A Life Rebuilt

by Jean Brashear

  She glanced back at the two he’d indicated. She knew more about self-defense than he might imagine, but she hadn’t done so well the other night, had she? Plus they clearly had a size advantage, and she was wearing these stupid heels.

  And Roman looked really worried. “All right. But if you’re not there in ten minutes, I’m calling Vince.”

  “Who’s—” He shook his head. “Never mind. I’d rather you just went home.”

  “No way. I know the owners of the barbecue joint. I’ll be fine there.”

  “Stay around people. And mention your boyfriend who’s joining you so nobody bothers you, all right?”

  He was so intense, so clearly worried.

  “All right.” She started for the door, then turned back. “Ten minutes,” she said.

  A quick nod as his eyes switched to staring out the front window.

  She thought about calling Vince anyway. She still would if Roman didn’t meet her deadline.

  But if he could discover anything about Freddie…

  Jenna got in her car, newly aware that she might not be as unnoticeable as she would have assumed, should she have even thought about it.

  She locked the doors as she always did. Cops in the family were good for some things. Two minutes later, she was pulling into what she considered to be one of Austin’s best-kept secrets, Ray’s BBQ. As she opened the door, she realized she was starving, and wondered if Roman had eaten. Well, even if he had, he’d be wise to partake of the ambrosia Ray cooked up in his big pit out back.

  “Jenna!” greeted Fayrene, Ray’s wife of forty-odd years. The woman looked behind her. “You here alone?”

  Jenna answered Fayrene’s hug with one of her own. “Someone’s joining me. He got held up.” She hadn’t taken the time to explain to Roman that she knew this place well and didn’t need the boyfriend ruse. Anyway, she couldn’t use the word boyfriend with Fayrene. The woman would start planning a bridal shower on the spot.

  “How about a booth?”

  “Sounds great.” Jenna came here fairly often, and when she was alone she just sat at the counter so she could visit with Fayrene and with Ray when he had a second. Since Roman was more than a little wound up, though, the privacy of a booth sounded preferable.

  He’d better not yell at her, though. She wasn’t doing one thing dangerous, going into a well-lit convenience store and asking about Freddie.

  She sat facing the door.

  “Sweet tea?” Fayrene asked. “I know you don’t need a menu.”

  “Half and half,” she answered. “And leave one menu. I’m not sure if my friend’s been here before.”

  “Would that be a he friend or a she friend?”

  “Not that you’re nosy.”

  Fayrene’s smile was unrepentant. “A person has to get her entertainment where she can.”

  Jenna laughed. “Well, I’m going to disappoint you. He’s just someone I work with.” Sort of.

  The door opened and Roman walked in.

  Jenna watched as he scanned the room for her, saw her then moved in her direction. She hadn’t had a chance in the Jiffy Mart to notice that he was in running clothes, all sweaty and muscled and—

  “Sweet pea, if that’s your coworker, you should be burning the midnight oil. Mmm-mm…”

  Then he got near enough that she saw how terribly scarred his legs were.

  “Oh, honey,” Fayrene murmured. “You treat him nice, you hear?”

  “He won’t welcome sympathy,” she whispered furiously.

  “He won’t get it, either. Those are some damn fine legs.”

  They were, all lean and muscled and powerful.

  He neared them and Fayrene gave him a wide smile.

  “Hi there,” she said. “I’m Fayrene. Jenna here says you might need a menu, but if you come in often enough, like her, you won’t for long. What can I get you to drink?”

  “I’m eating,” Jenna said to him. “I haven’t had supper, and if you’re smart, you won’t leave here without eating, either. Best barbecue that will ever cross your lips.” She turned to Fayrene. “This is Roman, by the way. Roman Gallardo.”

  “Pleased to meet you. You new around here?”

  He shook his head. “I grew up not far away.”

  Fayrene cocked her head. “You wouldn’t be Carmen’s grandson, now would you?”

  Jenna couldn’t decipher the welter of emotions that crossed his face. “Did you know her?” he asked.

  “Sugar, I wouldn’t be here without that woman. And this place wouldn’t exist. You order anything you want because this meal is on the house.”

  He seemed startled. “No, I—”

  “Your money’s no good here. Several years ago we had a bad fire that started in the kitchen. The barbecue pit was okay but we didn’t have insurance so we couldn’t afford to replace all the appliances. If we couldn’t make any money, we couldn’t rebuild. So Carmen let us use her kitchen to cook the rest of what we sell, every single day for four months, while we put this place back together. She even rounded up some folks to contribute labor.” Fayrene threw her arms around a very startled Roman and gave him a huge hug. “Wait until Ray finds out. Lord, I miss Carmen. She worried over you while you were in Iraq, kept her rosary with her all the time, praying practically every second.” She bustled off, rushing to tell Ray.

  But Roman didn’t look pleased.

  Instead he seemed miserable.

  “What is it?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t be here.”

  “Sit down.” Now she was the one barking out orders. “That is one of the nicest women on the planet. Don’t you dare walk out on her.”

  He sighed and started to lower himself to the bench, but just then Fayrene returned, Ray in tow.

