by Marsh Brooks
##
Lucy was first to arrive. She was half an hour early and Isabel was grateful. Lucy watched the food on the stove and set the table as Isabel finished preparing herself. Although it was an exhausting day, Isabel was happy. First, it was the therapy session where she made her first step without the wheelchair with the help of a walker and some leg braces. Now she was going to see Phil. She wore a long blue dress she had purchased for the occasion, with pearl hearings and a necklace that used to belong to her mother. She was anxious and couldn't wait to see Phil.
When the bell rang, Isabel was sitting on the end of the sofa in the living room, with the walker beside her. Rebecca had not come out of her bedroom yet.
Lucy opened the door and said with a smile, “You must be Phil and Jeremy. I'm Lucy, the best friend and chaperone who invited herself for dinner.”
Phil and Jeremy smiled back and introduced themselves. Jeremy was holding a bottle of red wine with a red bow on top of it and Phil had a bouquet of blue and yellow flowers. Lucy didn't know what they were. She wasn't into flowers.
“Come in, Lucy said,” as she guided them to the living room.
When Phil saw Isabel, he smiled. She returned his smile.
“You look beautiful, Isabel,” Phil said. He bent and kissed Isabel on the cheek, sending electricity running through Isabel's body. She wanted him to hold her, kiss her. Her body wanted him. Jeremy introduced himself to Isabel and said, “Phil wanted to get you flowers and I advised him to get red wine instead. So we settled on both wine and flowers.”
“The flowers look lovely,” Isabel said. “You didn't have to.”
Lucy took the flowers and the wine from their hands and Isabel invited them to sit on the couch facing her.
“What a nice house, you have,” Phil said.
“I agree,” Jeremy said.
“Thanks.” Isabel then offered them some wine. She was worried about Rebecca. It was past 6:30, and she was still in her room. “I hope you like Cuban food. Our pasta machine broke.”
Jeremy and Phil laughed and Phil said, “Jeremy and I, we eat everything. You don't grow up in Miami, not knowing Cuban food.”
Good, Isabel thought. At least one obstacle cleared for the evening.
Phil, Jeremy and Lucy, who returned from the kitchen with wine, traded stories about their time growing up, and in college.
“Did you know that people used to say that Phil should have been a comedian?” Jeremy asked. “We used to play practical jokes on each other. We still do.”
“Really?” Isabel said.
“We were just kids,” Phil interjected.
“Come on Phil. What about last year at the ice cream shop?” Jeremy said. Phil shook his head sideways and Isabel said, “Tell me, what happened last year?” seeming very interested.
“On one of my visits, I told him that I felt like having some ice cream and we decided to go to the ice cream shop. When we got there, Phil, who insisted on paying, was in line up front ordering ice cream. He asked me what flavor I wanted, I told him that I changed my mind and that I wanted a shake instead. He turned around, grabbed my two arms and shook me. We both started laughing and the cashier and the customers thought we were crazy.”
All of them laughed at the story. Then, Isabel said, “it's 7:00, maybe we should go to the dining room.
Lucy helped Isabel get up and grab the walker near her.” Phil was amazed at the progress she had been making. Here he was, struggling to walk on a broken ankle, and here she was so strong and determined not to let the accident disrupt her life.
“I didn't know that you started using a walker,” Phil said to Isabel.
“Yes, I've made a lot of progress since the accident,” Isabel replied. The walker was silver with four wheels, and a basket in front of it. “The goal is to be able to get rid of this completely,” Isabel added.
##
When they reached the dining room, Isabel sat at the end of the dining room table, with Phil and Jeremy on her left.
“Lucy, can you go see what's taking Rebecca so long?” Isabel asked. A few minutes later, Lucy returned with Rebecca. Rebecca was wearing the same clothes that she had on when both were cooking.
“I’m sorry, I didn't see the time pass,” Rebecca said to Isabel. Isabel knew that Rebecca was lying and wondered whether Rebecca was going to ruin her evening with Phil.
