More than a Maid

by Reeni Austin

  They'd sat in the driveway for approximately thirty seconds when the front door of the house flew open. Before Henry saw who opened it, he closed his eyes and leaned over to give Elsa a kiss.

  His last hurrah was over.

  When he pulled away from her, he turned to the windshield. Ramon stood in front of the car, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun. He gave Henry and Elsa a nod and a smirk, revealing a trace of sympathy. It almost made Henry breathe a sigh of relief.

  Henry forced himself to reach for the door handle and step out into the steamy air. He adjusted his hat as he slammed the door shut. "Hey there," Henry said as he took one step toward Ramon, "S'pose the lynch mob's awaitin' me inside?"

  Ramon calmly replied, "Yep."

  "You call the cops?"

  Shrugging, Ramon glanced around and said, "No. You see 'em anywhere?" Then he rushed over to Elsa, stopping her as she plodded toward the porch, and offered her help with her luggage. "Hola. Qué bueno volverte a ver. Te puedo ayudar con el equipaje?"

  Elsa's smile brimmed with pride as she reached up to touch his cheek. "Yes. Is good to see you. You have eaten well in my…" she paused, searching for the English word for "absence" then said, "ausencia?"

  As they went on, making small talk about Elsa's improved English, Henry went into the house. He assumed if Elsa hadn't been there, Ramon would have appeared angry. For a moment he was grateful for the reprieve, but he was anxious now to get it over with.

  As soon as Henry opened the front door, he heard a swell of voices that instantly silenced. He took his hat off and placed it gently on a table, smoothed his thinning hair with his hand, then strolled into the living room.

  There he saw a group of men including Dwayne, Armando, and a man he didn't recognize whom he assumed was Tom. But Henry's eyes flew to Armando's, and a tremor of guilt made his stomach churn.

  Armando rose from his seat on the couch. "Hi Henry."

  Henry nodded and inched toward him, stopping beside the recliner where Dwayne sat. "Armando," he said. "Congratulations." He wanted to say more but the words got lost in his throat. There were a million things Henry wanted to tell Armando but nothing could make up for what he and Katie had endured so many years earlier.

  Besides, the men in that room weren't there to hear him apologize or give platitudes. They were there for answers.

  Armando meekly said, "Thanks." Then he lifted his phone and set it on the coffee table. "Victor's on speaker."

  "Hi Henry," Victor said.

  "Victor," Henry replied. "Congratulations to you, too."

  "Thanks."

  Then the room went silent. All eyes were on Henry, but no one offered a word.

  Henry dragged a wooden chair to the center of the room where he could clearly face each one of them. Then he took an envelope from his back pocket and sat down.

  All of the men hunched forward at once, waiting.

  Henry cleared his throat and looked at Tom, realizing they hadn't been introduced. "You must be the Yankee cop I've heard about."

  Tom's expression conveyed a bit of amusement. "Retired Yankee cop. Heard a lot about you, too."

  Henry almost laughed. "I figure you'll be askin' all the questions, then?"

  Dwayne let out a loud sigh. "Get on with it, Henry. You already know what we're gonna ask."

  Just then, Ramon came through the front door with Elsa.

  Henry stood and called to Ramon, "Get her outta here. She don't need to be mixed up in this." Then Henry glanced around the room. "We alone here?"

  Dwayne nodded. "Yeah. It's just us. The women left."

  Elsa zipped down the hall and to the back door as Ramon came into the living room and plopped down on the sofa between Armando and Tom.

  Henry took a deep breath as he lowered to his chair. "All right." He looked in both of the boys' eyes, then he stared down at the floor. "Sorry, boys. I'm sure you got your theories. I don't know if Ramon showed you those pictures—"

  Ramon said, "I did."

  "Good," Henry replied glumly without looking at Ramon. He had rehearsed this explanation for months, but of course, his mind was now blank. He stumbled for words for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry I turned tail and ran off like I did. Never been one to do a thing like that before."

  Dwayne motioned at Henry's hand. "What's that you're holdin'? A letter?"

  Nostrils flaring, Henry said, "Hold on, I'm gettin' to it."

