Cynic, Surfer, Saint (Scenic Route to Paradise #1)

by Andrea Aarons

  He was poking his cell phone but he replied, “I am glad we went although the swell was ‘blown out,’ as you say.” Then he said into his phone, “Rifta, we’re right around the corner… All right, bye.”

  Mishael turned to Toni. “You look ducky in your birthday dress.”

  “Thank you, Mishael,” Toni replied with a glint in her eye. She put her hand to her ear. “I’m wearing these earrings because the turquoise color matches the dress.” She pulled her hair back to show him. Mishael smiled and nodded his approval.

  They pulled into the driveway and came around the bend to see a dozen cars parked about the circle in front of the house and down the drive.

  A thin furrow gathered at her brow. Toni said, “I wonder what’s going on… What did Rifta say?” She didn’t turn toward Mishael as she scrutinized the cars recognizing Billie’s and Dianna’s car, also Rick Salerno’s and Dianna’s mother, Ruth Miller’s car.

  Mishael answered, “He said to tell you Happy Birthday.”

  “Uh oh! This is not a birthday party is it?” she asked. “It is!”

  “It is what you people call, a surprise party,” said Mishael.

  Toni squeezed past the cars toward the back garage area. She said, “I don’t believe in surprise parties!”

  “We don’t either,” Mishael confided. “On the islands we always celebrate a birthday. No one is ever surprised.”

  Mishael went inside the main house as Toni pulled the visor mirror down to comb her hair, and rewrap the bun above the nape of her neck as best she could. Her clear eyes appeared unsmudged but she touched up her lip gloss. Taking a cleansing breath, she opened the backdoor into the kitchen. There was Merry chasing Gwyneth and beyond them Dianna and Kate were leaning on the kitchen side of the long eating counter.

  Toni shouted, “Gwenni!” Toddling Gwyneth stopped, turned abruptly around and ran squealing for the safety of Merry’s arms.

  “Mom…” moaned Merry as she gave the child a companionable hug. “You scared her!”

  Kate and Dianna stopped talking and now, Kate came running over. “Happy Birthday, Mother!” She hugged Toni.

  “I cannot believe this! What are you doing here?” Toni was genuinely shocked. Kate giggled.

  “Mom… it’s your 50th!” Merry exclaimed as if that was explanation enough.

  Dale and his wife, Anna, and 18 month old Gwyneth, Kate, Merry and Patsy Sena from Santa Fe were among the guests. After giving Merry her customary peck on the forehead, Toni walked about the kitchen and the living room area being greeted and congratulated. Another unexpected jolt was the Nelsons. Todd was sitting with his son, Mishael on one of the couches. They were in deep conversation which continued until Todd left, excepting during dinner.

  Toni found out afterwards, that Todd used the party as an excuse to break with D’Almata custom and visit his son - once again during the young man’s Tour-before-Duty.

  There was a strolling guitarist who inconspicuously mingled and played his instrument. Two servers walked about with hors d'oeuvres and other refreshments. There was a photographer. Also, an odd man stood about innocuously who turned out to be Misha’s personal body guard. Toni guessed about 25 people gathered for this “non-event.”

  “Sweet dress, Mom,” Dale said as he kissed her. “You don’t look a day over 40… no kidding.”

  Misha came trotting downstairs and Toni waved to her. The little girl came over and climbed into one of the high counter chairs next to Toni. “How have you been, Misha?” asked Toni.

  The child answered properly, “I am well. It’s your birthday,” she said to Toni. “When are going to open your presents?” Misha asked, looking longingly at the dozen or more gifts stacked atop a coffee table.

  Toni looked over and shook her head. “I’ll open them tomorrow… not tonight.”

  Celina came over but left again after her greeting. Although she liked Toni, Toni was sure Celina Nelson wasn’t one to typically attend the birthday parties of her employees.

  Toni talked with Misha for five minutes or more until she saw Hugh descending the steps from the corner of her eye. Their eyes met and she smiled but he didn’t return the greeting. When she had asked, people informed her that Mishael’s cousin, Hugh arranged the party. He looked reserved but came directly to her.

