Chapter 12: New allies and past foes
It was a hot night. But the sight of the tall sun kissed-skin, dark hair beauty, dressed in a thin sundress that hung to her still wet body was making him sweat even more than the heat of the night.
Francis was standing by the door of Jason's office, his eyes stuck on her back and the nice curve of her bottom. The woman they found skinny dipping on the pool was now standing in the middle of the room with an amused look on her face. Trying to move his attention away from the woman and back to his boss, the guard tried to make out Jason's expression. The young man was fuming mad and was speaking slow to the telephone. Soon he had replaced the auricular to its place and was staring back at the woman.
"Did she tell you who I was?"
"Yes, she did."
"I told you I was saying the truth."
"Yes well, I don't make a habit of believing everything a naked trespasser has to say."
"I'm not a trespasser. I already told you I've been living here for more than three weeks. My grandmother explained that to you already. You can even ask your girlfriend."
"My what?" Jason's eyes where burning with fire.
"You know the girl that came here looking for you a couple of weeks ago. Melissa, Elisa or something like that, she saw me."
"Elizabeth saw you?"
"Yes. She came looking for you one morning. My grandma Teresa told her I was staying here for a while and not to say anything because you might get mad."
"Damn right I would. This is my house and if Teresa wanted to bring a guest she should have asked first."
"My grandma was scared you'd say no. And besides, I wasn't going to stay long, but now my grandfather got sick and she needed to go back home. I'm assuming you still need someone to cook and clean and take care of the place. If you don't I'll be glad to leave. Believe me this is not my idea of a nice summer vacation either."
Francis tried to hold onto his laughter but failed miserably and his snicker was picked up by Jason loud and clear. Jason shot him one of his trademark intimidating glances, but Francis just smiled back. The woman standing in front of him had a sharp tongue and some guts to stand there and berate at the man that not even 20 minutes earlier had being holding a gun at her.
Throwing her arms up and with a desperate sigh the woman spoke then. "Forget it! I'll go grab my stuff and I'll be out of your house in no time. I don't have to take any abuse from you."
Jason was still looking at her through hooded eyes, arms crossed and lips thin. "Are you for real?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I found you skinny dipping on my pool. You tell me that you've being living in my house for more than three weeks and I didn't know about it, and you tell me you're not taking anymore abuse from me? You have some nerve lady."
"Eva, my name is Eva Cruz. Now what are you going to do? Are you going to throw me out?"
"No, I'm not. You can stay. But I'm going to be inspecting your work, so thread on the safe side."
Francis could tell that Jason was waiting for the girl to say thank you and jump of happiness, but Eva just nodded and turned around. Head held up high, those beautiful caramel color eyes shining, she walked pass him and out of the office.
After the door closed behind her, Francis took a step forward. "That was interesting."
"This is the last thing I needed, one more complication that was not on my plans."
"Why is a beautiful Puerto Rican woman a complication?"
"Oh no, she's not the complication. The complications are that mouth of hers..."
Francis smiled and looked back at the door, she had disappeared through. And when he brought his eyes back at Jason he was scowling. "...And that silly grin you've had on ever since you saw her turn around."
-Wednesday June 15, 1998-
This was it, Elizabeth thought as she stared at the image reflected in the full length mirror. Her graduation day. Why was she feeling sad and nostalgic all of the sudden? When she came to live here, she hated the place. What the heck, she hated herself. But for some strange reason, standing there a couple of hours away from saying goodbye to her peers and teachers, she knew she was going to miss them.
She smoothed her hands down her knee length black dress and sighed. This is it, she thought again. The end of her childhood and the beginning of a new life. Where? With whom? Doing what? That she didn't know, but was sure that her future held better things than her troubled past.
The knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts and as she turned and asked her guest to come in she found herself face to face with Grace. She was wearing a nice silk skirt and blouse that Elizabeth had bought for her. The older woman was smiling and her happiness was contagious, Elizabeth smiled back.
"You look beautiful." Grace made her way up to where Elizabeth was standing and ran her hand over her now straight brown locks.
"Well look at you, Mrs. I-don't-like-wearing-fancy-clothes-it's-not-my-thing. Jade is definitely your color."
"Don't start with that. My feet are already killing me and I just finished putting them on."
