Renaissance Man

by M. Garzon

  “It’s a pleasure,” he said. He was wearing designer labels from head to polished toe. I wasn’t normally one to notice such things, so I figured it must be unusually obvious.

  Our lesson began and Brittney arrived and hopped onto George, who Elise had been hand-walking around the ring. I watched horse and rider throughout our lesson and had to admit they were impressive. George flowed over the jumps and acquiesced instantly to all of Brittney’s commands. There were none of those split-second differences of opinion that sometimes characterized my rides with Hades. Julia rode well too, although she kept glancing over at Al, which earned her a rebuke from Karen. For his part, Al seemed more absorbed by his phone than by Julia.

  We were walking on a long rein discussing our show schedule when the silver lining to Cal’s injury struck me. Hades was only entered in one class, on Sunday. I’d been planning to spend four days at the show because of Cal and a student.

  “Karen, would you mind schooling one of my riders at the show? The one who’s leasing Winter?” After Seth left Dec had expected Winter to be used as a full-time school horse, but I couldn’t bear to see his willing nature eroded by so many inexperienced riders, so I had arranged a lease as soon as I could. He was the perfect mount for Erin, who was a tentative, though competent, rider.

  I texted Jaden before I’d even finished putting Hades away.

  I’ll be waiting with open arms on Saturday. I had barely pushed ‘Send’ when Hades’ teeth closed next to my phone with an audible snap. He didn’t like phones or anything else that drew away attention that was rightfully his.

  “Cut it out,” I told him, but I wasn’t angry, and the glint in his eye said he knew it.

  There was always work to catch up on, so I found ways to keep busy over the next two days. The farrier came and reassured me that the damage to Cal’s hoof looked worse than it was. He filled the hole with epoxy, reset Cal’s shoes, and Cal was ready to ride, though we’d have to minimize the jumping for a couple of weeks.

  On Friday evening I went outside to wait for Jaden. A light drizzle silvered the sky. It wasn’t unpleasant after the heat of a June day, and I sat on the rarely-used chairs on the covered porch, breathing in the smell of ozone and feeling content. Jaden’s car came down the road a little fast, and I smiled at his hurry. He parked by the shed and ran to the house; I met him on the steps. I melted against him like honey in the sun, his embrace the only thing keeping me from leaking through the planks. Where I’d been content, now I was overflowing; the skies were brighter, the world in sharper focus, and my heart so light it threatened to float me off the porch. Jaden stood on a lower step than me, making it easier for our lips to meet, and I took full advantage, holding his face in my hands as my mouth played with his. He made a sound deep in his throat and pulled me tighter against him, so tight I could hardly draw breath. I found myself wishing we were someplace a lot more private, wearing far fewer clothes. After a minute his lips skimmed across my cheek to my ear.

  “We’re getting wet.” He kissed the spot right below my ear and I shivered. “Let’s get you inside.”

  We toweled each other off in the powder room, laughing, and tumbled into the kitchen.

  “It’s good to see you,” Dec greeted Jaden. They chatted while I got us drinks. I had hoped that Dec would go to his girlfriend’s house, as he often did on Fridays, but he settled obstinately in his living room recliner. It was okay, though. We watched a bad movie together, and when I curled into Jaden’s side on the couch Dec gave only a cursory glance in our direction. After night check — which included several delays in dark corners — Jaden went to sleep in the guestroom. I hadn’t thought anything could be more frustrating than the confusion of our first summer, but now I knew what I was missing. This was definitely worse.

  The following morning we tacked up Piba and Kermit, Jaden’s horses, and started along the trail to the polo club. The air smelled fresh after the rain, and the sun caught sparkles on leaves and branches. The multihued greens of early summer surrounded us as our horses’ hooves thudded quietly on the damp earth.

  “Are you sure about this?” I asked, watching Piba’s chestnut ears. Jaden was leasing his horses to Mateo for the polo season.

  “I should have done it sooner. The season started a month ago and they’re not even fit enough to play a full match,” he responded. He patted Kermit’s neck, his straight brows furrowed in concern.

  “Why didn’t you have Jen ride them? Or me?” Jennalyn was Jaden’s long-time groom and friend.

