by Rhodes, Beth
M
“You did something,” he accused. He couldn’t help it. His dad must have had something to do with this. Just hours ago, they’d been standing in this office, arguing, and now Maria was gone? Just like his father wanted?
If Carlos had a heart attack, she would have said something to him before she left. She wouldn’t leave him, not hanging like this. No.
“I didn’t.” Greg hesitated. “I think she heard us arguing.”
“Oh, no. She heard me say I was going to take care of her, didn’t she?” The anger inside grew moment by moment, breath by breath. “And after today, all the shit of dealing with Tammy. That is your doing as well.”
“Now, come on. At least now you know she won’t stand by you when things get tough.”
“Stop it,” he said, barely a whispered growl. “You made her leave. With your ridiculous demands and your lies. And then you dragged me into them…and she heard me! God—”
“David—”
“Don’t!” he shouted. “I’m going to find her, and when I do, you are never going to touch my family ever again.” He was sick and tired of hearing how cold and manipulating his dad had been, could still be. “You didn’t want to part ways with mom without causing as much pain as possible. You couldn’t handle your pride being messed with when it came out your wife liked other women. So, you made a business deal that shut her out of my life, too. What did you threaten her with?”
“I did what I believed was best for you.”
“You won’t do what’s best for me this time, Dad. And to think, I followed in your footsteps. You made me like you.” He laughed, the sound full of pain. “I made a deal…for love!” He growled. “For no love, no pain, nothing.”
David shook his shoulders, releasing the tension there and standing up tall to his dad for the first time. He’d let the divorce excuse his dad’s meanness. “No more. Maria showed me what real love is and that the pain of that love is far better than the existence I’ve lived my whole life. My pride won’t stop me from getting the woman I need more than life itself.”
His dad’s face paled.
“When I get back from California with my wife, I’ll be leaving this house for good.”
His conversation with Maria may not have been thought out, but it had been right on. He needed out of this place. It wasn’t just the decor, it was the feeling he got when his dad came home.
Tammy had always urged him to move out and build something newer, bigger. He didn’t want that either. He wanted what his grandfather had.
Taking the hallway to his room where again, he looked around. Nope. Nothing. Not even a framed photo.
“What’s going on up here?”
His mom came down the hall, making his dad scowl as he looked her up and down. “Colleen. I see you two have ganged up against me.”
“That’s hardly what happened, Greg, and you know it.”
David didn’t have it in him to feel any sympathy for the lost boy look in his dad’s eyes. Which was good because a moment later, the look was gone, and his dad strode off toward the back of the house and the rear stairwell which would take him down to the garage.
“I hate to say good riddance,” his mom noted. “What happened?”
“Maria left.”
His mom merely lifted a brow and tilted her head, her question unspoken.
“It’s been a trying few weeks.”
“A woman like Maria doesn’t leave because of a ‘trying few weeks.’”
“No. She left...” David rubbed at his chest, the feeling of pain unlike anything he’d experienced before. “But she didn’t talk to me, Mom. Her father has a heart attack.” The news had to be devastating for her, especially after their last visit. She hadn’t the chance to reconnect since. “Why didn’t she say something to me? What if she can’t be happy here? If she left—shit,” he whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”
“David,” Colleen began. “Do you ever wish I’d come back?”
“Of course. I spent the first year you were gone, wishing you’d come back. I was a stupid, little boy, who didn’t know better.”
The tears that came to her eyes did not make him feel better. “I’m sorry. That sounded cruel. It’s just… I was too little to fix anything.”
She nodded, and smiled despite the hurt in her eyes. Her hand came out and rested on his arm. “Are you too little to fix things now?”
“No,” his voice broke. He cleared his throat. “No, I’m not.”
She nodded, a look of pride on her face as she pressed her lips together.
David leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
He needed to pack a bag, but hell if he cared what was in it. He wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. If her flight wasn’t right away, maybe he could catch her before she was in the air.
“Hey,” his mom called him back to her, and he turned from his way to the bedroom. “Yeah?”
“I’m so sorry I left all those years ago. I thought I was saving you from being hurt, but instead I hurt you.”
“Dad hurt us both.”
“He loved you that day, David.”
“Was it enough, Mom?”
“I don’t know but you took what was good from both of us. You’re the only one who can make it right.” His mom half smiled. “Go get her, David. She loves you, even if she’s scared or uncertain. Win her back…and bring her home.”
“I will.” David called his office, walking into his bedroom. “Brandy. Cancel all my appointments for the rest of the week.”
“Sir?”
“I’m going out of town.” There was nothing in this room he wanted to bother with—not even clothes.
“Yes, sir.”
He paused, his attention drawn to a voice in the background. “Is that Devers?”
“It is,” Brandy responded, her tone turning a little cold.
“Tell him to take my appointments for the next week. It’s time someone else stepped up to do the job.”
“Sir! Are you certain that’s a good idea?”
David actually smiled. His secretary had a thing for Devers that showed mostly in the animosity she exuded. But Devers had yet to truly notice her, and definitely had yet to ask her out on a date.
