Must Wait (3 page)

A few days go by and it is Saturday evening. I hear
Parker talking in to the door of my house. I open the
door to a smiling Parker. “I brought tequila back from
Limon. You want to play cards?”

I smile watching him move about my kitchen to get
glasses. I get the cards and join him at the table.
“Parker, I did not hear your motor bike come up.”
He smiles. “No, I had Olivia drop me off. I was still
showing her around. I am going to crash here with you,
then leave tomorrow to go to church and family day at
the Cantina.”
“Did you tell her about family day?”
Parker slaps his forehead. “Nope, I forgot. We can
stop by her place on the way to church in the morning
and tell her.”
I glance up from my cards. “How did today go?”
He beams up at me. “Amazing. She is so sweet. She
wore these shorts and a little white linen button down
shirt. She is still getting used to the heat here so her body
glistened with sweat. She was leaning up on her toes to
grab something off a shelf. Her shirt went up clinging to
her sweat and I saw her amazing stomach. She has
beautiful skin and her scent is intoxicating. I can’t believe
her husband let that go.”
“Maybe he didn’t let her go. Maybe she left him.
Maybe he will want her back.”
Parker shakes his head. “Nope. He left her. He blames
her for his son’s death and can never forgive her for what
she did.”
I scowl at him. “What did she do?”
He looks up. “Her husband did not want the kid
riding motor bikes with his friends. He felt it was too
dangerous. She let him go with his friends when the
husband left for work. She disobeyed him. Anyway, the
kid got crushed when his bike rolled over on him.”
I am in disbelief. “How old was the son?”
“She said he was 14 years old. She also said that the
marriage had many other issues as well. I also overheard
her speaking with her daughter on her cell phone. She
kept saying thank you over and over again to her
daughter. It seems like the husband was not a nice man
and her daughter helped her get away.”
I look over at Parker. “But you just said that he left
her. I guess there is more to the story. Just be careful,
Parker. I do not want to see you get your heart broken.”
He laughs. “No, I am going to take it very slow with
this one. But I do not know how long I can resist her
body though. She is perfect from her gorgeous blonde
hair down to those tiny wine color painted toes.”
I stare at Parker. “I think you are already in trouble.”
Parker laughs while taking another drink of his tequila.
“I want to be in trouble with that woman. Who wouldn’t,
Pedro? If you had a chance with her, you would take it.”
“No, Parker, I wouldn’t. I had my chance and I keep
telling you that I am cursed. I do not mind when we go
up to Limon to mess around with women, but I will
never commit myself again just to have my heart ripped
out of me. I cannot go through that pain, it was
unbearable.”
Parker shakes his head. “You need to get out of this
village more often. You will find someone again. As for
your stupid curse, do not have children. Then she won’t
die on you. You are so ridiculous, Pedro. Cyntia was sick,
Pedro, you know that now. Plus the diabetes did not help.
It had nothing to do with you or Ramón. Just a horrible
coincidence is all. The religion thing is not a factor for
you either since you are a widower. You can start over
and remarry. You really make me wonder sometimes,
Pedro. I see those girls dropping their panties for you up
in Limon and you do nothing.”
I shake my head. “If I am going to start over again, she
would have to be perfect, sweet and innocent. I do not
want those meaningless whores that we meet in Limon.”
Parker shakes his head. “Good luck there, Pedro, in
your search. You might find it since you are hot, but you
are getting older, you know.”
I look over at him. “I know. I just want it to be
perfect. I will wait. There has to be someone out there for
me like Cyntia.”
Parker throws his card on the table. “I am out, you
hopeless romantic. Next time I go to Limon, I am going
to bring you back romance novels instead of Playboy
magazines. I think you will be happier, you sap. I am
going to sleep now.

As I lay on my bed, I think about Parker’s words.
Maybe I am not doomed to be alone. The possibility of
an older woman might be best for me. One who does not
want children. Maybe someone like Olivia, who is smart,
beautiful and mature, would be the best for me. Olivia is
beautiful, but I can see that Parker completely wants her.
Every man in this town who is not attached will, since
there are so many of us. She could have her pick of the
village men if she wanted, but I do not see her doing that.

I have to stop thinking about her. She is not mine to
have and once she is free from her husband, then Parker
can make his move.

