Newton Neighbors (New England Trilogy) (26 page)

“I thought you’d be too busy to come get us. I would have caught a cab, Mami,” Maria had said, but her mother, Leticia, clearly didn’t agree.

“My firstborn flies home with her beautiful children to spend Thanksgiving with me. I will not let you catch a taxi!” Then she attacked her grandchildren with hugs and kisses.
 

Everybody got a second burst of energy when they got to Leticia’s big family home. Cody wanted to swim in the pool right away. Even little Alice got caught up in the atmosphere and gurgled for everyone who fussed over her. Maria’s overriding feeling was relief. Seeing her mother was like turning back the clock, and now she was the daughter again—not a wife and mother.
 

Of course, Leticia had organized a feast for them, and over the evening, each of her three sisters visited to say hi and play with the kids. Paloma, the sister she was closest to, came with her husband and two children. They stayed for dinner, as well.

Maria felt strange doing all the family stuff without Ricky by her side, but nobody said a word. Instead, they acted like it was the most natural thing in the world. Bernardo, Paloma’s husband, asked about Rick and his business. Paloma lamented he was so busy and sent her love, but nobody judged.

They ate outside at a long wooden table that overlooked the swimming pool. It was the same furniture the family had used since Maria had been young. Paloma reminded her big sister that her name was still engraved into the wood from what felt like a million years before. Way back then, Maria had got into big trouble for damaging the table with her school compass, but now her mother smiled when her two grown daughters giggled over the old autograph.

Alice spent most of the night on Paloma’s lap, while Leticia served up mountains of Maria’s favorite childhood dishes. They had taquitos first, which Cody thought were like his mom’s tortillas. Then they had
arroz con pollo,
which was one of Maria’s favorite.

“Mine never tastes as good as yours does, Mami. What’s with that?”

Leticia smiled. “Local ingredients.”

“What is it anyway?” Cody pinched up his nose in distrust and pushed the plate around to see it from another angle.

“Chicken and rice. Eat it and be polite,” she told her little boy, because she knew her mother had gone to a lot of effort. There were olives and capers peppered through the dish, and Maria knew she cooked it in beer. Leticia was pulling out all the stops, and it wasn’t even Thanksgiving yet.

“Mami, you must let me help you tomorrow. There’ll be a lot more to do because we’ve come at the last minute,” Maria said.
 

Paloma laughed. “You? You won’t do a thing, girl! You’re the prodigal daughter. We’ll all have to work while you put your feet up.” She nudged her sister’s shoulder, so Maria knew there was no jealousy.
 

But Maria also knew Paloma was right—Mami wouldn’t let her lift a finger. It had been a long time since she had been able to put her feet up. Heaven.

As always in Puerto Rico, she stayed up too late and ate too much.
Carnes guisada
, a beef stew dish, came out after the chicken and rice, and then—after all that—Leticia produced
budin de pan,
a bread pudding, and
mantecaditos
, a traditional Puerto Rican cookie that Maria loved. Her tummy ached by the time they were done, but she didn’t care. It was worth the discomfort.
 

Both her children loved the magic of eating outside under a clear sky of stars by candlelight. She didn’t feel the need to rush them off to bed, because they were having such fun. Cody went midnight swimming with Paloma’s two boys, who were just a little older.
 

The perfume of night jasmine floated on the warm air while the crickets started up their night chorus. It was all so reassuring and familiar to Maria. There were several times when Ricky slipped into her mind, lingering in her guilty conscience. She wondered what he was doing and why he hadn’t called. Was he furious or winging his way to her on the next flight? She prayed he was on a plane.

When they cleared dinner away, Leticia wouldn’t let her do anything to help, so Maria settled for getting her own kids off to bed while Paloma cleaned. Then her sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews went home, promising Maria they would come back the next day.
 

Finally Maria was alone with her mother. Leticia offered her a nightcap, but she turned it down. It was the first day of what would be a busy holiday. Leticia was not an old lady at sixty-two, but even so, Maria didn’t want to overtax her.

That night she slept with the windows open in her old bedroom. The Puerto Rican night evoked so many memories, and it lulled her into a deep sleep. She slept better than she had in months, but all too soon it was the morning of a new day.

“Time to get up,” she told herself and slipped out of the deliciously soft, old bed sheets.
 

She had the good sense to bring her summer sleepwear—a short little night dress with spaghetti straps. It was ample enough with the heat they enjoyed at this time of year. Before dressing, she went to check on her children but found both bed and crib empty. Panicked, Maria went straight to the kitchen and sighed in relief when she found them there. Having a pool at the house was wonderful, but it terrified her, too. For her kids to get to Crystal Lake, they had to climb the hedge at the bottom of their yard, but here, Alice could crawl across the patio and fall in.
 

This morning, thankfully her fears were unfounded. Alice was perched on her grandmother’s hip, listening to the finer points of Puerto Rican cuisine regaled to her in fast-flowing Spanish.

“Mami, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear Alice wake. I would have gotten her up.”

Leticia swung around. “Good morning,
guapa
. Alice didn’t make a sound this morning. I just happened to put my head around her door when she was waking, and she was happy to come with me. We have been having fine conversations since.”
 

Maria kissed her mother and daughter then made some coffee.
 

