In the Andes, the nights were so dark that it was possible to see the stars by the millions. Here, it seemed she was lucky to see the moon and the Big Dipper, and that was it. Exhausted, Eden drifted off to sleep, wondering if North Americans thought they were lucky to see these stars. Then she wondered if they ever really even saw them at all.
Chapter 5
Jack was in the middle of an erotic dream involving a scantily dressed circus girl when a hand on his shoulder woke him up. He almost jumped through the ceiling when he opened his eyes and instead of the curvaceous girl of his dreams, an ugly motorcyclist with tattoos stood before him.
“Damn it, Nathan. What the hell are you doing with your hands on me?”
“It’s morning, Jack. What the hell are you doing sleeping in the booth?”
It was then that Jack remembered he’d spent the night in the booth as Eden was occupying his bed. He had a kink in his neck, his teeth felt fuzzy, and he was sure he had morning mouth. Running a quick hand over his chin, he realized he also needed a shave, not to mention, a quick shower. Pushing out of the booth, he stretched and yawned. Latisha, one of his waitresses from the South side of Chicago who was very pregnant with her fourth child, walked up to him and handed him his morning coffee and a pack of cigarettes.
“I hear you’re entertaining a circus girl nowadays,” she said with a smile.
He blinked, and suddenly realized the connection between his erotic dream and seeing Eden naked last night.
“What the hell is this, Talk Time with Tisha?” he growled, always a bear before he’d had at least three cups of coffee. “Don’t you have tables to set? Get to work.”
The dark-skinned woman rubbed her big belly and smiled. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“A comforting thought,” he said, looking down at her baby bump. “However, I don’t make such mistakes.”
“This wasn’t a mistake,” she told him, sounding insulted. “And don’t forget, I’m married.”
Married she was, but hell if anyone knew where her drunken husband had disappeared to. The girl was only twenty-two years old and already on her fourth kid. If it weren’t for him giving her work, she and the kids would have starved by now. He felt sorry for her when he gave her the job and he didn’t know what he was going to tell her when he had to let her go any day because he couldn’t afford to keep her on.
“Where are the kids today, Tisha?” Jack groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.
“I sent them upstairs to watch T.V. like I always do when I’m working. Why?”
Jack dropped his hands to his sides and his eyes sprang open. “Oh, shit! You didn’t.”
“Jack, what’s the matter with you?” she asked. “If you don’t want the kids trashing the place, then just tell me and I’ll find somewhere else to put them while I’m doing my shift.”
“No, no, Tisha. It’s not that,” he said with his hand raised in the air. “It’s just that – oh, never mind. Nathan, open the restaurant and see to it that Alfredo looks at the refrigerators. I’ve got to get upstairs, quickly.” His restaurant usually wasn’t open for three meals a day but Jack had been doing it, hoping to bring in more money. It was a last desperate attempt to save the place. However, he was severely understaffed, and his employees seemed to resent him. Everything was backfiring on him and he didn’t know how to fix it.
Jack ran up the stairs and threw open the door expecting to find Eden cowering in the corner, screaming because three wild kids had stormed in on her while she was sleeping.
Instead, he found something that took him by surprise. Eden, fully clothed in her dress and sandals sat on the bed with little three-year-old Patsy on her lap. Six-year-old Randal sat backwards on a chair in front of her, and the eighteen-month-old Nicola crawled around exploring the floor.
They were all laughing when he opened the door, but the laughter ceased as soon as they saw him.
“Well, I see you met Tisha’s kids,” he said, for lack of anything else to say. By habit, he walked over to open the curtains, but they were already opened. Not only that, but an empty wine bottle sat on the table with a bunch of blooming weeds in it, right next to the empty and washed plate that had held the cherry pie he’d brought her last night.
“I guess you were up early today,” he told her.
“Eden’s nice,” said little Patsy.
“Yeah,” agreed Randal. “We like her a lot.”
He cocked his head and looked at the children. “How did you know her name was Eden?” asked Jack.
