by Molly Evans
They remained locked in that position for a few more seconds until Miguel slid his hand down the door to the knob. If he didn’t hold on to something he was going to make a move he’d likely regret.
“I’m sorry, Vicky. I should have listened to you before I jumped to conclusions. I was irritated at being late and starting out the day so far behind in patients. It won’t happen again, I promise.” He took a step back from her and drew in a deep breath, shaken by the memories that statement roused. “I overslept this morning, which always puts me in a foul mood.”
“I accept your apology, but the coffee situation is totally your fault.”
“What?” Now that certainly got his attention. “How?”
“After you fixed my car with the plunger, you said that when working around here you had to be creative.” She let out a small laugh and the tension visibly left her shoulders. “After that awful coffee you made me yesterday, I decided to get creative with that first.” A shrug lifted her shoulders. “Didn’t hurt to ask my friend, you know?”
A grin split Miguel’s face and he relaxed, too. “Okay. I’ll take responsibility for that.”
A light rap on the door made them both jump, as if they had been guilty of doing something other than talking.
“We’ve got patients out here,” Carlos said through the door.
“Oh, dear.” Vicky pulled the door open and nearly collided with the assistant. “Sorry, Carlos. We had to get something straightened out.”
“Yeah. And thanks for the coffee,” he said. “Everybody loves it.”
“That’s great.”
“Think you could do something about doughnuts next?” The young man grinned and raced off to collect the next patient.
Vicky laughed. “He’s a great kid, isn’t he?” she asked Miguel as they left the lounge.
“He is. I hope he stays.”
“Why wouldn’t he stay?”
“He’s got bigger dreams than this clinic. At this point he thinks he wants to be a doctor. He’s got a long road ahead, if he really pursues it.” Miguel sighed, having already walked the path that Carlos wanted to take.
“You did it, why couldn’t Carlos?” she asked. “Seriously. There’s the state-funded lottery program he could apply for. As long as he graduated from high school, it’s guaranteed for college, right?”
“Yes. I just hope he doesn’t get…distracted.” The way his brother had, which had led to his demise.
“Well, guess we need to get back to the patients for now, and work on Carlos’s future later, right?”
“Yes.” He was pleased that they had solved the issue so quickly and so well and were right back to their professional roles. Contacting a coffee service for a donation wasn’t something that would have occurred to him. Maybe someone who came from a different background could be beneficial to the clinic. Time would tell.
“Why don’t you try the coffee?” she asked, and poured him a cup which he accepted, his fingers brushing over hers.
“I’m afraid my taste buds might keel over from exposure to real flavor,” he said, but took a sip anyway. He groaned in reluctant delight. “Be sure to thank your friend for me. This is fabulous.”
Vicky flushed with pleasure at his reaction. No man in her life had ever been as satisfied with something as simple as a cup of coffee. “I will.” She dashed off into a patient room.
CHAPTER FIVE
ONLY after Vicky got home that evening did she allow herself to relive the moments when Miguel had trapped her in the lounge. She’d been horribly angry at him. At first it had seemed that he was treating her exactly the same way her father and brothers did, as if she didn’t have a brain in her head. The same way her ex-husband had treated her. But then Miguel had changed and listened to her. He had been so close, so masculine, so very attractive and totally off-limits. He’d said it would never happen again. That’s what had dissolved her anger. She wanted to believe him, but trust came so hard to her. After the life-changing experience with her former husband, trust was not something she handed out like candies. She’d put her trust and faith in a man, supposedly for the remainder of her life, and with that weapon he’d turned her world upside down.
Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to take the image further than it had gone in the lounge. If she had raised her face just right, if he had reached out just so, it would only have taken an inch or two before their lips had met. Vicky melted into the dream for a second, wondering just what a kiss with Dr. Torres would be like.
The phone rang and she jumped, and the fantasy spiraled away. Before picking up the phone, she checked the caller ID. It was her brother, Edward.
“Hey, Eddy.”
“You’re the only one in the world that calls me that, you know.”
She heard the affectionate irritation in his voice, and she smiled. “That’s ’cos I’m your little sister. You’ll always be Eddy to me, no matter how successful you are as a big-shot designer.”
“Just, please, don’t call me that around anyone in the business. I’d never live it down.”
“Hey, I just had an idea. You could create a whole new line of clothing for kids called Eddy Wear, or something like that.” How strange. That idea had never occurred to her before and a little bubble of pleasure rippled through her. Then she bit her lip, waiting for his response. He’d never taken suggestions from her before, so why would he now?
He chuckled. “That’s funny, Victoria.” He chuckled again. “Really funny, but I’ll have to think about that one, if you don’t mind.”
She mentally sighed, knowing that she would always be the little sister with ideas that never went anywhere to him. “So, what’s up? Why are you calling? I know it wasn’t to get fashion advice.”
“You are so right. I was wondering if you’d like to come to a little dinner engagement with me.”
Another sigh escaped her. He always called on her when he needed a date. He was married to his design business, jetting off for meetings and shows in New York and Europe, so dating was a chore for him. “What, when, where and all that stuff?”
