“Who is it?” he called out.
“Inez.”
Here she was. Somehow he’d have to explain his escapade with the bulls instead of going to the Barrio with her yesterday. Would she forgive him? A part of him hoped so. He opened the door.
“Inez, I’m sorry. I wanted to call and tell you about yesterday, but didn’t know how. I went to the bull running.” He stood aside. “Please come in.”
“You did what?” she squealed in obvious disbelief. “You could have killed yourself.”
Garrod nodded gingerly. “I discovered that very quickly. I didn’t tell you in advance because I feared you wouldn’t approve.”
She peered at him. “You look terrible.” A worried expression crossed her face. Then she looked around. “Where’s your kitchen. I’ll make coffee. You do have a coffee pot, don’t you?”
He pointed in the direction of the small space on the far end of the living room. “In the cabinet above the counter you’ll find the coffee grounds. The coffee maker’s in there, too. Give me just a minute. I’m going to wash and make myself presentable.”
By the time he showered and grabbed the towel to dry off, and pulled on shorts and a T-shirt, the welcome aroma of freshly brewed coffee floated his way.
Taking mental inventory, he figured Inez was here to find out why he wasn’t around yesterday to go to the Barrio. Yet now she stood making coffee and looked worried over his plight. Couldn’t be that she was interested in him, could it? Because it wasn’t going to help. He was still carrying the torch for Jessica, when he should have thrown that torch out the window long ago, especially after the way she dumped him.
When he reached the small table near the kitchen area, his only piece of furniture, Inez had two steaming mugs of coffee on it. He pulled out a chair for her. “Have a seat.”
She took the seat, her eyes raking over him as she did. “So,” she drawled, “how was the bull running? You must have run very fast. There are more casualties than victories in that sport.”
Did her words convey a feeling of relief, or was he reading in more than was there? He wondered why her thoughts suddenly mattered. “I’m a good runner. I just wanted to see if I was still good at it.”
“Tell me about yourself. Do you have a girlfriend back in the States?”
“Did. We were engaged to be married, but she decided not to go through with the wedding when I was laid off from my previous job.”
Garrod saw the obvious question in Inez’s eyes. “I don’t want you to think it was all about my job. It was more complicated than that and Jessica had problems at home.”
“What problems?”
“Her father was ill and she had to help her mother take care of him. So I couldn’t force her to make a decision – any decision.” Garrod shook his head. “When I got this job, I thought she might come back, but she didn’t want to come to Mexico.” As he spoke he felt the familiar choke in his throat. Jessica still hadn’t left his psyche.
“In truth, it seems she didn’t really want me after all, just the prestige and salary she thought my position held.” He wanted no pity even though it was still a sore point. “It was funny, because, on her birthday, I thought I’d go her house and serenade her.”
“Serenade?” Inez looked interested.
“You know. Men go to their girlfriend’s window and sing a song. You do that here in Mexico a lot, don’t you?”
“Oh, si. I know what you’re saying. Very romantic, no?” Inez smiled, and her face lit up.
“Romantic, yes, but it didn’t work. I got busted for singing under her window.”
Inez looked puzzled again, and Garrod realized he’d have to explain about American slang. “Well, where I used to live—in Kalamazoo—it was against the law to serenade your girlfriend. At least, that’s what the policeman told me when he threatened to haul me off to jail.”
“What did he do?”
“Gave me a warning, but said if I was caught again, I’d be arrested the next time.” It sounded silly even to Garrod.
“Then a lot of people would be arrested here in Mexico, because serenading is our lifeblood and pastime.”
“I guess I was in the wrong place then.”
Inez sipped her coffee, seemingly lost in thought.
“How about you? Is your family here?”
“I have a large family of uncles, aunts and cousins. I live with my mother and younger brother.” She seemed suddenly distant, for all her vivacity. “My father and an older sister died in a car accident when I was six years old. My mother had my brother and me to take care of.”
“Sorry to hear that. What happened then?”
“My grandfather said he’d take care of us if my mother moved in with them and took care of the household. Like a housekeeper.” An edge of sarcasm slipped into her tone. “But Mother wanted none of that. She took us both and went to college in the States to get her degree, then opened a photography studio. I help her with it. She’s tough, that lady.”
And intriguing, like you, Garrod wanted to say, but wasn’t sure how she’d take it. He took several sips of the coffee. It was strong and refreshing, and it cleared his head just as if he’d given it a good shake.
“You’ve been through a lot. Your mother, especially.”
“Yes,” Inez agreed, watching him closely. “What about you? What brought you here?”
“My job—but mostly Jessica. She’s now engaged to the president of an important company.”
“You are sad?”
“I was.” He paused for a moment and just looked at her. “Now I don’t know.”
Sympathy and understanding showed in her gentle smile. “You deserve the best.”
Something in her smile warmed him. It was the first time he’d allowed himself to feel anything since he’d come to Monterrey. Still, he didn’t want pity, hers or anyone else’s.
He shrugged. “It isn’t the end of the world.”
“But I can see it has affected you plenty, as you say in America.”
Garrod chuckled at her use of American slang.
