Julian remembered how his father had grown tired of Cuba’s communist policies and because he could not outright oppose the government, had taken to writing and performing poetic protest songs. People would gather to listen to him in the public square, until the government became incensed and eventually put an end to his activity.
Enrique and his sister Alma applied to get out of the country legally with Julian, but Enrique’s request was turned down. Alma was allowed to leave and join her husband, who was already living in the United States. Although Enrique requested that she take Julian with her, Felicia refused to go along with the plan. She could not raise her own child, but she wanted him to stay in Cuba near her. Alma departed tearfully, and Julian remained with his father, who was still trying to find a way for them to leave.
When Julian was six, his father was falsely accused of stealing drugs from the hospital pharmacy and selling them. He was sent to prison. Julian was returned to his mother, who still could not take care of him, so the job fell to Elena who was already burdened with caring for their mother. She was a strict disciplinarian and harshly critical of him, but she did what she had to do, and she protected him from her own father, whom she herself hated.
A month later his father died in prison. They were told he’d had a heart attack. Shortly after that, his emotionally fragile mother committed suicide.
“Julian, listen to me. You, me, and my boyfriend Luis, are going to America tonight,” Elena had told him about three months after his mother’s death.
“Are we going on a boat?”
“Yes. You can take only one thing with you, and it can’t be anything big. Now hurry.”
He remembered being upset about not being able to take his toys, but the one thing he had grabbed was his father’s guitar. Elena had told him no, that it was too big, but he had become hysterical and Luis had consented. For some strange reason, he hardly remembered the illegal crossing in a rickety fishing boat, but he remembered the hard feel of the guitar pressed up against his chest.
“Are you coming with me to Miami, Papi?”
“Yes, son. I’m coming.”
The humid night air was starting to suffocate him. Julian stood up and began walking back to the house. He felt ashamed that he had allowed Elena to change his name from Sanchez to Marquez when he’d first become famous. Even then, she’d been trying to erase the memory of his father, and although he’d casually acquiesced, the memories lingered on like a ghost image burned into the visual screen of his brain.
It had been a while since he’d had such vivid recollections of the past, and he was intensely aware that they had not started until the very first day he had gazed into Nicole’s green eyes. He did not completely understand why she had this effect on him, and he was not sure he even liked it, but there was something deep in his heart and soul that compelled him to pursue her. Maybe if he could find real love among the people of his lost culture, he would start to remember what his father’s face looked like.
* * *
She could still cancel the date. Nicole was on a break, sitting at the front desk, staring into space. Hours after meeting with Julian, she was even more annoyed with herself for telling him so much. She had blabbered away her private life story, and he had revealed nothing about himself at all—nothing that the whole world didn’t already know. There was no reason for him to meet Trey. What could a millionaire performer have in common with a little boy who could not talk?
“Nicole…Earth to Nicole…Hello.”
She jumped with a start to see Maria standing over her. “Maria! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“Maybe. I think you need something to wake you up. I was telling you about the patient in 407.”
“Oh, sorry. What about him?”
Maria sat near her. “Never mind him. What’s wrong with you? You’ve hardly said anything all night.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about someone.”
“Ooooh, a new love?”
“Well, I’m not sure he’s a love yet, but he’s getting to me.”
“What’s his name?”
“Julian Marquez.”
“Whaaat! You mean it’s true? You’re actually seeing Julian?”
Nicole sighed. “I have a date with him on Saturday, just a fun thing. He wants to meet Trey.”
“Oh my God. This is serious. Julian wants to meet your family. What’s your secret, Nikki?” Maria paused to come up for air. “You are serious, no? You’re not just kidding with me, are you?”
“Nope. This is no joke. The scary part is, I wish I were joking.”
“You’re something else,” Maria said. “You’ve been down here three years and if you’ve ever dated anyone, I never knew about it. When you finally do, it’s Julian Marquez.”
“Life can be bizarre,” Nicole said, rising. “I’m going to check on 407 now. Oh, and Maria, please don’t tell everybody about this. I’m sure Saturday will be the last date with him anyway.”
“If that’s true, I think you’re crazy, but my lips are sealed.”
The whole hospital will know about it in thirty minutes, give or take, Nicole thought as she walked down the hall.
CHAPTER NINE
“Man, would you look at this guy?” Julian said to Trey, gently turning the little boy around so he could inspect Trey’s wild tropical print shirt and baggy khaki shorts with cargo pockets. “You make me look like a real nerd. I bet you’re tough too.”
Trey bit his lip shyly, and then offered Julian a watery smile.
“He is tough,” Nicole said, encouraging the byplay. “The other day I couldn’t get the lid off something, but he was able to do it.”
“Bet you can do lots of things,” Julian said to Trey. His eyes twinkled as he looked at Nicole. “It was one of those child-proof bottles, wasn’t it?”
She laughed. “As a matter of fact, I believe it was.”
“Amanda gets me with that one all the time.”
“Amanda?” she questioned.
“That’s my niece. She’s not much older than Trey.” He turned his attention back to the boy. “Let’s see those muscles.”
Shifting from one foot to the other, Trey shoved up his sleeve so Julian could inspect. Nicole laughed as Julian looked truly amazed.