“Yes, I’m sure. He can do my job blindfolded. I don’t want it this week, so it’s all his.” David scowled. “Put him on the phone, would you?”
“John Devers.”
“Devers, I’m going out of town and need you to take over for me.”
“Okay.”
David picked up his wallet off the side table, and his heart almost stopped again. “Fuck,” he whispered.
“Mr. March?” Devers questioned him.
He picked up the ring. Maria’s wedding ring. Of all the shit… he blinked, refusing to let this one little thing move him more than anything else already had.
“I gotta go. Take care of business, John…Oh, and ask Brandy out on a date, would you?”
Devers sputtered in his ear as David hung up.
He fisted the ring, tightened his hold.
So she thought she could just walk away.
Not if he had anything to say about it.
21
He made it as far as Chicago.
Chicago, damn it! And the worst of it was that he’d forgotten his cell phone—again.
Stuck in the godforsaken O’Hare airport with lake effect keeping all the planes on the ground. Stupid luck. Stupid fate. As soon as David got off the plane, he hurried to the nearest car rental.
“I need a truck, a big one.”
“Well, you’re in luck, sir. I’ve got a Yukon that just came in this morning.” The woman spoke slowly, deliberately, as if she loved her job—a little too much. “But look here, if you don’t mind going a little smaller, I’ve got a great deal on my sedan’s this week. You’ll get the one car, all week for just fifty dollars and day, unlimited mileage, too.”
He frowned, irritation gathering in his chest. �
�I’ll take the truck I asked for, please.” He didn’t care about make or model or year, or expense—for that matter. Because he didn’t need to be stuck on the side of the road in a blinding snow storm with idiotic tires and a car too wimpy to get him to St. Louis by the end of the day. He was headed south, as far out of the Jetstream as possible, and as far away from Lake Michigan as he could get. Most likely—in this weather—the trip would be five plus hours just to get there by morning, a far cry from the predicted two day blizzard hitting Chicago. “Just draw up the paper work,” he said as he handed over his identification and credit card to the lady behind the counter.
“Okay, Mr. March,” she looked up then and smiled. “Give me a few minutes and you’ll be on your way.”
~*~
The chimes of the old grandfather clock in the living room woke Maria on her second morning home. Five a.m. After two days of wallowing in her disillusionment, she woke up…pissed off.
That was the only way to describe it.
Nothing had changed here. She was the one who’d changed, and it made staying here…different. Not uncomfortable, but— “Well, darn it.”
She wasn’t home anymore.
The best part of being here this time—besides being able to help her father—was realizing that it didn’t matter if they needed her or not. They continued to baby her, and she would have to live with that the rest of her life.
What she couldn’t live with was David, taking on the same role. She was a strong, independent woman with hardcore beliefs and a willingness to give. She wanted to give, be needed.
Pride was a horrible thing. That had been drilled into her brain, her conscience, her whole life. But, gosh darn it, she had her pride! And she wasn’t going to raise her baby to believe that she was a doormat, someone without worth.
She was worth it!
A small growl escaped.
I’ll take care of Maria.
Hearing those words from David had broken her like she hadn’t thought possible. Without admitting it, her trip to see her family could only be considered time to think.
Maybe he didn’t need her, but he didn’t baby her. Her biggest complaint was more that he gave her too much independence.
And didn’t that just make her fickle?
She dressed quickly, donning her new pregnancy jeans and a long-sleeved peasant blouse. On her left wrist was her collection of brass bangles, and even though she’d given up the heels for now, she dug her old blinged-out canvas shoes from the closet.
“Hey, you,” Catalina whispered from the doorway. “What are you doing up so early? You should be sleeping.”
“Leave me alone. I can very well wake up at any hour I please.”
Cat lifted her hands in surrender. “As you wish, sis.” And then she grinned. “You got grumpy. Are you going over to see Dad this morning?”
Maria nodded. “For a little while.”
“It’s really good you came home.”
“I’m sitting around doing nothing.” Maria shook off the accused grouch with a shake of her head. “I’m glad I came home. Dad, he looks different. Overnight. It’s scary to think.”
“They’re getting old.”
“They are old.”
She wouldn’t linger on what her announcement might have done to him when they visited last. In her head she knew she wasn’t to blame. It was age, rich foods, and the home brewed Mexican beer he made every year. The cigars he’d smoked since before she could remember.
He might be a little overweight, but he was tall, too so hid it well. She’d gotten her mother’s shorter genes. Thankfully, David just barely hit six feet. He was taller but didn’t tower. She smiled.
“He’ll be all right,” she said, looking over to her sister. “Mom will help him, adjust his diet. Maybe he’ll cut back on the smoking, too.”
Cat’s usually carefree gaze was rapt with worry. “I hope so, Maria.”
Maria pulled her sister into her arms. “He’ll be home tonight. We haven’t lost him.”
Her sister sniffed against her shoulder. “I feel so foolish. All I can think is ‘what if’?”
“You always were dramatic.”
“And you were the romantic.”
