by Bella Juarez
“No, he doesn’t,” Victoria answered quietly.
Lucia walked to Victoria and held her close for a moment.
“How come you didn’t tell your pappa?” Lucia asked.
“Because he wouldn’t understand. He’s very old fashioned. I wanted to move out, but I couldn’t leave him…” Victoria started as tears began to flow.
Lucia had touched something very deep inside of Victoria. She knew how disappointed her father would be with her. She took a deep breath as Lucia held her close once more.
“I’m old fashion, too. And you are a good girl, I know you’ll try and make my bambino happy. You don’t have a mamma, so I will be your mamma and I will tell you like I would tell my Sophia, from now on. Okay?” Lucia asked.
* * * *
Reese was sweating over his mom meeting Victoria. When Lucia offered to teach Victoria how to make pasta, he knew everything was all right. His mom didn’t share her pasta recipe with just anyone. In fact, Lucia never even let Maggie in the kitchen when she was cooking. Taking Victoria to the kitchen was a good sign. He took his mom’s things up to the guest room at the foot of the stairs.
Reese passed the master bedroom that he and Victoria shared. He really hoped Lucia was not lecturing Victoria the way she had lectured him all the way home from the airport. She didn’t like the idea that they were living together. Oh well…
Dinner was ready in a couple of hours. Reese was in his study when his mom called for him. He went downstairs to the kitchen and was starving because for the last hour the house smelled like Lucia’s restaurant. Victoria and Lucia were still scurrying around the kitchen.
“Come on, Reese. Sit down,” Lucia said as she set the bowl of pasta in the middle of the table.
They sat down to a wonderful meal. Victoria and Lucia looked like they had really hit it off and were getting along great. The two ladies in his life were talking about the wedding and how Lucia could help. He was glad to see Victoria was trying to include his mom in some of the details. Maggie had left Lucia completely out of everything. It was a good dinner and great conversation.
Victoria was a little stressed out when Reese closed the bedroom door for the night. They talked and sure enough Lucia had expressed how unhappy she was at them living together. He curled up with her and reassured her that he loved her. He told her he could tell that everything was all right with his Mom.
They had a great weekend and before long he found himself on a plane bound for Houston, Texas.
* * * *
Victoria was nervous as she scanned the terminal for her dad. Before they left Virginia, she never doubted that Reese would be accepted by her family. Everyone was coming to meet him. Her grandparents were coming from Kingsville, and her cousin, Anna, was coming from McAllen down in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas where she lived with her husband, Marc, and daughter, Alyssa. Her brothers and their wives and kids would be at the ranch on Saturday for a big barbecue that her dad was giving so everyone could meet Reese.
Victoria glanced at Reese. If he was nervous he hid it well. Finally, she saw her father standing right at the point where security was checking people into the terminal. He stood out above everyone in the crowd. Victor Espinoza was a tall man, and his short salt-and-pepper hair was hidden beneath his black Stetson hat. His brown leather face was clean shaven and his gray mustache was trimmed neatly. As he scanned the crowd he noticed her immediately and waved.
“Pappie!” Victoria cried out.
Victoria forgot Reese and ran to her father. Victor released her as soon as Reese caught up to her.
“Dad, this is my fiancé, Reese Thompson. Reese, this is my dad, Victor Espinoza,” Victoria said.
“Reese,” Victor said as the two men shook hands.
“Mr. Espinoza, sir, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Reese said.
“It’s good to meet you, too, son,” Victor said.
The trio walked out to the large pickup truck that carried them to the sprawling Lazy E Ranch. Victoria turned to look at Reese, who had curled his long legs into the back seat of the dually truck. She turned to her dad, who looked impassive. She was relieved. Victor was not a man to hide his emotions. If he was pissed off or didn’t like something, she would know instantly.
“This your first time to Texas, Reese?” Victor asked.
“Yes, sir, it is. Pretty country once you leave the city,” Reese said.
“What do you do in Virginia? Are you an engineer, too?” Victor asked.
