“We’ve got to get busy,” he said and let go of her as fast as he’d grabbed her. “We’ve got to change this restaurant around before that entertainment book comes out this fall. She’s going to be in touch with me about the changes we’ll be making.”
“Changes?” asked Eden, her head spinning from Jack’s whirlwind of sudden energy. “What changes?”
Jack looked at her as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “The changes to turn this into a Peruvian bistro, that’s what.”
“A Peruvian bistro?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s the perfect answer to my problem. My place is too small to even compete with restaurants the size of Noble’s across the street. But if it’s a bistro, that is a whole different story. Especially an ethnic one.”
“You mean, you’re going to serve all Peruvian food?”
“Not only the food, Eden. We’re going to take everything you know about your culture and bring it right here to The Golden Talon. As a matter of fact, I think we’ll have to change the name.” He paced back and forth. “Maybe the Golden Puma or Incan Gold. What do you think? We’ve got to have a gimmick.”
“Will your father approve of this, Jack? After all, he is coming home soon.”
“Exactly why I have to do it. He’ll be thrilled when he sees how I’ve changed it around. Once the money starts rolling in, all he’ll see is dollar figures.” He picked up his cell phone and pounded out a number. He then sat at his desk, and looked up at her. “You’re going to be one busy girl, Eden. I’ve got plans for this place that’ll make me rich.”
When he started to talk into the phone, Eden took that as her cue to leave. She made her way to the stairs, not at all sure she was happy about this whole idea.
“Well, what did he say?” Ruthie walked by on her way to serve a table.
“He liked it,” said Eden softly. “He’s very happy.”
In a daze, she made her way up to the apartment. Going inside, she closed the door behind her. Everything was happening so fast that it was confusing. Jack was happy and that should make her happy, too. So why didn’t it? Maybe it was because his happiness came from making money off the professor’s daughter.
She missed her father immensely and wished he were still alive so she could talk to him about all this. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she opened the locket that hung on a chain around her neck. Her father’s smiling face was in the left half of the heart. The right half was empty. Just like her heart felt right now.
Eden looked over to the mirror and saw her reflection. Her Incan features and long braids were almost being mocked by the Mickey Mouse t-shirt and designer jeans she wore. This wasn’t who she was. This was a confused girl trying to be something she wasn’t. She belonged back home with her mother. Eden drew a shaky breath. She hadn’t even written her mother yet that her father had died.
She picked up her montera and arranged it on top of her head. Blue eyes – American eyes – stared out from within her soul. It was a soul she no longer knew. Being half-American and half-Quechua, she didn’t really fit in anywhere.
Whenever she was upset, her father used to read to her from the Bible. Since his death, she’d all but ignored the book. She opened the nightstand drawer and gently lifted out her father’s Bible, opening it to Genesis to read about the Garden of Eden. The words were comforting, causing her emotions to still. Her father’s presence seemed to be here somehow, and she found solace in her thoughts. Her eyes closed as she tried to still her mind further. Exhausted, she drifted in and out of a light sleep. The book slipped from her grip and landed on the floor with a loud thump.
Eden’s eyes flew open, and she reached down to get the Bible. That was when she noticed that the lining on the inside back cover was slit open and taped back up. She felt the thickness beneath it and discovered that something had been hidden there for safekeeping.
Carefully, Eden pulled back the tape and then the book lining. An airline ticket fell out, as well as a folded piece of paper with her name written on the outside in her father’s handwriting. She gently unfolded the paper, her heart beating rapidly. Eden was almost afraid to read it but, at the same time, longed for her father’s words.
He had written in Spanish. He had never felt comfortable enough to write in the Quechua language even though he’d learned her language and taught her English so they could talk to each other. And for a while, before she became fluent in English, Spanish had been their common ground.
She read the words scrawled across the page: Eden, my dear. I write this letter as I lay on my deathbed waiting for you to come from Peru to be by my side. I can only hope I’ll live to see your eyes one last time before I die.
