by Louise, Kara
Manuel opened both the front and back seat door. Before getting into the front seat, Elyssa stole a look at Will who was looking up and down the street. Could he possibly be wondering how these children lived here and whether they had any sort of hope for the future? Or was he merely concerned that they stood out and might become easy targets for some unsavory character?
Elyssa looked back at La Casita de Esperanza, Little House of Hope. Maybe there was a little bit of hope that existed within these walls for them. She had to trust that there was.
*~*~*
As they drove away, Will said something to Manuel that sounded like a Spanish name. Manuel responded with a, “Yes, Sir.”
Before long, Manuel was pulling to a stop in front of a restaurant, bearing what she assumed was the name Will had spoken.
“What are we doing here?” Elyssa asked.
“Having lunch. It is way past lunchtime and I am hungry!”
“You don’t have to…”
Will put up a hand to stop her. “I know I don’t, but I am. So there will be no discussion about it.”
Elyssa’s eyes darkened as she saw traces of the William Denton she had heard so much about begin to emerge.
Manuel had already jumped out of the car and was opening the doors for them. Elyssa found herself walking reluctantly at Will’s side. At least she had Manuel to keep her company.
The outside of the restaurant was rather drab and Elyssa thought it odd that Will would come here, but when they walked inside, Elyssa could not believe her eyes. It was filled with tall plants, beautiful flowers, and exotic birds that flew in a large, glassed-in aviary at one end of the room.
The host greeted Will by name and soon they were walking to a small table. He held out the seat for Elyssa and she sat down. When she looked around her, Manuel was gone.
Will ordered agua pura for the two of them and two bottled waters were brought to their table along with some chips and salsa. Elyssa looked across the table at Will. “What about Manuel?”
“He’s eating on his own.”
“But why?” Elyssa asked with an accusatory stare.
“Because that’s the way it is. It’s what he expects as well as prefers.” He looked down to his menu. “Now, everything is good here. It’s written in Spanish and English so you can pretty much know what you’re getting.”
“Do you come here a lot when you’re down here?”
“I make every effort to come here at least once each visit.”
Elyssa narrowed her eyes. “And just how often do you come down to Guatemala?”
He looked up from the menu, his eyes just peering over the top into hers. “Is this an interrogation?”
“No, I was just under the impression that you didn’t come down to Guatemala that often.”
“I guess how often I come down is a relative issue. For some, I probably come down too often and for others, not often enough.”
The waiter returned and Will ordered something in well spoken Spanish. When they both looked to Elyssa, she looked back at the menu and shook her head. “I really don’t know.”
“Make it two of them, Miguel.”
“Sí, Señor Denton.”
With an arched eyebrow, Elyssa asked, “So what am I getting?”
Without any hesitation, Will replied, “Sautéed tongue wrapped in a deep fried tortilla smothered in cheese and salsa.”
Elyssa’s eyes widened. “No!” she exclaimed. “I will not eat that!”
“Good,” he replied, taking his napkin in hand and placing it in his lap. “More for me.”
Elyssa folded her hands in front of her and scrutinized the man sitting across from her. She was unsure whether he was teasing or not. There was a look in his eyes that she could not describe, but since he had not the slightest trace of a smile, she felt she should take him at his word. The thought of sautéed tongue, however, did not sit well with her. She decided if she was going to ease her hunger pangs, she would have to do it with the chips they brought.
Will seemed content to sit quietly and occasionally pick up a chip, drown it in the salsa, and pop it in his mouth. Elyssa practically devoured them; she had never tasted chips so fresh and tasty. The salsa was perfection; not too mild, but not too hot.
“Hold your horses, Elyssa! Save some room for your lunch!”
“I think perhaps this is my lunch!” she retorted.
His lips broke into a small smile, revealing for a short moment, a small dimple on his cheek. “You’ll enjoy it. Trust me.”
When they brought the order, Elyssa looked it over. It certainly looked delicious, but she was hesitant to try it. Will turned his attention to his food and Elyssa watched him cut into the filled tortilla on his plate.
“Mmmm,” he replied in an exaggerated way when he looked up and saw Elyssa watching. He looked down to his plate and finally said, “It’s not tongue, Elyssa. It’s shredded beef. I really didn’t think you would believe me.”
She was greatly relieved and took a bite. It was heavenly, but she was reluctant to admit that to Will. Instead, she concentrated on her food.
Will appeared perfectly content to forego any further conversation in lieu of eating. Elyssa was not usually one to eat in silence. She loved to talk with people and get to know them. She loved to discuss the latest books she had read or music she had listened to. It seemed as though something was holding her back. She wondered if she still blamed him for her sister’s death, although she really had not thought about that at all since the preschool.
Well, if he doesn’t want to talk, that’s fine with me, she thought.
At length, it was Will who started the conversation.
“What did you think back there at the preschool?”
She looked at him and wondered if he truly wanted to hear her thoughts or was he merely making polite conversation. “I applaud what they are doing. It’s heartbreaking to think the children don’t know life isn’t supposed to be that way.” She felt a wave of sadness come over her and fought off the tears that were threatening to spill out. “It… it makes me ashamed of how much we have and how little contentment it gives us. Those children had such pure joy!”