“No, sir, I’m an officer in the Marine Corps,” Reese said.
Victor glanced at Victoria. He was impressed. She briefly thought about the time she first brought Julio to meet her father. After the very same two sentences, Victor was not impressed with her first choice. He knew what being an officer in the military meant. He had served his country as well in the Air Force for three years after being drafted during the Vietnam War.
“How long have you been in the Marine Corps, Reese?” Victor asked.
“Fifteen years, sir,” Reese said.
* * * *
“What do you mean you haven’t told him?” Reese asked, annoyed.
“Reese, I was afraid to tell him,” Victoria said.
“How the hell do you think I felt when I had to break it to my mom?” Reese asked.
Reese was a little pissed at this revelation. Victoria hadn’t told her father they had been living and sleeping together for a while now.
“Victoria, I don’t like keeping secrets like this. You need to tell him, because I’m not sleeping alone and I’m not faking our relationship,” Reese said firmly.
Victoria let out a sigh and closed her eyes. “You’re right, Reese. I was wrong and I should have told my dad before we got here.”
“If we need to go somewhere else because he has a problem with this then I need to know right now,” Reese said.
“I’ll tell him,” Victoria said as she stood.
Reese looked out the window and watched as Victoria found her father chopping wood for the cooking fire. He watched Victor stop and sit for a moment as she started talking. He saw Victor glance at her, startled, and look down. He watched as he spoke to Victoria and saw her hurt as she looked away. He knew Victor wasn’t happy. He saw Victor hug Victoria and then she walked away. Victor went back to chopping wood. He heard her footsteps hurry up the stairs and down the hall to their room.
“Well?” Reese asked as Victoria walked into the room.
“He doesn’t like it and said he was disappointed in me. But, he’s cool. Actually, he took it a lot better than I thought he would,” Victoria said as she plopped down on the bed.
“My mom took it the same way,” Reese said as he leaned over and kissed Victoria.
“Aunt Tori!” a voice called out.
“Alyssa!” Victoria said, jumping up. “Oh my God! Anna and Alyssa are here? Come on, Reese, you have to meet Anna and Alyssa!” Victoria exclaimed happily.
Victoria raced down the stairs just as a woman and a teenage girl walked into the living room. The woman was short, brunette, and dressed like a chef. Her long hair was tied back. She walked into the room like she owned the place. This woman has attitude! The girl was breathtaking. The younger one was taller with long curly hair and was thin but in good shape. She had a beautiful face and was well dressed. The girl carried herself like Victoria and the other woman, with a lot confidence. Victoria and the girl embraced, squealing with delight. The woman set down her bag and greeted Victoria with an enthusiastic embrace.
“Did Marc come with you?” Victoria asked.
“No, he’s got a big trial he’s preparing for,” the woman said.
“Hello, I’m Alyssa,” the girl said when she noticed Reese.
“Hi, Alyssa, I’m Reese, Victoria’s fiancé.”
“Anna, this is Reese,” Victoria said as she came to Reese’s side.
“Damn! You’re gorgeous!” Anna exclaimed, taking a step back.
Reese could feel himself get war
m and was probably blushing at Anna’s forward statement. “It’s nice to meet you, Anna,” he said, extending his hand.
“Yes, it is!” Anna exclaimed, taking Reese’s hand.
“Mom! I’ll tell Dad!” Alyssa said.
“Tell him whatever you like! Hell! I’ll tell him!” Anna said, turning to her daughter. Anna looked back at Reese. “Do all Marines look like you? If so, I might have to negotiate a trade-in!” Anna said.
“Anna! You’re scaring my man!” Victoria said, wrapping her arms around Reese’s waist. He chuckled and put his arm around her.
“Aunt Tori, we have a Texas Ranger living with us again!” Alyssa said.
“Why?” Victoria asked.
“Marc pissed off the Zetas again. You know the whole contract out on the family. I can’t go anywhere without a damn tail!” Anna said with disgust.
“The drug cartel?” Reese asked.