Edward gave her the details, and she checked her calendar. Two weeks’ time on a Friday night. She certainly didn’t have a date either. “Sure.”
“Great! I’ll send a few new designs for you to choose from, and the limo will pick you up at six-thirty.” Always one to take advantage of publicity opportunities, Eddy insisted that she wear his designs at these outings of his and anytime they were at an event together. Fortunately, nothing was indecent or had too many frills, and always complimented her figure, so how could she argue with that?
“Will Daddy be there?” She hated asking that, but it was better for her to be prepared with her Victoria face on when he was near. That mantle she wore helped to protect her emotions from the pain that usually ensued. When she was unprepared, he always seemed to hurt her with his judgments and opinions of her life. Being on guard and prepared around him took the sting out of some of his comments.
“No, Charles was invited but has another engagement.” For whatever reason, Eddy always called their father by his given name. “Secretly, I think he’s seeing someone and doesn’t want us to know about it,” Eddy said in a dramatic whisper.
“Why not, for heaven’s sake? We’re adults, and Mother died a very long time ago.” Perhaps if he had a romantic diversion, he’d take things easier on her. Running her life seemed to be a hobby for him, and he definitely could use some distraction.
“I think that he thinks that we think he’s being disloyal to her memory by getting involved with someone, and you know how he is about loyalty.”
Vicky could imagine the eye-roll that Eddy put on just then, and she laughed. “I do indeed.” It was part of the reason they had fought so much when she had declared her major in college. She wanted to leave the family business behind for a hands-on career. It was the only battle she’d ever won with her father, but he’d by no means forgotten about it. He was so much prouder of his two sons t
han of his daughter, whom he viewed as a failure. Failed marriage, failed career, failed daughter.
“Well, I’ve got to go, Eddy. I’ll see you at the event.”
“See you there, baby sister. Can’t wait for you to see the gowns I’m sending.”
After hanging up the phone, she poured a glass of wine to settle the sudden nerves in her stomach. A simple Chablis, but it was her favorite wine from the family vineyard. New Mexico was the oldest wine-growing region in America, thanks to the Spanish settlers of long ago. Although her family was not of Spanish descent, they had purchased stock from the original vines and developed their own holdings, which had been in the family ever since. That was the loyalty that Eddy had been talking about. It ran as deep in her family as the vines in the ground.
The vineyard grew on acreage that had once been the bottom of a very large, very ancient ocean. The land left behind after the ocean had receded millions of years ago was some of the most fertile in the country. This location so close to the Rio Grande River provided the only thing lacking when Mother Nature didn’t cooperate: fresh water.
Looking out the picture window of her little caretaker cottage, she enjoyed the lavish view of row upon row of grapes. As a child she’d raced and hidden among the lush canopy of leaves and vines, using her imagination to create stories that had taken her to exotic and wondrous lands where she had been queen.
Now the vineyards were waking up after being dormant all winter. New Mexico springs usually began in April and the growing season stretched out to the first frost, sometimes as late as October. This was her favorite time of year, when the earth renewed itself and grew to face another season of glorious bounty.
The cottage was her sanctuary. After her divorce she’d needed to be in the middle of the vineyard where nature soothed her, not in the bustle of the main house where every move she made was scrutinized and watched. There she could never truly relax and just be herself. This cottage was where she’d needed to be. It had provided the protection and safety she’d needed, and demanded nothing of her. If she had her choice, she’d never leave its secure walls unless she found something its equal.
Now, wine in hand, she opened her door and took an evening stroll through the vines, enjoying visualizing the journey of the grapes and drinking the end results. Life came full circle right there in front of her. Touching a leaf or vine here and there, she wondered if she could remember some of those stories she’d told herself as a child. It would be good to be queen again, if only for a while.
Miguel sighed as he looked at the prospectus in front of him. He’d had some mad idea about presenting it to potential private investors like their previous benefactor, but it was hopeless. The clinic lost money every year thanks to the economy, higher health costs and lack of reimbursement. No sane investor was going to put money on this dark horse. After a quick glance at the clock, he saved the file then closed the computer document. He’d fiddle with it some more later. Right now he had to get to the community center or he was going to be late for his standing Wednesday night basketball game. After a quick change from his scrubs into ratty exercise attire and filling a water bottle, he headed out.
In a few minutes he reached the community center that had saved his life more than once over the years. He and some of his cousins had practically grown up here, and he had a special affection for this building and the people who ran it. Blood and roots ran deep in the south valley of Albuquerque.
“M., you ready for a whooping?” his cousin Arturo asked, and tossed a ball to him. Miguel caught it and automatically began to dribble it, the thump of the ball on the floor corresponding with his heartbeat.
“After last week I don’t think you have it in you.” He grinned and tossed the ball back.
Arturo caught it, then made a quick spin and charged the net, catching Miguel off guard. “How’s that?”
“Got me on that one,” Miguel said with a grin, and the game began in earnest. They played and carried on for an hour before either one was willing to be the first to take a water break. Hot and sweaty and thoroughly drained, Miguel parked himself against the wall and caught his breath. Although they were cousins, he and Arturo were friends, too. Each knew the other’s deep, dark secrets and was willing to keep them that way.