Elizabeth smiled looking down at Grace's feet. Her black sensible shoes forgotten, she was now wearing a pair of jade color pumps with a half inch heel. She then looked back to her own feet, in contrast she was wearing black pumps with a small opening to reveal what the store clerk called 'toe cleavage' and two inch heels. With a smile she turned to face the mirror again and ran her hand over her ears.
"I haven't found a suitable pair of earrings to wear."
"It's a good thing I come baring gifts then." Grace walked behind Elizabeth, who frowned at the reflection of the older woman in the mirror.
"What do you mean?" Then she saw the small velvet box in Grace's hand. She turned to face the woman that was like her mother with her eyes all watery. "No. Grace, you didn't have to buy me anything."
"I didn't. Here open it."
"But..."
"Take it, child."
Elizabeth took the box reluctantly and when she opened it she gasped in surprise. A pair of diamond earrings where shinning inside.
"Oh my..." The older woman smiled at the girl's reaction.
"I take it, you like them?"
"Like them? They are beautiful." Elizabeth looked up to the woman standing in front of her and the tears where evident in her blue eyes. "I- I can't accept this. They are way too expensive."
"My mother gave them to me on my graduation day. I was going to give them to my daughter on her graduation. But I wasn't able to have children. Do you remember the day you came here?" Elizabeth just nodded, unable to talk because of the big knot on her throat. "You were so young. I couldn't imagine how a mother could ever abandon a child with not even a call for almost three years. I can't have babies of my own and for some reason I still don't understand God gave me a chance to take care of you. I love you so much child. And I'm so proud of you. You are a fighter, Elizabeth. Don't let anybody tell you different. And even though you are not my own daughter, I still want you to have them, because I love you as I would my own."
Elizabeth's tears were running freely now and her hands where shaking. "I love you too Grace. After my Grams died I never thought anyone would ever love me again. And then I came here and found you. You were an angel sent to me from heaven. I'm honored that you would think of me as a daughter."
Both women hugged for a long time and both cried in each other's arms. But soon, Elizabeth managed to recover her bearings and straighten out. She took the earrings and put them on and started to re-apply her make up.
"See what you did? Now I have to start over." She said in a teasing tone as she took her concealing powder in one hand, and looked at the image of Grace through the mirror.
"Once a brat always a brat. I'll leave you alone to finish up here. And please don't do your make up like a street worker. Subtlety, my child, is a virtue."
Grace managed to make Elizabeth laugh, before walking out of the room.
-xxxx-
Eva knocked on the door to his bedroom and found it was open. She had to finish making the beds and changing the towels, before she went downstairs to start the laundry. Silently, she made her way into the room and saw it was empty. These men were like ghosts, she thought. They were never home and the times they were, she never knew around what corner she was going to see them come around.
Dropping the stack of clean sheets and towels on a chair by the bed she got to work. Soon she had finished with the bed and walked to the bathroom to change the towels, but before she could walk inside the door opened.
The towels fell to the floor and she ran her eyes from his feet up to his... Dios Mío (Oh my God) he's naked, she thought as she took in his glorious form.
To say he was surprised to find her there was an understatement, but all his embarrassment vanished as he took in her flushed face. She was wearing one of those flimsy sundresses and her hair was pulled back on a ponytail. This is bad Francis really bad, he thought to himself. He looked at her again and had to smile, if it was bad in really felt good.
The bodyguard didn't realize his perusal of her was having a reaction on his body until he heard her shriek and turn around. Immediately, Francis took a towel and wrapped it around his waist.
"I'm sorry. I didn't..."
"It's okay. I'll just come in later." She tried to walk away but he stopped her and turned her around. She kept her eyes closed.
He smiled again. "It's safe to open your eyes now. I'm all covered."
"Estas loco? Lo menos que estoy a tu alrededor es segura." (Are you crazy? Secure is the last thing I am around you.)
"What was that?"
"Nothing, I was just leaving."
"Did I make you uncomfortable?"
"You think?" She said in a sarcastic tone.
"I didn't peg you for the shameful type."
"What is that suppose to mean?" She stood straight with hands on her waist.
"Well, taking our first meeting to account. You didn't seem that embarrassed, then."
