A Magnetic Couple Dilemma (Unfinished Liaisons Series) (7 page)

During the following weeks, it seemed as if Esteban had
given up on him. He'd stayed mostly at his parent's house, and when he came
around, they were never alone. More than once, Javier caught Esteban watching
him when he thought nobody noticed and it wasn't Javier's imagination, there
was a longing in Esteban's gaze that contradicted his actions, as if he said
with his eyes what his mouth held back.

The press problem was solved after Esteban let them follow
him around on a couple of occasions. Javier had watched on the local news how
the reporter complained of Esteban's stoicism; nothing she had said seemed to
impress the former priest. Diego had laughed at her astounded expression as the
TV crew followed Esteban, who ignored them and walked as if they were ghosts he
couldn't perceive.

The last time she covered him, she practically closed the
case saying that his quitting the church probably had been a coincidence, and
that she would be covering the trial, which was the real news.

Javier reflected on the news against his own situation with
Esteban as a real impossibility. The man had a will of steel and few things
really touched him. He considered himself lucky because he'd witnessed a
weakness nobody else had.

The following week Javier started working with Diego at the
Hidalgo's Foundation, where Esteban was in charge of the legal department. A
job he had done part time, but now was his only one. Javier wondered if he
would stay around or travel like he said he wanted to do.

Little by little, Javier had started to know the Hidalgo
family. Some were nicer than others, but all had welcomed him.

One day Diego told him, "Javier, listen, I'm trying to
help here, but you must let me help you."

"I'm okay. I don't know why you are so concerned."

"Because it has been more than a year since my brother
died, and you're still mourning like it was yesterday."

"Diego, I loved Mauricio."

Javier wanted to be honest and confess he was sad for
someone else's absence, but didn't feel like speaking about Esteban yet.

Diego frowned, and Javier worried that he offended his
brother-in-law. His next words kind of confirmed that.

"He was my only brother, and I miss him too. You have
no idea how many times I reached for my phone to call him during those first
days. I knew he was dead, but a part of me refused to admit it, and continued
thinking of things I wanted to share."

"I'm sorry, Diego."

"No, don't be. What I want is you to be active, really
interested in doing things. Don't you think it is time for you to play
again?"

"Am I becoming a burden for you?"

"No. Javier it's not about me, it's you; this was
exactly what Mauricio feared would happen with you, that you would become
depressed and waste your life away."

"If you want I can move out, I'll find another
place."

"No, please stay. You are a big help with the
foundation, and the kids love you. Besides, I need your company."

"We need each other."

That was true, because Carly had gone back to school, which
was great for her future as Diego told Javier, but she usually came home only at
dinner time. At first, Javier had been glad, because Carly seemed openly
jealous of him. it took weeks for her to accept that Javier wasn't going to
take Diego away.

The future mother simply didn't like anybody getting close
to Diego, she left the room every time Esteban came around, which Diego
justified by saying it was because Esteban reminded her of Raul. Esteban
attributed her unfriendly attitude to her pregnancy and didn't get offended.

The baby issue had been solved for the time being. Raul had sent
Carly a big basket of flowers and an "I'm sorry" note. She had melted
while Diego almost had a heart attack. Javier had learned that Raul's favorite
name for Diego had been for years, Esteban's whore. Which now he knew wasn't
true, but he wondered how many thought otherwise.

When Raul showed up, he had a proposal for the couple.
Javier had been there and as soon as Raul said he wanted to speak to Carly and
Diego, he headed for the door, but Raul stopped him.

"Javier, please stay, because I need a witness."

"A witness? Why?"

Javier didn't understand what exactly he wanted from him, so
Raul explained.

"I had violent fights with Diego in the past, but I've
never been violent with a woman. I don't want these two saying otherwise with
only their word as evidence."

Diego winced and gestured at Raul while saying, "And
you came in peace? This is ridiculous."

Raul replied with a calm attitude. "You were the one
who told Esteban about getting a restraining order against me."