“Lena, the practical,” she answered, as they both laughed, clearing the heavy feelings from the air. “I better go. I’ve been such a slug since I’ve been home. I’m going to walk around town for a bit, maybe clear my head. I’ll be home for lunch…or when I get hungry, whichever happens first.”
***
David drove up to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and pulled into the parking lot, hoping Maria was here. He’d been to the Rodriguez house, but found it empty. He stopped at Zack and Lena’s, too but she hadn’t been there either. After a quick drive through town, looking for her, he’d come here.
How could one women become so elusive…in such a small town, too?
Cat had told him which room Carlos was in, so he walked tall and acted like he knew what he was doing and where he was going. No one stopped him.
The hospital hallway had a sick pink and red glow from all the Valentine decorations. Streamers hung from the ceiling, and hearts were taped to the walls. Maybe that was a bad omen for him. Were the walls cheering him on or mocking him?
He’d spent a full two days getting to her. The drive to St. Louis lasted nine hours and even then he’d stopped just short of St. Louis the next morning to catch some sleep before taking a last minute flight to California. He’d had two stops, one in Dallas and another in Denver.
But he was finally here, and he would find her.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
David slowed, looking up at Lucas who stood in the doorway of a room marked Waiting Room in big gray letters above the door. “Lucas.”
“David.”
“I’m looking for Maria.”
The man crossed his arms over his chest. “What if she doesn’t want to see you?”
David scowled. “That would be too bad.” He paused, looking down the hall to the open patient door with Mr. Rodriguez’s number on it. “Is she here?”
Lucas relaxed. “She’s not. You missed her by thirty minutes.”
“Crap. How’s your dad?” David asked, deliberately changing the subject.
“He had a heart attack.” Lucas gave him a look as if to say, Duh. What do you think? But there was worry there, too, and it made his look go sheepish as he shrugged. “I think Maria blames herself. Maybe that’s why she came out here, you know?”
David looked up sharply. “Why would she blame herself?”
Her brother shrugged and tapped his head. “Who knows what goes through a woman’s head?” Then he leaned in and got real close to David. “All I know is, she ain’t happy like she was last time she was here.”
“The last time she was here, she was sick, Lucas.”
Her brother shrugged. “But she was feisty then, and she knew what she was doing. Now…she acts all beat down and uncertain.”
He frowned. That didn’t sound like Maria at all. He didn’t understand, didn’t like it one little bit. “I really need to find her. Do you know where she went?”
“Check over at the garage on Main. Juan works a few hours on the weekends there. Our cousin owns the place.” He hesitated again as if second guessing his candor. “Maybe, you’ll find her there.”
David wanted back in with her family, like he’d had when he’d been pretending a life that wasn’t his own. And as he passed by her father’s room, he slowed. He owed the man an unbelievable debt, for raising his daughter the way he had.
He’d never done right by her parents after coming in and stealing her away, so he stopped and knocked softly on the door.
“Come in,” Anabel spoke as she set down a book on the tray and started to stand.
David waved her back. “Please, don’t get up.”
“David! You’re here.” She came around the bed and took his hands. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Heat ro
se on his neck. “Liar.”
She smiled for him, giving him an encouraging squeeze.
“How’s he doing?”
“Carlos gave us a scare. He’ll drink less now. And maybe eat less steak with the guys every Sunday when it’s time for poker.” Anabel’s gaze went lovingly to her husband. “But he’ll be all right.” She went to his side.
David stood at the end of the bed and faced them both. He was winging it. No plans, no thought as to how to win them over. The truth was, he would never be able to win them over. He was just the guy who’d come through town, slept with their daughter, and left.
He cleared his throat.
Mr. Rodriguez’s brow lifted, the perfect mimic to Lucas’.
“I wanted to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.” The urge to pace was a force he shoved down. He’d been in higher pressure business situations than this. No. Actually, that wasn’t true. This was the most important thing he’d ever do.
With a quizzical tilt of her head, Anabel laughed. “But you are already married.”
“Well, yes. Maybe, but you see, I didn’t ask the first time.”
“It takes a strong—even faithful—man to marry my daughters, March. You don’t half-ass what it means to care for her, to be the man she needs. One who will walk with her through this life—and into the next.”
“Yes, sir.” What did that mean? He’d never thought beyond the moment for so long, and here he was promising an eternity? He would promise anything, and he didn’t have to be religious to be okay with spending forever with Maria.
Mr. Rodriguez pointed to him. “She’ll want to be married in a church. And she’ll have her family there, too.”
“Anything she wants.”
Carlos smiled, but it was the smile of a too-satisfied man, and he waved a finger at David. “Isn’t that the real question, son?”
David’s stomach tightened on the thought.
What did Maria want?
~*~
“You’re being completely ornery and unreasonable.” Juan gripped the broken end of the belt on his ’64 mustang and yanked it free from the pulleys under the hood. He amazed her. She was very good at tracking when her car needed maintenance not how to do any of this stuff. All her life, she’d had brothers to look after the nitty gritty of it, and they’d deemed the garage No Girls Allowed.