  “You already had more work than you could handle, and Jen’s going to naturopath college, remember? She has a part-time job in the city.”

  “Oh, right.” I looked over at him; he was lost in thought, his long body following his horse’s movements with unconscious grace. “You’re not going to sell them, are you?” I asked with sudden anxiety.

  He shook his head, but it seemed more a gesture of uncertainty than negation. “I don’t want to, Téa, but I can’t rule it out, especially in Piba’s case. I won’t have enough time for them for the next few years, and keeping two horses is expensive.”

  A ripple of surprise passed through me. I didn’t think I’d ever heard Jaden complain about the cost of anything before, in fact, I’d hardly ever heard him talk about money. I realized with a start that I had no idea what his financial situation was like. I nudged Piba closer to Kermit and took one of Jaden’s hands off the reins, holding it securely in mine.

  “Don’t lawyers make a lot of money?”

  “Some do, eventually. But not in the beginning when they’re articling as I am.” He gave me a curious look. “Don’t you know how much polo players earn?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  His entire face suffused with tenderness. He pulled our horses to a halt and used our joined hands to tug me forward. He kissed me, gently at first, but his hand soon went to the back of my neck, and his kiss turned deep and searching. A fluttering started in my belly and moved outward, and a moan built in my throat. Piba danced sideways suddenly, breaking our contact.

  “Oops,” I gasped. “I think I squeezed her.” Piba tossed her head in disapproval. “Sorry, girl.” I patted her and turned to find Jaden’s molten eyes fixed on me. I gulped. I knew that look.

  “Come,” he said hoarsely. He pushed Kermit into a canter. Luckily we were close to our private copse, and minutes later we were rolling on the grass, tugging off each other’s clothes with frantic haste.

  It took a while for our breathing to slow. Jaden shifted so that I was lying on top of him, my head on his shoulder. He brushed his hand over my hair, from my crown down to my shoulder.

  “I miss being close to you,” he murmured.

  “I can see that.”

  “I don’t just mean sex — although you may have noticed how much I missed that.”

  A tingle swept over me. “Um, yes.” I had one hand around his strong shoulder and I pressed my face into his neck, wishing I could stay there all day.

  “Querida...” His voice was husky. “Have you ever thought about moving in with me?”

  I stiffened. Jaden felt it; his hand moved soothingly up and down my back. He waited for me to speak. Of course, I’d imagined living with Jaden someday, but that was sometime in the amorphous future.

  I cleared my throat. “You mean, soon?”

  His hand continued its calming travels. “I know you can’t move now, but what about next winter, when you’re in school?”

  I raised my head to see his face. I could feel my own, tight with confusion. “My love, I can’t be away from the barn, you know that. My work is here, and my horses... besides, Dec and Gran need me.”

  Conflicting feelings tugged at me; joy at the thought of truly being with Jaden warred with my desire for the life I’d been fashioning. I rolled off Jaden and got to my knees. I began straightening my clothes, not looking at him.

  “Téa?”

  I re-buttoned my breeches, still avoiding his eyes. I was
caught off-guard by the wound he’d just inflicted. He’d done it unwittingly, and yet there it was, throbbing in my solar plexus.

  “Hey,” his low voice spoke near my ear. He kneeled next to me and wrapped one arm around me. His other hand ran down my arm to my hand, which he gripped tightly. “I don’t mean to push you. If you’re not ready-”

  I shook my head, horrified to find tears forming in my eyes. The man I loved had offered to share his life with me, and I was going to pieces. What was wrong with me?

  “It’s just... very sudden.” I turned my face to his. “You surprised me, it’s a lot to think about.”

  He put his palm to my cheek and rested his forehead against mine. “Take all the time you want.” A moment later he pulled away and grinned. “Okay, time’s up. We’re overdue at the polo club.” I returned his smile as he heaved me to my feet. There was a tiny flicker of panic in my chest, but I quelled it firmly.

  The ride to the polo club went quickly. Jaden gave me an occasional searching look and I tried to reassure him by acting natural, which wasn’t hard with his warm presence at my side. We dismounted outside the main barn and were immediately surrounded.