As dinner progressed, Lucy and Rebecca asked Phil many questions about himself. Rebecca learned that Phil was not a vegetarian and that he liked all kinds of meat and that his favorite meat was pork. Lucy learned about Phil's upbringing, his job, and that he was engaged once and had never been married. At that point, Rebecca slammed her fork and knife on the table, prompting everyone to look at her.
“I'm not going to be part of this charade,” Rebecca said, fuming.
“Excuse me?” an angry Isabel responded.
Rebecca ignored her and continued, “Here you are, having dinner with your boyfriend, while your fiancé is away, and you wanted me to be a good little girl and put up with that?”
As Isabel tried to interject, Rebecca ignored Isabel and, looking at Phil, continued, “Your boyfriend here knows that you are engaged, and showed up here today saying all the right things. Yes, he likes all kinds of food. Yes, he eats dairy. That doesn't make him a saint. In fact, he should be ashamed of himself for doing this. Since he's OK with you cheating on Richard, I bet you that he is the type who goes after married women.”
“Are you finished?” an infuriated Isabel asked Rebecca.
When Rebecca didn't respond, Isabel said, “I want you to apologize to our guests for being so rude to them.”
“Watch me,” Rebecca said, as she got up and walked away from the dining room. A few minutes later, everyone heard the front door slam.
Chapter Eleven
At the Center that afternoon, Stacy was standing by the empty bench, looking at the water. The ducklings were back, making Stacy wonder if the lake really had alligators. Suddenly, she heard a male voice say, “Are you the lady who was looking for Ms. Romero yesterday?”
Stacy turned. It was the same landscaper she talked to yesterday. He was carrying a black bag that Stacy assumed contained weeds that he must have pulled from the ground. The landscaper was short and skinny. His black skin was very wrinkled and he appeared to Stacy to be in his seventies. Whatever happened to Social Security? Stacy asked herself, looking at the man drenched in his own sweat.
“Ms. Romero?” Stacy repeated.
“Yes. Doctor Gomez's nice, Ms. Isabel.”
“Oh yes, did she come today?” Stacy asked.
“Yes. She was here earlier but she already left.”
“I can't believe I keep missing her. It has been years since I last saw her when we were in high school together,” Stacy lied. Then reading the name tag on the landscaper's blue shirt, Stacy then asked, “By the way, Mr. Perez, Do you know how Isabel was injured?”
“She was in a car crash. Mr. Seifert was driving,” the old man replied.
“Mr. Seifert?”
“Yes, her fiancé.”
“She is engaged?”
“Yes. You don't know him?”
“No. I haven't seen Isabel in years. What's his first name? I've got to get a gift for him too.”
“Mr. Richard,” the old landscaper replied. “He comes in here once in a while with her.”
Stacy was stunned. That Isabel was something. Toying with two men at the same time. She looked so innocent when she was with Phil. Was Isabel like her? Stacy asked herself. She remembered years ago how she was dating both the movie director and her now ex-husband at the same time. She needed the part and knew that was the best way to get it from the director, who was secretly cheating on his wife. The actor was different. He was younger than Stacy, inexperienced and idealistic. He was in his third audition for a leading role in a big budget movie. Stacy wanted to be around when he got the part. Success breeds success, fame, and yes, money. Stacy loved money.
“I don't know,” the old man replied. “Why don't you go see her at her house?”
“Do you know where she lives?” Stacy asked.
“I cut her grass too,” the landscaper said, happy to help Isabel's friend locate her.
##
Now, recalling her conversation with the landscaper brought a smile to Stacy's face. Stacy never thought that Isabel would be more like her, cunning and devious. Stacy wondered if Isabel was playing with more than two men and why. Stacy assumed it was for money. That could be the only reason. Stacy could not imagine doing something like that for cheap thrills. Stacy wasn't cheap. It would have to be for money. Lots of it.
