Radi, clearly feeling defensive, held his tongue and simply replied tersely, “Thanks dad.”
His father patted his arm again and with a strained smile held Radi’s gaze for a moment.
Cole, ever the peacemaker, interrupted the moment, “Doc, can we offer you a shot to help celebrate?”
“Thank you Cole, but I think I’ll hold out until at least the ceremony is over. You know the Missus. One little trip and I’d be in all kinds of trouble.” They all laughed and he slipped out of the room with a departing wave.
“He isn’t happy that Sophie’s not Indian, but worse, he’s concerned I don’t love her,” Radi stated angrily. Then almost muttering under his breath, he added, “He’ll understand some day when he sees the results of this experiment.”
“Radi, please tell me you are not marrying Sophie because of this damn experiment!” exclaimed Pele.
“Dammit Pele! I don’t need you’re input right now! I told you before, I love Sophie! And I’m sure I will love her even more over time because she is such a good match!” Radi stated, glaring at him.
“Well, I can see there are no pre-weddin’ jitters in this crowd,” intervened Cole sarcastically.
Fortunately, just as he said this, Radi’s mother floated cheerily into the room. Her warm, friendly demeanor like a salve to Radi’s tense stance. All greeted her enthusiastically, happy to let the uneasy moment pass.
The service was lovely, a combination of Korean, Indian, and American cultures. The bride and groom were dressed in the traditional American white dress and black tux, but the décor was a vibrant display of red, gold, and royal blue flowers and intricate brocades, tributes to both Indian and Korean traditions. Bride and groom bowed to each other to seal their vows, sipping a special wine from a gourd, a Korean custom, then exchanged beautiful Indian floral garlands. The setting nestled in La Jolla Shores cove provided a stunning backdrop, as they exchanged their vows, timed perfectly to the slow descent of the sun. As the dusk light faded, candlelight took over, giving a soft romantic glow to the sealing of their union. Once the ceremony was final, the guests streamed into the next room, set for dining and dancing, also richly embellished with the rich colors and décor of the traditional Indian and Korean cultures.
Pele would have genuinely had a great time if he had not spent so much of the night dodging Scarlet. She turned out to be a complete photo junky, insisting on documenting every moment and every move throughout the night. The only saving grace was that she would stop chattering whenever she was posing for a picture. He was not sure which was worse, the photos or the chattering, but he did his best to dodge both. Regardless, he knew he would be all over Instagram that night.
Chapter 11
“Hey Stranger,” Keece answered. Pele had finally drummed up the courage to call her back. He’d decided that even if he could not woo her away from Luca, he enjoyed their friendship too much to completely walk away.
She was home alone in her small two-bedroom place in Solana Beach. Her house was really more of a quaint cottage a few blocks from the beach, near Cedros Avenue, an eclectic mix of shops considered the design district of North County. Shoppers visited the collection like bees in search of pollen, briefly stopping in, or lingering, admiring the showcase of differing design styles displayed as unique artistic décor, special antiques, creative furnishings, and other complementary merchandise, many with a beachy theme, staying true to the local surroundings.
Keece had bought the house a few years ago from friends whose parents had recently moved into a retirement community. It was definitely a fixer when she got it. Over the years, she had made a few improvements, but her intent was to eventually tear it down and rebuild, so, in the meantime, she lived with much of the original “charm,” including warped floors and rickety plumbing. But the place was homey and comfy, with a neighborly front porch, a backyard perfect for grilling, and a small overgrown garden. Gardening was never her strong suit. She dreamed of a healthy little vegetable garden, but knew, that was not going to happen on her watch unless she hired a gardener to do the work.
Luca had moved in with her for the season, but he spent most of his time at the barn, so she never felt crowded, despite the fact that her place was small, and she worked mostly from home. Even now, with his broken arm in a cast, he was frequently at the barn caring for his horses.
“Hi. How are you?” responded Pele, a little cautiously, still feeling awkward after their last interaction.
Keece, also sounded a bit stilted. “Good. Good. You?”
“All good. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. It’s been a little crazy with Radi’s wedding and all,” Pele replied apologetically. He felt terrible that he had not responded when she clearly needed his help.
“Yah, I saw the pictures. Looks like you had a great time,” said Keece, more reserved than usual.
Pele, cringing, confessed sincerely, “Oh God Keece, I know asking you was a mistake, but I have to tell you. I so wished you were there with me instead of this date.”
Keece surprised asked, “Why? You looked like you were having such a good time?”
The words rushed out of Pele. “Oh, believe me, it’s all a photo illusion. First of all, you know me. I’m not into taking pictures all the time, and especially not posting them everywhere. This gal was a classic photo junky. She could not get enough,” he said emphatically. “The only good thing was that when she was so focused on posing for pictures, she didn’t talk incessantly like she normally does. I spent the whole night trying to avoid her, but not too much, so that I didn’t upset her, because she’s a close friend of the bride’s best friend, Ellie. It was a nightmare.”