Inez finished her coffee and washed her mug in the sink. “Actually, I came to invite you to my grandmother’s house for the comida.”
“Comida?”
“Lunch after church. Every Sunday, after church, we meet there – my mother, brother and I, and all my aunts, uncles and cousins. In Mexico, we’re always surrounded by our relatives.”
“That’s a nice custom. So you’re never lonely.” Did she miss growing up without a father? He wondered.
“That is true. Though sometimes our houses get very crowded and noisy.” She laughed. “Anyway, there’s plenty of food and nice people.”
“Thanks, I’d like to come.” Here was a chance to see how families lived in Mexico, and there couldn’t be a better way to spend the day. He’d only been to bars so far.
Garrod went into the bedroom to change into a pair of jeans. He had to look presentable at the very least.
“My car is parked outside, when you’re ready,” Inez called from the living room.
Minutes later, they were pushed along by the tide of traffic honking behind them. The glare of the morning sun hurt his eyes.
He saw the contrasts he’d heard about in the houses and the people and the array of small dwellings. Hills and vegetation in the distance looked starved for water. But the dull glaze had a soothing effect on him and he was glad it wasn’t a working day. If it were, he’d be on his way to meet the distributors of Kane’s Corn Products and he’d have to have all his wits about him, not half dozing.
They came to a hacienda-style house and Inez pulled into the curved cobbled driveway and parked. “This is my grandmother’s house.”
She led the way around the back to a large stone patio, where a group of people stood chattering or sitting on white wickerwork chairs. A large man was barbecuing meat on a grill, and children ran around, playing a noisy game of tag.
A plump elderly woman with thick white hair walked
toward them. “Inez!” She grabbed her in an embrace.
Inez spoke to her in Mexican, then turned to Garrod. “This is my grandmother. She’s very happy you could come. She says you are very handsome.”
Embarrassed, Garrod laughed. “That’s kind of her. Please tell her I’m honored to be here.” It sounded stilted, and he wished he knew Mexican enough to converse with the old lady.
A long table was laid out with every delectable kind of food, exotic and colorful, and Garrod’s mouth watered, wondering when they’d be eating. He didn’t have to wait long. The man at the grill finished his chore and carried an enormous platter of steaks to the table.
There was a sudden whisper of interest as a tall man dressed in a dark suit walked toward the gathering. He seemed to know everyone and smiled his way through them and approached Inez.
“How lovely you look.”
“Thank you, Mateo.”
“I see you have a guest.” The man’s statement was formal, his manner deliberate.
“This is Garrod. He works at the big company in Monterrey.”
A thin, petite woman and a slender youth came out of the house.
“Come and meet my mother, Anya, and brother, Julio.” Inez waved to them and they walked over.
“Glad to meet you,” Garrod said, shaking hands with both of them. It was obvious they didn’t speak much English, so they smiled at him a lot and then turned their attention to Mateo.
“Mateo seems like a person of great interest here.”
Inez sighed. “He’s very well known and respected, owns landed property.” A cloud flitted over her face.
“I get the impression you don’t much care for him.”
“He’s a family friend and I’m expected to marry him.”
Garrod jerked his head toward her. “What? I thought that sort of thing didn’t go on anymore.”
“It still does.” She played with a big silver ring on her finger thoughtfully. “And I have to make a decision soon.”
“The decision to marry him?”
She nodded, then looked up and gave him a wry grin. “Romantic, no?”
“Very,” he said sarcastically.
“Let’s try to forget all that for now. Why don’t you let me introduce you to everyone?” She took his hand and went around groups of people who obviously had a lot to say to one another, even though they probably saw each other just the day before.
The food was ready and they all sat at the long table which had been spread with enchiladas and dip of every color, roast beef, chicken, and meat wrapped in tortillas. Garrod had never seen so many meat dishes. He probably couldn’t taste all of it, but throwing caution to the wind, he decided to give it his best effort.
Inez was quiet on the ride back, and Garrod didn’t want to pry.
“I enjoyed the lunch a lot. Just thought you should know. And your relatives are very nice.” He glanced at her, at the faraway expression on her face.
The revelation that she was expected to marry had unsettled him, and he wasn’t sure why. She was only just becoming a friend and she certainly was free to do what she wanted – or had to do. He was no modern-day Zorro to rescue her from the wealthy guy. She wasn’t going to discuss him, Garrod could see. He settled back in his seat and tried to enjoy the ride back. A breeze filtered through and he felt drowsy from eating too much. When she didn’t say anything, effects of all the food he’d stuffed himself with began to take hold and he dozed off in the car. Inez shook him awake when they reached his apartment. He got out and waved and watched her drive away. As he turned to enter his apartment, Garrod wondered why the thought of her possibly marrying another man so bothered him.
On Monday, when he was closing a wholesale shipment deal to Tijuana, his office phone rang. It was his supervisor, Dave Kemper, from the Kalamazoo Home Office.
“We want you here for a meeting with the boss as soon as you can,” he said.
Garrod’s heart thudded in his chest. He swallowed and said, “Anything wrong?”
“No, no. We just have several new options to discuss.” Dave sounded friendly and matter of fact.