  “Happy Birthday, dear Toni,” Hugh said, standing in front of her.

  “Thank you, Hugh! I heard you were the driving force in putting this together. I cannot tell you how shockingly surprised I am and I’m especially pleased to see everyone together - here of all places.” Sincere, Toni spoke as she held out her hand. Hugh took it with some hesitation, Toni noticed. She gave his hand a slight squeeze in gratitude before letting go.

  Toni didn’t see Rifta. She assumed he was to remain vigilant tonight especially because she wouldn’t be.

  Toni had been back for almost an hour when the dinner party changed course. The guitar player began strumming loudly and doing a pirouette about the foot of the steps. Ignoring him for the most part, people continued talking to one another, although speaking louder than before. He got noisier and Toni stopped trying to speak with Anna to glower at the passionate musician. Something was going on. Everyone but Todd Nelson and his son who were conversing in the far corner as they had been since Toni came in – looked to the musician. He was playing flamingo, Toni realized and confirmed when he ended the song with 4 or 5 solid raps on the wood backing of his guitar as is the custom with flamingo players. At the last musician’s knock, rather in the silence that followed, a woman dressed in red came to the top of the steps. It was Misha’s grandmother, Rose Cervantes. Her dress clung. Diamonds wreathed her neck and wrists. The contrast of iron silver hair, scarlett red dress and jewels was elaborate. The guitar player started up again with something unassuming and moved away from the stairway. Rose began to come down. Toni thought she looked lovely and said so. Kate was standing behind her chair rubbing her mother’s shoulders.

  She said, “Mother, who is she?”

  Toni explained that she was Celina’s mother and Misha’s grandmother.

  Kate said, “It looked like she choreographed her entrance. Is she always that dramatic?”

  “You’re right!” Toni said. “That was like a scene from Gone with the Wind or something! Honestly, I barely know her. She is very fond of Misha, her granddaughter.” They watched as Misha ran across the room to give Rose a hug.

  Rose made her way over to Toni and put out a limp hand. “My felicitations,” she said sounding bored.

  Toni took her hand and gave her a sincere smile. “Why thank you, Mrs. Cervantes. I am happily amazed to see you here! And Misha and her parents, as well,” responded Toni.

  “Amazed? I should wonder!” Rose shot one thin eyebrow up with her question. “Surely, our dearest Mishael or my dear, Huram mentioned we would be in town this weekend? No? I suppose they don’t tell the help everything.” She gracefully plucked a hors d'oeuvre from a passing platter before smiling patronizingly at Toni and then, looking over toward Hugh and Toni’s son, Dale – she popped it between her bright red lips.

  Toni glanced in their direction. The men were leaning against the pool table at the far end of the expansive room. She was missing something here but before she failed to process what it might be, Rose spoke.

  “That handsome young man over there cannot be your son. He doesn’t look a thing like you,” she said nodding towards Dale.

  Toni licked her lips nervously. She felt like her spirit was being beaten with a rubber hose; it hurt but there would be no noticeable flesh wounds. She said, “Yes, you’re correct – He looks like his father, Vance. Dale will be thirty next year.”

  “Oh, he is only thirty? Well then, he must be your youngest. I was truly amazed that Todd, who is known for his business smarts hired you at your age! Don’t worry you don’t look a day over 55… and I mean that,” she said flippantly before dismissing her audience with Toni by turning away. She headed toward the pool table.

>   Daughter-in-law, Anna had moved away before Rose approached but Kate had gone after Gwyneth and now returned, child in arms. She heard Rose’s parting words. Kate let her captive go and Gwyneth shrieked, running after Misha who was playing tag with her. She said to Toni, “Mother, I think I may need to accidentally on purpose push her into the pool, later.” But when she saw Toni’s disapproving look, Kate added quickly, “Don’t fret Mother. I’ll preach to her first and then baptize her. You probably don’t think I was paying attention to missionary etiquette all those years in Africa.” She winked at Toni and Toni let out a boisterous laugh which sounded throughout the whole room as there was a pause in the guitar music at that moment. Toni missed seeing Dale’s and Hugh’s smiling approval and also, Rose’s haughty but suspicious stare.

