“Micah?”
“Yes, Catarina?”
“Mami said, inside of your head, your brain is different,” Catarina said.“Do you feel love?”
“True, it is wired differently, and I see the world differently, but Papa taught me how to use it because I am really smart,” Micah replied.“I don't want to believe that because I'm a little different that it is a bad thing.I am simply different.”
“But do you feel love?”
“I feel love.”
“Do you love me?”
“With everything in me,” Micah replied.
“Good, because I love you too,” she said, looking at her tiny wrist and her watch.She sighed as if she were bored with the world.“Tea will be short today.I have to change and meet Isabella in the garden to pick tomatoes.I don't know why that girl loves to play in the dirt.”
“The dirt of Las Tierras is what sustains us and our way of life,” Micah said.“My children and your children will be the caretakers of this land and all the villages.You will need to get your hands dirty and learn the soil so you can take care of our people.”
Catarina arched her brow.Her café au lait skin always seemed to glow.Expressive brown eyes rested under naturally shaped eyebrows, and she had the Delgado nose.A heart-shaped face accented her natural beauty, and a full mouth, inherited from Ryanne, completed the look of a potential heartbreaker.
“My brother's children will take care of the land and dig in the dirt,” Catarina said.“I shall sip tea and watch your children pick tomatoes from the garden to make spaghetti.”
Her little mouth showed a smile, and she cocked her head at him.
“No, you will learn, as we all have, what it takes to maintain this life,” Micah said.
“I'm six,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.She stood, and he did as well.Catarina offered him her hand, which he bowed over and planted a delicate kiss.She offered a mock curtsey as if she were out of patience with him and needed to finish her crewel project for the main dining hall.“Thank you for joining me for tea.It was delightful.Please enjoy your afternoon.”
“I shall see you at supper,” Micah said.
“Until then,” she told him, crooking her finger for him to bend down.She provided a kiss to his cheek and departed, her back straight, the determination in her steps evident as she made way to the staircase to change clothes to pick tomatoes with Isabella.At times he wondered how two women, or two girls, could be so different, but then he thought of himself and his own brothers.This led to what happened next.
****
MICAH CLEARED THE TEA, wrapping the leftover tea sandwiches in cellophane and placing them in the cooler.The pot of tea was half full, and only a few cookies had been eaten.He placed the cookies and scones under the glass cloche and made his way to his father's office.A light tap at the door, and Eduardo looked up.
“Papa, do you have a moment to speak with me?”Micah asked.
Angel, also in the office, sat at Tonda's old desk.He worked on a watercolor of animals on the farm.While he was no Charlie French, Angel's art had promise.Micah asked, “Angel, may we have the room?”
“What am I going to do with a room?”Angel said.
“Angel, I wish to speak in private with Papa,” Micah clarified.
“Why didn't you say so!”
“I have,” Micah said softly.“I saved you some tea biscuits and tea sandwiches if you want a snack.They are in the kitchen along with half a pot of tea.”
“Yay,” Angel said, standing up.He walked past Micah, raising his hand for a high five.“Hey, Micah.When you are done, will you play with me?”
“Of course, what would you like to play—checkers, or go for a swim or an afternoon ride?”
Angel stopped, turning to face his brother.“Is Alita busy?Maybe we can go on an adventure, and you can teach me about the plants here at Las Tierras,” Angel said.
“Perhaps,” Micah said.“Let's play it by ear.”
“Yay!I love adventures.”