Tears welled in her eyes and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying.
As you will find out, I’ve done something very horrible to a good friend. His name is Jack Talon. He’s got the biggest heart out of anyone I know. He lent me money to search for treasure on my expedition. A lost treasure is what I had hoped would bring me wealth and happiness. But I never found it, and if there is one, it still remains hidden.
I wanted more, Eden. I wanted so much more. I was hoping to use Jack’s money to make money for myself. I gambled it away, hoping to be able to make a large sum and then return to him what I’d borrowed. But in my greed, I ruined a man’s life. I lost all of Jack’s money and in doing so, I lost the best friend I ever had.
I want you to know, Eden, that I tried to make that money so I could build a nice place here in the States for you. I know now I was wrong to want to pull you away from your mother. She loves you, as do I. She can teach you what I would never have been able to. Your mother knows you can’t buy happiness, Eden. The Quechua people may live simply, but they are happy.
That’s why I used the last of Jack’s money to buy you this ticket home. I didn’t tell you about it, because I was hoping you would get to know Jack first before you left his care. He’s a good man, Eden. And you are a good woman. I only wish I could have lived long enough to try to explain this myself. The ticket is here for you, should you decide to go home to your mother. The decision is yours if you’d rather stay with Jack.
Either way, Sweetheart, I want you to know I love you. And if I could do it all over again, I would have stayed with you. That treasure I searched for and never found was really here all along, but I didn’t see it. You are that treasure, Eden. A treasure I’ve finally found and sadly am about to lose.
I’ll love you forever.
Your father, Jonathan Starke
Eden looked at the letter and realized her tears were dropping on the paper and smearing the ink. She picked up the ticket and glanced at the date. It was a flight out of Chicago on August 30th, two months from now. Her father had remembered her birthday and made the flight for that date.
Eden was ready to cry some more and probably would have if she hadn’t heard Jack knocking on the door.
“Eden! Eden, can I come in?”
She grabbed the ticket and the letter and slipped them both back into the lining of the Bible. She had just closed the book on her lap when Jack poked his head in the door.
“What’s going on, Sweetheart? Don’t you want me in here?”
“Of course I do.” She faked a smile and tried to nonchalantly wipe the tears from her face with the back of her hand.
“You’re crying, aren’t you?” Jack closed the door softly and came and sat down beside her. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” she said. “I’m just so happy about your plan to change the restaurant. I think it’ll work, Jack. Let’s go for it.”
Jack thought Eden was the worst liar he’d ever laid eyes on. Something was troubling her, and she didn’t want him to know. He saw the tears she tried to wipe away without him noticing. The Bible her father gave her was on her lap, not to mention the locket with his picture was open on her neck. That told him she was trying to be comforted.
“You miss your father, don’t you?” He
reached out and snapped the locket closed. The back of his hand brushed against her warm skin and sent a spark of fire through him.
“That’s right,” Eden agreed too quickly. “But I’ll get over it in time.”
Jack cleared his throat and looked at the hat on her head. It wasn’t the baseball cap he had bought her, it was the hat from her native land. She wanted to go home – she was homesick, and he couldn’t blame her. He never should have kept her away from her family for so long.
“You want to go home, don’t you, Eden?”
Her head jerked up in surprise, and then she lowered her gaze to the Bible on her lap. “No,” she answered softly, running her hand over the cover of the book. “I’m going to stay here and help you with the new bistro. It’s the least I can do to pay back my father’s debt.”
“You don’t have to pay back any debt. It’s not your fault.” He ran a finger over her cheek. “Besides, you’ve shown me that I need to forgive people and stop living in the past. I’ll find a way to earn back that money eventually. Maybe it’ll happen with our new food and style. I’ll get it back, you’ll see.”
“Well, I’ll help you, Jack. I’ll work off that ticket like you told me I should.”