  “Son, I am mighty glad to meet the grandson Carmen was so proud of.” Ray grasped Roman’s hand and gave it a hearty shake, then pulled him into a back-slapping hug. “You come from the finest stock on God’s green earth. You eat here every day if you want to, and it’s on us. We owe your grandmother a debt we could never repay.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Roman practically squirmed at the attention.

  “It’s good to see you walking around. Carmen was worried sick about you after the helicopter crash. Said the doctors were afraid you’d never walk again, but look at you.” Fayrene turned to Jenna and gave her a big wink before bringing her focus back to Roman. “Mighty glad you’re back on your feet. You staying at Carmen’s place? Well, your place now, I guess.”

  Just then the bell in the kitchen dinged, and Ray swore. “Got to get to work. You remember what I said, though, son. You are welcome here anytime, and it’s on the house. This place would be long gone if not for Carmen.”

  More people arrived, and Fayrene, too, had to leave as soon as Roman gave her his order.

  But when they were alone he looked so uncomfortable that Jenna didn’t know what to say to him, and he wouldn’t look at her.

  When he finally spoke, all he said was, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Jenna’s eyebrows rose, but she’d understood from the beginning that he was a very private man, so she guessed she shouldn’t be surprised.

  And she did have some experience with men with shadows. Her own family was rife with them.

  She’d been right, she paused a second to absorb. Apparently Roman had a great deal in common with Diego. He deserved some slack. “So did you find out anything about Freddie?”

  Relief was in his gaze as he looked up. “Not enough. If I had a picture to show around, that would help, but his description could fit anyone.” He scowled. “Mako, though…you should have pressed charges. He’s not just some mixed-up kid. I’m meeting him tomorrow to buy drugs.”

  “What? You can’t be serious about
doing that.”

  “Of course I’m not, but I need to get in this guy’s face and put the fear of God into him about Freddie.”

  “Roman, you can’t meet with a drug dealer. You could get hurt!”

  “I’ve been in far more dangerous situations. I’ll be fine.”

  “But you’ve already—” Been badly hurt, she wanted to say.

  “The scars aren’t from a punk like Mako,” he said grimly. “So tell me what you’ve found out. Though—” he closed his eyes for a second “—I’m not sure I want to know where else you’ve been.”

  “I tracked down Damien’s mother. Roman, she doesn’t just neglect Freddie, she hates him. And where they live…I get why you didn’t want me to, but I had to put in a call to Child Protective Services. Those children have to be better cared for.”

  “Don’t be—” He didn’t finish. Instead, he exhaled and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then started again. “Was it really bad enough to necessitate the authorities charging in and yanking the younger one out of there? What I mean is, surely there’s some kind of procedure, right? Unless the child is in imminent danger?”

  “You’re right, of course, it’s just—” She looked into his eyes. “Children shouldn’t have to live with someone who doesn’t care about them.”

  Pain swept over his face. “Believe me, I know that.”

  She was confused. “But your grandmother…”

  “Abuela was the best thing that ever happened to me.” He stared at his hands. “My mother…not so much.” His head rose. “But you have no idea how much worse kids have it in other parts of the world.”

  “You mean in a war zone? Like Iraq? What did you see?”

  He shut down. “We were talking about Freddie and his brother. If CPS swoops in, those boys will wind up separated, you understand that, right?” Without waiting for her answer, he pressed on. “My take is that Freddie is all the stability his brother has. Being parted won’t do either of them any good.”

  “So you’re asking me to do nothing?”

  “Of course not. I asked you to give me some time.”

  “And he ran away from you.”

  Just then the other waitress arrived with their tea. “Ray said to tell you he’s making up a plate for you special,” she said to Roman.

  Roman seemed flustered, an odd state for such a formidable man. “Thanks.”

  “Why does that bother you so much?” she asked after the woman left. “Clearly Ray and Fayrene want to do it.”

  “Their debt is to Abuela, not to me.” Each word was a bullet. “I haven’t earned it.”

  She placed her hand on his and he jolted back a little, as though unused to being touched. “Let them,” she urged. “I realize it’s not easy for you to accept favors, but it would make them so happy. They’re two of the best people I know. Please, Roman.”

  He was still clearly uneasy, but at least he nodded. “All right.” His hand beneath hers relaxed a little, and she was sorry when he removed it.

  She wanted to touch him again. Be touched by him.

  Have you ever tried to tame anything wild?

  That could apply to him every bit as much as to Freddie.

  Patience.

  She gathered her thoughts. “Thank you. And I’m sorry. For what I said earlier, I mean. Freddie’s skittish. You’ve been good to him, and it wasn’t your fault that he ran away.”

  “It definitely was my fault. But my reaction that night had nothing to do with him.” He flicked her a glance she couldn’t decipher.

  “Do I want to know what you mean by that?”

  “Probably not.” For a moment their gazes locked, his dark eyes soft and full of secrets, but he volunteered nothing more.

  Just then their plates arrived, and she was too starved to do anything but eat.

  * * *

  SHE WASN’T WRONG. The food was phenomenal. Roman hadn’t realized how tired he was of his own cooking—though to be fair, even if he had been a gourmet chef, this meal would still be off the charts.