Will looked up at her. He felt the same way, but had not known how to articulate it. He felt the shame in a greater degree, knowing how much more he had than even Elyssa. His successful business, the homes, private jet, and every convenience available had not given him the contentment he felt was so lacking. He had wondered whether that kind of contentment was even attainable.
Elyssa believed his silence to be from the lack of any sort of feeling that may have been produced there. She decided to broach the subject she had been wondering about since being at the preschool.
“I must confess I was surprised to see how well you took to the children. You seemed to be able to reach that shy little girl. What is it, Will? Do you have a secret life with a wife and a dozen children somewhere?”
He put his fork down on his plate and picked up his napkin, wiping his mouth. Waving his hand in the air he said, “Nothing so dramatic. I have a younger sister. She is almost twelve years younger than me and has always been quite shy herself. I merely treated that little girl as I often treated Gina.”
“Oh.” She wanted to hear more about this sister of his, but was prevented from saying anymore when his phone rang.
“Excuse me, Elyssa. I am expecting a call from the national office.”
He pulled his phone out and stood up, turning to walk toward the front of the restaurant as he brought it up to his ear. Suddenly all those warm and fuzzy feelings that had begun to surface began dissipating as she reminded herself who he was and what he represented. Life with a man like him would take a second seat to his business; his family would suffer at the expense of some deadline, meeting, or crucial decision that had to be made. He obviously was one who could not leave his work at the office. It went with him everywhere he did.
When he returned, he noticed instantly her change in demeanor.
Sitting down, he asked her, “Is everything OK?”
“Yes, I think it is, now.” She could not help but think that if she had judged the man by what she had seen today, her thinking could have been swayed in favor of him despite everything about him that disgusted her.
“What about you? Is everything OK? Was that the call you were expecting?”
“Yes. The news isn’t quite what I wanted to hear, but things are progressing. I need to get back to the office here to fax the national office some things. We’ll drop you and the car off first.”
Elyssa only nodded, but was surprised by his next comment.
“So what was it that you had planned for tomorrow?”
Her eyes widened and she looked at him suspiciously. “Excuse me?”
“George said you had made plans for the next few days. What were your plans for tomorrow?”
She thought for a moment. “I think he was going to take me to Antigua to see the ruins.”
“Then Antigua it is. We’ll come by around 10:00 in the morning. Does that sound reasonable?”
Elyssa’s mouth was suddenly dry as she eked out a measly, “Yes. I suppose that would be fine.”
Chapter 7
Elyssa returned to the townhouse, still trying to reconcile the Will she saw today and the Will she had known about for the past two years. While she knew she should focus on her task of going through Chad and Janet’s belongings, she paced about the living room. Her feelings fluctuated as she recalled his arrogance at the wedding rehearsal dinner and reception two years ago. As she considered the glimpses she caught today of a man who actually had shown an ability to care, she found it increasingly difficult to hold on to her resolve never to forgive him for sending Chad and Janet here, ultimately leading to the accident that took their lives.
Folding her arms in front of her and going to the window to look out, she could not decry the accommodations Chad and Janet had while they lived here. It was simply beautiful and they had everything they could have wanted. From all she had heard, Janet had been content here. She had been happy and had made the most of everything.
She walked over to their bedroom and stood at the door. Looking in, she felt she was not yet ready to step over the threshold to begin going through their more personal things. Perhaps she would tackle it tomorrow afternoon when they returned from Antigua.
Looking inside the master bedroom from the frame of the door, she saw a picture of the two of them over their bed. She tentatively took a few steps in to get a better look. In it, they were surrounded by beautiful, large flowers. She was sure it had been taken somewhere here in Guatemala. She glanced about her and knew that there would be things in this room that she would want to take home with her; things that didn’t really have monetary value, but purely sentimental value. At the moment, however, she was not ready to sort through the things in this very personal sanctuary of her sister who was now gone.
A knock at the door interrupted her musings. Walking into the living room, she saw Shelley Walker through the open door. Elyssa went over and opened the screen door, inviting her in.
“Hello, Shelley.”
“Hi, Elyssa. When Manuel returned our car, I knew you had come home. How did your day go?”
“It was incredible.”
“That preschool is something, isn’t it?”
Elyssa nodded. “I had no idea.”
“Janet loved going there. She only hoped that the little time she could devote there would make a difference in at least one small child’s life.”
Elyssa sighed. “She was always that way, wanting to help out someone who was hurting, take in some stray or lost animal, or just be there to listen.” A single tear appeared in Elyssa’s eye and trailed down her face, prompting her to quickly wipe it away. “Do you have some time to talk?”
“Why do you think I came by?”
Elyssa and Shelley talked for a good part of the afternoon. Most of it dealt with Chad and Janet. Elyssa was grateful for the insight Shelley had on their life in Guatemala. She appreciated the light she shed on how happy Chad and Janet seemed together.
At one point, the conversation drifted to William Denton.