Diego shook his head. "I don't think it's prudent to
involve Javier in our business."

Raul pointed at Javier. "He already knows the details
of what happened."

Javier looked at Diego, who inquired amazed. "You
knew?"

"Yes, I was there when Raul told Esteban. Do you want
me to stay as a witness?"

"I have no problem," Diego walked to Carly and
changing his tone to a tender one, asked, "What about you, Carly?"

She shrugged and pursed her lips. "Whatever."

Javier wondered what these men could find in her, she wasn't
a pretty girl, the only thing she had was her youth, which in his opinion
wasn't a quality. Regardless of her pregnancy, she stayed thin as a model, and
even if he didn't find women attractive, he knew when someone had a nice body.
She didn't. Her breasts were tiny, and his own ass probably looked better.

Javier shook his head. He usually didn't think like that
about people, his thoughts were a reflection of her attitude. He sat on a couch
and listened to their arguments without paying attention until Carly exclaimed,
"Two daddies! That's perfect, because I have two and it has been great,
I've always gotten more presents than other kids."

Jesus! What had Raul offered? Javier paid attention this
time as Diego was speaking.

"Raul, are you sure?" Cool, he said his name.
Javier was amazed by the second, but Raul wasn't.

It was the first time Javier witnessed them exchanging
anything other than insults. So he listened when Raul answered, "Yes, if
you are. Think about it, you will be the legal father, no matter if I'm the
biological, and I will give you a sum every month to help with the baby's
support, voluntary, of course."

Diego observed him suspiciously.

"That sounds too good to be true."

Raul seemed to be losing the patience he showed until then.

"Ask Esteban if there is a way I can commit without
going to court, since you will never take my word for real."

Then Carly spoke for the first time, standing next to Raul
and stroking his arm absentmindedly.

"I believe you, Raul."

Carly was clinging to him and Javier wondered if he should
leave before they engaged in another threesome. Surprisingly, Raul seemed to be
cold toward her, not rude, simply distant. Slowly, as if he didn't want to
upset her, he removed her delicate hand from his arm and said staring at Diego,
"I won't deceive you about this. If you assumed the baby's paternity, I
will provide anything financial."

Diego pulled Carly to his side and hugging her said,
"Sure, I will be the baby's father, but I have a question."

Raul narrowed his eyes before inviting him. "Go
ahead."

"Will you be part of the baby's life?"

Apparently, the other expected another question, because he
said, "I don't know yet."

Diego insisted. "I need to know."

While he talked Diego held Carly from behind and she leaned
against him, they both were about the same height, so her head could easily
rest on Diego's right shoulder. They looked good together, and when he caressed
her belly and nudged her nape, Javier thought he knew what they found in one
another. Comfort.

Raul pressed his full lips together and stared at them,
before explaining.

"Well, I have four boys, if he is a boy, you might want
him to meet and play with his brothers, if the baby is a girl, I still want
them to meet her, just in case, so they know who their sister is."

As soon as Raul gave his response, he started walking toward
the door as if he couldn't wait to escape. Diego followed him.

"What about you, Raul?"

He whirled from the very door and said, "Listen, Diego,
you wanted a child, right? Yes, I know, you did. Now you got it thanks to me
and I'll never take it away from you. So, stop pushing me, we cross that bridge
when we get there."

"If you don't burn it first."

Raul scowled and left without looking back.

Javier didn't know what to think about the whole drama, but
Carly was extra happy for some reason only she knew, while Diego seemed
worried. Javier patted him on the shoulder before going to his room.
"Everything will be all right, and if Raul doesn't behave, Esteban will
make sure he does."

It had been then when Diego suggested Javier perform his
music for the Hidalgo family, in particular, Doña Elvira, who as a benefactor
for a few symphony orchestras in the Tri-state area, could recommend him as an
orchestral musician, even if Javier only wanted the position part time. The
woman was also Esteban's father's mother, and the bane of Doña Vibi's
existence. The mother-in-law from hell, as Esteban's mother declared
constantly.