“Yes, my husband is a state district attorney and he’s in the middle of prosecuting one of their bigwigs down in Harlingen right now. It’s a damn mess. I should have married a doctor or a Marine!” Anna said, smiling at Reese.
“Mamma, you love Dad and you know it!” Alyssa said defensively.
Reese watched the women interact for a while in the kitchen and quietly slipped away. He smiled to himself as he walked away. Those three women together could be trouble. Anna alone was a force to be reckoned with, but the three of them combined would be a force no one could control. It was clear he would be in the company of strong Texas women. He walked outside where Victor was stacking all the wood he had just chopped. He started helping and they worked together quietly. Victor offered to show him the ranch and he accepted the man’s offer.
* * * *
“So how long have you two been together?” Anna asked Victoria.
“About four months,” Victoria said.
Alyssa had long abandoned the two women to ride horses with Victoria’s nephew, Michael. Her brother and family lived on the property in a house down the hill. Her brother, Victor Jr., helped manage the large ranch. Anna looked up from her chopping board and cocked her head.
“A little soon to be getting married, isn’t it, Tori?” Anna asked.
“We’re pretty much already married. We’ve been living together for a while now,” Victoria said.
“Is this the guy you told me about, the one who went to Iraq and his wife divorced him while he was gone? The couple you were working for?” Anna asked as she threw the contents of the cutting board into a smoking-hot pan.
“Yes, it is,” Victoria confirmed.
“Does your dad know?” Anna asked.
“I just told him. Anna, I know what you’re thinking and I really love this guy. I think I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. He’s amazing. For as beautiful as he is, he’s so down-to-earth and such a homebody.”
“I certainly don’t believe in love at first sight. But he seems to only have eyes for you,” Anna said with a smile. “And he’s a big improvement over that dumbass you picked the first time!” She stirred the contents of the pan. “You didn’t break up that marriage, did you?”
“No! His ex-wife did all the work. I wanted to move out right after he got back and he asked me to stay until he could get his feet on the ground. In a way, I wish I would’ve left,” Victoria said.
“I’ll bet you’re glad you didn’t.”
“He’s so amazing, Anna,” Victoria gushed.
“I’ll bet…” Anna leered.
Victoria laughed. It was good to be home and be with her family for a while. Even though she kept in regular contact with them it wasn’t the same as being home. Anna finished up a huge meal almost single-handedly and without much effort. Victoria called her brothers and went looking for her father. She found her father and Reese having a beer in the barn. She heard them both laugh and smiled to herself. He had been accepted.
Victoria informed the men that dinner was ready and it was time to eat. The large group gathered on the outside covered porch that wrapped around the house. Victoria’s brothers, Victor Jr., Rudy, and Raymond, and Reese set up the tables and chairs while the women set the plates and Anna served the meal. Victoria was warm and happy. It was all so perfect. Her brothers began to tease Reese just as if he had been a part of this family his entire life and he gently gave it back to them.
“Why didn’t you bring Welito and Welita with you, Anna?” Rudy asked.
“You know your grandpa, he doesn’t take the highway. I refuse to take all the backroads to Houston. So, fifteen hours after they start from Kingsville they should be here,” Anna quipped.
“Man, your grandmother is gonna be pissed when she gets here. She says Welito drives like an old lady!” Raymond said.
The table roared with laughter at the thought of their grandparents and the feud they would be having on their fifteen-hour drive.
“You know Ma’s the only one that can tell him anything,” Victor said.
“Mamma, Michael and I are going four-wheeling,” Alyssa said.
“Uh, no you’re not. It’s dark out there and it’s almost eight thirty,” Anna said.
“Mom!” Alyssa stomped.
“Michael, you and Alyssa can go put up the stuff you used this afternoon in the tack room and brush down those horses you rode earlier. You don’t have time for four-wheeling tonight,” Victor Jr. said.