  “It’s about time,” Jennalyn teasingly chided Jaden, taking Kermit’s reins from him.

  “Hola, muñequita.” Mateo gave me his usual two-cheek kiss before similarly taking Piba from me.

  We were swept into the barn as part of a chattering, happy group, and we spent the next hour seeing Kermit and Piba settled into their new digs.

  “I emailed you everything I could think of,” Jaden told Mateo, “but call me if you have any questions. Kermit’s pretty easygoing, but Piba can be quite particular. It may take her a while to accept you.”

  Mateo held both hands up in a very Latin gesture. “She is female. It is to be expected.”

  They laughed while Jennalyn and I shared an eyeroll. I watched Jaden and Mateo stroll down the aisle, heads together in conversation, and marveled at their newfound camaraderie. It gave me the warm fuzzies.

  “Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” said a snarky voice behind me. Warm fuzzies gone. I turned to find Sharleen standing behind me with her arms crossed. “He thought he was the king of this place, and now not only has his handicap dropped to six — to match Mateo’s — but he can’t even support his own horses anymore. It’s sad, isn’t it?” The last, sneering question was addressed to me, but it was Jennalyn who answered.

  “There’s nothing sad about it,” she snapped. “It’s his choice. He’s a lawyer, for pity’s sake, not a hobo.”

  “Yeah, ’cause the world desperately needs another lawyer,” Sharleen said. She sashayed her curvy figure down the aisle. I clutched Jennalyn’s arm, chilled by sudden worry.

  “Jen, what if Sharleen is mean to Kermit and Piba? Is she Mateo’s only groom?”

  Her brows drew together. “I didn’t think of that. We’d better talk to Jaden. And Mateo.”

  I hurried after her, relieved that she shared my concern. We found the guys outside, leaning on a fence and talking polo, Jaden’s golden brown hair a few inches above Mateo’s wavy black. I exchanged an uncertain look with Jennalyn before speaking; I didn’t want to upset Mateo by insulting his groom.

  “Jaden, Mateo.” I hesitated before blurting out the rest in a rush. “Sharleen hates me, and she’s always had a mad crush on Jaden but now she’s just mad, and I’m afraid that she’ll... well, what if she isn’t nice to Jaden’s horses?”

  Sharleen disliked me because I was Jaden’s girlfriend, but I wasn’t sure whether the men were aware of that, and when neither of them said anything for a minute I felt warmth creeping up my neck as a blush threatened to embarrass me. Then Jaden heaved himself away from the fence and wound his arm around my waist.

  He faced Mateo. “What do you think?” he asked in Spanish.

  Mateo’s dark eyes moved to me and they crinkled up at the corners as he smiled. “I cannot imagine Sharleen would behave this way, but I promise to watch carefully. In fact, why don’t we go speak with her now?” This last was directed at Jaden.

  I squeezed Jaden’s hand. “You’re the best guarantee that she’ll be good to them. Go flirt with her. I give you full permission.”

  He bent and brushed his lips quickly against mine. “I’m going to stay for the afternoon. Is it okay if Jen drives you back?”

  I agreed since I needed to get home. I was confident that Jaden would be able to charm Sharleen sufficiently to change her attitude.

  “They’ll probably end up downright spoiled,” Jennalyn agreed.

  Back at the barn, I helped Jen bag some feed for Jaden’s horses so their stomachs wouldn’t be upset by an abrupt transition to different food.

  “Do you want some coffee?” I offered as she threw the bag into the back of her car.

  “Sure.” She smiled. “We haven’t talked in ages, there’s lots of juicy gossip.”

  I got us coffee and we settled at the old pine kitchen table while we talked. She updated me on naturopath school, which she loved, and news from the polo club. I admired her unusual yellow and grey eyes as she spoke.

  “Say, Jen, how much money do polo players make?” Jaden had very effectively distracted me from asking him earlier.

  “The pros? Well, it depends on where they play, but most of them make six figures at least.”

  I gaped at her, but she wasn’t done. “I think Jaden was making almost a half mil. Of course, by now he’d-”

  I choked on my coffee. Jennalyn hurried around the table to pound me on the back.

  “As in, a half a million? Dollars?”