Keece, her discomfort evaporating, was giggling at this point. “Oh my,” she said, “That sounds hilarious and horrible. I would say I wish I was a fly on the wall, but I feel like I was after seeing all those pics! In fact, my favorite one is where someone caught you looking at her with an expression on your face that looked like a mix of horror and astonishment. It sounds like that was the most realistic look of the night.”
Pele, laughed, relieved. He so appreciated how she could so easily switch gears from a tense conversation to humor. He continued, “Oh, you’ll have to show me that one. I gave up looking through them, way too many! But I think I’d actually enjoy that one.”
Keece, still giggling, jabbed him a little for fun, “So when are you going to see her again?”
Pele laughed, “Well, she’s definitely off my dating roster, but judging by the five text messages and three voice mails I’ve gotten from her in the last 24 hours, I’m not sure I’m off hers yet.”
Keece laughed even harder now. “Lucky you! She uses multiple forms of media to continue the chatter.”
Pele, enjoying their merriment. “Yes, and I respond about as much in all forms. Meaning none, especially in person. I don’t know how I managed to ask her to go to the wedding. I can barely get a word in edgewise, even on text! The night I met her, we were both way over-served and, somehow, I managed to ask her, so she says. Of course, that’s the one time she actually listened! I really don’t know how that happened, but I definitely dug myself into a hole with that one.”
Keece clearly amused, re-stated, “I am sorry I wasn’t there. Just to watch you two would have definitely been worth the comedic value!”
“Oh, don’t worry. You didn’t miss anything. You’ve seen it all on Instagram!” he said emphatically.
Then he continued in a more thoughtful tone, “I will say, the wedding was beautiful and Radi and Sophie seemed very happy.”
Keece replied warmly, “That’s great. I know you were worried that Radi had rushed things. It sounds like you feel better about that now.”
Pele with a deep sigh, “Oh, you know, you never really know what works between two people unless you’re one of them.”
Keece, with chagrin, “That’s for sure.”
Pele decided it was a good opportunity to change the topic. “Speaking of whic
h, how are you? I heard about Luca’s accident. Is he okay? Everything going alright with the two of you?”
“Oh, it's actually been rough,” said Keece. He could hear in her voice that she had started to choke up.
“Hey, what’s wrong? You okay?” he asked sincerely concerned.
Keece kept taking deep breaths as she tried to speak without being interrupted by her own sobbing. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a tough couple of months. First of all, I have to apologize for snapping at you the other day, when you asked me to the wedding. Luca and I were fighting, and I was in a bad place. I over-reacted.”
Pele felt a rush of warmth for her. He was so appreciative of both her apology and her openness. “It’s okay. My comments were out of line. But I must admit I’ve missed our talks over the last couple of weeks. You’re a special friend to me, Keece.”
“Thanks. That’s very sweet of you,” snuffled Keece. “I’ve missed our talks too, especially when the entertainment value is so high! I could have used a few giggles over the last couple of weeks.”
Pele was more concerned now. Something wasn’t adding up. “What’s going on? This can’t be all about a few pins in Luca’s arm.”
Keece continued, “No, actually, that’s only a small part of it. The real issue is that Luca and I are breaking up.”
Pele surprised, asked, “Wow. What happened?”
Keece answered quickly, “Oh, you know I adore him, but we’re just not meant to be together.” She paused and took a deep breath, clearly trying to keep her composure. “It’s for the best.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry Keece,” said Pele, genuinely sorry for her, and a little hopeful.
Keece, crying softly now, “He’s a great guy, but it’s not right. He’s mature in many ways and not in others. And there are cultural or personality differences—I’m not sure I can clearly distinguish between the two—that was hard for me. You know, you saw some of it. The drama, the getting high all the time, his wild nights out with his friends…But I will miss him. He was good to me and good for me. I think I’d looked so many years for the ‘right’ guy, I’d forgotten how to simply relax and enjoy myself. We had a lot of fun.”
Pele knew Keece was right. Luca was a good guy, but, as much as he had traveled the world, he was still young.
Pele thought back to when he was younger. Had he changed? He certainly had a different appreciation for what he wanted in a partner. Not that Luca wasn’t good to Keece, but there was a casual, “enjoy the moment” aspect to his affection.
Pele suspected he was guilty of the same not too long ago. He wasn’t that much “older and wiser” than Luca, but enough older to have more of a sense of life’s fleeting moments and connections. This was part of his attraction to Keece, he realized how unique and rare the connection was with her. He’d never felt this way before. He had never experienced such a deep connection where he was always wondering what she thought or would say about any experience. He really loved sharing with her.
Luca obviously loved Keece, but Pele doubted he fully appreciated how delightful and special she was. Her warm kindness, her levelheaded insight, her ability to laugh at both the silliest and more serious moments, and her many talents. Yes, she had her flaws, she often over-committed, she could be too trusting or gullible, she had a tendency to want to be in control, but even those traits seemed endearing to Pele.