“Eden,” he said with a low chuckle. “It would take you a year to earn that kind of money working for me. I can’t even pay my employees or my bills right now.”
“That’s all right. It was the deal. I’ll work for as long as it takes to earn that ticket. And you just get your bills paid up and the employees paid off as well before you even think of paying me.”
She was too good to be true. Jack could see how badly Eden wanted to go back to Peru, yet she knew he was in trouble and would postpone her trip home in order to help him get out of debt. No one he’d ever known would go to bat for him like this.
“All right,” he said, with a slight nod. “But maybe you can at least call your mother. Maybe you should let your family know you’re all right.”
Eden shook her head sadly. “There are no phones where I live, Jack. That isn’t possible.”
“But there must be some way to contact her.”
“My people don’t worry like Americans do. Life is cheap when you live in the mountains. You also get used to disappointment. Most babies don’t even live long enough to make it to their teens. And those that do are basically on their own from a very early age. My mother won’t be worrying about me.”
“You’re just saying that because you feel like an outcast, don’t you? I’m sure your family wants you back as much as you want to go.”
“No, I’ve made my decision, Jack. I’m not going anywhere until I pay back my father’s debt.”
Jack didn’t understand her, but figured he’d just give her time. Still, he couldn’t help but feel he’d done something wrong by keeping her here this long.
“I’ll miss you, Eden – when you do go.” He ran his hand over her hair and placed a small kiss on her forehead. He wanted to kiss her like he had a month ago. Hell, he wanted to lay her on the bed and bury himself between her thighs, but he knew he’d only be making their parting more difficult if he did. Eden belonged with her people, and he had to do the right thing by making sure she got home. His heart ached to think of life without her. Maybe he’d just wait a little longer. Eden said she’d help him make his restaurant a Peruvian bistro. To do this, he needed her, or he’d never get it right.
Her presence and the fact they were sitting on the bed together was making his mind race as well as his libido. Something told him he’d better get out of there fast, not to mention change his thinking before he convinced himself to stay.
“Reading the Bible?” he asked, noticing the way she gripped the book.
“It always helps to clear my mind.”
“Then I guess I better take it with me, as my mind needs some clearing right now.” He plucked it from her hands and tossed it up in the air and caught it. “The last time I even saw a Bible was in a hotel room in –” He noticed the way she was watching him wide-eyed. “Never mind. You did say you wanted me to have this when you first arrived, didn’t you? It was some kind of gift to me from your father?” He got to his feet and flipped through the pages. “This and that bag of beans, right?”
“I – yes, I did say that.”
“Great,” he said, snapping the book shut in one hand. “It’ll give me something to do when I go to bed. That garage room gets pretty cold and lonely at night.”
Eden didn’t say anything, and he figured he’d better change the subject before his mind wandered again. “How about a walk on the beach tonight? After all, it’s beautiful weather. It’s the first day of summer, you know.”
“I – um – that’ll be fine,” she answered, still looking at the book.
“Good,” he said. “Then maybe we can talk more later about how to turn the restaurant into an authentic – what’s the word you used for nightclubs and restaurants?”
“Peñas,” she said, her eyes resting either on the book in his hand or his zipper, he wasn’t sure which.
“Peñas,” he repeated, but the word just reminded him of the tightening in his groin. “I’ll see you tonight, Eden.” He left the room, only hoping he would be able to control himself when they walked on the beach later.
Chapter 18
Eden brushed her hands on her jeans, admiring the garden she had planted. The vegetable plants were well under way, and many of them would be ready to use in the kitchen soon. She told Jack she’d rather use the vegetables she’d grown herself without fertilizers and pesticides rather than the store-bought produce. This would be a nice pull to get people into the bistro. She’d even told him once the garden was in full bloom they should take customers on a tour and perhaps even let them pick out their own greens or tomatoes for a salad.
