a third grader might throw at her. Right?

  Caleb continued to talk. “There should be plenty of groceries until Friday. As you run out of things or see things we need, add them to the list on the refrigerator and when we go shopping on Friday, we’ll pick them up. Okay?”

  “Yes.”

  Caleb stared at her. Ariel watched his face but couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She wondered if perhaps he thought she couldn’t handle it. She would have to prove herself to him, no doubt.

  “Where is Joshua now?”

  “Still asleep, I would imagine.”

  “Do I need to wake him?”

  “I don’t think you’ll have to. He should be down by eight. But if he isn’t, come and get me.”

  “Okay.” She was beginning to wonder why he’d hired a helper if they needed to come and get him for everything that needed to be done.

  Sitting across from her new employer, Ariel felt a little out of her element. With her eyes downcast, her hands cradling her coffee mug she focused on the rolling liquid wondering what she was doing here. Almost every babysitting job she’d had consisted of working with the very, very old or the very, very young.

  When Ariel had left the orphanage where she’d been raised, her first job had been as superintendent of her apartment building. Collecting rent from the tenants had been a nerve wracking experience which created bad blood between her and the neighbors. She’d lost count of how many people she’d had to evict. Anger and resentment from the tenants had grown and she’d suffered repercussions in droves. Ariel had been robbed twice in a matter of months. It didn’t take long to decide she needed a different line of work.

  Then there was her degree in engineering. How useless that had been. She could kick herself for being suckered into such a situation. All that time in class for nothing. Who would have thought a school could get away with such a thing? Work until the end and then not get a degree, outrageous! Never again would she spend that much money and time without more research.

  Her last position before this one had been working at a home for mentally impaired adults. Mabel, whom she knew from church, was a regular visitor to the home. When Mabel visited she would always stop by and talk to Ariel. With consistency she mentioned Mr. Reed and his child, Joshua. Mabel prayed for them without ceasing and asked Ariel to do the same.

  Then one day, Mabel told Ariel that Mr. Reed needed a housekeeper and asked if Ariel would be interested. Ariel said yes. Being with the adults at the home was getting to her. The poor individuals were so lonely. They barely had any family to speak of. And the family they did have wouldn’t take the time to come and visit them. She needed to get away. Yes, the time had come for a change of pace.

  Of course the icing on the cake was Caleb’s son, Joshua. Mabel said he had no mother. When she heard this, Ariel felt an immediate connection. Being raised in the orphanage with no family at all gave her sympathy for this child before they’d even met.

  Mabel explained Joshua was intelligent beyond his years. Some thought he had a mental issue. But it wasn’t the case. There was nothing wrong with him. He was just smarter than children his own age.

  Now sitting across from Caleb, she wondered if that was all she would have to face. Why home school a child if his only issue was being intelligent? How did one approach that subject with a father to make sure there were no other issues?

  Caleb pushed back from the island to leave. But before he could go, she stood. “Caleb?”

  “Yes?” He took a sip of his coffee and squinted as the hot liquid touched his lips.

  “Is there anything, um, special I need to do for Joshua?”

  “No. Why do you ask?”

  “Well Mabel, mentioned, hmm, no reason,” Ariel hesitated to finish, giving him her best ‘sorry I asked’ smile.

  Caleb began to walk away, but stopped mid-stride and turned to face Ariel. “I’m sure that Mabel mentioned Joshua is a very intelligent child.”

  “Yes, actually she did,” relief flooded Ariel, she was glad he’d guessed her question without her asking it.

  “Just to let you know, you needn’t worry. There is nothing wrong with him. The doctor’s believe he has a mild form of autism. Some call it Asperger’s. Although it was never given as an official diagnosis, you understand. Joshua is a perfectly normal child in my estimation. Just smart, nothing more. So do you have any questions?”

  “No. I think you answered them all.”

  Caleb left her standing there. Ariel heard the clop of his feet as he descended into the basement. She had one hour to work on Caleb’s list before Joshua awoke. She finished her cup of coffee and washed the few dishes in the sink. Next, she emptied the dishwasher. Ariel folded the clothes in the dryer and set them aside in a basket, realizing she had no idea what to do with some of them. Towels and washcloths were obvious, but Caleb’s boxers would have to wait.