  She sank into the chair next to me and gave me a strange look. “Haven’t you guys ever talked about this?”

  “It never occurred to me to ask.”

  “But... haven’t you noticed that Jaden’s kind of a big spender?”

  I thought about it. I knew he owned a loft in the trendy Queen West area and that he drove a nice car. He always insisted on paying for things when we were together, but I supposed I hadn’t put the pieces together. I recalled our time in Florida the year before; we’d eaten in restaurants almost every night and Jaden had bought me several relatively expensive gifts. I thunked my forehead with the heel of my hand.

  “I’m an imbecile,” I stated.

  “No, you’re not. You don’t care much about money, that’s all. That’s a nice thing, Téa.”

  I walked Jennalyn out to her car and hugged her goodbye, but my mind was elsewhere. Maybe I didn’t notice the trappings of money, but it wasn’t true that I didn’t care. In some ways, I felt as though money — or rather, its lack — had defined much of my life. My whole family had always had to work hard, but I was affected in particular because I competed in a sport that sucked vast amounts of wealth into a seemingly bottomless vortex. The Donalds had spent over two thousand dollars the previous week to spend four days at a local, provincial-level show, and once a horse started competing internationally the costs spiraled accordingly. It was my lifelong dream to be able to afford to participate in the sport I loved.

  I rode Hades and got ready for the following day’s show, and my brain gradually stopped whirling. After all, Jaden’s previous income didn’t make much difference now. He bounded into the barn that evening thrumming with energy. He grabbed me in the aisle and bent me backward to kiss me, and his happiness was so infectious that I didn’t even worry about who could be watching. When he let me up I noticed the mild sunburn across his sharp cheekbones and straight nose.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sunburnt before,” I commented, recalling his normally-bronzed skin.

  “I’ve never spent so much time indoors before. It felt great to be back on the polo field.” His satisfied sigh was proof enough. “I rode Piba and Kermit one last time.” His words gave me a twinge, but I told myself it wasn’t really the last time. How could it be, when riding them made him so happy?

  Jaden went to the house to help with dinner while I finished packing my tack trunk
. His energy transformed the dinner table; the quiet mealtime I’d been sharing with Dec was now a lively four-way conversation since Gran joined us too.

  “I’d like to come to the show tomorrow,” Jaden announced. “It’s been far too long since I’ve watched you.”

  I agreed enthusiastically.

  “I was supposed to spend the day with my mom, so I’ll bring her with me.” Much as I loved Aunt Paloma, this news dampened my enthusiasm a tad. Gran was spending the night, and she stayed in the guestroom as she always did.

  “Take Seth’s room,” Dec told Jaden after we’d done the bedtime check. They glanced at me simultaneously and I nodded my assent, but had a sinking feeling as I wondered how long Dec would keep calling it ‘Seth’s room’.

  “Now this is a civilized time to go to a show,” I commented as we loaded Hades the next morning. Usually, show mornings began before dawn, but since our class wasn’t until the afternoon I’d had time to help feed the horses and have a leisurely breakfast myself.

  Dec drove, hauling our two-horse trailer, and I was glad. Even though Hades was wrapped in cotton up to his eyeballs, it made me nervous to drive such a valuable horse in such a small trailer, even when I wasn’t stealing him.

  When we arrived I greeted my barn mates and undressed Hades, watching him carefully for signs of stress. Since he was looking around in his usual regal manner I left him to eat and went to watch Julia ride. I found Al at the ringside and made halting conversation with him, trying in vain to find some common ground, but he seemed evasive and uninterested.

  “Look who finally decided to show up.” Alex strolled up to us after Julia had collected her ribbon. He mussed my hair playfully; I swatted his hand away.

  “Someone had to come and put you in your place,” I said, grinning at him.

  We all headed back to the stabling area. I was looking forward to getting out of the sun’s glare.

  “How was the show, Jules?” I asked.

  “It’s been fun, but I missed you. Al stayed with me yesterday so I wouldn’t be lonely.” She peeked at him as if in gratitude. My eyes narrowed. “Sorry I can’t stay to watch you ride, T, but I’m going to a party with Al,” she went on apologetically.