  He’d cleared half his plate before Jenna sighed happily, and he noticed she’d plowed through hers, too, though he had no idea where she’d put it. She ate like a trucker, small as she was.

  “So…paradise, right?”

  He nodded as he finished a mouthful. “Definitely.” He pointed at her nearly spotless plate. “It’s a wonder you don’t weight three hundred pounds.”

  “With four older brothers, you learn not to fool around when food is on the table.”

  “You clearly work it off.”

  Her head tilted. “Would that be a compliment, Mr. Gallardo?”

  “I doubt I’d be the first man to tell you you’re beautiful.”

  Her eyes widened and locked on his. For a moment he thought she might be feeling the same zing of attraction.

  Just then Fayrene came by, and he yanked his attention from Jenna, doing his best to ignore his discomfort over Fayrene’s charity and focus on thanking her. From the way the woman’s eyes sparkled and her cheeks turned pink with pleasure, he just might have succeeded.

  Once they were alone again, Jenna cleared her throat. “So,” she said casually. “I’m guessing you’ll want to come along to the abandoned house Beto told me Freddie sleeps in sometimes.”

  He couldn’t help smiling. She was a real piece of work. “Did that hurt much?”

  “What?”

  “Asking for help?”

  “I wasn’t asking for help. I could go there and be just fine on my own.” She made a face at him. “And no, I wouldn’t go this late by myself, Dad.”

  He simply lifted an eyebrow—and not only because he didn’t feel the slightest bit paternal toward her. “Thank you.” He decided on the most diplomatic answer. “Seriously. I want to find him, too—both of them.”

  “Would you like dessert?” Fayrene asked, arriving to clear their plates.

  “I don’t know where I’d put it.” He patted the belly that was uncomfortably tight. “Though if it’s anything like the rest of the meal, that’s a crying shame.”

  “It is,” Jenna said. “The banana pudding is to die for.”

  “You want some, hon? You could share it.”

  Jenna shook her head. “We have to be going, Fayrene.” She dug into her purse, but Fayrene waved her off. “Nope, on the house, both of you.”

  “Him, I understand, but—” Jenna protested.

  “Honey, in your own way, you remind me of his grandmother. You’ve done a lot for this part of town. Let this be just a little part of the thank-you that you deserve.”

  “But—”

  Roman cleared his throat, and her cheeks reddened. I know it’s not easy to accept favors…

  Her glance said, Touché. “Thank you, Fayrene. That’s very sweet.”

  “And you, young man, we expect to see you back here often.” Fayrene grabbed him in a hug before he could react. “I am so very glad that you’re safe. Carmen is smiling from heaven.”

  If only she knew how little he deserved that. Feeling like a fraud, he patted the older woman’s back, then stepped away. “Thank you again. The food was amazing.”

  Business demanded that Fayrene not linger, and Roman gratefully escaped.

  “Where’s your truck?” Jenna asked when they were outside.

  “I was on my run,” he said.

  “I’ll drive.”

  He eyed her small car dubiously.

  “All the men in my family are as big as you. Just watch your knees, and you’ll make it.” She grinned. “Not without a lot of grousing, if you’re anything like them, but you’ll survive.”

  He did.

  Just barely.

  * * *

  HELL, HE THOUGHT as Jenna pulled up in front of a h
ouse that, if it wasn’t already a crack house, would become one sooner or later. “You were seriously going to come here by yourself?”

  Even Ms. I Know What I’m Doing seemed a little unnerved. “I…” She shook her head. “I’ve never been on this street before.” She pointed behind them. “Just over on the next block or two, it’s fine. A poor neighborhood, sure, but normal.” Her gaze whipped to his. “I wouldn’t have gone in.”

  He only lifted one eyebrow.

  Hard to tell in the faint light from the dash, but he thought she might be blushing.

  She would have gone in. He knew it, and so did she. Because she didn’t give up on people.

  “Well, you’re here with me now, aren’t you?” she retorted.

  “I wish I knew what you were thinking,” she muttered. “Or maybe not.”

  Her disgruntled tone made him smile. He started to reach out, to brush her cheek with one finger and see if it was as soft as it looked.

  Her head began to turn at his motion, and he quickly came to his senses. Not here, not now.

  Not ever.

  “I have a flashlight on my key chain and a new, bigger one in the glove box,” she said.

  “The glove box that won’t open because my knees are jammed up against it?” Humor wasn’t his usual tactic—especially lately—but he understood the need for people facing danger to find a distraction.

  She grinned. “That’s the one. I should get a giant shoehorn to scoop you big guys out.”

  “Or a car bigger than a matchbox.” Cautiously, he began to extricate himself from the tin-can death trap she called a car.

  “I’m sorry.” But she was laughing, and her laughter made him smile.

  “Ow! Hey, no laughing till I’m out of here.”

  “Not laughing,” she said, the fingers of one hand over her mouth. But her eyes were sparkling, and he wanted to cradle her head in his hand and bring that laughing mouth to his.

  Instead, he unfolded himself from the seat and stood. “So you’re not perfect after all. You have a little mean streak, don’t you?”