His Wet Nurse

When things add up (31)

He refreshed his mail for the fifth time before the car stopped. His head tilted up to ascertain why they'd suddenly stopped, but when he took in the familiar surroundings of the grand restaurant that was his destination, Theo sighed and shoved his phone back in his pocket. He'd been expecting a text or a call from her; a call was like asking for too much, he knew, but not even a formal email came in.

She had accosted him again during breakfast, with her ever-so-agonizing eyes asking about her demand and how far he'd gone. It distorted his thinking every time she brought up the matter—the way her eyes flared up while she spoke, the way her shoulders hunched, unbeknownst to her that she was indeed scared of whatever reason her mind conjured.

He liked that she was getting better after the horrible incident; at least she wasn't looking so sleep-deprived, brooding, with sunken eyes and lips that thinned whenever she shut them. She was glowing this morning when he saw her.

As usual, she insisted on serving him breakfast. Theo was unsure why. Maybe to remind him of the request he'd tried so much to avoid, or maybe she also felt that subtle but titillating spark that raised the hairs on his arms whenever she strolled in with the trolley. It definitely wasn't the latter, as he'd come to learn, because when Jema began to dish his food, there was no glimmer in her eyes, no indecipherable emotion lurking in those ebony shades.

She had chirpily started their conversation by outlining her schedule for the day, mentioning her plans to take baby Sam to the pediatrician. Jema rambled on about how much she loved being around children and how it helped her become more aware of her role as a mother. Those words were meant to convey positive emotions to Theo, but he somehow choked on the idea of replacing baby Sam's birth mother with another. Jema knew how to use words skillfully, never coming off as forceful or imposing, and in between sharing sweet memories of her younger days, she subtly brought up her previous request.

By the end of breakfast, Theo felt more hungry than full. He understood what she was getting at, why her face lit up with determination when she spoke. Reluctantly, he shared his contact information with her, promising to update her if he found anything. He swallowed a groan when he thought about how impulsively he had offered to grant her a list of requirements, trying to mask how much her presence affected him.

Theodore's mind was racing with questions. Why had he acted so out of character, asking if Jema needed anything else and offering to fulfill her requests? Even Santa Claus didn't grant adult wishes like he had just done, and he hadn't even fulfilled the first request she made. The surprised look on her face indicated that she had likely caught on to his motives behind the sudden show of kindness. He swiftly changed the subject, asking for Jacob's personal details necessary for the investigation.

As Theodore climbed the few stairs leading inside the restaurant, his belly muscles clenched with trepidation. What was wrong with him all of a sudden? Why was he fixated on a mere stranger who was simply doing her job? He must be losing his mind, because it made no sense that she would be occupying his thoughts like this.

Pausing on his way, Theodore fished his phone from his pocket and furrowed his brows in frustration as he scrolled through it. He found Jema's contact and without hesitation, he clicked delete. It was exactly what he needed to do to erase thoughts of her from his mind. There was only one good reason he had been thinking of her—his primal needs were calling for urgent attention, and unfortunately, Regina was out of the picture.

"Theo," Jose called out, rising from his chair with a sense of unease between them. Theodore stood several meters away, clenching and unclenching his fists. He had only agreed to meet with Jose because his friend had hinted at having a very important matter to discuss. Taking a few steps forward, Theodore shifted his weight to stand between the coffee table and Jose's chair.