Pele did admit to himself that he might be a little biased about how “right” Luca was for her, but regardless, he felt sorry for her now. He knew right or wrong, it was always hard to end a relationship.
“Oh Keece, I am sorry. Do you think you’ll find someone who might be a better fit for you?” Pele asked cautiously.
There was a long pause. “Maybe. I think so. I think I’m more ready for the right thing now,” she answered a little cagily.
Pele decided not to push too hard for the moment. She was clearly still mourning Luca, so he switched topics.
“Is Luca moving out?” he asked.
Keece, regaining some of her composure, “Yes, he’s been staying with his friend Santos, but he might head back to Argentina after the season.” The season in San Diego ended in two weeks. Most of the serious players took a couple of months off, and then headed to the desert, Indio, near Palm Springs, for the season there.
“Do you think he’ll come back for the winter season in the desert? Surely, he’ll only be out for a couple of months with his arm,” asked Pele, curious how near his competition might end up. He hoped there would be no rekindling.
“He’s not going back to Argentina just because of his arm. He obviously can’t ride as a polo pro for several weeks, so that is a factor, but he’s also concerned about his family and their farm.”
“Really?” Pele was taken aback. He knew after his talk with Cole that Luca’s family farm was close to the military skirmishes, but he was surprised to hear how serious the threat might be to their farm. He couldn’t believe Luca was actually heading back because of the same clashes that were impacting his own work. He’d have to try to find out more.
Keece continued, “Yes, you know his father passed away a couple of years ago. His mom and their manager still run the farm, but Luca and his sisters help. Two of the sisters are married, so are not as involved on a daily basis, but his youngest sister is still at home.”
Pele answered, “So he feels like he needs to go home to support his mom and sisters?”
“Yes,” answered Keece. “There have been some of these battles relatively close to his family’s farm. Apparently, the insurgents are terrible to women. Luca doesn’t want to risk his sisters coming in contact with any of them. Apparently, his sisters, especially his youngest sister, are a bit feisty and might not so easily comply with the insurgents’ wishes.
“It seems strange,” she continued, “that we know someone who is actually impacted and worried about protecting his family and their property due to these little fights that keep cropping up.”
Pele agreed, “It is strange. What’s even stranger to me is that I don’t understand why all these little conflicts keep cropping up in all these different rural places. I can’t figure out if they’re all just individual rebel groups, or if there is some connection we’re missing.” Pele’s military work was on the weaponry, but he was occasionally privy to the military strategists. He knew they had not cracked the code on this. They actually knew the groups were linked, but they still did not understand to what degree, or why they were split into so many subgroups. Or why they would engage in the occasional battle and then go underground again. It was almost as if they were testing to see what kind of opposition they would face.
Keece commented semi-jokingly, “Aren’t you consulting for our illustrious military? It worries me a little that you don’t know.”
Pele chuckled, “Well, yes, I am doing a project for the military. But you can rest easy. They keep me far away from international security and strategy concerns.”
“Oh phew!” responded Keece with a big fake sigh of relief. “Well, I hope somebody is on it.”
Pele responded with more confidence than he actually felt, “From what little I’ve seen, they seem to have plenty of resources on it. To what effect, I’m not sure, but they seem to be on top of it!”
Keece, more serious again, “Well, regardless, I hope Luca’s family and their farm are well out of harm’s way.
“Me too,” agreed Pele. Then trying to lighten the mood, “You want to go for a drink after polo next week? Somehow your concerns seem much more serious than my dating photo exploitations, but how ‘bout we commiserate and see if we can’t drown a few sorrows.”
Keece giggled. “You’re on. I look forward to it. And, Pele.”
“Yah?” he replied cautiously.
“Thanks for listening and being such a good sport,” she replied. “I know I was kind of rough on you.”
“No worries,” he replied, and then couldn’t resist adding, “I’m sure I’ll find a way for you to make it u
p to me.”
Keece laughed, “I’m afraid you just might.”
“See you soon.” He hung up the phone with a big smile. Could this be his opportunity? He didn’t want to get too hopeful, knowing relationships sometimes rebounded, but it seemed promising.
A few weeks later, before Keece and Pele had the chance to meet for their commissary drink, the polo crowd gathered at the Brigantine for Luca’s going away party. Pele was flying in that afternoon. He had been called away to Washington DC to demonstrate the latest progress on his weaponry project, so he had been out of town.
Pele’s DC trip was last minute because his boss, the originator of his military project and Pele’s former professor in Med school, had fallen ill. The professor had multiple sclerosis, part of the inspiration for his work on nerves and physical movement. Unfortunately, the professor had lapsed into a particularly bad spell. He was already wheelchair bound, but with this latest bout, he could not leave his bed.
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