When Stacy had first reached the Center in the afternoon, she had wondered how Isabel could be so lucky, managing not to be there for the second time when she was looking for her. Knowing now what she learned about Isabel from the landscaper, Isabel was not so lucky after all, Stacy thought. What she had learned about Isabel had given Stacy more ammunition in her upcoming showdown with Isabel. There was a chink in Isabel's armor and Stacy was going to drive a stake right through it.
##
“Well, wasn't that a wise Latina?” Lucy said, trying to make a joke after the front door slammed. However no one laughed.
“I am really sorry for what just happened,” Isabel profusely apologized, her voice slightly cracking.
“No need,” Phil said, "I understand her resentment at the whole situation."
“It wasn't an excuse to be rude,” Isabel said.
“Your sister is just being protective of you,” Jeremy said. No one had the appetite to continue eating, and a tense atmosphere permeated the air.
“Well, I think we should go,” Phil said.
“You don't have to,” Isabel said.
“Don't worry, we are OK.” Both Phil and Jeremy got up.
Lucy then said, “For what it's worth, it was nice meeting both of you.”
“Same here,” Jeremy said.
“Likewise,” Phil added.
Phil was embarrassed not for himself, but for the embarrassment that Rebecca had caused Isabel. Going through something like that is harder on the host than her guests, Phil decided. He felt bad for what happened to Isabel. He felt like a fan of a sports team that had just watched his team lose a title game. If a fan could be so saddened by the team's loss, how would the players feel? Phil wished he could lessen Isabel's sadness.
##
“What was that all about?” Lucy asked Isabel, as soon as Phil and Jeremy left.
“I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life,” Isabel said, as Lucy was putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
“Where do you think Rebecca went?” Lucy asked.
“Beats me and I don't really care right now.”
“What are you going to tell her, when she gets back?”
“She needs to apologize to everyone for what she did tonight. What Rebecca did tonight was reprehensible,” Isabel said.
“What if she refuses?” Lucy asked.
“We'll cross that bridge when we get there,” Isabel responded. In reality, she wasn't sure herself what she could do. She could decide to take the car away, which was under Isabel's name. But that would be counterproductive, because Rebecca needed it to go to school and Isabel had just given Rebecca a lecture, a couple of days ago, on how she needed to continue going to school despite her pregnancy.
“How do you think Phil took it?” Lucy asked.
“I don't know. I will talk to him and we'll see.”
“I like him. He is very nice,” Lucy added.
“You know,” Isabel said, “in a sense, Rebecca was right.”
“Don't go there, Isabel. There was no justification for her being so rude.”
“No, I'm not excusing what she did. I'm talking about what she said about me cheating on Richard,” Isabel said.
“Come on, Isabel,” Lucy argued. “You don't really think that having dinner with someone is cheating, do you?”
“What would you call it?” Isabel asked.
When Lucy didn't respond, Isabel said, “Well, I know what I have to do now.”
“What?” Lucy asked.
“I will tell Phil that I can't see him anymore,” Isabel said.
“I thought you said you loved him?” Lucy asked.
Isabel ignored Lucy's last question and said, “It's all my fault for letting everything reach this far. Tomorrow, I will tell Phil that I can't see him. Then, I will call Richard to tell him what happened. I hope that he forgives me.”
“Are you sure you know what you're doing?” Lucy asked.
“Yes,” a resolute Isabel said. “Tomorrow, all this has to stop. I promised Richard that I would marry him and that's what I intend to do.”
##
Phil and Jeremy were silent on the drive home. Both were in deep thought when they reached home. As they entered the house, Jeremy said, “tomorrow is Saturday already, I am leaving early for the airport.”
“I know. Time really flies,” Phil said.
“I like Isabel. What a terrible thing to go through tonight. How do you think she'll react when Rebecca gets home?”
“Everything should be OK. Rebecca is more like a daughter than a sister to Isabel. I'm sure Isabel will know what to do,” Phil answered unsure himself of what was going to happen.