  Fidgeting with his tie, Dwayne sank against the back of his chair. "Well, hurry. 'Cause I got a feelin' it's gonna end up with you in prison and my name bein' dragged through the mud."

  "Me too," Henry said.

  Armando said, "Did you kill Papa? Are we gonna find him in the pond?"

  Henry's eyes instantly went to Armando's. "I didn't kill him." Then his voice got shaky and he felt tears sting his eyes. "But yeah. That's who you're gonna find."

  Everyone started talking at once, but Henry couldn't make sense of their words. His thoughts flashed back to that fateful night. He could still see the look of horror on Valeria's beautiful face as she stood at the top of the stairs, letting the rifle tremble out of her hands and drop to the floor.

  Henry reached into his pocket for a handkerchief as Victor's voice pulled him back to the present.

  "Henry!" Victor blared through the phone. "Who killed him? What happened? Why have you hidden this for so long?"

  Henry dabbed his eyes then reached forward to hand the letter to Armando. "I just handed Armando a letter, Victor. Your Mama wrote it for you boys when she found out she was sick."

  Confused, Armando took the unopened envelope, immediately examining it. "It's definitely her handwriting. Postmarked April 2002. Addressed to Henry."

  Henry nodded. "I know. That was only to keep you boys from opening it when it came in the mail." Henry crooked a brow at Armando. "Go on. Open it. I already know what it says."

  Armando tore it open with extreme care, as though he was both eager and terrified. He set the envelope in his lap and unfolded the letter. In a weak voice, he said, "I can't believe I'm holding a letter from Mama." Then he blew out an unsteady breath, his eyes glossy with tears as he silently read the first few sentences. Instantly, he extended it to Ramon, sniffling. "It needs to be read out loud. I can't do it."

  Ramon hesitantly took the letter, fearing he couldn't do it either. He had already gotten emotional on his brothers once in recent days. No way he was suffering that kind of humiliation again. He took one look at the first line, then passed it to Tom like a hot potato. "You do it."

  Tom gingerly slid the letter from Ramon's hand. "You're all too close to it but I'm an outsider. Shouldn't be too bad for me." He shifted his glasses and cleared his throat before starting.

  To my precious boys. You are the reason I live. I could fill volumes of books with my love for you. When my time on Earth is over, know that I will always be somewhere, adoring you.

  I received bad news from the doctor yesterday. I have cancer. With treatment there is only a small chance of survival.

  I have never in my life cried as much as I've cried since I learned of my diagnosis. And I have repeatedly asked myself, why me? I can only pray that I will be with you somehow, in spirit, watching you mature into men. I've dreamed of that since the glorious moment I held my first born in my arms. And now my dreams are gone.

  But today, I realized what should have been obvious all along. This cancer of mine is punishment. My life will be taken as a debt for the life that I took from you so many years ago.

  It's because of me that you never knew your Papa, Eduardo. I let you believe lies about him. Victor says his earliest memories were the three of you playing with your Papa, but those memories were of someone else.

  I hope the following will someday serve as my written confession.

  Eduardo and I moved to Henry's ranch to work when Victor was almost three and Armando was one week old. Henry let us live in his house because he is very generous. He wanted us to have a nice place to raise
our young children.

  We eventually found a house of our own because Eduardo was jealous of Henry.

  Months later, Eduardo started drinking. He would leave for days at a time and return to us angry, and stinking of alcohol. So we moved in with Henry again.

  Eduardo came to the door drunk. He threatened Henry with a pistol and told him he wanted to take me home.

  I was scared. I knew where Henry kept his guns. I only wanted to get Eduardo's attention. I hoped he would hear the gunshot and put his pistol away and stop fighting with Henry.

  This part is the hardest to write.

  I shot from the top of the stairs and killed your father. I do not remember the moment I pulled the trigger. I remember the sound of the gunshot and watching your father collapsing to the floor. Eduardo bled to death in minutes. Henry says I was in shock because I do not remember what happened the rest of that night.

  I am haunted by my crime every day. You boys are all that keep me going. Otherwise I would die of guilt and despair.