  Toni’s laughter seemed to heal the inner bruising that arrived blow by blow with Rose’s words and intent. She immediately felt better and Kate was amused by Toni’s unexpected response to her mischievous remarks.

  Dinner was delicious if not entertaining.

  Toni was at one end of the table as a guest of honor, being the birthday gal. At the other end was the future monarch of D’Almata, as Mishael was not only on his Tour-before-Duty but also the official host of the soirée. The guests’ seating was arranged according to D’Almata custom which had its various nuances and classic bending of rules. Normally, Todd would be seated next to his son but tonight he was across from Dale at the center of the table. Merry was strategically placed across from a young surfer friend of Billie’s, TJ and next to Rick Salerno’s son, Alex. Kate was on one side of Toni and Hugh on the other. And so, it was arranged.

  Toni was almost embarrassed at the variety and amount of food offered. She recognized that half of the group was accustomed to celebratory dining such as was before them tonight. The others were not used to such excessiveness but managed to wholly enjoy themselves, nonetheless. Toni had experienced a few such occasions in her fifty years but she had never been a guest of honor and once she had catered a similar event! She grinned at the incongruities.

  Kate had turned to speak with Anna – Dale’s wife when Hugh caught Toni musing.

  “You are smiling again. That is what we had hoped when we planned this little party,” he said.

  Toni looked over at him. She said, “Hugh, I really had no idea! If this is a dream and I am positive it must be, I will continue to enjoy myself whole-heartedly until I awaken.” She finished by saying more to herself than to him, “You got me… you really got me… I had no idea.”

  Hugh nodded, “Excellent! That is what I wanted. I wanted to get you - as you put it in your American way. And now that I have you, I don’t think I will let go.” Toni looked toward Kate to see her reaction to his honest insinuations. Kate was talking to Anna next to her and she was too far to hear or to understand Hugh’s low marble-mouthed speech. Toni turned back to Hugh and she was about to say her usual dithering phrase of “well, now…” when he spoke again.

  “After all, we have more than five weeks – almost seven before Mishael and I returned to our beloved nation. It seems like a long time but this year has gone quickly and apparently, I must be patient and so on and so forth.”

  Oh, that is better. My birthday seems to have gone to my head. Toni revised her thinking. She had the quirky desire to tap him on the hand once or twice, reassuringly but she thought better of it and instead, placed her hands in her lap assuring that she would not. She did say comfortingly, “The time will pass quickly, you will see and then you’ll be boarding a plane with a variety of wonderful memories to take home with you.” She nodded toward the photographer, “And some excellent pictures to remind you of your thoughtful entertainment and generosity toward me.” In response, Hugh’s lively eyebrows lifted.

  Toni felt a laugh rising but she suppressed it and held tightly to her left hand with the other; she would not do what she knew she mustn’t! Toni began to go through a list of ‘must nots’ in her mind…

  Don’t pat his hand or grab his arm.

  Don’t grin every time his eyebrows go up.

  Don’t smile at his rich but distinctive accent.

  Don’t gush and make a scene.

  Don’t compare Hugh to Vance.

  Don’t tell him that it was me standing in the water as the perceived trespasser at the Nelson’s ranch.

  With this final thought, Toni smiled broadly again. When Hugh saw her face, up went his eyebrows. After wiping his mouth with the cloth napkin, he said, “Splendid! There you go again! You must still be dreaming.”

  Then Toni broke all her ‘must nots,’ except the last one; she would have spilled those beans too but she noticed several people were looking their way. Rose Cervantes’ glittered. Self-consciously, Toni pulled her hand from his sleeve and turned to say something… anything to Kate.

  The dinner party lasted until almost 11. Rose and the Nelson’s returned to their motel. They would be flying back to New York in the morning. Patsy Sena from Santa Fe had left about 9pm for her grandson’s house which was half hour’s drive north where he was stationed with the army. Dale and Anna and the baby were staying in Wilmington at a friend’s apartment but Kate and Merry were spending the night above the garage with Toni. The East coast time change made the night early for her girls and therefore, it was decided that they and some of the younger guests would walk the beach. It had been a clear hot day becoming a breezeless cool night. Toni was tempted to go too but she was tired, even taking off her sandals because her feet were hurting. Besides, the beach walkers were all under thirty, including Rifta who appeared as if from the wainscoting to join the group. Saying thank you and goodnight, Toni headed for her temporary digs.