  Back into the kitchen to check her list, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She sensed a presence in the room, like someone was watching her. Ariel glanced at the entrance to the basement and saw Caleb looking at her. He held a fresh cup of coffee in his hand.

  His hand rose in the air to display his cup. “Ignore me. I just came up for some more coffee and to see how everything was going.”

  “Oh, everything’s just fine.”

  Caleb continued to watch her as she scanned the list. Ariel wouldn’t be able to do anything if he didn’t quit looking at her. His presence was confusing her every movement. All she could see from under her veiled lids was his t-shirt stretched taunt across his chest, showing his sculpted muscles.

  What had Mabel been thinking? Asking her to work in Caleb’s house was like putting her in a room full of Chippendales! The man had the figure of Adonis. In his early thirties, with his blond wavy hair and crystal blue eyes the man could have been on the cover of GQ magazine. Just stop looking at him and take slow calming breaths, she told herself.

  Why was Caleb watching her? Was he scrutinizing her every move? Did he find her lacking? With a tight smile, he turned and went back downstairs.

  Ariel’s body shuddered as she regaining her composure and attempted to focus on the list again. Now that Caleb wasn’t staring at her, she might at least be able to read the words.

  While Ariel worked, she kept an eye on the time. At eight o’clock, Joshua walked into the room. He took one look at her and let out a deafening scream. Joshua’s face was a mask of terror. His eyes shone white with fear. Blood rushed to his face causing it to turn a nasty shade of red.

  Ariel held an unfolded towel in her hand as Joshua’s yell rent the air. Momentarily startled, she wasn’t sure if she should go to him or give him some space. The only other time she’d heard a child sound like Joshua was when she’d been in the church nursery and a toddler had crushed their tiny finger in a closing drawer. But that had been a cry of pain. This was a shout of alarm. She cringed as the sound hit new decibel levels. Maybe Caleb would give her a chance to explain what had happened before he fired her.

  Caleb’s feet slapped the floor as he raced upstairs. She was afraid to move. The child’s shriek was at a constant pitch and didn’t appear to be ending. Ariel watched as Caleb burst through the open doorway.

  He walked towards his son, lowered himself down to Joshua’s level, and grasped t
he young boy by the arms as he spoke. “Joshua, what’s wrong?”

  Ariel could almost hear, ‘did that bad woman hurt you’, in his voice. Anguish filled her. Even though she’d yet to earn their trust, the idea that Caleb thought her capable of harming a child bothered her. She tried to ignore the two of them and went back to folding clothes like nothing had happened.

  “Who is that?” A small, trembling finger pointed in her direction.

  “That’s Ariel.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  Caleb frowned at his son. “Joshua, yes it is. Her name is Ariel.”

  “She doesn’t look like a mermaid to me.”

  Ariel stifled a giggle and Caleb sighed, “Joshua, her name is Ariel. She’s going to be helping around the house for a while.”

  Joshua groaned. He attempted to whisper but, like most children, he wasn’t very quiet. “Not another one!”

  “Now Joshua, daddy has a—”

  “Deadline, I know. And when you have a deadline you have to work harder for just a little while. And I have to play nice with a stranger.”

  Ariel didn’t like the way this sounded. Mabel had made Joshua out as a sweet, lovable, accepting child. One which might have some social issues. Perhaps saying inappropriate things about people in their presence was one of them. Ariel hoped she wasn’t seeing the whole picture because this didn’t bode well for her future employment.

  “Joshua!” said Caleb in shock.

  Joshua bowed his head and looked down at his feet. Ariel saw the look of remorse cross his childish face. She felt an urge to reach out to him but waited.

  Ariel studied father and son with interest as Caleb whispered directions to Joshua. Joshua seemed small for eight, but in all fairness she’d not been around that many children his age. He looked like a carbon copy of his father. Both of them had the same blue eyes and the same blond hair. The child, his initial reaction to her presence notwithstanding, seemed to be just as Mabel had described. Ariel found hope in the realization as she focused on the scene before her.