Romance in Color

by Synithia Williams

  “Yes.”

  “So what do you think of the doctor?”

  Graciela glanced over her left shoulder to where Raúl was sitting.

  Alicia stifled the urge to laugh out loud. Instead, she smiled at her attorney. Watching Graciela squirm was almost worth going to court.

  Hope made her heart beat stronger.

  • • •

  It was difficult for Raúl to keep from smirking as Graciela’s panicked expression told him she realized the trap she was in. Instead, he watched Alicia, proud of her strength through this ordeal. Would he have the same courage to face Joe Wilson?

  “Well, young lady?” the judge asked.

  Graciela turned back to the judge. ”Dr. Raúl is a fine pediatrician. All his patients love him.”

  “So you don’t think he would deliberately misdiagnose a patient?”

  She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “No.”

  “I see.” The judge’s gaze stayed on Graciela.

  Raúl smiled as the questioning continued. As much as Graciela tried to paint Alicia as an unfit mother, Alicia’s poise and dignity guaranteed no one could believe the words her enemy was speaking. No one.

  “Did Miss Fuentes ever mention to you that she was pregnant prior to the child’s birth?” the judge continued.

  “Um ... no,” Graciela said.

  Eduardo glared at his girlfriend.

  The judge leaned forward. “Are you sure about that?”

  “She may have said something, but she didn’t know who the father was. She slept around. Eduardo wasn’t the only one.” The lies came rapidly. “That’s why he dumped her. He couldn’t trust her.”

  Raúl was halfway up when he saw the bailiff start toward him. He sat back down but clenched his hands around the wooden bench. If he ever got his hands on the two of them … No wonder Alicia had gotten into a catfight with the woman.

  His need to defend Alicia grew with each word they spoke.

  The judge gestured to the three people behind the podium. “Is there anything else you’d like to put before the court?”

  The lawyer’s voice was firm. “My client believes the child would benefit from having both parents in his life. A strong father can be a good influence on a son, preventing difficulties later in life. It is in Luis’s best interests that he be united with his father.”

  Lawyer babble.

  “Any questions, counselor?” The judge looked at Jessica Martin.

  “Not at this time, your honor.”

  “Fine. Now I’d like to talk with Miss Fuentes.”

  Alicia and her lawyer waited until Eduardo, Graciela, and his lawyer returned to their seats. Eduardo’s face was set with darkness, and Raúl could see the threat he could be in the right circumstances. Hopefully, court would be the only place they’d ever have to confront him.

  Risking the bailiff’s ire once again, he put his hand on Alicia’s shoulder for a brief moment before she rose.

  “It says here that you wish to retain full custody,” the judge said.

  “Yes, your honor.” It was Jessica Martin’s turn to perform her attorney tricks. “My client believes joint custody would be detrimental to her son.” She leaned forward. “Moreover, Miss Fuentes did inform the father of her pregnancy and of her son’s birth. She has never been with any other man, before or since. She knew Eduardo was the father, a stand that testing has now proved.”

  “A statement the plaintiff denies.”

  “He said, she said, your honor. Unfortunately, there is no proof. Miss Fuentes was—is—young and didn’t think she needed to prove she told Eduardo about his fatherhood.”

  “This diagnosis of Asperger’s. Who came up with this possibility?”

  “A doctor at Stanford suggested it. Dr. Mendez also believes it’s a possibility.”

  “Ah, Dr. Mendez. The same doctor she is now involved with.”

  Raúl clenched his fists, unhappy with the judge’s tone.

  “Yes, your honor.”

  “So how did this relationship progress from a professional doctor-patient one to something more? I’d like Miss Fuentes to answer that.”

  God, they probed into every nook and cranny of a person’s personal life.

  Alicia stood erect in front of the judge, carrying herself like Audrey Hepburn in those old movies Raúl’s mother had watched to learn English.