  In the kitchen, Hugh was dismissing the servers as they were finished cleaning. The photographer was gone and the musician had left hours before. Toni came in and Hugh’s back was to her. He glanced at her but turned back to finish his task and to give the serving couple a cash tip. It was then that she noticed a bright red splotch on his collar. Her pace slowed as she recognized the smudge was not blood from shaving but bright red lipstick. Only Rose Cervantes was wearing blood-red lipstick.

  Toni sensed an odd mixture of emotions. Jealousy came first followed by shock as she realized what she was feeling was the same sentiment she witnessed in Rose – jealousy!

  That is why she is catty with me, Toni realized and then she recalled the dagger eyes thrown during dinner. Shame came next. Toni was ashamed that she felt so thirteen, but especially jealous which was rarely virtuous. To allow that emotion a foothold within her mind or heart or to be the cause of a jealous response in someone was shabby in her mind. Tonight, Toni did both. The picture of handsome Hugh early in the evening descending the stairway followed by Rose several minutes later, sped through her mind. Anger arrived and departed before she had time to classify it. Finally, disappointment materialized, filling the emotional vacuum. She was disappointed in herself…

  I am a recent widow! By golly, Vance hasn’t been gone but 18 months! Also, she surrendered to a sad unreasonable feeling that Hugh had somehow let her down. Ridiculous, she knew. Still, Toni marched past the three of them and said with a hand held up as if to wave, “Good night. It was lovely.”

  Toni walked briskly out the open door to the garage but slowed to a stop when her bare feet hit the gravel drive, saying in a constrained voice, “Ouch, oh – ow!” She was committed to crossing the drive as Hugh was saying good-bye to the servers at the door behind her and she wouldn’t turn around now. If she could only continue mindlessly like the hot coal-walkers she had heard about, maybe then her dignity would remain intact. She couldn’t. However, she kept going. As it happened, after a wonderful party honoring a poised and gracious Toni, she was humbled to cringing and creeping across the gravel drive barefoot, muttering savagely like a lunatic.

  Hugh watched her for a moment before coming over and sweeping her up and carrying her the final 15 feet. After the first gasp, Toni was silent. The motion li
ght had flicked on but Hugh did not see the prim face Toni wore. Putting her down, Hugh gently steadied her as she murmured, “Thank you,” and turned to go in.

  “Toni, I remember now,” Hugh said and she turned to look, her hand on the door knob. “I recall I met you at a wedding, after all. It wasn’t my nephew’s, no? You were wearing a cream colored dress – long and formal. The flowers were fragrant and purple, I think. You looked charming and it sounds odd but I am sure I am thinking of your own future wedding…” He stopped when she shook her head no, and then she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

  Hugh hadn’t formulated how the evening would turn out but the affair went smoothly – much better than he thought it would. Toni had been gratifyingly delighted... Everyone else seemed to enjoy themselves. Turning back to the big house, he concluded that Toni was simply exhausted. Hugh was tired, too. He was going to bed.

  Chapter 16

  In the morning, Merry arose with Toni to go to church. Kate had stayed up talking to Rick’s son, Alex until almost sunrise; she was not getting up until time to leave for the airport. Neither Toni nor Merry were worried about Kate as she fell in love and out of love or so Kate felt, regularly without lasting consequence.

  Toni left for Forecastle without asking anyone at the main house if they wanted to go. She and her daughter stopped at a drive-thru for juice and coffee and arrived in time for Sunday School. Merry babbled-on during the entire drive, not noticing her mother’s solemn mood. Toni half hoped that the guys would come to the service on their own but they didn’t. Ruth asked them to join her for lunch. Toni made excuse as Kate and Merry needed to leave for the airport.

  Once back at the house, Merry went up to rouse Kate, while Toni went inside to see what was going on. At the counter sat, Mishael and Rifta. It appeared as if they had just crawled from bed. Each held a coffee mug in front of him.