“And you know that I hate flying,” was her mother’s rejoinder. “When they build the bridge to Florida I’ll gladly take the bus across.”
“But, Mom, it’s not like you’ve never flown before.”
“But I don’t like it. I only fly when it’s really important, like when I came for your graduation.”
“But this is important,” Solie reminded her. “It’s a wedding.”
“But not your wedding,” Niurka said with a sniff. “Emilio’s wedding I can miss, but not yours.”
“But he’s your cousin.”
“Second cousin twice removed. I’ll just send him a nice gift.” She clicked her tongue and with that she ended the discussion. Everybody in the family knew it was the signal that she was ready to change the subject. “And what about you, mi hija? When-”
“Mama, you know that’s off the table for me. I’m not looking.” Solie almost rolled her eyes even though her mother was miles away and couldn’t see her small act of defiance. She didn’t know how many times she’d said it but it was like it went in one ear and out the other. After Raul she’d had her fill of men, particularly tall, dark and gorgeous ones. Why couldn’t her mother accept the fact that she was happily single?
“You must not stop looking, nina. Always have one eye open. Twenty-six is not so young anymore. Before you know it you’ll be thirty and then what?”
“So, I’ll be thirty. It’s not like it’s the end of the world. Lots of people get married way past thirty.” Now she really did roll her eyes. Her mother could be so old-fashioned sometimes.
“And what about babies? Caridad got married at twenty-three and had her first within a year-”
“That’s Caridad, Mama, not me. Let me live my life my way, okay? Right now I just want to focus on finishing my Master’s.”
“Yes, yes, education is important but so is family. You have to think about this.”
At that moment the front doorbell chimed and Solie almost sighed her relief out loud. Whenever the conversation turned to her social life all she wanted to do was escape. Fast. Now she had the perfect excuse.
“Ma, I have a visitor. I have to run, okay?”
“Okay, mi hija, but call me later.”
“I’ll call you tonight. Bye, Ma. Te amo.”
Quickly, Solie placed the receiver back into its cradle and hurried toward the front door. “Coming,” she yelled as the bell chimed again. She already knew who it was.
Daniel, her neighbor’s son, had promised to drop off some sheet music from his piano class. She was dying to try them out on the piano she’d bought herself for her birthday.
She flung the door open. “Hi, Dan…” The words died in her throat.
What she saw on her doorstep wasn’t a fourteen-year old kid clutching a handful of sheet music. Standing in her doorway was a tall, beefy dark-skinned man wearing a bright orange vest and a yellow hard hat.
“I’m sorry to disturb you,” the big man said with a sheepish grin, “but I need your help.”
CHAPTER SIX
The man held out his hand to her. “I’m Trevor Jones, a friend of your neighbor’s.”
“Y…yes, I know.” Quickly getting over her shock she took his hand and shook it. “I remember you.” Then she frowned. “How can I help? Is something wrong?” And just like she’d known it would, her stupid renegade heart gave a tiny jerk of concern. What if something else had happened to Ransom Kent?
Trevor released her and shoved his hands into his pockets. He shook his head. “No, not really. It’s just…” He sighed and his eyes wandered away from her face as he looked over the hedge that separated her yard from Ransom’s. “It’s just that neighbor of yours.” He shook his head again but this time when he looked back at her he was smiling. “Ransom’s too darned stubborn for his own good. He won’t sit still even though he’s been having some bad headaches these past few days. Can you believe the man showed up for work in his sick state?” He grimaced then seemed to catch himself.
Trevor bit his lip and when he spoke again his eyes had a tiny look of pleading that was hard to resist. “I know this is none of your concern,” he began, “but I was wondering if you would help me. Could you…keep an eye on him? He’s liable to hurt himself. When he’s bored he’ll even go out and make work where no work exists.”
His speech touched Solie’s heart. She could see how concerned Trevor was for his friend. She cocked her head to one side as she stared up at him. “Do you think he’ll listen to me?”
That got her a chuckle. “Oh, he will. Just threaten him with a needle. You know he’s got a thing about needles, right?”
Solie nodded. “I’ve got first-hand experience with that.”
“So you know he’s not going to mess around with someone who’s got the power to have him shaking in his boots.” He shrugged. “Me, I could threaten till I turn blue. He never listens.”
Solie almost smiled. For a man as big as Trevor it shouldn’t be hard to intimidate anyone. But she knew how it was when you had a stubborn one to deal with. She knew exactly how to handle a mule like Ransom Kent.
“Today,” she said, pulling the front door closed behind her, “he’s going to listen, whether he likes it or not. Come on.”
She took Trevor’s hand and turned him around then marched him right back down the driveway, matching him step for step.
Her neighbor might have been able to stand up to Trevor and bully him back but it wouldn’t happen with her. Ransom Kent would soon learn that Soledad Felix did not play around.
***
“What’s up with you, boy?” Ransom laughed and held out his hand as King Tut raced toward the hedge and back again. The Great Dane ran up to him and pushed his nose into his palm then he was off again, barking as he raced toward the leafy fence that separated their yard from that of the crazy - well, maybe not so crazy - nurse who lived next door.