“I’m scared now,” Julian said. “I’ll try to be on my best behavior, so you won’t have to take me out.”
Trey giggled. He’s good with kids, Nicole thought. It normally took Trey a lot longer to warm up to strangers. Julian opened the door and lifted Trey up into his shiny, silver Explorer.
“What? No Lincoln Navigator?” Nicole teased.
“I left that at home with my Rolls and my private jet,” he said, helping Trey buckle the seat belt.
Nicole wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. Looking up, she noticed the curtain part a little inside their apartment. She smiled to herself. Allyson was snooping. Nicole felt as if the whole world were watching her, but that was silly and paranoid. The sun had not even risen yet and most people were still in bed.
Wearing jeans and carrying a canvas bag containing Trey’s skates and hers, she climbed into the front passenger seat of the Explorer, next to Julian.
“Are you a good skater, Trey?” Julian asked.
Trey nodded confidently. Nicole resisted the urge to correct him. Trey was not a good skater and she was only adequate herself. Allyson was the skating enthusiast in the family. She would have to mention that fact later.
Once Trey got over his brief indignation at having to wear a helmet and kneepads, they hit South Beach, flying, sailing past the closed shops, the alfresco restaurants and the historic rows of art deco hotels. Julian made skating an art form, and even with Trey holding on to his hand, Nicole had to struggle to keep up with them.
Julian suddenly swooped Trey up so he was perched on his shoulders, a move that almost caused her to protest, because it could be dangerous, but the little boy was smiling so broadly that she didn’t have the
heart to say no. He extended his arms like an airplane and pretended to soar high above the ground.
They left the main street and skated as a trio, with Trey in between them on a path that ran parallel to the ocean. Finally, they came to a stop and collapsed on a bench. Trey tugged eagerly at Julian.
“Trey, please. No more. I have to rest,” Nicole gasped.
“Yeah, sport, your mom is too old to keep up with us,” Julian said, and then noticed Nicole glaring at him. “I mean, your mom and I are too old to keep up,” he corrected.
“That’s better,” she said.
By the time they resumed skating, the sun had risen in all its ferocity and they headed for a little diner with a Spanish name. Nicole was relieved that they would be able to sit down.
“This is a Cuban diner,” Julian said. “But don’t worry, they serve American food too.
“Uh, Julian. Our shoes are in the car,” she reminded him.
“No problem. We can just take the skates off inside.”
“Eat in our socks? Won’t that be a little odd?”
He laughed. “You worry too much. I know the owner, and the place isn’t officially open to the rest of the public until seven-thirty.”
The air conditioning felt like heaven in the charmingly old-fashioned place with red vinyl booths. She and Trey sat side-by-side, while Julian conversed in Spanish with a short, heavy-set man wearing an apron. The owner seemed overjoyed to see him. Julian returned to the booth and sat opposite them. Observing this, Trey scrambled over her and sat next to Julian.
Little traitor, she thought, amused. They had known each other for only an hour, and her shy, silent child couldn’t get close enough. He was, in fact, squirming about, poking playfully at Julian, who in turn, kept tickling him.
“Julian, where are the menus?” she asked.
“Don’t need them. I ordered already.”
She gulped. Trey was extremely picky, and she wasn’t really in the mood for trying anything exotic herself, not so early in the morning anyway. The food arrived, Trey’s favorite, pancakes.
“How did you know?” she asked in surprise.
“Trey told me,” Julian said, with a sly smile.
Trey imitated his smile, and there was nothing for her to do but laugh, and wonder about the weird chemistry transpiring between them. They all had pancakes and chocolate milk.
“When I waddle out of here looking like a hog, I’ll know who to blame,” she said to Julian.
He laughed. “A few pounds wouldn’t hurt you at all.” He insisted she try Cuban coffee, which was served in a little tiny cup. “Go on, try it.”
She took a sip. It was the strongest concoction she’d ever tasted. He was amused by her reaction.
“Now I know why this stuff is served in small cups,” she said.
“I used to work in this diner when I was a kid,” Julian said. “That’s how I know Rafael, the owner.”
“Really? That’s so…so ironic. What did you do?”
“Washed dishes and bussed tables,” he said.
It boggled her mind to think of Julian Marquez doing dishes and cleaning up tables, but beneath his public veneer, she was seeing a lot of humility. How many big stars would return to some little tiny diner where they’d once been employed, and still be friendly with the owner?
“I’m really nothing but a hometown boy in this neighborhood,” Julian said. “I like it that way.”
“You’re amazing,” she said, and meant it. Nicole leaned back against the cool vinyl of the booth. She stretched out her legs and her feet brushed against his under the table. Something akin to an electrical jolt pulsed through her, causing her heart to beat faster. Julian, though, toyed with his coffee and seemed unaware of the contact.
She loved his long eyelashes and the precision cut of his sideburns. She liked the way the white of his T-shirt set off his tan skin, and she even liked watching him eat. Unconsciously, she allowed her wandering foot to slide lightly over the curve of his ankle.
