And Babies Make Five

by Judy Duarte

  “He did a good job. I think you’re going to like the color, as well as the white trim. Once the wallpaper goes up, you should be happy with it.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  They stood across the room from each other, a new conversation unfolding. Still, he couldn’t quite shake the one they’d had before, the one in which he’d admitted to feeling something for her. But he really needed to think things through, to take things one day at a time, no matter how he was beginning to feel.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked. “Maybe set the table?”

  “No. Most of the work was done before I went for my walk. So once I finish this salad, we can eat.”

  Minutes later, they were seated in the dining room, where they enjoyed a tasty meal of baked chicken, rice pilaf and salad. All the while, they made small talk. At least, he might have considered it small talk in the past, but he’d really liked hearing what she’d done today, about an article she’d read. And he’d enjoyed sharing a bit about one of the cases his firm was representing, too.

  But by the time she’d served a fruit tart for dessert, he couldn’t help making a comment about Peter’s belongings.

  “I notice you’ve still got those boxes in the garage.”

  She lifted her fork from the table. “Oh, yeah. I forgot all about that. I need to call the Salvation Army tomorrow and find out when their truck will be in the neighborhood.”

  “I can drop them off for you on my way to the office tomorrow.”

  “I hate to have you do that.”

  “It’s no trouble at all.” He cut into the tart with his fork and speared a big, gooey bite.

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Absolutely.” He’d be glad to get rid of anything that would trigger her memory of Peter.

  After all, she was starting a new life.

  And, at least for the time being, Hector couldn’t help wanting to be the only man in it.

  Chapter Nine

  Yolanda and Samantha met for lunch at Delano’s, a trendy sidewalk café that was located across the street from The Green Grocer. The weather was as nice as any other late-spring day, so they asked for one of the outdoor tables that faced the street.

  They each ordered the grilled chicken salad and iced herbal tea. Then, while they waited for their food, they enjoyed the chance to talk and get to know each other.

  “So,” Yolanda said, “when is your due date?”

  “October 10.”

  “Are you kidding?” Her brow furrowed, and her eyes narrowed. “That means you’re only four-and-a-half months along. And you’re way too big for that.” As if realizing her response might have been taken the wrong way, she added, “I’m sorry, Samantha. I don’t mean that badly. It’s just that there’s got to be some mistake. Are you sure you’re not farther along than that? Have they checked you for twins?”

  “Actually, I had a sonogram more than a month ago, and they did check for twins.”

  “And what did they find?”

  “Three babies. I’m going to have triplets.”

  “Wow.” Silence welled between them as Yolanda took it all in. Then she seemed to get it all together. “Triplets? That’s awesome, although I have to admit, I’m thinking better you than me. I don’t know what I’d do with three newborns.” Yolanda broke into a grin. “Does my brother know?”

  “I told him yesterday.” Samantha lifted her glass of tea and took a sip.

  Yolanda’s lips parted as though there was another question on the tip of her tongue, but if so, she reeled it back in.

  “I know it won’t be easy,” Samantha said, “but I’m really looking forward to having them and bringing them home. My house has been incredibly quiet for the past five years, longer than that, even. So I can’t wait to hear the patter of little feet.”

  Yolanda chuckled. “That ought to be a big change for my brother.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He told me that you two were friends, but you seem to be spending a lot of time together for that.”

  So Hector’s sister had connected the dots and come to a logical conclusion. But Samantha wasn’t ready to admit that they were more than friends. They were still tiptoeing around their feelings, and the jury was still out on that.

  “My house is being painted,” she said. “So rather than get a hotel room, your brother offered to let me stay with him—in his guest room.”

  Of course, they’d technically slept in the same bed, but that wasn’t the same.

  Or was it? They’d certainly shared an intimacy, even if they hadn’t made love. They hadn’t even kissed. But if heated looks and caresses counted…

  “I’m sorry,” Yolanda said. “I didn’t mean to imply you two couldn’t be friends or that things might not be platonic between you. It’s just that I’m a romantic at heart.”

  “Aren’t most women matchmakers?”

  “Maybe. But I think I have a tendency to go overboard. My brother accused me of have having a Noah syndrome.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Samantha had heard of the Peter Pan syndrome. “What’s that?”

  Yolanda laughed. “Hector probably coined the term himself, but he said I wasn’t happy unless people were going through life two by two.”

  “I can see the benefit of that. Life can certainly be lonely at times.”

  “That’s why I’m trying to see my brother hook up with someone. He’s been alone for nearly six years. Not that he doesn’t date. But he seems to keep women at arms’ distance, and I think that’s because his ex-wife hurt him.”

  “How so?”

  “She married him knowing his career was a priority, and that he loved his work. Then she complained about how much time he spent at the office, how driven he was. But she didn’t have any complaints about the money he earned.”

  “Apparently it didn’t work out,” Samantha said, connecting her own dots.

