“Please, Señor the Bobby Ray, make up your mind. You are confusing me,” Eduardo said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“I love my son. He has made me proud as the head of Blakemore Oil. He’s carried himself with grace and dignity, representing our family well. I don’t want you to kill Connard,” Bobby Ray said.
“Then perhaps, Señor, you should stop killing him yourself with your rapid strikes of disgust by not accepting his choices in life,” Eduardo said. “If he is all that you say that he is, he is coming here to relax and have some fun. He is, I am certain, hoping you will also receive this Jason.”
Bobby Ray could not believe he had walked into the sideways logic of a professional coffee growing, drug czar. A man who often took life, but was smart and wise enough to understand the value of it. He was also a man more accepting of the differences of others that he was of his own son.
“You seem pretty okay with this,” Bobby Ray said even though he was not. “If your Junior came and told you he was gay, would you be this accepting?”
“Hell no. I would kill him,” Eduardo said quickly.
Bobby Ray’s mouth hung open again.
“I am telling the joke,” he said. “Come, we go back to the house for food, Aguardiente, and baths.” He eyed the urine soaked pants of Bobby Ray. “Sí, and you need to get out of those pee pee pants Señor.”
Chapter Twelve – Welcome, Welcome
Thursday– Las Tierras
The tears would not stop rolling down Ryanne’s cheeks at the sight of her family walking up the steps of her new home. She didn’t even mind seeing Mary Jean, Dwight’s cousin, with the giant centipede clipped into her hair. Try as she might to hold her composure she was failing miserably as she stood on the porch to the left of her husband, Yuńior on his right and Tonda standing close behind him.
“Ryanne, compose yourself por favor,” Eduardo said under his breath.
Ryanne sniffled trying to hold back the flood gate at seeing her father aided up the stairs by her knuckled headed brother. Her mother, dressed perfectly in linen pants with a coffee bean scarf around her neck and a brown silk blouse, made Ryanne want to run to her and throw herself into her arms. However, it was the vision of Odessa and Saxton getting out of the Suburban with her niece and nephew which made her body rack with tears.
“Carina, por favor, if you continue to cry this way, your family will think you are being mistreated. Please, the Lady of the Land must be stronger,” Eduardo told her. Mara materialized beside Ryanne with a handkerchief to wipe her face. She stood at her side in black slacks, with a crisp mint green blouse and a pair of black Mary Jane shoes. She had taken her fashion cues from Marianna and also wore her hair pulled back into a tight bun at the base of her neck.
Mara whispered, “This is your family?”
Ryanne gave an imperceptible nod of yes with her head as Carlos climbed out of the vehicle last, breathing in the sweet air of home. He inhaled deeply as his feet touched the ground yelling at the top of his lungs, “Home Sweet Home!” He took off, running past everyone up the stairs, flinging himself at Eduardo, “Hermano!” He engulfed his big brother in his arms, squeezing him tightly.
“I am glad to be home!” he said to Eduardo, turning to hug the life out of Yuńior, scowl at Tonda, then kiss the cheek of Ryanne. “Hermana, why are you crying?” he said, squeezing her. “Where is my beautiful niece, I cannot wait to spoil her with love and kisses.”
“Keep that mouth off of my daughter, I do not know where it has been,” Eduardo said sternly.
“Bah,” Carlos said, walking past them, looking briefly at Mara. “Hmmph,” he said pointing at her, noticing the family resemblance in the Delgado nose and lips.
“This is Mara, my...assistant,” Ryanne said to him.
Carlos shrugged, walking past her into the house yelling for Margherit. “I am home, Señora Margherit, feed me authentic home cooking!”
Dora reached the landing next, but Ryanne was crying so hard as she hugged her mother, the decorum of her position had completely left her. “Mama,” she cried. “Mama, you have another granddaughter. I can’t wait for you to meet her. She is so beautiful...I couldn’t wait for you to get here. You are here finally Mama...”
In her mother’s arms, Dora held her daughter tightly, her hands rubbing her hair, telling her everything was all right. “I am here baby, stop crying, Mama is here,” she whispered to her daughter.
