“So?” Cecily said as he pulled out of the hotel parking lot into traffic.
“She can’t wait to meet you,” Daniel said. “And she’s cooking so you’re in for a treat.”
They left Lubbock and headed west on an older highway, not the interstate. A blue sky smiled down on them as they traveled and Cecily sat beside Daniel, serene. She resisted an urge to giggle like a little girl but happiness remained like a bright bubble within. Cecily found it difficult to remember they weren’t on a road trip but on the run. All the way to El Paso, they talked and chatted about everything from music to memories. The connection she’d felt from the first day he strolled into her shop seemed tighter now and Cecily enjoyed the closeness. For the moment she determined not to worry about the future but to enjoy Daniel’s company.
The route took them along a diagonal slant through the corner of New Mexico and through Carlsbad. Some of the scenery proved to be of the loveliest she’d seen so far although in the arid summer heat, it didn’t resemble some of the luscious scenes she recalled from magazine pictures. But she liked it and she could see Daniel appreciated the beauty too.
As they passed through Carlsbad, she wondered if they’d grab a bite to eat but when she asked, Daniel shook his head. “I’ll buy you a soda and something small if you want but save your appetite for Mama’s cooking,” he told her. “We’re probably halfway there. Are you hungry?”
She shrugged. “Just a little.”
“Then I’ll buy you a dollar sandwich somewhere,” he said. “I’m not trying to starve you. Mama won’t probably feed us till five or six tonight, anyway. Tell me what you want.”
Cecily picked a chicken sandwich and they rolled through the first fast food drive-thru offering a value menu to pick up a pair. He pulled into a small state park just outside of town and they ate in the truck. She stretched when they stepped out to toss their trash into a wastebasket and Daniel caught her from behind. “I’d like a kiss, querida.”
Although they lacked time for a long embrace, his mouth impacted hers and evoked an immediate thrill. No one had ever kissed her with such fire and Cecily didn’t think she’d ever have enough. Her arms strung around his neck and clasped behind his head to keep him close. His lips warmed hers and fused into one of the tenderness kisses he’d ever delivered. Her fingers trespassed into his hair and ran through the black strands. “Your hair’s growing out,” she commented when they surfaced for air.
Daniel chuckled. “I need a haircut.”
“Oh, no, you don’t, sugar.” Cecily adored his thick yet silky hair. Although trimmed to near military precision when they first met, it’d grown out enough to be unruly and unkempt enough to be sexy. “I like it this way better.”
He blew air between his lips but his grin alerted her he didn’t mind what she’d said. “It’s shaggy.”
“Uh-uh, sugar,” she told him. “It’s a long damn way from there.”
His chuckle delighted her even when he put an arm across her shoulders and said, “We probably need to get on down the road. Right now, a hair cut falls into the small shit category.”
Cecily leaned against him. “I suppose so. Once we get to El Paso, eat your mama’s good food, and rest, then what?”
“We try to figure out if we can tie Johnson Hamilton to your ex’s murder. If we can, we do and then we go from there.”
The dash of reality hit with the force of winter sleet. “Sounds hard.”
“It won’t be easy, chica, but it matters enough to try. For now, let’s go home.”
Home. The word represented a common theme, Cecily thought. Since one of the last things she’d said to him before leaving her place at Branson had been it’d been more of a home since he’d come than anywhere in years. Reflecting now, she found it true. With Daniel’s presence and Nia’s brief visit, the small house felt like home, not just where she lived but a place of refuge, somewhere she wanted to be where she belonged. He’d told her he’d never lived in El Paso but he used the word. “Is it home?” she asked as they climbed into the truck.
Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “It’s where my mother lives,” he said. “I guess it’s as close as I’ve got.”
“But you live in Kansas City.”
Something she couldn’t quite define shadowed his features. “I work in KC but my place is in Raytown, a suburb,” he said in a low tone. “Or I did but my efficiency apartment’s not anywhere I’d consider a home. It’s just a place to sleep, that’s all.”
Another similarity between them because she felt the same way about the house she shared with Willard on Canal Street. They’d both drifted, solitary and lonesome for too long.