It was probably something to do with some deals, Garrod thought, and they wanted him there. He phoned his mother and told her the good news.
She was ecstatic. “That’s wonderful, dear. You know, Jessica has been asking about you.”
“Jessica?”
“Yes. Don’t know why.”
Garrod hung up thoughtfully after talking to his mother for a few more minutes.
When Inez called to say hello, he told her about his upcoming trip to the States.
“Are you happy to be going?”
“I sure am.” He should have toned down his enthusiasm, or she’d think he was ungrateful for all her help. He couldn’t help it. He was just happy to be going home, even if just for a week.
On Friday, he was ticketed, checked in and seated on his Air Mexico flight to Houston. From there he switched flights to Kalamazoo.
He had never been so happy to breathe the clear crisp air of autumn. The late afternoon sun glowed through the glass tunnel as he stepped off the plane and then picked up his luggage.
His mother met him at the entrance to the secure area and gave him a long hug. “You look thin. You’ve been gone only two months and you’ve lost weight.”
“I missed you, too, Mom.” He hadn’t lost weight, but if she thought so, it didn’t bother him.
“Now, what’s this about Jessica?” Garrod asked as she drove the ten miles to her house in the suburbs.
“I don’t know. She asked about you and if you’d be visiting sometime.” His mother took a turn on the long circular road that culminated at a dead end where a mid-sized red brick and beige-washed house stood serenely near a willow tree. Garrod felt a leap of happiness to be home. That and a good home-cooked meal were worth everything to him. “I told her you’d be home today, dear, so don’t be surprised if she calls.”
After a chicken casserole dinner and coffee he helped his mother clear and wash the dishes. When the phone rang he went to pick it up. It was Jessica.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Garrod said.
“How are you, Garrod? It’s so nice you’re home. How’s Mexico?”
“It’s okay. I’m getting used to it.” Not – but he wasn’t going to tell her that. In fact, he had no intention of telling Jessica anything. He just planned to listen. “How are you? And when is the wedding?”
“There is no wedding, Garrod. It’s off.”
“What?” So that was why she’d been so eager to contact him. He should have known. “What happened?”
“Marrying money isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. He was a control freak. I’m just glad I found out before we got married.”
“Sorry to hear it didn’t work out.” He could have told her about the marrying money part, if she’d cared to listen to him. “You’ll meet the right guy some day and everything will work out.”
“That’s just it, Garrod. I was wrong to break up with you. I realize that now.”
“It’s nice to hear that—but it’s a little bit late.”
“I’d like us to get back together.”
Jessica’s remark hit him between the eyes like a sandbag. He should have guessed she’d think along those lines. She’d lost her ticket to money, so now she was looking for a second chance. She’d get another chance, but not with him. Images of a pair of sultry brown eyes crept into his memory. In that instant he knew he wasn’t the guy for her.
“That’s not possible, Jessica. I live in Mexico now. You wouldn’t like it there.”
“Yes, that’s true. But you could get a transfer back to the States, couldn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t count on that. These things take time. Besides, you and I have different lives now.”
She sighed. “I was wrong to think we could go back to where we were.”
“Where we were? You’re the one who didn’t want to give us a chance.” He tried to keep his
tone level.
“I was in between jobs then, too. Two of us with uncertain futures – what would we have lived on?” Disappointment seeped through her tone, and it surprised Garrod to hear it.
It was no use. He’d used all he had to get over Jessica and now it seemed he had. He was surprised to learn he’d actually moved on.
“You’ll be fine, Jessica. I want you to be happy. Something tells me I’m not the guy for you.”
“Wish I thought differently. Goodbye, Garrod,” she said, and hung up.
At eight o’ clock the next morning, Garrod drove his mother’s car to the home office of Kane’s Corn Products. It was good to see Dave and all the other guys, but the meeting was with Dave and his boss, Kyle—a man Garrod had never particularly liked.
Garrod followed Dave to Kyle’s office.
“Have a seat. You look good. Mexico must agree with you.”
Garrod grinned. “Thanks.” He wanted to keep chitchat to the minimum to get to the point of the meeting.
“Let me cut to the chase,” Kyle said. “We have a new job percolating here, sales manager for our Midwest territory, and we need someone to spearhead that. We’ve heard great things about you from our Mexico office and thought we’d give you first dibs on it. Would you like to move back to the home office and take charge of that?”
Garrod took a moment to let it sink in. “This sounds good and is just the sort of job I would have liked before. But I’ve changed since I left here. Grown up, I hope. I’d like to think over it, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure, it’s okay. Think it over for the week you’re here.” Kyle rose, went to the coffee pot and filled three mugs. He brought two mugs to where Garrod and Dave sat and handed them out.
When Dave and Garrod left Kyle’s office, Dave said, “We’d love to have you back.”
Garrod nodded.
At his mother’s house, while in the shower later that evening, Garrod came to his decision. He was just carving out new experiences for himself. Sure he’d been homesick, but with some luck, that would disappear when he made more friends. Besides, there was Inez. He’d only known her a short time, but he had to admit there was something special about her.
No Law Against Love Page 10