Randal opened his mouth, then closed it when he saw Eden shake her head slightly. Jack didn’t know what was going on.
“She told us,” said Patsy more energetically than he ever felt even after three cups of fully-leaded coffee.
“Yeah, well, that’s all she can say, so get used to it, kids.” Jack walked over and picked up the youngest who was now exploring the inside of his closet. “Eden’s from a different part of the world and can’t talk like we talk.”
“I want to go to Peru when I grow up,” Randal told him.
“Peru? That’s a big word for such a little boy,” said Jack. “Did she tell you she was from there?”
“Peru.” Eden spoke before Randal could answer. “Peru,” she repeated slowly.
Jack handed the baby to Randal and helped Patsy get off Eden’s lap.
“Why don’t you kids go down to the kitchen and see if Rafael can cook you up some eggs?”
“Rafael’s here?” asked Randal excitedly. “I thought you told him not to come in anymore before lunchtime.”
Damn. That was right. Jack had to cut the man’s hours last week. Rafael was good with the kids, and Jack just wanted a few minutes alone with Eden before he took a shower and changed.
“Then go ask Alfredo to cook you some eggs, but tell him not to burn them. And when you’re done, go play in the yard. Alfredo’s got a refrigerator to fix, so don’t be slowing him down.”
“Okay, Mr. Talon.” Randal carried the baby on his hip and took Patsy by the hand. “Goodbye, Eden. I hope you’ll be here tomorrow so we can see you again.”
She didn’t answer, just waved her hand as they left.
There was an awkward moment when the door closed and Jack and Eden were left alone in the room together. Silence, as always. The silence between them was really starting to get to him. Right about now, he’d give anything just to have a conversation.
“Well.” He flashed a smile. “I take it you slept good in my bed?”
She lowered her head as always. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she was embarrassed, so that must mean she knew the word “bed”. Jack figured she probably thought he was asking her to join him there.
“Look, I’ve got to take a shower. Bath,” he added and pointed toward the door for her sake.
She backed away slightly, her eyes wide. The poor thing must have figured he was telling her to take another bath. Two baths in one month was most likely unheard of in her part of the world.
As Jack started to unbutton his shirt, she turned away. When he took it off and flung it over the back of the chair, he realized she’d donned that damned hat of hers again and was staring out the window. He walked over to her and lifted his hand to pluck it from her head, but before he could, she turned abruptly and grabbed his wrist, squeezing her fingers around it tightly.
“You’ve got a strong grip,” he told her, impressed. She was probably a hard worker. Weren’t all mountain women that way?
Eden didn’t say anything, as usual, just held his wrist and looked into his eyes. Jack found himself lost in her big blue eyes that were American, not Peruvian at all. Those eyes reminded him a lot of the American professor, Jonathan Starke. They were truly windows to her soul. Jack swore he could see her whole life reflected in them. Innocence, hurt, abandonment, confusion, and most of all, a depth to a woman he wanted to know better.
He reached out with his other hand, placing it around her fingers and loosening her grip
. “Oh, all right. Keep the hat on. For now. Ruthie’s taking you shopping this morning, and I want you to pick out something a little less frumpy if possible.”
“Frumpy,” she said and walked across the room, glaring at him if he wasn’t mistaken.
“Yeah, frumpy. It means – oh hell, you wouldn’t understand.”
There was a knock at the door, and he went over to open it. Ruthie stood there chomping on a piece of gum, her eyes scanning his half-naked body and then looking across the room at Eden.
“Sorry to interrupt. Maybe I should come back later?”
“Don’t start with me, Ruthie.” He dug in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, handing her his credit card.
“Buy her something a little more – something that’ll make her look a little less –”
“Frumpy,” Eden said, walking up to Ruthie.
Ruthie cocked her head and lifted an eyebrow at Jack.
“She learned a new word today,” he explained.
“You’re teaching her English?” Ruthie sounded truly surprised.
“Not really, but it doesn’t matter. It’s probably too hard for her to understand anyway. Instead, Alfredo’s going to teach me a few phrases in Spanish so I can try to communicate with the girl.”