  “Whatever physical attraction they’d had wasn’t strong enough to survive their problems. Hector’s dedication to the firm paid off when he was made a partner, but it had a negative effect on his marriage. Patrice got tired of his long hours away from home, and just before their second anniversary, she asked for a divorce.”

  “Was Hector okay with the split?”

  “He felt badly about it, since he’d never failed at anything in his life, but he poured himself into his work. He told me once that he wasn’t cut out for marriage, but I don’t think that’s true.”

  They continued to pick at their salads until Samantha asked, “What was Hector like as a little boy?”

  “He was the typical firstborn. And he set a high benchmark for me and Diego, our younger brother. But then again, so did our parents.”

  “In what way?”

  “My mom and dad were immigrants, and when they moved to this country, they were determined to work hard and to share in the American dream. So as kids, we were encouraged to do our best in school. We all did well academically, but Hector was especially bright. Eventually, he received scholarships, graduated from college with honors and went to law school.”

  “What about you?” Samantha asked.

  “I’m a schoolteacher—fourth grade.”

  “And Diego?”

  “He has a contractor’s license and owns his own company.”

  So they’d each succeeded, Samantha realized. “I hope I get a chance to meet your brother and your parents someday. They sound like good people.”

  Yolanda took a bite of her salad, then paused. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. I’ll plan a taco fest and a family game night one of these days.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Just an excuse to get together and eat some of the food we grew up on and have a few laughs. I’ll check my calendar when I get home, then give Hector a call to invite him. I’ll tell him to bring you, too.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  While they waited for the bill, Yolanda said, “I hope you and Hector will be able to
join us for dinner one night soon. I know he works a lot, but he really needs to take a break on weekends.” Then she clicked her tongue. “Boy, I sound just like Patrice, don’t I?”

  His ex-wife, Samantha realized.

  Yolanda lifted her napkin to her lips. “I don’t mean to give him a hard time. I’m really proud of him. He’s built a reputation for defending big corporations in environmental cases.”

  Uh-oh. Peter had done what he could to protect the environment against corporations.

  Samantha wondered if that’s what had caused the rift between the two men. It seemed possible, since Hector had said they had different world views.

  It would probably be in her best interests to learn the details about the trouble Hector and Peter once had. And then she could convince Hector that her late husband had been a good man, that he’d rescued her and had treated her with the utmost respect.

  “The biggest case my brother ever defended was about five years ago, shortly after he bought his house.”

  “Oh, really?” Peter had been caught up in a big case at that time, too.

  “He was representing a huge corporation who’d been responsible for an oil spill that leaked into the water table and contaminated a river. A group of environmentalists began a protest of the company, marching in the streets and blocking people from driving in and out of the parking lot.”

  Samantha vaguely remembered hearing about a case like that.

  “One of the protesters set fire to a building belonging to the corporation, and a night janitor was killed.”

  Now it was really sounding familiar. Peter had mentioned something about it, saying the arsonist had some mental problems and that he’d been a loose cannon.

  “Hector really took that case to heart, in part because the CEO was a self-made man. He also sympathized with the family of the janitor, who was a Mexican immigrant and the father of four young children.”

  According to Peter, the arsonist wasn’t actually connected to the group; he’d just decided to help further the cause.

  “Hector blamed the entire group, as well as their financial backer.”

  “Do you know who that was?” Samantha asked.

  “No, I really didn’t follow the case, but the guy with the money was killed in a car accident, which weakened the case against the corporation. And Hector and his firm managed to win the judgment.”

  Samantha paled, and her stomach clenched. That had to be it. That must be the reason behind the rift. And if her suspicion was right, would Hector hold that against her? Against the babies?

  Of course, he wouldn’t. She’d seen a side of Hector this past week that she’d never expected—especially after Peter had called him a jerk and suggested they steer clear of him.

  “Enough of that,” Yolanda said.

  Of what? Pondering what the men had said or done that had caused them to dislike and distrust each other?

  “I’m sorry,” Samantha said, thinking she might have missed something. “Enough of what?”

  “Singing my brother’s praises. His success speaks for itself. Let’s just say my family and I are proud of him.”

  “I’m sure you are.” Samantha smiled at her new friend, then glanced at her watch. “Well, I’d better go. I need to pick up groceries on the way home. I’m fixing pot roast tonight.”

  “For two?”

  Samantha laughed. “Boy, your brother was right. You do have the Noah syndrome.”

  “I guess that wasn’t any of my business.”

  “Probably not, but that’s okay. I’m fixing dinner at Hector’s house, and we’re eating together.”

  “You don’t say?” Yolanda brightened. “He must really care about you.”

  “He’s been very nice to me, but there really isn’t anything between us.” Not yet, anyway.

  “Are you sure about that?” Yolanda asked.

  Not really. When it came to her feelings for Hector, she wasn’t sure about anything these days.

  Did she dare admit that they were growing close, that they were feeling something for each other, even if they hadn’t quite figured out what it was?

  No, not yet. Not to Hector’s sister.