  I am sorry that you grew up without Eduardo. Please do not be angry with Henry. Be angry with me. I am being punished now for my sin.

  I want with all my heart to stay with you and watch you grow but I must suffer the consequences of my actions.

  Please forgive me.

  I will love you, always.

  Your Mama, Valeria

  CHAPTER 29

  After Tom finished reading the letter, a heavy silence fell over the room. The brothers were stoic, numbly staring straight ahead, including Victor who was still on the phone. Each of them too dazed to process their shock over the story they'd just heard.

  Henry looked at their faces, fidgeting as he awaited their response until he couldn't take the suspense any longer. He directed his words at Ramon. "I knew my goose was cooked the second you showed me those pictures. Never panicked before in my life. I just knew I had to go try to enjoy my life for a while before I ended up in prison." His eyes were wet with tears. "It was bad enough, knowin' you found those pictures."

  He sniffled and lifted his handkerchief to his eyes."S'pose you're wonderin' how Papa ended up in that pond." He took a deep breath. "I wanted to take the blame for it but Valeria wouldn't let me. Said she'd tell the police the truth. And maybe I didn't handle it the right way but all I wanted to do was protect her. She was here illegally as it was." Henry nodded to his right. "Dwayne here can vouch for that."

  Dwayne sunk down in his chair, his palm against his forehead as if he was in pain.

  Henry continued. "I panicked. If she went to prison, you boys may have ended up back in Mexico, God knows where. You'd just lost your father. Couldn't let you lose your mother, too." After a deep breath, he said, "That pond was just bein' dug out. Had a golden opportunity to dig a hole and cover him with concrete. Then water."

  Dwayne lifted a brow and muttered, "You bury him all by yourself?"

  "Yep." Henry nodded. "No witnesses."

  Armando, in a daze, asked, "So, after that we moved back to Guadalajara? Dwayne said you already knew who I was when you met me the first time."

  Henry looked in Armando's eyes, trying to hold himself together. "Valeria figured one of Eduardo's relatives would come around lookin' for him. So, she took you boys and left. She was supposed to stay with some friends of mine in Santa Catarina but she never showed. Took me seven years to track y'all down. Couldn't believe my eyes the day I finally found you." He stared hard at Armando for a second, then looked away, sad. "But your Mama. So damn stubborn. Took me two more years to talk her into movin' back here. She was still afraid someone would recognize her and figure out what happened. But I had all new employees by then. No one ever recognized her, far as I know."

  Willing himself to stay calm, Ramon kept his eyes on the floor and quietly said, "So, what about me? Was Mama pregnant before Papa died?"

  Henry gulped. He took a few deep breaths, then said, "I don't know. I always suspected I was your father, Ramon, but your Mama wouldn't let me talk about it. She went a week without speakin' to me last time I asked. Told me to never make you feel different from your brothers. I was to care for each of you the same."

  Tears rolled down Henry's face as he continued. "I never told you boys but you were like sons to me. I know I ain't never had no right to act like I was your father. Especially after I buried your Papa like I did." He stopped to wipe his eyes. "I made a lotta mistakes. And all these years I've lived in fear of that shame comin' to light." He tucked his head down, his voice quivering. "But I've never regretted one second I spent with your Mama. Not one second. And I've never regretted you boys…" His voice cracked, and he waited until he could speak without breaking down. "Those years after the three of you moved in and tore up my house," he let out a sad chuckle, "those were the best years of my life. And to see how you've all gone on to be the men you are..." He glanced at Ramon, then stood and rushed to the bathroom before he broke down completely.

  Tom followed him into the hallway to make sure he wasn't planning a quick getaway. He left the letter on the couch, beside Ramon.

  Dwayne hunched forward, elbows on his knees. He cleared his throat and did his best to gentle his voice. "Boys, I had no idea." He took a deep breath and wiped his hand across his eyes. "If I'd known…" His voice trailed off for a moment, then he changed course, scanning their faces for signs of coherence. "I'm sorry this happened to you." When Armando finally looked in his eyes, Dwayne added, "Deeply sorry."