“Get the hell out the way Dora so I can kiss my other beautiful girl,” Big Sarge commanded. “I also can’t wait to see my beautiful little grand angel!” Dora stepped aside as Big Sarge engulfed Ryanne in his arms bringing forth more tears, snot and emotions. The same reaction came with Kevin Jr, and by the time Saxton and Odessa reached the landing, she was a blubbering mess.
Eduardo’s disappointment in her lack of composure was evident as he shook hands, welcoming the Trodat’s to Las Tierras. Yuńior watched his stepmother fall apart at the sight of her family. A tug at his heart for the longing of his own mother’s embrace caught him off guard eliciting an emotion that he believed he had long since been buried.
“Welcome to Welcome to Las Tierras Verdes de mis Antecedents,” Eduardo said. “If you would be so kind, please turn and gaze upon the green valleys of my ancestors.”
It looked like a photo from a family reunion, as Carlos returned with an arepa in mouth, standing next to Yuńior as everyone looked out over the verdant valleys filled with the line workers, men on horses, and wagons being drawn.
“I’m sorry,” Ryanne said. “Please, welcome, welcome to our home, come inside and meet our daughter.”
Big Sarge stated what everyone else was thinking when he looked at Mara, “Is she one of Eduardo’s daughter’s too?”
Eduardo spoke up quickly, “No! She is not!”
“This is Mara, my...assistant,” Ryanne said with a smile as she waited for her husband to enter the home first.
Bobby Ray came from the kitchen with a cool drink in his hand to spot his eldest son. He nearly dropped the cup. “Saxton!” He yelled, picking up his pace to get to his boy who held his only grandson.
“Hey Daddy,” Saxton said greeting him with a hug. “Where is Mom?”
“I’m right here,” she said coming from the living room, holding Isabella. “This has got to be the sweetest baby ever! My Austin is a going to be a hell raiser, but this little lady is so darn adorable, I can’t stand it.”
“Mom, Dad, everyone, please allow me to introduce you to Isabella Riesel Trodat Castanza Delgado,” she said to her family.
Yuńior stood back watching as Dora Trodat broke into tears holding her youngest grandchild. Big Sarge was choked up, fighting back the crocodile tears, as Kevin Jr. peered over his shoulder. Lucille took Austin from Odessa, cradling her granddaughter, while Bobby Ray talked to Saxton, and the house was loud. Louder than he had ever heard it with voices filled with merriment.
Mary Jean stood behind the fray, her eyes on Tonda.
Tonda had not stopped staring at the centipede on her head as he moved closer, touching it with his finger. Poking it, as if it were going to come to life and start crawling. He stood so close to Mary Jean, his exhalations moving the hair on her head with each breath. The wide expanse of his chest nearly shielding her from the sunlight entering through the side window. “If you keep poking at me like that big fella, you are going to have to either learn my last name or buy me a drink,” she said to Tonda.
He gave nothing away as he looked down at her. The photo in Kevin Jr.’s phone didn’t do her justice. She was an attractive, full figured woman, with hefty hips, generous breasts, and a smile which nearly made him forget himself. Minus the centipede earrings, the bug embroidered neck scarf and insect laden sweater, he found himself drawn to the odd woman. Tonda took two steps back, regaining his composure, his attention now focused on Eduardo.
Mary Jean moved closer, whispering very low for only Tonda’s ears, “I know you understand English. You might not want to get too close to a
ll of this...once I get under your skin, I am hard to get out of your system.”
Tonda looked back at her, only raising an eyebrow, then looking to Kevin Jr., who glanced over at Mary Jean and winked. She wiggled her fingers at him, blowing him a kiss. “See, he’s hooked,” she said to Tonda. “Careful, you just might be next. I ain’t scared of all of that either.” Her hands went to her breasts pushing them upwards as she grunted walking over to join the rest of the family.
Tonda tried his best not to smile.
Ryanne looked about the room, taking in the excitement of it all as Eduardo and Carlos talked, Bobby Ray and Saxton chatted about his adventure in the venom house, and Odessa and her parents fawned over Isabella. Then she noticed Yuńior. She removed herself from the group, walking over to him. It was out of protocol but she didn’t care. If her husband scolded her later she would deal with it but right now, the only thing she saw was a lonely 16-year-old witnessing something he’d probably never experienced – a room full of love.