Ruthie snapped her gum and eyed up Eden. “I see. So, how much do you want me to spend on her?”
“Whatever it takes.” He ran a hand through his hair and yawned. “No, actually, you’d better keep it to two outfits and a nightgown. I’ve got to start cutting back.”
“Only two outfits?” gasped Ruthie. “A girl can’t live on that!”
“She’s not staying here long. This is only to tide her over until I can figure out what to do with her.”
“Whatever you say, Boss. I’ll be back for the lunch rush.”
“There won’t be another rush. Yesterday was a fluke.”
“Too bad. I could really use the money. That is, an extra ten or twenty would be helpful around now since I really could use a new pair of shoes and some more gum.”
Jack let out a deep sigh. He never could ignore someone in need. “Put it on the charge, Ruthie. Just don’t get carried away.”
“Thanks.” Ruthie took Eden by the hand. “C’mon, Sweetie. We’ll doll you up real pretty. You’ll look so good that Jack won’t want to get rid of you.”
Jack closed the door and rested his forehead against it. Somehow, he had the feeling Ruthie would do just that. And somehow, he knew she was always right. The last thing Jack needed or wanted in his life right now was a woman. Especially one who couldn’t understand a word he said.
* * *
“So, where are are we going?” asked Eden as soon as she and Ruthie had gotten in the car and closed the door.
Ruthie looked at her, open-mouthed. “You can talk. English, I mean.”
“Of course, I can,” she answered with a giggle. Eden pulled down the visor and flipped up the mirror, looking into it to straighten her hat. “Who said I couldn’t?”
“Well, I guess Jack did.”
“Jack knows nothing.”
Ruthie peered at her suspiciously. “You don’t want him to know, do you?”
Eden looked at her and smiled. “I like to listen to him talk like a child, hoping I’ll understand. I like to hear him say things he normally wouldn’t, if he thought I understood.”
“You are a sly one, Eden.” A devilish grin spread across Ruthie’s face.
“You won’t tell, will you?”
“I’ll let you tell him, Sweetie. I don’t want to get into the middle of a domestic quarrel.”
“Domestic quarrel?” questioned Eden, not sure she understood.
“Never mind. Now let’s go shopping and get you something that’ll drive Jack crazy.”
“Ruthie, what do you mean by that?”
“By what?” Ruthie started up the car.
“Drive him crazy? Is that an American saying?”
“I suppose so. What I meant was that the man’s got the hots for you. He’s giving you the eye. In other words, he likes you, Eden.”
Eden felt her body tingle when Ruthie said the words. Did Jack really like her, or have the hots for her, as Ruthie said? She was sure he didn’t, the way he talked down to her, called her clothes frumpy, and always wanted to rip off her hat. Still, the idea of such a handsome man liking her was appealing in a way. Then she remembered the way he had talked about her father and it angered her.
“Well, I don’t like Mr. Talon,” she said and slammed the mirror on the visor shut. “He’s a rude man and very annoying.”
“Really,” scoffed Ruthie. “Don’t forget, he’s buying you clothes and letting you sleep in his bed while he sleeps downstairs in a booth. There really is some good in that man, somewhere, but you just need to look for it.”
So, that was where he slept last night! She suddenly felt terrible for thinking he’d be sleeping in the arms of some woman. Eden figured Ruthie was right about Jack not being so bad but, still, she didn’t want to admit it. She still wasn’t sure about the whole situation, and only knew she wanted to get home.
“Is he sending me home, Ruthie?”
Ruthie pulled out of the lot and headed to the street, merging into traffic. “Do you want to leave already, Sweetie?”
“Sí. I hate it here. I want to get back to the mountains. To my people.”
Ruthie snapped her gum and turned on the radio. “Then you’d better talk to Jack about it, because I don’t believe he plans on buying that ticket to South America.”
Eden suddenly felt very unsure of herself. It wasn’t something she was looking forward to doing. “Will you ask him for me, Ruthie? Can you get him to buy my ticket?”