  “Dr. Mendez offered me extra help with Luis. My son ... can be ... difficult at times, and I was searching for ways to make it easier to care for him. Raúl ... the doctor ... is studying children who are on the autism spectrum. He gave me a book to read.”

  Her ribs expanded as she paused, and he saw her shoulders square and her head straighten almost imperceptibly. When she spoke again, her voice was stronger.

  “We met at a coffee place to discuss the book, and he came up with other suggestions for Luis. We began to talk about our lives and discovered we had a lot of common interests as well as passion for the same things.”

  “Your honor, the plaintiff has a question.”

  “The questions can wait until I’m done with the debrief, counselor. Miss Fuentes, it says you currently work at a day spa and store and are also going to school for sociology. An interesting choice. Who takes care of your son when you are doing these things?”

  “Miss Fuentes’s grandmother has been a great help in these manners, your honor, as has the college daycare,” Jessica Martin answered.

  “I understand the grandmother has had recent health issues.”

  “Yes, your honor. Miss Fuentes’s mother has come from her home in Los Banos to assist.”

  “Will the mother be moving down here permanently?”

  “It’s under discussion.”

  Raúl took a breath. Would the judge consider the childcare good enough? Would Alicia mention his involvement?

  “I see. Is the doctor here?”

  “I am, your honor.” Raúl rose as he spoke.

  The judge waved him forward.

  He pushed aside the wooden gate and moved to the podium. He wanted to squeeze Alicia’s hand in reassurance but restrained himself.

  The judge stared at him, as if taking his measure as a man. Sounds of shuffling feet, rustling papers, and a dry cough filled the air behind him. His palms itched with nerves.

  “How would you define your relationship with Miss Fuentes?” the judge asked.

  “We are getting to know each other,” he replied. “It’s early yet, only a few months, but I’ve found her to be intelligent, compassionate, and a mother ready to do whatever it takes to help her child.”

  “I see. And does Miss Ramon work for you?”

  “Yes.”

  “How is she as an employee?”

  He hesitated. Denigrate Graciela and he’d seem unprofessional. Make her too nice and he’d undermine Alicia’s cause.

  “She’s competent.”

  “And?”

  “She does a good job.”

  The judge shook his head. “You’re dodging the question, Mr. Mendez. What is she like with patients, specifically children?”

  “With most patients she is quite nice. She’s good with the little ones, although she doesn’t have any of her own. She can be ...” He shifted from one foot to the other, groping for the right words. “Judgmental, if a child is cranky. And she definitely has a problem with Alicia.”

  He could feel his employee’s hard stare between his shoulder blades.

  “Why haven’t you fired her?”

  “My partner, Dr. Patel, wants to make sure Graciela is given the proper warnings and guidance to see if she can change her behavior. As I said, she’s a competent employee.”

  “And you?” The judge’s eyes were hard on him, daring him to tell the truth.

  “I’d fire her in an instant.”

  The sharp intake of breath behind him told him it wasn’t the answer Graciela had expected.

  “I see.”

  “Any questions?” The judge nodded to E
duardo’s attorney.

  “With all the time Miss Fuentes is spending working, going to school, and dating the good doctor, how can she spend enough time with her son?” Eduardo’s attorney asked.

  “Miss Fuentes, please answer that directly,” the judge said.

  “I am with Luis for several hours before I go to work.” She turned to face Eduardo. “I feed him, get him dressed, and get his day started. I only go to school two days a week—in the evening. The other nights I’m home with him. When I go to school, Raúl—Dr. Mendez—watches him so my grandmother gets a rest. The days I’m off, I’m with my son all day. As for dating Dr. Mendez”—she looked at Raúl—“we see each other alone about once a week. The rest of the time Luis is with us. Raúl knows we come as a package deal. As he said, we’re still in the early stages of a relationship.”

  “Your honor.” Jessica Martin’s voice was firm. “I’d like to ask the plaintiff the same question. They are both working. Who would take care of Luis during the day?”