“Come here,” she said to him as she grabbed him, pulling him into her arms. She hugged him, holding him close as her mother had held her, her hands on his dark head, as she planted a kiss on his temple. “I love you. I will fight to the death anyone who comes near you. Even if you are not my son by birth, you are my son in my heart. My family is your family. You are my family.”
“Ryanne, stop slobbering all over that young man,” Big Sarge yelled. “Come over here boy and give your Granddaddy a hug! Trying to be all tough and shit like your daddy. You know you want some of this lovefest.”
Yuńior’s eyes were misting as Ryanne led him over to the huddle. Kevin Jr. patting him on the shoulder. “Hey man, I brought you a Cowboy’s jersey, like you asked. I’m proud of you dude, wanting to know what real football is,” he told Yuńior.
Yuńior retorted, “Football is played with your feet, not by millionaires in padded uniforms, crying each time they fall down and get hurt.”
“Ooohhhh!” came the response from the Trodats.
“I have something for you too baby,” Dora told him. “Where are the rest of our grandchildren Eduardo?”
The surprise on the Czar’s face at his wife’s parent’s desire to claim his children as their own grandkids caught him off guard. “Escuela, until Friday evening, is when they shall arrive,” he said.
“Good, good, I brought Andres some movies and stuff,” Dora said.
“Dora did you remember to bring the greens and neck bones?” Big Sarge asked.
“I did, they need to be put in the refrigerator though,” she said.
“Greens and what?” Eduardo asked.
“Neck bones,” Big Sarge said.
“You brought my son the cooked bones from the neck of a pig?” Eduardo asked.
“He called me yesterday asking me to bring him some. I went to the best soul food restaurant in Dallas this morning to get them, because you know I don’t cook that stuff,” Dora said.
This brought a chorus of laughter from her kids at the thought of Dora Trodat cooking anything. Eduardo was also not aware that his children maintained contact with Ryanne’s family. She too had not mentioned this. It was a security protocol violation which could put her family in harm’s way.
She is making me weak. Too many variables. Too many risks. Too many opportunities for my enemies to get to me.
A bad feeling slithered up his leg, squeezing tightly with coils of frustrated fear as he looked around the room. Tomorrow, the rest of the Blakemores would be here. In one spot, three families. Three sets of enemies to Elizondo Rentería. All in one spot.
Tonda and Marianna saw the look on their boss’s face. They too had considered the same thing. He nodded at them, and they knew. It was time to prepare for war which he could feel, beyond a doubt, was coming to his door step. His beautiful wife, oblivious to impending danger, all smiles as she told both families, “We have a buffet set up in the kitchen if you are hungry. Mara will show you to your rooms, after that, I will give you a tour of our home and tomorrow, after breakfast, Eduardo shall give you a tour of the lands. You all have a copy of the itinerary for the weekend in your quarters, let’s get this family fun fest in gear,” she said.
Her skin glowed and her eyes sparkled as she looked to her husband, her eyes brimming with love. In his heart he echoed her joy. In his head, Eduardo Delgado was planning to kill a few people this weekend. He knew they were coming. He didn’t know when or how many, but they were coming for him.
I am happy.
For the first time in my life I am happy.
No one, is going to take this wonderful life away from me. He watched his son laughing with Kevin Jr., actually smiling and enjoying himself.
“No one will take this away from us,” he told Tonda and Marianna.
Ryanne eased away from her family for a quiet moment to feed Isabella. She sat in the solitude of her bedroom as she opened her blouse, allowing her daughter to attach and feed. Tiny café au lait hued fingers rested against the dark skin as her tender touch reassured her mother that her tummy was becoming full. A light tap came to her bedroom door. She moved slowly to the door, carefully cradling her daughter. The burp cloth pulled down to cover her breast.
“Hey Ry, what are you doing?” Odessa asked as she cracked the door open.
“Taking a moment to feed the hungriest child in the world,” she said opening the door to let Odessa in.
Odessa walked into the large bedroom with her mouth wide open. Her feet sank into the thick carpet as she closed the heavy wooden bedroom door. The rich dark furniture gave the room a really masculine feel, but the soft touches of the drapes and bedding showed that the man of the house shared this room with a woman.
