A Private Affair Read Online Free PDF

times Carissa wondered how she could afford to live in their apartment complex. Thankfully, looking after Malcolm was no trouble. She’d made her way through high school babysitting and she liked kids—at least most of them. She’d looked after a few terrors and was glad when she switched to office work after one terrible incident with a kid who could make a monster look like a mouse.
    She cooked his favorite meal: Pepper pot stew with cornmeal muffins. She had planned on going to dinner with Morris, so she hadn’t planned on cooking that evening. Luckily, she had leftover cubed beef steak, and lots of vegetables and spices. She set the table for one, since she’d already eaten. “Okay wash your hands dinner’s ready.”
    Minutes later Malcolm was wolfing down the food as if it were about to run away.
    “Slow down.”
    “You’re the best cook in the world Miss Carissa.”
    “Don’t let your mother ever hear that.”
    He shrugged. “She doesn’t cook so I don’t think she’d mind. Remember that peach pie you gave us?”
    “Yes.”
    “She only let me have one slice and kept all the rest for herself.”
    “I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”
    “It’s true. I saw her give two slices to Mr. Travis and tell him that she made it.”
    Carissa hid a laugh. She’d always wondered why of all the things she liked to bake, his mother always asked for more peach pie.
    “That’s enough talking, just eat.”
    Later, after cleaning up the kitchen, Carissa helped him go over his homework then it was time for him to go home.
    She regretted doing so because after he left, she found herself alone with her thoughts and they wouldn’t let her rest. Was she asking too much of Morris? He hadn’t said he didn’t want to marry her, she did. Was it so wrong to wait? He was a good guy when he wasn’t being a jerk. Was it selfish to want him to be just a little more daring and a little less cautious? He had a right to mention her two divorces, he’d decided to date her anyway and plan a future together. Then why did she feel as if she never really would be a part of it? That the future would remain out of reach? That it would never be ‘now’ but always someday. Perhaps she was really angry because he didn’t side with her about Riverton. The scary thing was she knew Morris would probably admire him.
    ***
    That Saturday, Carissa spent most of the day cleaning her apartment, washing the windows until they shined, and as she did so, she thought of how best she could defend Mia so that the henchman wouldn’t cut her position. After vacuuming the living room rug, Carissa checked her fridge and realized it was nearly empty so she headed to her car.
    “Where are you going?” Malcolm said jumping up from his perch on the stairs.
    “I’m going shopping.”
    “Grocery shopping or clothes shopping?”
    Carissa grinned knowing the answer he wanted to hear. “You want to come grocery shopping with me, don’t you?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why? You could be playing with your friends.”
    He shrugged. “I think shopping is more fun. So can I?”
    “Tell your mom—,” she was about to say ‘first’ but he’d already disappeared into his apartment. Seconds later he had his jacket on and was ready to go.
    When they arrived at the store, Carissa had to squeeze her car into a tight parking space—the only one she could find in the crowded lot—next to a large SUV inconveniently parked at an angle. Inside the store, a voice boomed over the loud speaker announcing a sale on barbecue ribs while customers weaved through packed aisles stacking various items into their baskets and hand held carts.
    “Do you want to be a chef when you grow up?” Carissa asked Malcolm as he helped her put a bag of apples into the shopping cart.
    “Nope.”
    “A food critic?”
    “Nope.”
    “Then what?”
    “I don’t know yet. I’ve got ten things I want to be, but Mom says I can only choose one.”
    “Well, tell me one of them,” she said