“I know the feeling,” she replied. Daniel paused and put his hand over hers with a faint smile.
“When this is done, querida,” he told her. “We’ll both go home at night, together.”
Few things ever sounded better as she settled down in the seat beside him. Cecily had no idea where they might reside or do but as long as she shared life space with Daniel, she’d be good. She folded her left hand and touched her knuckles to his cheek. “If that’s a promise, sugar, I’m holding you to it.”
“Si, querida.”
They rode the remaining hours over the highway, sometimes talking, often listening to whatever tunes she could find on the radio but in harmony. As El Paso came into sight, Cecily gawked. She’d never been to the west Texas city but the images of it came from the Marty Robbins songs and she hadn’t expected it to be so large or modern. When she confessed her thoughts to Daniel, he laughed.
“It was like that once,” he told her. “But it’s a big place. Mama’s house is in the northeast part of town, tucked away out of most of it. It’s in Mountain View, not far from Biggs.”
“Biggs?”
“Biggs Army Airfield,” he said. “That’s the original name. It’s a military airport, part of Fort Bliss.”
He navigated the mid-afternoon traffic with ease, maneuvering the old pickup with the skill of a professional driver. Cecily’s calm evaporated as they drew closer to his mother’s home and her nerves jangled off-key. She bounced her foot, tapped her fingers against the seat beside her, and sighed until Daniel shot her a glance. “You’re not nervous, are you?” he asked.
“Yeah, I am,” she replied with a little defiance. “What’s your mama going to think about me?”
Growing up, she’d been poor but proud, sassy but somewhat confident. The years she spent as Mrs. Willard Bradford The Fourth robbed most of her self-esteem. She’d gained it back when she made up her mind to divorce him and reclaimed some of it when she put Chicago in the rear view mirror. Starting life over on her own terms helped but right now, she experienced major anxiety. Maybe his mother wouldn’t like her. She probably expected a nice young woman, demure and sweet, not a sassy-mouthed ghetto bitch.
“She’s going to love you,” Daniel said with surprise.
“Does she know I’m black?” Cecily asked, her voice emerging shriller than she planned. “Will it matter?”
Daniel slowed the truck as they took an exit. “Querida,” he said with obvious patience. “I haven’t told her anything but your name and that we’re together. But my mama won’t care, not in a family with everything from Mexican to Comanche to redneck. Her grandma was Comanche, full blood, her mama was half Native American, half Mexican and her daddy, my grandpa was Irish and Mexican. My daddy was a mixture of Southern redneck and Mexican. She won’t blink at your heritage.”
His no-nonsense tone held a certainty and she relaxed, a little. “If you say so,” she sighed.
“I do,” he replied. “And we’re almost there so calm down.”
“Aren’t you going to call her?”
“No,” he replied. “She’s expecting us and it’s just a little after three now.”
As they drove through the streets on the north side of El Paso, they left behind the busy commercial thoroughfares for a neighborhood, old and settled but well-kept overall. Streets line
d with suburban tract houses dating back fifty years or more reminded her of scenes from a movie. Most were ranch style and the age of the trees confirmed her notion the neighborhood had been around for a long time. None of the houses were large, almost none had a second story, and she guessed mostly blue collar folks called the area home. Cecily saw a few kids on bikes, two girls playing hopscotch on a cracked sidewalk, and smiled. So far, she saw a variety of races and skin shades so maybe she wouldn’t be out of place here.
He turned onto a street marked Maxwell Avenue and pulled into a short concrete drive. “Here we are,” he said. Cecily barely had time to view the compact house, painted a light, pleasant blue before a woman appeared in the doorway. Although she lacked Daniel’s height and her body had more padding than his, Cecily saw a resemblance in their faces. Mrs. Padilla’s skin appeared darker than her own. Her hair had been swept up into an elaborate bun on the top of her head and the eyes shining at the sight of her son were blue as an autumn sky. She smiled and waved. When Daniel stepped out of the truck, the woman met him and hugged him tight.