“That is the biggest damned bed I have ever seen in my life,” Odessa said to her sister.
“It’s not that big when you wake up to four children in it with you every Saturday morning,” she said. “Yuńior is usually found camped out on the sofa over there.”
“This is a big bedroom,” Odessa commented as Ryanne offered her a seat on the couch.
“Girl, he actually has a bath room. A room with just a sunken tub in the floor with one of those big picture windows. It is his favorite way to end Friday nights,” Ryanne said blushing at the words.
“Don’t start blushing now, Lady of the Lands,” Odessa said as she hit her playfully.
“Yes, that is my title and I have no idea what the hell I am doing,” she said shaking her head.
“It doesn’t matter, you look good doing it,” Odessa laughed.
“You got that right,” Ryanne joked. “Speaking of looking good, sister, is that a tailored dress?”
“Yes, Grandma Patsy sent over her tailor to outfit me with a new wardrobe so I can take on my duties as Saxton’s wife in Houston society. Speaking of which, I have a bone to pick with my mother-in-law who deserted me and left me to handle of luncheon of 30 rich old white women on Tuesday. They were the Daughters of the Alamo of all things,” Odessa said.
“Shut up!”
“That ain’t nothing. Belva came to indoctrinate Austin, then she surprised the shit out me and indoctrinated me too as the great-great-granddaughter of McCulloch somebody Twohig and Vess and some other stuff,” Odessa said, waving her hand in the air as if she were swatting a fly.
“Get out of town! What did you do?”
“What do you think I did? I passed out face first in my Tiramisu. Ry, I had mushed lady fingers everywhere when I came to,” she said.
The soft laughter of two sisters filled the room.
“I have missed this,” Odessa said.
“I have missed you,” Ryanne said looking at her.
Isabella, having her fill, stretched, passed gas and filled her diaper with something noxious. Both ladies frowned at the sudden intrusion of a scent so fowl, Odessa held her nose. Isabella’s little face looked up lovingly at her mother with a slobbery wet grin.
“What about you Odessa, are you missing being in the fie
ld, shooting people, being back up to your 007?” Ryanne asked, moving to change her daughter on the bed.
“Yes and no,” she said. “Do I miss shooting people, having my brother kidnapped, having people shooting at me, nope. I miss the excitement of it all but worrying about whether or not my husband is coming home at night, I can live without. Plus, the idea of Saxton not returning and leaving me in that house with Lucy and Bobby Ray is scary enough by itself.”
“They aren’t so bad. I actually enjoyed my time with Lucy yesterday. We went over table settings for large groups, entertaining, and she even helped me pick the china for tomorrow’s dinner,” she told Odessa.
“Yeah, she is an awesome woman, but...I dunno, I like my mama,” she said. “I also like living in my own house.”
“Odessa, seriously, you live in an entire self-sustained wing of a house, you even have you own kitchens,” she said.
“Shit, like I plan on cooking ever again,” she started laughing.
“Oh yeah, that part is nice ain’t it?”
“Who are you telling?” They laughed, enjoyed the quiet time alone before the squall of her own children through the baby monitor she wore on her hip, pulled her away.
“That’s my cue,” she said touching Ryanne’s shoulder.
“I will be back down in a few, I need to prepare for the morning,” she said softly, changing the stinky nappy for a fresh diaper.
“Ryanne, she is beautiful. You look amazing and very happy,” Odessa said.
“I am happy,” she said. “He makes me oh so happy.”
“I can tell,” she said, blowing her a kiss.
Ryanne made a mental list of all the things which needed to occur before the arrival of Connard, Jason, and Grandma Patsy in the morning. She was still uncertain when Roget was arriving, or if Dusty and Sue Ella were coming, but based on what Eduardo had said about Bobby Ray’s concerns, the day was going to be eventful.
It wasn’t every day that a conservative Catholic Republican oilman from Texas, had to spend the weekend with his son and his son’s gay lover. Eduardo did not believe that Bobby Ray was ready. In truth, no one was ready for the whirling dervish which was Jason McNally, hairdresser extraordinaire.
A Weekend with the Blakemores (The Blakemore Files Book 8) Page 10