“Cody’s in the pool already. He hasn’t even had breakfast yet.”

Maria laughed. “He loves the water. He’s just like his dad.” She said it before remembering Rick was a taboo subject.

“How are things?” Her mother let the question hang in the bright morning sunlight.

“The same as they were last night—fine.” Maria refused to be drawn into anything deeper than her coffee.
 

The back door to the kitchen opened out into the courtyard, and she could see her boy practicing his dives. The long table where they had dined the night before had been reset. Now it was draped in a multicolored tablecloth, and Leticia had put a vase of sunflowers in the center. It was very pretty, but she wondered how long it would last with Cody’s ability to destroy anything in sight and Alice’s curious little hands. Alice would have that tablecloth off in seconds. Nevertheless, Maria took her mug of fresh brewed coffee and a large orange out to the courtyard to eat
al fresco
.

“Hey, Mom, check this out,” Cody called as soon as he saw her, and then without any more warning, he did a backward flip into the pool.
 

“Please, be careful.” Maria frowned and drank some coffee. Leticia and Alice joined her.

“You know, even the coffee tastes better here,” Maria said as she peeled her orange.

Leticia looked pleased. “Of course it does. It’s local.”

“I buy Puerto Rican coffee in Newton. I think it’s being able to enjoy it outside under a sunny sky, watching Cody in the pool—that’s what makes the difference.” She caressed one of the sunflowers.

Leticia fed Alice her bottle as they watched Cody’s water antics. “Is there anything you would like to do today,
chica?
”

Maria shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it depends on whether Ricky arrives or not.”

“Do you think he will?”
 

Maria shrugged again.

“Have you spoken with him?”

Maria shook her head.

“You need to talk,
cariño
,” Leticia said.

Maria began to feel defensive. “I e-mailed him,” she said but knew that wouldn’t be enough for her mother.
 

“You look good.” Leticia reached over and stroked her cheek. “Tired, but good. Even one night here, and I see you’re looking less stressed. Maybe you just needed a little rest?”

“Maybe.” Maria drank more of the strong coffee. It was nice to be home. Why was Rick so wrapped up with work he couldn’t see there was a life outside Newton and his job? She pushed thoughts of her husband out of her mind and focused on the moment at hand.

“You know, I think I want to go into San Juan today,” she said just as the thought entered her mind.

“No problem. Leave Alice here. Cody can help me with her. You go and have some quiet time. It’ll be good for you.”

“I can take them with me,” Maria said, but Leticia closed her eyes and shook her head—something she did when there was no room for negotiation. It made Maria smile.

“I have so little time with these gorgeous grandchildren of mine. You go and let me play with them. Enjoy.” It was like the matter was already settled, so Maria caved.

“
Gracias
, Mami,” she said and finished her delicious coffee.

Rick knew what he needed was a strong coffee, but there was no time to get it now. He would have to hit Starbucks on the way into town. He had already missed three phone messages from the office, and he hadn’t even bothered to open his e-mails. He was the one who had called the seven a.m. meeting, and undoubtedly he was the only person to do the no-show. That was so damn unprofessional, and on the day before Thanksgiving, too.
 

“Shit,” he said as he stepped out of the shower. He thought he had set the alarm on his phone to wake him at six but perhaps not. He had been very drunk by the time he’d fallen into bed the night before.
 

It was a heck of a shock to come home and find his family gone. He had left several messages on Maria’s phone. The first was a lighthearted one, but when he called again several more times, his messages were more frantic. He had been close to calling the police at one point, but then he had double-checked his phone and incoming e-mails. Finally he had thought to check his junk mail folder. Sure enough, there had been her message.
 

Anything with bad language got dumped into that file, and he didn’t check it enough. When Maria had written about her life being “shit”, the software had taken over and trashed the mail. He cursed the efficiency of his smart phone now.
 

If he had known, maybe he could have convinced her to stay.
What would I have done?
he wondered as he hurriedly dressed and slapped on some aftershave. He didn’t know.
 

At first he had been relieved she was okay and hadn’t been kidnapped with the kids. Then he’d been furious and frustrated she had taken such a drastic step. His voice mail messages reflected these myriad emotions. Having found the e-mail, he had called back with a soft, encouraging message. But then he’d called again and pleaded with her to pick up and have some degree of maturity about the situation.
 

He was working his ass off for her and the kids. Every cent he earned came into the house. Was it his fault work was so damn busy at the moment? Then he’d begun to drink. After that, he was a little vague about how many times he’d called and what exactly he had said. What did it matter? She wasn’t returning his calls. He knew he could phone his mother-in-law’s, but he so didn’t want to talk to her before he spoke with his wife.

“Hullo, Maria?” A female voice came from downstairs.

Rick froze, startled, but he knew who owned that sweet English accent. Then he quickly moved into action, double-checking himself in the mirror. He looked fine—clean and fresh, anyway. His eyes were a little bloodshot, but that was to be expected after a bottle of whiskey.

“Jessie, is that you?” He came down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Hi, Mr. San—er, Rick. How are you?”

“Yeah, good, great.” She was still gorgeous. Even hungover, he couldn’t help but notice the tight jeans that covered her long, skinny legs. Her white blouse was tucked in, but the top two buttons were open. Her bra was white, too.