“Mi hijo!” Her voice rang out, warm and flavored with a Spanish lilt. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been cooking all day and waiting. It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, Daniel.”
“I come when I can,” he said with a smile. Cecily climbed out of the truck and he beckoned her forward. “Mama, this is Cecily Brown. Querida, this is my mother, Luz Padilla.”
“I’m glad to meet you,” Cecily said, feeling almost shy. Before she finished the sentence, Daniel’s mom swept her into her arms and hugged her tight.
“Oh, Cecily, it’s so good to meet you,” she said. “It’s about time my son brought a woman to my house and I know you must be special or he wouldn’t.”
“Mama,” Daniel said. “She is but this is more than just bringing her to meet my mama. It’s a long story but I’ll tell you what I can.”
“Come in,” Luz said. “Supper won’t be ready for awhile yet but you can bring your bags inside.”
They followed Luz into the house, into a small but comfortable living room. Cecily inhaled delicious aromas, spices and beef, onions and garlic. Her stomach almost purred. Daniel carried their simple luggage down a short hallway and ducked into the bathroom. Cecily settled down on the sofa while Luz sat in a recliner near the front window and beamed. “I’m happy you’re here. You bring out the good side of my son. He acts better than he has for a long time,” she told Cecily. “So are you from Kansas City where Daniel lives?”
So far, Cecily liked Luz fine but she hadn’t expected the question although she guessed she should’ve. Meeting a parent wasn’t something she’d done often or for years. “No, I’m from Chicago,” she replied with honesty. “But I’ve been living in Branson.”
Surprise rippled across Luz’s face. “Branson?” she said. “I’ve been there, once, a long time ago. Did you meet my son in Branson?”
Uncertain why it would be a big deal Cecily nodded. “Yes.”
“He was there?”
“Uh-huh,” she answered. “Is there some reason why he shouldn’t be?”
Luz’s expression turned somber. “No,” she said with slow precision. “It’s just the time I visited Branson, Daniel brought Mollie down there to see me. We took her to all the places a little kid would like and had a fine time but after she was gone, he said he’d never go again. He did tell you about his daughter?”
The question seemed like a test but Cecily nodded. “Yeah, he did.” But he didn’t tell me about taking the child to Branson. In honesty she admitted he had said he’d been there before but not when or why but maybe the memories hurt too much.
“I understand if he came to see you,” Luz said but her face said she didn’t understand yet. “So had you met before?”
“No,” Cecily replied. “We met in Branson. I have a shop there, Pink Neon and he came into the store.”
“Dios,” the older woman said. “Miracles do happen, then.”
“You pray hard enough for them, they should.” Daniel appeared in the open space between the living room and a dining area. “But I originally went to Branson on assignment, not on vacation.”
Understanding dawned on his mother’s face and Luz glanced over at Cecily. “Yeah, he was sent to check me out,” Cecily said with a sigh.
“Oh,” Luz replied, flustered. “Maybe I shouldn’t ask any questions.”
Daniel sat down beside Cecily on the sofa. He picked up her hand and caressed the back of it. “You can ask anything you want, Mamacita,” he said. “Cecily’s innocent. It’s a long story but her ex-husband got murdered and someone tried to pin the crime on her head. So far, the FBI buys it and so we left for awhile to prove the truth. And I wanted to see you and bring Cecily to meet you.”
Did he? I thought this was just about being safe and getting away so they wouldn’t take me into custody. Daniel must’ve known how he felt long before he told me.
The idea delighted her and yet the reminder of why they’d come sobered Cecily. She wrapped her fingers around Daniel’s seeking comfort and he held her hand, then put an arm around her. For now, she knew they’d found sanctuary.
Chapter Sixteen
With his nose filled with the delicious smells of his mother’s home cooking and his arm around his woman, Daniel thought he might’ve come as close to heaven as possible on earth. Tense with the ordeal ahead, vulnerable with his confession of love, and still mentally pinching himself with the knowledge Cecily loved him he managed to relax in his mother’s home.
“Whatever you’re making smells great,” he told his mother who smiled.