Jack was happy, and this made her happy, too. But being in her garden also made her long for home. She wondered how her mother was faring and if little Pia was walking by now. Eden missed her mother and half-siblings with all her heart. Still, she didn’t want to go back if it meant having to leave Jack.
She felt good about herself when she was around him. Jack and his employees accepted her for who she was. She’d never really had friends back home. Having been treated like an outcast, there was no time for developing friendships even if she had wanted to. A person living in the Andes worked from before sunup until sundown. They only socialized on feast days and fiestas, but those were too few and far between.
Chicago had started to feel like home to her lately, but still she longed for the mountains and beauty of Peru. Nothing could compare to the fresh air and wide open spaces. In Chicago, the air was usually foul, and the tall, concrete buildings threatened to strangle her as she felt so confined.
Eden pushed back her baseball cap and looked up at the sky. Dusk was setting in and a rainstorm was on the horizon. Jack would be looking for her soon, as they had planned to go walking on the beach of Lake Michigan. Maybe that would make her feel better and rid her of this empty feeling within.
She looked up at the room above the garage. It was Jack’s room now, since she’d been occupying his apartment. The draperies were closed as they always were, and she knew it was because Jack didn’t want to be tempted by seeing her naked in her room. Though they had spent time together and gotten to know each other these past few months, Eden longed to get even closer to Jack. She wanted to relive the night he’d made love to her. But this time, she wanted to relax and enjoy it, and she wanted it to last longer.
Eden thought about what Jack said. He’d be sending her home as soon as he could afford the ticket, and this thought terrified her. At one time, she couldn’t wait to leave Chicago, and especially to get far away from Jack. But now, if he sent her home, she didn’t know what she’d do. He’d taken the Bible with him that contained her ticket home. She had to get it back from him before he found it and decided to have her use it.
Quickly looking around, she checked to make sure no one was
watching. Tisha and her kids had already left for the night, going back to their run-down apartment in the worst part of town. She’d have to talk to Jack about that. She didn’t feel it was safe for the kids or for a pregnant woman to be living there.
Walking across the garden and through the arched trellis, she was pleased to see the rose vines shooting up the sides. It would be beautiful when the roses bloomed and the whole trellis sparkled in crimson. Stopping at the foot of the stairs leading above the garage, she took one more quick look around the yard before she darted up the steps. She had to get into Jack’s room and find that ticket before he did. She didn’t want him to know she had the means to get home and wasn’t telling him.
Placing her hand on the doorknob, she held her breath as she turned it slowly. Jack was in the restaurant but, still, it made her nervous to be doing this behind his back. This was Jack’s personal space, and he hadn’t invited her there. She poked her head into the room and fumbled for a light switch on the wall. When she didn’t find one, she slipped inside, leaving the door cracked to let in some light.
Still, it was dark and very damp. She pulled the drapes open to help her see the surroundings. It was only one small room. Still, it was larger than the one room that made up her family’s home. A bed came out from the wall, and a chair was pushed near the window. Those were the only pieces of furniture here. Eden smiled, thinking of the Quechua’s way of life. They didn’t have much furniture either and used pallets to sleep on. Jack was, in a way, living like her people and, ironically enough, she was living in luxury across the yard like his people.
A fireplace was on the far side of the room with logs stacked beside it. The room seemed to not only be lacking electricity, but heat as well. Then she saw the guitar leaning against the wall. Was it Jack’s? She hadn’t known he played an instrument. It made her think of her panpipe in her manta. Sadly enough, she hadn’t even removed it from her pack the entire time she’d been here.
Little by little, she was losing her culture every day she stayed here in this foreign land. This made her sad and confused. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, letting her ponytail swish back and forth. She’d unbraided her hair earlier, liking the way it felt. But even this pointed out that her culture was slipping away. She’d been braiding her hair for the last twenty-one years, just like the rest of the Quechua women, until she’d come to America. Until she’d met Jack Talon.
Bistro Bachelor: Working Man Series - Book 2 Page 15