The next morning, my brothers Lasaro and Paolo stop
at my farm to discuss the planting two months from now.
They want to start trying out some new fertilizer products
on my testing field. We plan to drive over to Limon in
our trucks to pick up the materials next Saturday. Just
then, Parker stumbles out of the house. Both my brothers
shake their heads at him.

Parker puts up his hand. “Hey, guys, don’t ya have to
be getting to church?”
I yell out to him, “Yes, and you better wash up if you
want to stop at Olivia’s house.”
Parker walks back into the house after waving at me.
My brothers are staring at me.
Paolo raises his eyebrow. “Who is Olivia?”
I smile. “Oh, Olivia Nora, the new American school
teacher. Parker has a thing for her already, but she is still
married.”
Lasaro tilts his head. “Then it is Señora Nora, Pedro.
Please remember your respect.”
I nod. “I know, you are right. She just told me to call
her Olivia.”
Paolo shifts forward. “You like this new teacher,
Pedro?”
I shake my head. “No, No, Parker does. She is an
older woman.”
Lasaro moves back. “Good, stay away. Do not be like
Parker by pursuing a married woman.”
I nod my head as Parker rejoins us. My brothers wave
as they leave off to pick up their families for church.

I pull up to Olivia’s house to explain to Ramón that
this is where Grandma used to live. Parker jumps out of
my pickup truck and knocks on the front door. Parker
looks over his shoulder at me. He pounds his fist harder
on the door as he speaks out, “Olivia, it is me, Parker.”

The door opens and out runs three large dogs. Ramón
lets out a shriek as they run by the truck. Olivia appears at
the door like she had just been awoken up from sleep.
She is wearing little pink shorts and a tank top. Her hair is
down and all messy covering her breasts since it obvious
she is not wearing a bra. She looks completely sexy. She
puts her hand up to shield her eyes from the bright sun
while she looks up at Parker.

Parker steps back to take her in and she moves her
arm to cover her breasts. “I have come to let you know
that church is at noon and family day begins after 2 pm.”

She shifts her weight and her hip kicks out. “I do not
go to church and what is this family day?”
Parker smiles. “Just a
casual gathering of the
townspeople. If you bring a dish it is free, otherwise you
need to make a small donation that goes to the church.”
She laughs. “What kind of church is this?”
I stare are her confused, as I get out of the truck. I
walk up towards her and she sees that I am with Parker as
well. “Hi, Señora Nora. It is a Catholic church.”
She looks at me strangely. “Hi, Pedro. What happen to
calling me Olivia?”
I point over my shoulder. “Ramón is in the truck.”
She nods. “Okay, I got it. I am not a Catholic, but my
husband is, so I will pass on church. Maybe I will come
down for family day.”
I am staring down at her milky pale skin while my eyes
dance over her body. I keep staring at her and I can tell I
have made her uncomfortable. “You will come down for
family day. You are going to love it. Now go back inside,”
I said in a stern deep voice.
She gazes up at me, locking her eyes to mine. “Sure, I
will be there. I am leaving you two now.” She calls her
dogs into the house and goes back inside, closing the
door behind her.
Parker turns to me. ‘What just happened?”
I turn heading off to get in the truck and Parker
follows me. “I think she is scared of me.”
Parker shakes his head. “I do not know. Why did you
demand that she be there today? I think you maybe did
scare her.”
I glance over at Parker. “Did you see how she looked?
I could not peel my eyes away from her.”
Parker starts laughing at me. “So, you were looking.
Good for you, Pedro. I think you just made a huge step,
but please do not tell me I am going to have to compete
against you to win Olivia’s love.”
I shake my head. “No, that is not what will happen.
She is married and I think I became angry with her
standing there looking all lusty in front of men that are
not her husband. I think I am protective of her. Why?”
Parker looks over. “Not sure, man. Maybe because she
is your son’s teacher?”
I shrug my shoulder trying to make sense of the way
that I am feeling. Why would I use that tone with her? I
must make a point to apologize to her later today.

After church was over, Parker ran off to go find
Olivia. My brothers pull me down to the field to play
some fútbol with the kids. My brothers pull off their
shirts to let me know that the game is on. As do I, and
the men about 10 of us are seriously playing. Then I see
Parker walking down with Olivia. I call Parker to join my
team as Olivia sits down on the sand to watch. Parker
runs over to me as I tell him what position to play as he
too removes his shirt. We play around for the next fifteen
minutes. I turn to Paolo, patting him on the back at his
failed goal. He grabs me by the arm. “Is that the teacher
you were speaking about?” I nod. He smiles at me. “She
is stunning. I am having a hard time keeping my eyes
from her.”