"What did you want me to do? You two savages were pointing those guns at me. I couldn't exactly run to hide, could I?"
"I'm not complaining trust me. I was just pointing it out. I guess this makes us even."
"Whatever. I was just leaving."
"Eva, wait."
Francis took two more steps closer to her and she had to angle her head up to meet his eyes.
"What?"
Francis had to swallow and bit the inside of his cheeks to stop from kissing her. He remembered why he called after her then. "I- Jason...Is Jason home?"
"No. He left early this morning."
"What day is today?" He asked taking a step back.
"Wednesday, why?"
"Today is Elizabeth's high school graduation. I guess he won't make it to the meeting today."
"Do you need anything else?"
If you only knew, the thought. "No. Everything it's OK."
"Fine." She turned and left the room.
-xxxx-
Steven was waiting downstairs for Elizabeth. He looked back at his watched. They where suppose to be there already, what was taking them so long. He was pacing the living room when he saw her come down the stairs.
"Did we keep you waiting too long?" Elizabeth asked smiling.
"No. Not at all." He took a good look at Elizabeth and walked toward her. "You look beautiful, Lizzie."
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
"Are we ready to go?"
"I think Grace and Manuel are about ready."
"What do you mean Grace and Manuel? Elizabeth, are they coming with us?"
"Yes. Why are you so surprised? I told you time and time again, those two people are my family."
The front door opened to reveal the Webber family.
"No Elizabeth, we are your family." Jeff Webber was the first one to walk inside. He was followed by his wife Caroline and his daughter Sarah.
Elizabeth was stunned. This couldn't be happening to her. Why were they there?
"This is a surprise. Cat got your tongue Lizzie? Or has our prayers being answered and you became a mute?" Caroline was half joking and half telling the truth.
"Mother!" Sarah cut in. "At least wait a few hours before you start spreading your venom."
"Don't worry Sarah. I'm used to it. And I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not mute. Just surprised, for lack of a better word."
"Steven called us, Lizzie. I'm so proud of you. Congratulations." Sarah made her way to where Elizabeth was standing and hugged her.
Elizabeth's arms never left her sides. And her face was more of displeasure than happiness.
Grace and Manuel made their way from the kitchen and didn't notice the tension in the room until after Grace spoke.
"Here is your cap and gown, child. I think we are all ready to go."
"What do you mean "we"? You did not have the lack of taste as to invite the help to your graduation, did you?" Caroline asked from her spot at the other side of the house.
"Mr. and Mrs. Webber, I didn't know you where coming."
"It was a surprise for our youngest." Jeff said trying to keep his frustration at bay.
Everyone was quiet for a minute, the tension escalating to its highest peak. Grace and Manuel looked around the room to the faces of the new arrivals and knew they weren't welcome so he spoke.
"Grace, I think we should leave them alone. Now that the family is here they should be the ones with Elizabeth, not us."
"At last some common sense." Said Caroline looking down at the mocha colored skin man.
"Shut up!" Elizabeth screamed then. "I don't know why Steven thought he had the right to invite all of you here, but he didn't ask me what I wanted. Today is my graduation day and Grace and Manuel had being more of a family to me the last three years than any of you have. So they are going with me. If you want to go, fine by me. Just get there and tell everyone that you've being the ones sending the checks. I'm sure they'll let you in if you toss a couple of twenty's at them."
"I knew it was too good to be true. She's being leaving in this uncivilized country for too long. She's even more of big mouth than before."
Jeff looked at Caroline and she stopped talking then. Sarah was at the verge of tears and Steven was enjoying the show. It serves them right, he thought, for sending him here to do the job alone.
Elizabeth took the cap and gown from Grace and wrapped her arm around the older woman. "Let's go or we'll be late."
"I don't think this is such a good idea, hon."
"I don't care. Let's go."
And with that, Grace and Elizabeth walked out the door flanked by a very nervous Manuel.
The Webber family watched them walk out of the door. It was then that Jeff spoke.
"Let's go."
"Are we still going?" Asked Sarah surprised at the request.
"Of course we are. What did you think? I'm not letting that spoiled little girl do whatever she wants. She is still a minor and I'm her father. Come on. Let's go."
"This is going to be a very interesting family get-together." Steven added as he made his way to the door.