Ruthie shook her head and stepped on the gas. “No, Honey, that I won’t do. I put in my two cents where it doesn’t belong more than I should, but I respect Jack and his decisions. If you want him to send you home, then you’re just going to have to ask him yourself.”
Eden knew it was impossible to ask Jack to send her home without actually talking to him in English. She couldn’t quite figure out Ruthie, but had a feeling the woman said this purposely so she would have to talk to Jack. From what Eden had seen, Ruthie was probably the closest person to Jack around here. Ruthie told Eden that Jack liked her, though she couldn’t see it for herself. He really was handsome, and he did say he was sorry for being such a jerk. But still, he’d said things about her father she could never forget. No, she wasn’t going to talk to him just yet. That ticket back to Peru was going to have to wait.
Chapter 6
It was well into the lunch hour when Eden and Ruthie returned from shopping. They came in through the open back door of the restaurant, almost running into Tisha’s kids, who were playing hide and seek.
Eden grabbed Randal and bent down to whisper in his ear. “This is not a good place to play, Randal. Why don’t you get your sisters and go play in the yard for a while? It’s a nice day.”
“Okay.” Randal smiled. “And then maybe we can talk some more later?”
“Perhaps, but remember our secret.” She put her finger up to her lips and winked. The little boy giggled and tried to wink back, but had a hard time doing it. The whole side of his face rose up and his mouth opened when he tried.
“Don’t worry,” whispered the boy. “I won’t tell Mr. Talon you know how to talk.”
Eden laughed and rearranged the manta, Peruvian shawl, on her back. The dress they had bought was tucked away inside her manta because she had refused to wear the dress home. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to wear it. The only thing she liked about it was that it would be cooler than her own clothes.
“¡Hola!” greeted Alfredo, sticking his head out from behind one of the standup refrigeration units.
Eden knew Spanish well, but she didn’t feel like talking at the moment. She just wanted to get upstairs and take off her hot clothes. She greeted Alfredo in his own language, and then explained that she preferred to speak Quec
hua, which was her language.
“Well, then my little Spanish lesson with Jack this morning won’t do him any good, will it?” asked Alfredo with a chuckle. This surprised Eden, because she had no idea Jack was really taking measures to learn to talk with her.
“Eden’s tired,” interrupted Ruthie. “I’m sure she’s anxious to get upstairs.”
Eden smiled at her, grateful for the help.
“Alfredo, why aren’t you fixing lunch for the customers?” asked Ruthie.
“What customers?” Alfredo shrugged. “There have been so few this morning that I actually decided to look at the refrigerator out of boredom.”
“Well, I’ll go relieve Tisha so she can head on out then,” offered Ruthie. “Where’s Jack?”
“I haven’t seen him since we finished his meager Spanish lesson about an hour ago.” Alfredo leaned one arm against the unit and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.
Eden headed out the swinging doors, waving to Tisha, who was standing near the register chatting with two women customers about to leave. She picked up her skirt and started up the stairs to her new apartment. Jack’s apartment. Unfortunately, it was the only place she could hang her hat and call home at the moment. Thoughts of Jack ran through her head as she remembered the way he’d frowned at her appearance. Who was he that he could judge so easily? There was nothing wrong with her clothing. It was perfectly acceptable – in Cuzco anyway.
She was rather appalled at the way the American women ran around in little or nothing with their unbound breasts bobbing up and down under their see-through tops. Some of their skirts were so short and their legs bared so high that it left little to nothing to the imagination. Still, she did think they looked comfortable in those clothes. Chicago was muggy, and she was feeling as if she were ready to strip naked just to feel cooler.
After letting herself into the room, she closed the door quietly behind her. Strolling across the floor, she walked over to the bed and tossed her hat down, followed by the manta on her back. Her belongings spilled out. The package she’d gotten today was followed by her hair brush, extra panties she’d brought on the trip, her passport, her panpipe, and the little burlap bag from her father along with the Bible.
Bistro Bachelor: Working Man Series - Book 2 Page 4
