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Isabella nodded, but her mother’s comment caused her a moment of embarrassment.She had known those things would be most important to Isabella.She pushed aside the feeling and turned as her father and Aaron joined them.
“You do look quite lovely,” Papi said, leaning close to kiss her cheek. “You remind me so much of my mother. How I miss her smiling face and cheery heart.”
“Mr. Bailey wondered who I favored, and I told him about Grandmother’s painting at the family house. We had a party there for Aunt Josephina’s birthday, and everyone thought the portrait was of me.”
“You are the spitting image of her.” Papi touched Isabella’s cheek. “It’s almost like having her with me again. Leaving her and Father in California was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Isabella wanted to ask why he had done it, then, if he felt that way, but Aaron was speaking. He looked at Isabella for an answer.
“What? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”
“I said you look beautiful and that I wish I could have known your grandmother.”
Isabella nodded, uncertain what to say or do. She felt a rush of multiple emotions, and none of them seemed willing to settle well with one another.
“She was a grand lady.” Isabella managed the words in a clipped tone. She couldn’t understand why she felt so confused.
“Dinner is served,” an older man declared from the doorway.
Isabella didn’t recognize him and looked to her mother in question. “Is he new?”
Her mother smiled. “He is. His name is Ruidoso.”
“Noisy?”
Her father chuckled. “Indeed. He said when he was little that he was quite loud and always made more noise than the other children. His parents nicknamed him Ruidoso, and it stuck.”
“He seems rather old for a butler.”
“He is. He’s eighty-four, but there is no other work for him, and he needs to make a living, so we hired him to come work for us a couple of years ago. He only works a few hours each day and then goes home to care for his six great-grandchildren. Their parents died from sickness when they were young, and he has assumed responsibility for them. The oldest, Alana, works here in the kitchen. She’s the one who told us about her grandfather wanting work,” her mother explained.
“He makes a very good butler when he’s here,” Papi added.
Isabella wasn’t surprised by the story. Her parents had always helped out folks in need. As the silver mine had increased in production, her father had been good to hire newcomers, even giving convicts a job when they asked. He believed in second chances.
Mama took Papi’s arm and allowed him to lead her to the dining room, leaving Aaron Bailey to extend his arm to Isabella. Reluctantly, she took it. He walked at a leisurely pace, giving her plenty of time to comment. Unfortunately, she felt there was nothing to say.
He assisted her into her chair, then claimed the place opposite her and remained standing until her father pulled out his chair to sit. At least he had good manners.
Her father offered grace and then motioned for the staff to serve the food. Isabella smiled at the various dishes, food that she had loved as a child. Her mother had apparently given a great deal of thought to her first night home.
“We didn’t make any plans for tomorrow,” her mother said as the conversation began on arrangements for the days to come. “We knew you would be tired from your trip. However, after that we have so many things going on. There is to be a great town Christmas celebration. The three churches have come together to work as one. Father Eduardo has a wonderful boys’ choir and will lead the singing with their help. Pastor Tom from the Bible Church will do the Bible readings, and Reverend Shoal from the Methodist church will offer the Christmas sermon. There will be refreshments afterward, so we have much baking to do. I hope you will help.”
Isabella nearly choked on herpollo a la crema. She dabbed her napkin to her lips, then took a long sip of water before trying to speak. “I can’t bake. I know very little about cooking.”
“It will come back to you,” Mama said with a smile. “I remember you were very capable at making cookies when you were younger.”
“But I haven’t done that in years.” Isabella glanced at Aaron, who watched her with a hint of a smile. No doubt he was judging her once again to be lacking in any quality thathe might find admirable. She squared her shoulders and tried not to let such thoughts control her. “I will do what I can.”
She had absolutely no desire to bake or work in the kitchen. That was something she would rather hire out, and once she married Diego, she would have a houseful of staff to do such things. Aunt Josephina kept very few workers, but Isabella already had plans to change that. They would host great parties all the time, and such endeavors would require the proper servants.
She caught Aaron watching her and felt as if he were reading her thoughts. She gave him a nod and returned her gaze to her food. Determined to steer the conversation away from the town’s celebration, Isabella put down her fork.
“I know this may seem like a poor time for an announcement, especially since there is a guest at the table, but I find myself too excited to wait. I plan to marry Diego Morales.”
Her mother dropped her fork, and it clattered against the china plate. Her father, however, fixed her with a hard look. “That I cannot allow.”
Isabella felt as if he’d struck her. She had known they would need to be convinced, but she hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from either of her parents.