“Sorry Buddy,” Jeremy said.
“Well, that's life. As you always said, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade and drink it with rum,” Phil said.
“No,” Jeremy corrected. “I said vodka. But, you're right, I need another drink. Your love life drives me nuts,” Jeremy said.
“I'll get a drink too,” Phil echoed as the two walked to the bar. It was not the time to think. Thinking at a time like this would not be good for the heart, Phil decided. He didn't know that Isabel had already done some thinking after Phil and Jeremy left. Phil didn't know that he was going to be dumped.
##
When Lucy left two hours later, Rebecca was still not home. Isabel was still too upset to worry about Rebecca and went to bed, thinking about the dreadful evening. She was going to sacrifice love and happiness for a promise, for honor. She wished there was a way out of it, out of her misery. She fell asleep before she could find an answer.
When Isabel woke up the next day, she felt hung over from the night before. She knew Rebecca was home because she heard the front door open in the middle of the night. She wasn't going to wait for Rebecca to wake up. Isabel took a shower and got dressed. An hour later, she was knocking on Rebecca's door.
“Rebecca, it's me. We need to talk.”
“I am coming.”
“She went with her walker to the kitchen and made a cup of chai tea. She waited more than half an hour before Rebecca came. Rebecca's eyes were red as if she had been crying.
“Rebecca, I need an explanation for what you did last night,” Isabel said. Rebecca looked uncomfortable. Isabel had moved her walker to the side and was sitting by the small kitchen table, and Rebecca who was standing came and sat next to her.
“I did it for you,” Rebecca answered.
“You were rude to my guests for my own good?” a surprised and dejected Isabel asked.
“You have a good thing going with Richard. I know the past several weeks have been tough for you because of the accident. I felt that Phil was taking advantage of it,” Rebecca said.
“Spare me Rebecca. You felt a need to protect me, and the way to do it was to insult my guests?” a visibly upset Isabel asked.
“Maybe I shouldn't have done it. It was a spur of the moment thing,” Rebecca said, as tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m sorry Isabel. I didn't mean to hurt you. You're the only mother and sister I've ever had and I just couldn't sit there and see you making this mistake.”
“OK,” Isabel's tone softened as Rebecca's sobbed. She was a sucker for these moments. “I forgive you for what happened. Never
do it again. I can protect myself. You will have to call Phil, Jeremy and Lucy to apologize.”
“OK,” Rebecca said. Rebecca was relieved. The evening after the dinner, she had driven for hours not knowing what to do and how Isabel would react. Would Isabel ask her to leave the house? Would Isabel hate her? She knew that she had hurt Isabel and she was heartbroken. She loved Isabel and didn't want to see her hurt and wasn't sure that Isabel would forgive her.
“Forgive me Isabel,” Rebecca added. “It will never happen again, I promise.”
“I forgive you,” They both then held a long hug. Unbeknownst to Isabel, tears were running down her cheeks too.
##
After Rebecca had returned to her room and Isabel had freshened up, Isabel returned to the kitchen to get a second cup of chai. She looked at her watch and realized that Marcia would be there in one hour to pick her up for the lunch with Mark's parents. She gathered her strength and called Phil.
“Hello,” Phil's voice came earlier than expected. She was silent for one moment gathering her thoughts, causing Phil to ask, “Isabel, are you there?”
“Yes, Phil. I am sorry for what happened last night.”
“No worries. Rebecca called earlier. Everything is OK?”
“Did she apologize to Jeremy too?”
“Jeremy had already left for the airport. I did tell her that I would convey the message to him,” Phil replied. “Are you OK?”
“I wanted to talk to you. I think all this has been my fault.”
“Don't blame yourself for anything,” Phil implored.
“In a sense, Rebecca is right, what I am doing is cheating on Richard with you and I can't do this anymore,” Isabel said.
“We haven't done anything wrong,” Phil said.
“Yes, we have. I can't see you anymore Phil.”