“Are you coming to the graduation party?” Arturo asked.
“What graduation party?” he asked, and frowned. Arturo didn’t have any kids graduating.
“Don’t you check your email? I sent it to you a couple of weeks ago. Cindy is graduating high school.”
“Cindy?” Miguel cringed. “No way. Did I miss some thing? She’s only a junior, right? She should have another year.”
“You’re behind the times, dude. She’s been in an accelerated program all year, taking high school and beginning college classes at the same time. She’s finishing a year early so we’re having a big celebration.”
“How did she get so smart?” No one in their family had been accelerated like that.
“Takes after her mother’s side of the family,” Arturo said, and drank some more water. “So how’s the clinic? Still making a good wife?”
“What?”
“You’re married to that clinic of yours. You don’t date, you don’t go out to meet anyone, all you do is work.” He drained the contents of his water bottle. “You are turning into an old man way too soon, my friend.”
Miguel turned suspicious eyes on Arturo. “Now you sound like my mother. Have you been talking to her?” That wouldn’t surprise him. She’d been trying to match him up with someone, anyone, for years.
“Oh, no, not really.” Arturo looked away, then back at Miguel, and shrugged. “She talked to my mother, who talked to me.”
A laugh creaked out of Miguel as his suspicions were confirmed. “I knew she was in there somewhere. What’s she up to now?”
“She worries. They both do. You need to get out a little more, M. She’s afraid you’re becoming an old man way before your time.”
“No worries. I’ll be fine.” The concern in Arturo’s face puzzled him. Didn’t they know he could take care of himself, that he always had, and didn’t depend on anyone? But later Miguel wondered if their fears were coming true. Was he turning into an old man while still in his early thirties? After his fiancée had left him years ago, he’d never really tried to get out there into the dating arena much. Too busy, too intense, too many things to do that didn’t include leisure time spent on relationships. Oh, once in a while he’d hook up for a mutually temporary situation, but those were few and far between. His thoughts turned to Vicky and he wondered if she had any better luck at relationships than he did. With her looks and background she likely had men lined up for her. But, then, that could pose its own set of problems.
He showered, changed, ate something, all the while wondering about Arturo’s seemingly innocent statement. Was he right? Maybe that’s why it wouldn’t leave his mind and continued to nag him like an imminent case of flu coming on. When was the last time he’d had a date or even gone out for coffee with a woman that wasn’t business related? He couldn’t remember. Last year? Maybe the year before? Miguel blew out a long sigh. Arturo could be right. He was married to his work and hadn’t even realized it. Based on principle alone, he was going to have to do something about it.
The next day passed smoothly, and the coffee service continued to be a huge success with staff as well as patients. Pastries magically appeared and Carlos was ecstatic.
Arturo’s words followed Miguel around like a shadow. If he turned quickly enough, he thought he might actually see them lurking behind him, goading him on.
He and Vicky continued to work efficiently together. At least that part of his life was going well. Until he had to close the clinic forever. He was beginning to think that Vicky’s idea of a major fundraiser would be the only way to save it. But that was a topic for another day. First things first.
The afternoon wound down and the last patient had been seen. The familiar
pattern, the flow of the day, had soothed him at one time. He could trust in the continuity of his work, but today it didn’t seem to be working.
“You okay, Miguel?” Vicky asked, perceptive as ever. “You seem a bit off today.”
“I’m good. Just got something on my mind.”
She leaned against the desk and put her purse down. “I’ve got time to talk if you want to.” She shrugged and her glance skittered away. “I mean, if you’d like to. It helps sometimes.”
Miguel thought a second. Maybe she could help. Mirroring her position, he moved and leaned against the desk beside her. “Well, I have a problem. A woman problem.”
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know you were involved with anyone.” Her shoulders sagged a little. “Not that it’s any of my business, but how can I help?”
A grin split his face at her reaction, though it shouldn’t have pleased him. “It’s a female cousin problem.”
Vicky brightened and met his gaze. “What kind of problem is that?”
“She’s graduating this weekend from high school. I need to figure out what kind of present to get her for her party on Saturday.”
“Cash. It always works for kids that age.” She shook her head. “My oldest brother has three kids, and that’s what they always want. Cash, cash, cash. And you’re off the hook from having to think too hard about it. A card, a check, they can buy whatever they want, and you don’t have to feel bad if they didn’t like what you got.” She snapped her fingers. “Done.”
Miguel narrowed his gaze on her. “I like the way you think.” That would be the simplest solution and he was chagrined that he hadn’t thought of it himself. Arturo was looking more right all the time.
“I was a teenage girl once. I have the inside scoop.”
For a few seconds their gazes locked, and Miguel thought about her as a teenager. “I’ll bet you were pestered by all the boys in school, weren’t you?”
A quick laugh chirped out of her. “Hardly. I was awkward, too tall, too skinny, introverted and…well, my mother died when I was sixteen, so that made life more difficult than it could have been, I guess.”