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“We can’t be happy, Aunt Rosa. David isn’t here.” Angel sounded devastated, and for the first time something stirred in Miguel other than just finishing his business and getting back to New York. The boys were so young, they must have thought of David almost like a father. His loss must have hit them hard, and maybe they were acting the way they were because of it. He should cut them some slack.
A good night sleep would put everything in perspective, and Jasmeka wouldn’t hide from him for long. Even if he had to barge into her room, he would corner her and have a talk.
Chapter 6
“What’s wrong with them?” Jasmeka’s sister Katrenda stuck a chopped carrot into the dip Jasmeka was just laying out on the table and popped it into her mouth. She munched hungrily while shaking her head at Antonio and Angel.
Jasmeka smacked her sister’s hand when she reached for another carrot. “Are you here to help me or eat the food because I’m pretty sure Laredo won’t pay for half the meal being eaten before all his guests arrive.”
Katrenda pursed her lips. “I ate one carrot. Gosh, you’re mean today. What’s going on over at the big house? First Antonio and Angel are hanging on your every word and running around doing your bidding. Then you get all snappy because I ate a snack. Usually, you keep making me try everything. What happened last night?”
Jasmeka frowned but then caught herself. “Nothing. I have a lot to do, and I still have people coming over to the house. I’m not sure I cooked enough.”
“You should have canceled this cookout.” She leaned closer to Jasmeka and lowered her voice. “How self-centered does Laredo have to be that he won’t call off the barbecue knowing good and well the Torres family is in mourning?”
“This isn’t the old days. People don’t have to stay in just because there was a death in the family.”
Jasmeka fiddled with the place settings. Her sister threw her arms around Jasmeka and kissed her cheek. “You’re okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Nope.”
Katrenda straightened and put her hands on her hips. “You don’t always have to act like our ray of sunshine.”
“Girl, please. You know I was crying my eyes out when it first happened. I can’t do that forever. I’m not going in public looking like a hot mess.”
Her sister’s eyebrow rose in disbelief. Katrenda started to answer but stopped when she spotted someone over Jasmeka’s shoulder. “Now there is a sexy drink of water I’d like to sip from. Who knew Miguel Torres would grow up to be such a yummy man?”
Jasmeka stiffened. She had managed to leave the house earlier so she could get to Laredo’s and prepare for the party, but she knew it was a matter of time before she and Miguel faced each other again. When he had come storming up accusing her of all kinds of wrong, he made her so mad she forgot what kind of woman she was. In the light of day, she didn’t feel any better. Her blood boiled so much she wanted to march over to him and punch him in his face. Too bad she wasn’t the violent type, but one word to Katrenda, and her sister would do it for her. Because of that, she kept her mouth shut.
“You didn’t know him when he was growing up,” Jasmeka said.
Katrenda was biting on a finger and still feasting her eyes on Miguel. “No, but he looks a lot like his little brothers, doesn’t he? He was probably a scrawny little nothing back in the day, and look at him now. Those muscles!”
Jasmeka threw a hand towel at her. “Jeez, Tren, wipe your mouth. You’re drooling.”
“I am not!” Her sister burst out laughing, and Jasmeka managed a smile.
The grin left her face when she felt him watching her. He took a step in her direction, but their host distracted him. She went back to finishing up the table layout.
Laredo’s voice boomed across the yard. “Miguel, I haven’t seen you in years. I was sorry to hear about David. Have a snack.”
; Jasmeka clenched her teeth, and Katrenda bumped her arm, whispering, “Sensitive, huh?”
Jasmeka shook her head. “Just leave it alone, Tren. He’ll stick his foot in his mouth at some point today. I really didn’t think the Torres family would come.”
“Probably ready to get out of the house and stop receiving guests talking about how sorry they are and not meaning it.”
“Tren!”
“You were thinking it.”
Rather than indulge her sister in running down the neighbors, Jasmeka scurried back to the kitchen. She told herself it had nothing to do with Miguel. Not that she was scared to face him but she didn’t want to explode when she was working a catering job.