  So she said, “At this point, I’ve got way too much going on in my life to even think about romance.”

  “I know.” Yolanda turned and removed the shoulder strap of her purse from the back of her chair. “But the babies will be here before you know it.”

  “You’re right about that. But then I’ll have even less time for romance.”

  “Yes, but you’ll also have more need for someone special in your life.”

  The truth of that statement stretched between them until Samantha said, “I’m going to have to take one day at a time.”

  “And you’re smart to do that.” Yolanda pushed her chair away from the table and stood. “But you can’t blame me for hoping that things work out between the two of you.”

  Samantha found herself hoping the same thing, which was why she planned to keep the identity of the babies’ father a secret for a little while longer.

  Then, after Hector got used to the idea of her having three babies, he might not even give genetics a single thought.

  After lunch, Samantha had planned to stop at The Green Grocer since it was just across the street from the café. She needed to pick up some milk and sugar, as well as potatoes and a rump roast. But she also had some other shopping to do and an errand to run. And since she didn’t want the food to spoil if she left it in the car, she set the grocery list aside and drove to Pretty Mama, a trendy store that catered to expectant mothers.

  While scanning the racks of summer dresses, she chatted with one of the salesclerks. She also met a woman who’d just learned that she was expecting twins. So she ended up spending more time at Pretty Mama than she’d planned—and more money, too, since she found a sundress, two tops and a pair of shorts that she liked.

  All in all, it had been a lovely afternoon, but if she didn’t get that roast into the oven, it wouldn’t be ready in time for dinner.

  So she made a quick stop at the post office, then went back to the market. She’d no more than chosen a small rump roast, when her cell phone rang. It was Hector.

  “How was lunch?” he asked.

  She smiled at the sound of his voice and found herself amused by his curiosity. It must be nice to be a close-knit family, to care about one’s siblings.

  “Lunch was great,” she said. “I had a good time.”

  “You can tell me all about it when I get home. I have a couple of clients waiting for me in the conference room, so I can’t talk now. But I wanted to tell you not to cook tonight.”

  She glanced at the rump roast she’d just put in her cart. “Why not?”

  “Because I thought it would be nice to grill. We can eat outside on the patio. What do you say?”

  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten outside, and it sounded like fun. “Would you like me to make a salad and baked potatoes?”

  “If you want to. I don’t mind picking up a container of coleslaw or potato salad so you can have a break from cooking.”

  She scrunched up her nose; she hated ready-made convenience food. “I don’t need a break. Let me worry about the side dishes.”

  “Deal. But I’ve got to run, Sam. I’ll see you around five-thirty.”

  As the line disconnected, she continued to hold her cell phone without putting it away.

  He’d called her Sam, the nickname her mother had given her. And she found it touching, since Peter had always been more formal.

  Was calling her Sam a sign that their—what? friendship? relationship?—was becoming more intimate?

  Stop, she scolded herself. He was in a hurry, so he’d clipped the entire conversation. Besides, friends often-times had nicknames for each other.

  She put away her cell, then looked at the roast, thinking she might as well buy it, anyway. She could always freeze it and fix it another night.

  After st
opping in the produce aisle, she headed for the checkout lanes, then got into the car and drove home. Well, not to her house. She drove to Hector’s.

  Once she put everything away, she read her new pregnancy book for a while. Then she watched a little television—a Touched By An Angel rerun. If she’d been at her house, she would have found any number of projects to tackle. But she couldn’t very well clean out Hector’s closets or garage for him.

  At four-thirty, she decided to get some exercise by walking in the neighborhood. It had been a pleasant afternoon so far, and even more so now that the shadows had grown long and a scatter of birds chirped overhead.

  She arrived back home just as Hector returned, and her heart skipped a beat.

  He climbed from his car with a grocery bag. He tossed her a smile that nearly turned her inside out, and she fumbled to return it.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I went for a walk.”

  He clicked on the key remote and locked his car door, then joined her on the sidewalk. “How does your doctor feel about that? Aren’t you supposed to be taking it easy?”

  His concern was touching. “Walking is good for me. And yes, this is considered a high-risk pregnancy. But everything is progressing as well as can be expected. The babies will probably come early, and there are other complications that can arise, but I’ve got a good doctor—one of the best in the country. And he’s monitoring me closely.”

  “Good.” As they both turned and strode toward the house, Hector added, “So, tell me about lunch.”

  “The food was good, and your sister was really nice. I like her.”

  Hector opened the door for her, and she stepped inside.

  “Your sister is also going to invite us to her house for a taco fest and game night one of these days.”

  “Are you sure you’re up for something like that?”

  It didn’t sound wacky or rowdy to her. “What do you mean?”

  “Meeting my family.”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  He didn’t say, and she wondered if she should be concerned, if maybe he had qualms about taking her to meet them.

  As they entered the kitchen, she decided to give him an easy way out. “We certainly don’t have to go if you’re not up for it.”