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Fear races through me at his words even though I know they’re true. “It isn’t going to be easy.”
“No it isn’t.” Kasey squeezes my fingers. “I’m happy for you and my brother, Rae. Don’t let the others scare you away. You’re good for him.” He offers me a wry smile, his attention over my shoulder. “Go talk to your daughter, and I’ll be around if you need me.”
I turn and watch him go, his long stride eating up the distance. He stops and speaks to an approaching Andie before continuing on out of the bar. My daughter stares at me and from where I’m sitting I can see the turmoil in her eyes.
Slowly moving toward her my body is wracked with tension, but when she doesn’t retreat, I start to relax. She looks uncomfortable.
“Let’s go up to my room and talk.” Taking my hand she offers me a wry smile and leads me to the elevators.
Once in her room, I move to sit on the edge of her bed even though I’d rather be pacing the floor. I’m full of nervous energy now that we’re alone and I’m scared that she might be starting to accept Diego and I being together, when I have more to tell her.
“I’m sorry,” Andie blurts, my eyes shoot to hers. “I shouldn’t have reacted the way that I did.”
I shake my head.
“Mom, let me finish. I do need to tell you that I’m sorry and I’ll tell Diego when I see him. I kinda knew that you both were together but the truth is that I was just jealous.”
Frowning, I ask, “You like Diego?”
“Yes, but not in the way that you do. I don’t mean that I’m jealous that you’re with him and I’m not, I mean because I’m,” she sighs and refuses to meet my gaze, “in love with someone who is older than me and he won’t give me the time of day. So that’s what I was reacting to, not your news.” She kneels at my feet and takes my hands into her. “I’m happy that you’ve found someone to love you, someone that you love too. I’ve seen Diego looking at you and he looks at you like you’re his whole world.” She softly smiles. “I know that you must feel the same otherwise you wouldn’t be with him.”
“I love him, Andie, which is why I have something else to tell you.” My heart beats rapidly in my chest at what I’m about to say, but it needs saying before someone else finds out before she does. “We’re not just dating.”
She sits back on her haunches with a frown on her beautiful face.
Taking a shaky breath, I admit, “We got married by Elvis.” I chuckle awkwardly, holding my hand up with the cheap band, that means more to me than any other ring will, and offer her a smile. “It was a spare of the moment decision as we passed the chapel. The minute Diego mentioned it I knew that’s what I wanted. We plan on having another wedding with you and Diego’s family back home. Please be happy and not mad. I’m worried enough about Diego and don’t want to worry about your reaction to everything as well. I love you Andie, but I need Diego.” I join her on my knees.
She starts laughing. “Oh Mom.” Her arms go around my shoulders and she whispers, “I love you, and for years it’s always just been the two of us, but Diego is good for you.” She kisses my cheek. “I would have loved to see the Elvis wedding, but I can accept you both renewing your vows back home.”
“The wedding is recorded on Diego’s cell, so at least you’ll get to see that. I need to ask you to keep the wedding to yourself for now. Lucia doesn’t like the fact that I’m with her son, and I know our marriage is going to cause waves. I need Diego to be with me when the others find out.”
“Isn’t the wedding band going to give it away?” she asks.
“Probably, but I can’t bring myself to take it off.” I smile, remembering, “It was ten dollars at the chapel.”
“But it’s worth everything to you,” Andie comments.
“You know me too well. I don’t want to ta
ke it off even when it starts to turn my finger green.” I smile, holding my finger up for inspection.
“Can we completely forget about what I said before and just remember this conversation?”
“We can. Now, help your mother up from the floor.” I hold my hand out.
She rolls her eyes, refusing to humor me. “You have a bit to go before you’re that old…Mom, tell me why you’re worried about Diego. Where is he?” Andie frowns and passes me a bottle of water.
After taking a long drink of the refreshing liquid, my thoughts turn to the man I love. “He had to get a flight back home this morning. His boss called about a fire because they need everyone they can get to help control it. He didn’t want to leave but I think he would have lived with regret if something had happened to one of his friends and he wasn’t there.”
“He’s a good man, and I’m sure he’s going to be okay.”
“I hope so.”
15
Diego
Sweating like a pig, I chug some fresh water, trying to hydrate my parched throat. The smoke in the thick of the fire is bad, worse than I’ve seen in a while. The wind is against us right now causing the fire to rapidly spread. At the moment we seem to just about be handling it. We’re holding our breath that we’ve finally caught it. But the fire line has moved a few times since I arrived two days ago so who knows.