“Burritos tipicos,” she said, naming one of his favorites. “And tamales, frijoles, plus a pot roast with potatoes and carrots. I made a wacky cake, too.”
He almost salivated with hunger. A rush of affection for his mama, who’d taken two days to prepare the feast, prompted him to say, “Gracias. You cooked enough for a mob. Is it all just for me and Cecily?”
“Michael’s coming up,” Luz said. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”
Daniel didn’t. “No, I’d love to see my baby brother. How long until we eat? I’m hungry.”
Luz grinned. “I told him to be here by five. It’s only three-thirty so you kids have time to take a shower or grab a nap or whatever.”
Beside him, Cecily ran her hand down his thigh and his blood quickened. He knew what she hinted and he’d love it but he doubted it would happen now. Later, for sure – he’d parked their bags in the guest bedroom across from his mom’s. Daniel doubted Mama would object, either, since he noticed on the way down the hall she’d turned the smaller bedroom into a sort of office.
Before he could answer, the telephone rang and Luz hurried to answer it in the kitchen.
“Later, querida,” he told Cecily. Desire moved in a lazy spiral through his body but he could wait. “We’ll have time for it later.”
She flipped her abundant braids back with a flourish. “Then I’m going to take a shower and clean my hair,” she said. “It takes awhile to do it right.”
He’d wondered why she hadn’t the night before but looking at her corn rowed hair Daniel marveled she could wash it at all without taking all the tiny braids out. “All right,” he said. “Go ahead and I’ll visit with mama.”
Cecily flashed him a brilliant smile and headed down the hallway. He watched her go and when he turned around, his mother stood in the dining room wearing a grin. “So you found a woman,” she said. “I like her, mi hijo. She’s got some sand and she’s strong.”
Daniel smiled, too. “She does and she is. Who’s on the phone?”
“So now my FBI agent son is going to question me?” Luz said with a teasing note in her voice. “It was your brother.”
“Michael?”
“Yes,” his mother replied. She switched to Spanish. “Tell me about Cecily. I like her very much but are you sure she’s innocent?”
“Very,” he told her. “It’s complica
ted but I’m certain.”
Luz nodded. “Is she in danger? Are you?”
He waved his hand in the air to dismiss her concerns. “Maybe but its not important. I’ll take care of her and I can watch my own back.”
Her deep blue eyes darkened. “I think,” she said. “I need to pray harder. Maybe there’s time for a rosary before your brother arrives and we eat. But you love Cecily and she loves you?”
“Yes.” Daniel kept his voice soft.
His mother nodded. “I see it between you and it looks real. And she knows about your daughter. That’s good. Secrets are bad between lovers.”
Yeah, he’d learned that the hard way. “Yes. Now tell me how you are, Mama.”
A smile creased the corners of her mouth. “I’m good, much better since I don’t work anymore but you shouldn’t send me money. You’ll need it now for you, to buy a house and make a family.”
“Do the others send any?”
“They do, the boys more than your sisters but they have children to bring up and thanks to you and Tomas the house is paid off. Tomas has his allotment sent to me too. I get more than enough. How long are you staying?”
“I don’t know,” Daniel said. “I wish I did.”
Whether they’d be in El Paso a day, several days, or a week depended on what happened. He’d decided to do nothing the remainder of the day but visit with family and enjoy his mother’s cooking but tomorrow would be different. Daniel planned to use Cecily’s lap top and his mother’s internet connection to check into the whereabouts of Johnson Hamilton. He hadn’t brought his FBI issue model because he figured it’d be far easier to track. Thinking about the bureau made him more than a little nervous. By now, more than forty eight hours after the hostile meeting in Springfield, he knew someone would’ve attempted to get in touch with him. Whether it was his boss or the head of the local satellite office, they would be pissed. Maybe I can buy a little time with the notion they can’t reach my cell. And if they come looking, they’ll find my junk in that sleazy motel. Maybe they’ll list me as a missing person. He snorted at the unlikely idea and pushed the issue out of mind. He’d have this one evening to enjoy with his family and Cecily before the shit began to splatter.
Pink Neon Page 18