Victoria smiled. It was nice to see her family support each other and do what was best for their kids. She looked at Reese and saw the look of appreciation in his eyes. He understood what was happening as well. It would be nice to start a family with this man at her side. The men retreated to the outside sitting area as the women cleared the tables and cleaned up. At various times she could hear all the men break out into a hearty laughter. Later that night as they settled into bed, she wrapped her arms around Reese and listened to his heartbeat.
“How did you do today?” Victoria asked.
“Good. I like your family. Your brothers want to take me out tomorrow night,” Reese said.
Victoria sat up, alarmed. “Reese, don’t trust them. They’ll try and drink you under the table,” she warned.
“I’ll be all right, sweetness. I know what they’re up to, your dad warned me.” Reese pulled Victoria back down to his chest.
Victoria drifted off to sleep, content and blissful.
* * * *
When Reese woke up it was still dark outside. He looked at his watch and saw that it was five thirty. He could smell coffee and knew that someone in the house was stirring. He unwrapped himself from Victoria and sat at the edge of the bed. She turned around and reached out. He rubbed her shoulder and she rose slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Victoria asked.
“Nothing, sweetness, I just woke up. Go back to sleep,” Reese said.
Reese got up and walked down the stairs to investigate. Victor was sitting at the table, dressed and reading the paper while he sipped a cup of coffee. He looked up from his paper.
“Good morning!” Victor said.
“Morning, sir. What’s on tap for today?” Reese asked as he reached for one of the cups Victor had laid out.
“I’ve got to go get feed for some of the livestock, mend some fences, and check on some of the heifers in the pasture,” Victor said as he flipped the paper.
“Do you want some help?” Reese offered.
“Only if you want to,” Victor said.
“I want to. I’ll go and get dressed.” Reese left the room.
Reese knew Victor didn’t need any help. That old man could do these chores in his sleep. He figured he would probably get in the way more than he would help. But ranch life was fascinating. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. It amazed him that Victoria had lived here and knew of this life before she had come to him. He loved the hard work and the closeness of her family. It surprised him that her family was traveling from all parts of Texas to see her now that she was home. He wanted to be a part of this. He wanted this
.
Even though Victor did not like the idea of Reese and his daughter living and sleeping together, he made sure that Reese felt like he was a part of this family and accepted. Last night, when they had been drinking in the barn, Victor asked him point-blank what his intentions really were toward his daughter. He assured Victor he was serious, at times more serious than she. He knew she had doubts at times, but he did everything he could to reassure her he loved her and was not going anywhere. He promised Victor he would take care of his daughter. Victor seemed satisfied with his answers.
He sipped his coffee as he climbed the stairs to the bedroom. He dug through his bag as quietly as he could and dressed quickly. Victoria was sleeping and he roused her long enough to tell her he would be with her father. He went downstairs and met Victor in the kitchen.
They spent the morning at the feed store and running errands. Everyone seemed to know Victor. It was like walking around with his dad when he was a cop. He soon discovered Victor had an office in his truck. They pulled up to a hole-in-the-wall café near the ranch and Victor treated him to a huge breakfast. While they were at the restaurant, a man greeted Victor and asked him to supply some calves for a rodeo that he was having in a few months. He didn’t quite understand what kind of rodeo the man asked about.
They got back to the ranch and unloaded the feed and started on the other chores. They finished the fences and started to check on the heifers in the front pasture. It seemed as if it should have been late in the afternoon with all that they had done before they returned to the house. It wasn’t noon yet. Victoria and Alyssa were out riding horses. Anna was in the house in the kitchen talking on the phone. He walked to the horse barn to see if he could find Victoria. When he turned the corner, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
Alyssa, Michael, and a few of the other nieces and nephews were screaming at Victoria as they stood on the rails of the fence that surrounded the riding ring. It scared the shit out of him to see his future wife careening around barrels on top of a horse going as fast as the horse could run. Victoria and the horse were making hairpin turns around the three barrels that were laid out in a course around the riding ring. The look on her face was pure concentration and determination as she raced around the riding ring. It seemed like forever and he could picture her being thrown from that horse and breaking her neck before his very eyes. Those damn kids were screaming at their Aunt Tori to go faster!