  Victor slowly melted from his stupor, his voice weak through the phone. "I can't decide if it's better or worse than what I'd imagined."

  In a scratchy voice, Ramon barely croaked out, "Worse."

  Dwayne shook his head, hands folded. "In case you're wondering about my involvement in all this… all I did was provide documents. I can't say much else about it. Had no idea I was an accessory to manslaughter."

  Armando asked Dwayne, "So, what happens now? You really think Henry'll go to jail?"

  Dwayne offered him a sympathetic look. "Yeah. I'll do what I can to help. But…" He sighed as he glanced at the letter, which Ramon now held, "depends on whether or not a jury'll believe that confession. And even if they do, he still broke the law."

  Victor said, "He deserves jail. That's for sure. What kind of sentence you think he'll get? And what about you, Dwayne? Will you be dragged into this?"

  Shrugging, Dwayne said, "Probably. For me, worst case scenario, I'll lose my elected position because the public'll lose faith in me. Or maybe not. Maybe it's for the best. I could use an early retirement. But Henry…" Dwayne winced as he gave the question some thought, "I expect he'll end up with a plea bargain. Depends on what kinda witnesses the D.A. decides to dig up and whether or not they wanna prove the letter's fake. But even so, I wouldn't expect he'd get more than five, maybe ten years in a minimum security prison."

  With his eyes on the letter in his hand, Ramon asked, "Do I call the cops now? Will they arrest him right away?"

  Dwayne said, "Call 'em soon. Show 'em you got nothin' to hide. Keep track of all your witnesses, especially the ones you're not related to, like Tom, or any of the ranch hands who may have had contact with Henry regarding the pond. They'll figure out quick enough that the only person hiding anything on this property was Henry. And get ready to lose your privacy for a little bit. You're all about to be local celebrities if it's a slow news week. You especially, Ramon, seein' it's your land."

  Ramon put the letter down, his eyes suddenly wide. "Huh?"

  Dwayne smirked. "Yeah. Local cattleman, grisly discovery of a murdered…" He got quiet as he realized how insensitive he sounded. "Sorry."

  Armando sighed. "No. You're right. It's gonna happen just like that. We might as well get ready for it." He wiped a tear from his eye. "Mama carried that miserable secret around with her all those years and now it'll be reduced to fodder for the local news."

  Dwayne's head shook. "Worse. This kinda thing ends up on those true crime shows. You know, the ones on that cable channel?"<
br />
  Ramon snorted. "Not if I have anything to do with it. I ain't talkin' to no reporters."

  Dwayne said, "You could get an attorney to speak for you, but that'll still make ya look guilty. Say as little as possible to the press but don't ignore 'em or you'll look like you're hidin' somethin'. It'll pass soon enough. Trust me."

  "He died before I was born!" Ramon said. "I obviously had nothing to do with it. Why would it look like I'm hiding anything?"

  Armando said, "I think Dwayne's trying to tell you someone could start digging around and make a case where there isn't one. Just be smart and say as little as possible. Don't open yourself up for more trouble." He raised a brow at his brother. "And you did hide all those pictures. A good investigator could figure that out, even if we lie on your behalf. That'll make us all look bad."

  Gnashing his teeth, Ramon glared at Armando. "Don't lie for me. I know I'm not guilty. I just want this nightmare over with." He emitted an angry sound as he stood, hurrying out of the room. "I'm goin' to my office to call the police."

  Dwayne rose to his feet. "Hold on, there. Let me help." He followed Ramon down the hall.

  Armando's eyes teared up as he watched them leave. He took his phone from the coffee table and held it in his hand. "Shit. So, what now?"

  "I don't know," Victor said. "I'm pissed at Mama. At Henry. At Papa. And at the same time, I'm not. I'm just sad."

  "I know exactly what you mean." Armando took a deep, sniffling breath.

  "I guess we need to call an attorney. Handle one thing at a time. Try to stay level-headed. Help each other deal with the fallout. Feels silly to be on my honeymoon right now."

  Armando took a moment to think. "Don't look at it that way. You deserve that honeymoon."