  “My client’s job provides enough funds so that Graciela will no longer need to work. She can take care of the baby when he’s not around, Eduardo’s lawyer replied.

  Graciela turned her head so the judge couldn’t see her and smirked at Alicia.

  Alicia let out a breath of air.

  This time, Raúl did take her hand and squeeze it. Judges’ opinions be damned.

  “One more question,” Jessica Martin said. “Why are you pursuing custody? Why now?”

  “Yes, I’m curious about that, too,” the judge said. “And I’d like to hear from Eduardo.”

  “As I said, I’ve only recently learned about my son. My fiancée told me he seems to have some problems behaving correctly. A father can make a child behave better than a mother who is too soft. I want custody so I can be proud of my son when he grows up.”

  Dios! Raúl wanted to wipe the smug look off Eduardo’s face.

  He glanced at Alicia. Her jaw was set, but she gave no other sign of the turmoil that must be going on inside her. She was an amazing woman. Would he have the strength to be the man she wanted him to become—compassionate and understanding?

  The judge asked a few more questions, but they were insignificant compared to the intensity of what had gone before. Finally, he appeared to have all the information he wanted.

  “I’ll review my findings and make my decision in two weeks.”

  Two more weeks with this hanging over their heads.

  “We’ll get through it, cariño,” he told her as they walked out of the courtroom.

  “What do you think?” Alicia asked her lawyer.

  “I think it went well. While Eduardo has a strong case for visitation rights, which he foolishly didn’t request, I don’t think it’s strong enough for joint custody.”

  “I don’t want him anywhere near Luis.” Alicia’s voice was firm.

  “We’ll fight it if we have to. Let’s get through this first.”

  Raúl’s cell phone rang.

  Tío Alejandro.

  A chill crawled up his skin.

  “Hello?”

  “Raúl?”

  “Sí.”

  “I told your parents I’d be the one to call you.”

  He knew. “Juan. What’s happened to Juan?”

  “I’m sorry, Raúl. They found his body two days ago, but ...” His uncle’s voice choked. “They couldn’t identify him until today.”

  Raúl’s ribs crushed inward, expelling all force of life.

  Chapter 24

  Raúl clicked off his phone and stared out the window in front of him at the rows of cars glinting in the sun. He’d barely gotten to know Juan, and now he was gone.

  He barely noticed the touch on his arm.

  “Raúl, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  He turned to look at her—so young, and despite all the grueling questions she’d endured, still innocent in so many ways. But she was the one who didn’t want him to fight for changes to the immigration law—the same law that had just gotten his brother killed. “Juan,” he managed to get out.

  “What? Is he back in the country? Arrested?” Her eyes tracked back and forth as she examined his face.

  He shook his head.

  “No!” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Madre de Dios, no!” Lapsing totally into Spanish, she continued, “I’m so sorry. How could this happen?”

  “It happened because of laws like Joe Wilson is pushing.” He ran his hand through his hair, feeling the twin demons of anger and depression crawling up his spine. “I can’t be here right now. There’s too much to do—so much to do.”

  He patted her shoulder and left, knowing he was deserting her at a time she needed him but hoping she would understand. He needed to do something—anything—to keep from letting this new disaster pull him down into a hole so deep, there was no ladder long enough to get him out.

  He revved his Jetta and wove through the lanes of the parking lot, craving the adrenaline of speed, but restraining himself in an area teaming with cop cars.

  Driving northwest, he headed to a spot he hadn’t gone to in years, not since his days at the university, before working with a therapist had finally lifted the worst of the depression he’d fought since his parents had been deported. Pounding the trail by the crashing waves had allowed him to exorcise the ghosts of the past and create a positive flow for the future.

  He hoped it still worked.

  He parked at the far end of the trail, not too far from the surfer statue. The cries of seagulls, barking of seals, and chatter of tourists enjoying the last bit of warmth before the winter rains drifted up the cliff wall surrounded him. Seagulls screeched overhead.