Trey had finished his portion and some of hers. He was now using his straw to enthusiastically blow bubbles in his chocolate milk. The bubbles were threatening to spill over the edge of the glass, and before she could reprimand him, he impulsively lifted the straw out and blew a stream of milk right into Julian’s face.
“Trey!” she shouted, appalled by her child’s behavior. “Julian, I…”
She stopped short, because Julian was laughing. He plunged a straw into his glass and shot it back at Trey, who gleefully armed himself again. An artillery of milk shot back and forth between them.
“Stop it! Both of you!” Nicole yelled, simultaneously charmed and shocked by such childishness. “This is ridic—”
Before she could even finish the word, the weapons launched chocolate milk at her; she ducked, throwing up her arms, as milk splashed over them. She laughed and screamed for mercy. It was as if they had all gone completely insane.
“Look at the mess you all made,” Nicole spluttered when the nonsense had ceased.
“No problem,” Julian said, cheerfully wiping milk off the back of the seat. Rafael knows I’m crazy.”
They all joined in cleaning up. Afterward, they reclaimed their wheels and skated back to the car a few blocks away. While Nicole and Julian were putting their shoes back on, Trey started to skate away from the car. Julian caught him and rolled him back.
“C’mon, Trey. Stop it,” Nicole scolded. “We’ve had a good time but now we have to go home.”
“It doesn’t have to end yet,” Julian said, his eyes intently on her. “You can come to my place for a while.”
Nicole fell silent for a moment. What was wrong with that request? Trey was with them. Nothing was going to happen on his territory with a child between them. Besides, she was secretly dying to see where he lived.
Trey looked at her pleadingly, and that did it. She caved in. “Okay, just for a little while.”
Trey’s smile blazed. He hugged her, and she wrapped her arms around his sturdy little body, and then removed his helmet and skates. Eagerly he bounded into the car.
They were in for a surprise. Julian drove to a marina, and they got out on a pier where many boats were docked.
“I could cross over the private bridge to the island, but I think Trey would like the boat ride better,” he said.
“What?” She stared at his sleek, blue and white cigarette style speedboat awaiting them. Aha! The real Julian had surfaced. Trey’s eyes were wide. He was in his glory.
“I don’t know,” she balked. “We’ve never been on a speedboat before. I don’t think…”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Julian said. “It’s nothing, just a fast car on the water.”
He leaped down into the boat, and Trey jumped down into his arms. He held out a hand to her. Reluctantly she took it, and joined them. The brilliance of the white leather interior dazzled her eyes, but her attention was on Trey as Julian outfitted him with an over-sized life jacket.
The wind whipped at her hair as the engine roared and the boat skimmed the water, plunging and rising, creating the sensation of a roller coaster. They were going way too fast for her comfort, but not for Trey, who was at the helm with Julian, convinced that he was helping navigate. She opened her mouth to protest, but the wind literally sucked her breath away.
As they approached a private dock, she could see a thin strip of beach and rolling stretches of emerald green grass. Beyond that was a towering villa-like estate. The tourist in her made her wish she had a camera, because Allyson would have loved to see this home.
With Trey’s help, Julian tied the boat up, and they crossed the beach and went up a flight of stone steps.
“This is all our property,” Julian said.
“The beach too?”
“This section of it anyway.”
They passed through a lush park-like tropical garden before they reached the sprawling Spanish-Mediterranean estate. “I live on this side,” Julian said, leadin
g the way up the granite stairs. “My sister, brother-in-law, and the kids live on the other.”
“Kids?” Nicole was trying to restore the wreckage of her hair. “How many does your sister have besides Amanda?”
“Two boys. They’re big though. One’s in college and the other is seventeen.”
As he opened the door, a very tall, large-boned woman in a maid’s uniform stepped out. Julian acknowledged her with a casual nod. Nicole smiled and said, “Good afternoon.”
The woman looked at her with a dour expression, twisting her mouth into a mockery of a smile, and continued on her way to attend to other business.
“Pleasant,” Nicole said.
Julian laughed. “Pay her no mind. Gretchen’s been here for years. She’s a good worker, but she’s got her quirks.”
The interior of the home was what Nicole expected, but she was still awed by it. Standing in the foyer, she noted that the floors were a light-colored, glistening marble and the ceilings were high and vaulted. The area was filled with light and mirrors. Her eyes fell upon an end table with stacks of unopened mail.
“What’s with all this mail?” she asked.
“It’s mostly from fans.”
“Do you actually read all this?”
“Some of it. It’s supposed to go to the fan club’s post office box, but a lot of the people know my home address…” He paused to acknowledge Trey, who was tugging at his arm. “Come on, I’ll show you guys where the bathroom is.”
“Mind if I look at one of these letters?” Nicole asked as he started down the hall.
“Help yourself.”
A large purple envelope among all the white ones caught her attention. She selected that one and opened it as she trailed Julian down the hall. At first she thought it was a child’s drawing, but she gasped when she realized that on the piece of notebook paper was a lewd cartoon depiction of someone meant to resemble Julian doing something unspeakable with another man.
He glanced over his shoulder as Trey shot in the bathroom. “What? What’s wrong?”
“This.” She thrust the paper at him.
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