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“Sure.” He went in the front door, while Maggie and Rafael circled the house.
Peering in the back door, they saw Tomas scurrying around the kitchen, preparing food for Adolfo and Julian to serve to the guests. “People are sure to come out to the ranch after the funeral. I wonder if Santos and Cirilda thought of having food there?”
“Probably. He likes running things.”
“So do you.”
His boots brushed the sandy patio as he took a few steps away to look out at the sea. “It’s a challenge to take care of myself.”
Maggie knew exactly what he meant. Before she could say so, the twins came bursting out the back door. They ran to grab her in an affectionate hug and wept such huge tears they soaked her knit top. She gave them soothing pats until they calmed down.
“Your room was empty, and we’d thought you’d gone home,” Connie said.
“Your grandmother was upset with me, and I’m staying with Rafael.”
“But you’re going home soon?” Perry asked.
Rafael’s stance was relaxed, but she knew he was keenly interested in her response. “I’m not making any plans until after the funeral. Our father’s death came so suddenly, and I know how sad you are.”
Perry wiped her dripping nose on the back of her hand. “We knew he wasn’t well, but we’d thought we’d see him again. Mother hardly spoke to him when she came for us. She just rushed us out of the house, and we only had a second to give him a kiss and say good-bye.”
Connie began to cry all over again and burrowed against Maggie’s chest. Perry looked over at Rafael. “So you’re a full matador now?”
He nodded. “Thanks to your father’s help.”
“Try and stay alive, will you?” Perry added.
“I will.”
Maggie wondered if the girls’ tears moved him at all, or whether the possibility she might one day be crying for him had occurred to him. She heard the back door open and close and turned to see a woman as blonde as the twins. Even in the dim light, her eyes glowed with the same bright blue gleam. “Are you Marina?” she asked.
“Yes, and I expect my daughters to behave themselves while we’re here, not stand outside and wail like pitiful orphans.”
“We loved our father even if you didn’t!” Connie scolded. “Why don’t you go to the hotel and leave us here where we belong?”
“You will both come inside this instant,” Marina ordered, and after a brief hesitation, the twins followed their mother into the house.
“You didn’t tell her your name,” Rafael murmured.
“That was a mistake, and I should have introduced you, but she didn’t appear interested. Perhaps she tends to live her imperious opera roles off-stage.”
“Is there anyone else you want to see?”
“No. I have a horrible feeling Carmen has told everyone I killed Miguel, and I don’t want to walk into that.”
He took her hand. “Let’s go home where we can dance and forget anyone else exists.”
She looked up at him and forced a smile. He was drawing her into a Gypsy’s way of life where outsiders didn’t matter. Tonight it was such a comforting possibility, she squeezed his hand and lengthened her stride to match his.
They were nearly home when she remembered dinner. “I’m still sorry we haven’t been able to go out to celebrate your success. There must be someplace you’d like to go or a restaurant with food you love. Maybe we could have something delivered.”
“I didn’t mean to starve you,” he replied. “I forget food if I’m not careful. I don’t have many favorite places. I’m not like Santos. I haven’t been entertaining a different woman every night of the week.”
“You needn’t explain.”
“No, I do. I convinced myself I could live without women until after my Alternativa. You arrived a little early.”
“Well, I didn’t expect you at all.” Her phone began to throb in her purse, and she checked it to make certain it wasn’t her mother. It was Craig. “A friend from home. I’ll speak to him later.”