I shake my head. “Yes, very beautiful, but she is
married and so are you. Let’s play.”
I see Paolo speaking to Lasaro. Lasaro glances at
Olivia then he nods back to Paolo. Lasaro kicks his ball
over past Olivia. She gets up running after the ball with
my brothers eyes following after her. She tosses it over to
Parker as we continue to play. Once we are done playing,
Parker runs back to Olivia. Olivia glances over at me and
nods. I stand there watching her walk off.
“What is the matter, Pedro? Did you want that one?”
Paolo slaps my shoulder.
“No, I think she is scared of me. Plus, there is this odd
connection between us. She is living in Grandma’s old
house.”
Paolo takes a step back. “Odd connection? She is
more like my age, right?”
I shrug. “I think so. But that is not what I feel. It is
like a protectiveness. I just do not know.”
Paolo strangely scowls at me. “Hum, protectiveness.
Are you sure you do not want her? Because if you don’t
then Parker is going to snatch that fine lady up.”
I shake my head. “No, I do not. She is married and I
do not think Parker is going to get a piece of her. There’s
something odd about her.”

I walk away, heading back to the Cantina. I see Parker
and Olivia sitting at a table far from the rest of the
people. They are laughing and having a good time. I take
my plate of food to my family and eat. I glance over at
them from time to time.

Olivia gets up and heads over to the bar to get a drink.
Lasaro kicks me under the table. “Stop staring and
introduce her to the family.”

I get up and walk behind her at the bar. “Hi, I wanted
to apologize for my tone this morning. I have no clue
where that came from.”

She spins around. “Oh, hi, Pedro. No problem, you
were right. I needed to get back in the house and put on
more clothes.”

I tilt my head. “I never said that.”
She smiles. “That is what your body language was
telling me. You had your son in the truck and I was
inappropriate. I did not expect to have guests that early in
the morning. I was up pretty late last night writing
music.”
I nod, thinking that she is correct. That I was angry
because my son was there. I glance over my shoulder. “I
would like to introduce you to my family.”
She nods, following me over to the table. She smiles
down at my sisters-in-law as I introduce her to everyone
at our table. Olivia nods after making some small talk
with them.
She looks up at me. “I should head home before it
gets dark. I walked down and left the dogs behind. They
are still adjusting to the howler monkeys.”
I laugh as I watch her say goodbye to Parker.
I sit back at the table and Paolo looks over at her
walking up the hill. “Pedro, please drive the woman
home. She is still new here and those jungle animals
might get her scared. I think we need this teacher to stay a
while since I have not seen you like this in years.”
I glare over at him. “It is not that way, Paolo. There is
something about her. I guess something I missed out on.”
Lasaro looks at me oddly. “Yes, a woman in your life.
Now go and bring her home.”
I shake my head as I stand up. “She feels like family to
me. Like how Galiana takes care of me, all motherly.”

I drive my truck up the hill and slow down as I catch
up to her. “Hi, Olivia, my brothers do not want you
walking alone until you are more used to the jungle. I
agree with them. Please get in to the truck.”

She smiles as she opens the door. “Very nice of your
brothers and you.”
I glance over to her. “Yes, they worry.”
She laughs. “Do you always drive this fast. The truck is
so bouncy.”
I straighten out my neck because I have heard the
same before from Cyntia before she died. “I am sorry I
will slow down.”
She settles back in the seat. “My husband is a maniac
driver as well. You and your brothers all look so much
alike and it appears that you are all very close.”
“Yes, we are very close. Is your family close?”
She laughs wickedly. “Nope, not at all. My son was not
the nicest boy to me. My in-laws hate me and my
husband blames me for it all. Only my daughter and my
father love me.”
I look over at her. “What about your mother?”
“She died when I was a child. My father raised me.”
Oh, there is out connection, we were both raised by
our fathers. “So, you were like me, raised by your father?”
She nods, “I guess so. I do miss my family. I guess
each day will lessen the hurt.”
I pull up in front of her house and stop the truck. She
opens the door and gets out. “Thank you, Pedro, for the
ride.”
“It was no problem.”
She waves at me. I watch her as she opens the door of
her home. She waves one more time before going inside.