“I don’t know him well at all, Shelley. Just what kind of man is he?”
Shelley looked intently at Elyssa. “He is a man of integrity. He demands it from all of us. I heard there was some incident recently regarding one of the employees that really had him steaming mad. I don’t know who it was or what they did, but Will quickly took care of things.”
“In what way?”
“I really don’t know. One of his greatest dictates regarding Pemberleo Coffee’s employees is respect and privacy. If he hears any gossip, it infuriates him, particularly gossip about him or his family.” She took a sip of coffee and then continued. “I would imagine that’s because he is such a private person. He doesn’t want talk of him or anyone else being bandied about.
“I have heard his whole life is Pemberleo Coffee; that he lives and breathes it. Is that true?”
“Well, I can’t say whether his whole life is Pemberleo Coffee, but I know he puts a lot into it. He’s actually kind of a mystery to most of us. Even Chad, who was his best friend in college, was concerned about how little Will ever got out. What he does with his time I can’t conjecture. Sometimes he just disappears. Whether he’s locked up in his office working twenty-four seven or jet setting about the globe, is something that only he really knows.”
When their conversation ended, Shelley invited Elyssa to join them for dinner that night. She agreed, as she was eager for lively companionship. She was grateful to be able to spend that evening with the Walkers and their guests. She hadn’t enjoyed herself as much in months.
Elyssa went to bed that night trying to figure Will Denton out. In attempting to rationally evaluate his character, she was dismayed to discover that she might be vulnerable to him if he continued to behave as he did today. His compassion for the children, particularly that little girl, had touched Elyssa’s heart.
However, all she had to do was recall the rude behaviour that she had been witness to, and his dealings with George Westham, and she was fairly sure she would be able to keep her head on her shoulders and view him as she should.
He was the same sort of man as her father’s boss, who pushed his employees beyond what was reasonable for the sake of the company. As he apparently had no family other than a much younger sister, he would not put a high priority on the time others would want to spend with their loved ones.
She finally drifted off to sleep after repeatedly and most vehemently reminding herself who the man, William Denton, was and what he stood for.
*~*~*
The next morning Will arrived promptly at ten. When he walked in, Elyssa felt a most disconcerting flutter as he strode past her dressed in a crisp muted pastel shirt and slacks. His aftershave wafted across her nose and she looked away, suddenly wishing he was a short, overweight, ogre of a man who smelled like disgusting body odor. She had to make a determined effort to ignore the effect he was having on her senses.
“Good morning, Elyssa. Are you ready?”
She nonchalantly gave him a nod of greeting and murmured an affirmative, looking around her for her purse while he stood patiently waiting.
“Here it is.” She picked it up and he walked her to the door.
They walked out to the parking area and Elyssa noticed Manuel standing next to a nice sedan, instead of the limo.
“Good day, Miss Elyssa! How are you today?”
“I am fine, Manuel. How are you?” Elyssa answered cheerfully. She looked over at Shelley Walker, who was just walking over. “Good morning, Shelley,” she called and waved.
It did not escape Will’s notice how different her greeting was to them than it had been to him.
“Good morning, Elyssa,” Shelley replied. “Good morning, Will.”
Will nodded at her. “Good morning, Shelley.”
Shelley looked at Elyssa. “Are you a
ll set to step back in time and spend a little money?”
“Spend some money?” Elyssa asked.
“Ah, yes. Some of the finer stores are located in Antigua. If you want any jade jewelry, this is the place to buy it.”
“Thanks for letting me know, Shelley. I’ll keep my eyes open.”
They walked toward the sedan and Manuel opened the back door, waving his hand toward the car for Elyssa to step in.
Elyssa looked at him and then back to Will, who was eyeing her also, curious as to whether she would again insist upon sitting up front. While she certainly did not cling to this whole “chauffeur” arrangement, she obligingly slid into the back seat, joined by Will.
They drove away from the apartment complex and within a few minutes, Will’s phone rang.
He briefly looked to Elyssa and offered what seemed to be a sincere and regretful, “Excuse me.”
Elyssa turned her head to look out the window on her side of the car. She took in a frustrated breath as she heard only his end of the conversation.
“Can’t your find who owns it? Well do what you can. I really want this! No, that is not acceptable… Have Marlowe get on it then. I don’t care if the weekend is coming up. I want a contract and this finalized before I leave Guatemala!”
Elyssa’s eyes widened as she continued to look away from him. As he issued his orders, she thought of all the family members of these people who would suffer because of his demands. It reminded her just how much her family suffered at her father’s long hours at work to comply with the orders of his demanding boss. She was sure the intense stress he was under contributed to her father’s heart attack and most likely all for a measly increase in profits!
A fleeting thought crossed her mind that sent shivers up and down her spine. Could Chad have been tired when he was driving the night of the accident because Will demanded he put in extra hours? Was he in a rush to return to Guatemala City from the lake because of Will’s insistence? She stole a glance at him as he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration at something that was being said to him. Looking up in the rear view mirror, she caught Manuel’s eye. He gave his head a minuscule shake and shrugged his shoulders slightly.