"You're talented, I can't let that talent go to
waste," had been Diego's motto until Javier accepted to do a mini concerto
for the family. For Javier, knowing Esteban was going to attend was his only
real motivation. Diego and he put together two musical pieces from the Baroque
period. Diego played the oboe while Javier performed his violin.

Diego had said that Doña Elvira was like a queen, indeed,
her family was part of the Spanish aristocracy. She came to America as one of
those Spanish brides the Hidalgos imported. The house was pretty, and she sat
on a high chair with all the dignity of a lady. All the members of the family
Javier knew were there, and some new faces he hadn't seen before. Apparently,
every Sunday after church the huge family met at the matriarchal home.

Doña Vibi sat next to Sergio and smiled at Javier, her
presence was a welcoming one.

Together with Doña Camila, Esteban's aunt, Doña Vibi had
been the friendliest person he met so far. And the only woman in that room
dressed in bright colors, all the others wore black, gray or white. Diego
explained that since the family was so big, they were always mourning for
someone, so the older women never wore colored dresses.

He noticed Esteban taking a seat next to his aunt and smiled
briefly at him. He seemed nervous and Javier didn't blame him, there was
something in Doña Elvira that would intimidate anybody. Javier thanked his
ruthless upbringing, because she didn't scare him at all. His father trained
him to interact with the rich and powerful without hesitation.

Diego had mentioned that if he got on her good side, he
didn't need to worry about the rest of the family, she would protect him. She
had done it with him. And the woman confirmed it herself when she told Camila
before the concert started, "With Diego I always knew what to expect, he
never wore any disguise. So, I never had any false expectation with him, and he
never deceived me."

Javier knew that she was targeting Esteban, who remained
calm as if she wasn't referring to him. And that was only for leaving the
Church, what if she ever learned about Esteban's homosexuality; Javier rather
didn't imagine that. He knew of people who accepted gays as long as they didn't
belong to their own family. As weird as it sounded, he had the hunch this was
the case in the Hidalgo family. They had their own version of "Don't Ask
Don't Tell".

Javier and Diego finished playing their small concerto, and
the lady of the house asked Javier to improvise something by himself. He
interpreted Albinoni's adagio and everybody but Doña Elvira applauded. Since
she didn't, the others stopped at once. She spoke, looking at Javier with those
inquisitive dark eyes.

"That's all your repertoire?"

"No, ma'am, I had more pieces similar to this
one."

"Do you have anything more classic?"

Before Javier could answer, Esteban intervened,
"Grandma, I think that's enough."

She looked at Esteban silently and ignored his comment,
going back to Javier.

"Is there anything else you can interpret for me?"

Javier knew she was pushing him, but that was nothing
compared to what Luis Lozano, his father, had done all his life.

So he delivered. "Yes, there is a piece I've been
practicing in case I have to audition. Please allow me to perform it for
you."

She simply waved her hand, and he refused to look at
Esteban, because he needed all his concentration for this one.

It was one of the most difficult concerts for a violinist to
perform, and he had worked very hard on it, but it wasn't perfect yet. His hand
trembled a little when he positioned the bow, but once he started to play, he
closed his eyes and forgot anything except the music.

Tchaikovsky violin concerto meant so much to
 
Javier. It had been written by Tchaikovsky
with the collaboration of his lover, Iosif Kotek, a violinist, who because of
the time they lived, refused to accept Tchaikovsky's dedication of the
concerto, or to play it in public. The concerto would be the only one
Tchaikovsky wrote for violin. And Javier considered it an example of something
magnificent inspired by forbidden love, and created by two men that had to hide
their feelings.

Javier chose the allegro moderato because he could play it
without reading the music, and it usually impressed anybody who listened to it.
He played for about four minutes, and since he only knew the part of the
concertmaster, he stopped right where the orchestra would have joined him.