  He tied on his running shoes and took off, the ocean to his left, the strange mixture of modest homes and yuppie architecture on his right.

  It was all a blur.

  He ran.

  After the first mile his knees and shins began to ache, reminding him he was in his body. He, at least, was still alive.

  And he’d had a chance to know Juan—more than he’d ever hoped to have.

  The tears he’d suppressed began to trickle down his face. He ignored them, as he ignored the odd looks from people strolling, running, or biking in the opposite direction.

  The eucalyptus trees, with their musty smell, gave him a temporary break from the sun. He barely noticed a car covered with shells, odd statues, and signs.

  Why did people waste time with things like that when there was so much to do? There was a world that needed saving, people who were hurting. He needed to do more.

  His breath came harder as his shoes slapped the pavement, a sound barely heard over the crashing of the waves.

  He ran until exhausted, then took a few moments to stretch against the metal bars that lined the trail, staring out across the bay. People walked by him, discussing their ordinary lives, and some of the ever-present dogs sniffed at his heels before moving on.

  His breath settled, and he knew he’d make it through the day. But how to go on from there?

  The only solace was action. Less than a month remained before the election, and there was work to be done. He’d call Peter when he got home and do whatever was necessary to convince people it was a bad law. He’d increase his hours at the clinic.

  What about his promise to Alicia? Did talking to his enemy make any sense at all now that his brother was dead?

  Despair tugged at him, and he longed to scream obscenities at the top of his lungs, but there was no sense to that.

  How had Joe Wilson felt after his son had died, perhaps needlessly? Losing a brother he barely knew was difficult enough. What would it be like to lose a child?

  Much as he hated the idea, he knew the gesture of reconciliation must be made. If he did that, he would show Alicia that he was serious about building their relationship, no matter what problems, disagreements, or joy lay ahead of them.

  • • •

  Alicia opened the envelope with trembling hands and sca
nned the contents of the official document. When she reached the word “denied,” she sank into the kitchen chair, tears of relief falling down her face. Luis was safe.

  Since Eduardo hadn’t applied for visitation rights, the judge hadn’t ruled on them. Would he ask for them now?

  Probably not. Eduardo was an all-or-nothing kind of guy.

  She threw the letter on the table, pulled Luis from his playpen, and held him close. Impatient with the quick change, he stiffened and shrieked.

  “It’s okay, little one,” she whispered in his ear. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters. We can handle anything else.”

  Raúl should know, but Saturdays were his time with the activists, and she had the afternoon shift at the spa. Maybe tonight? Her mother had come to Watsonville the night before; maybe she would sit so Alicia could surprise him.

  She missed him. While he’d kept in contact with her through texts and a brief phone call, she knew he was still hurting from Juan’s death. She wished she could help him, but he’d told her there were things he had to do himself.

  Luis squirmed again, and she put him back in his playpen.

  “Good news?” Abuela came into the kitchen, her steps a little slower than they had been.

  She’s getting old. The realization saddened her. Life was full of joy and sorrow.

  “Te quiero, Abuela.”

  “Sí.” A smile brightened her grandmother’s face. “I love you, too, Alicia.” She pointed at the paper on the table. “From the court?”

  “Yes. They denied Eduardo any kind of custody.”

  “Good. Maybe he will return to Los Banos where he belongs.”

  “I hope so.” She slipped the letter into her purse hanging on the back of a chair.

  Her grandmother opened the refrigerator. “We need milk.”

  “I’ll go to the market. It’s a nice day. I’ll walk.” Relief lightened the tension in her shoulders. “I’ll take Luis in his stroller.” She knelt by his playpen. “Are you ready to go outside, little one? Maybe see some birds?”

  “Bir!” His dark brown eyes glowed with excitement.

  She picked him up again, thankful he didn’t resist.

  The day was gloriously blue, with the fog far out to sea. She lifted her face to the sun and whispered a silent prayer of thankfulness to God. She was going to make it.