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The lunch was as delicious as Aaron had come to expectfrom these town gatherings. He enjoyed Silver Veil’s celebrations, and he was surprisingly content working for Daniel. As he became more and more familiar with the way Daniel did things, he could see that the older man was extremely thorough in his business practices. He was a cautious investor overall but not afraid to give something new a chance. When Daniel’s lawyer came to the house to update his will, Daniel had arranged for Aaron to join their meeting. He insisted Aaron needed to hear what he had to say and how his last will and testament would be set up. It made Aaron very uncomfortable, but he stayed. He listened to Daniel tell the lawyer how he wanted things specified. It was just as neat and orderly as the rest of his business. He explained that he was adding Aaron to his will, and the lawyer asked why. Aaron could still hear his explanation.
“Because I want to. He’s a good man and has been a great friend. Not only that, but I fully intend that he will be my business partner.”
Aaron knew now, without any doubt, that Daniel also intended him to be a part of their family. Daniel Garcia intended him to marry Isabella.
The idea of marriage to Isabella was becoming all too real. It was a little disturbing, given the fact that the thought didn’t bother Aaron like it used to. Isabella had softened, grown sweeter. She had learned to open her heart to others. He was impressed with the way she’d been treating Lupe and the other servants. He’d even caught her helping Ruidoso carry groceries. The old Isabella would never have stooped so low.
“You seem completely lost in your thoughts. Is something wrong?” Isabella asked.
“Quite the contrary. I was just thinking of all that’s happened and how right it seems. However, none of it is whatI originally planned for my life when I first came here years ago.”
“When you met a very spoiled girl giving her father an intolerable time,” she countered.
“Yes, but that girl has grown up, and the changes are remarkable.”
Isabella laughed. “That’s a kind way of putting it.”
Aaron stopped eating and just looked at her. She looked like one of the peasant women with her traditional clothes. But she was radiant, and despite knowing that her father was dying, she had a genuine glow of happiness to her overall countenance.
“You’ve impressed me,” Aaron finally said.
“Well, you did play a role in that change. Had you not berated me over and over for my selfishness and self-focus, I might not have realized just how others saw me.”
“I could have been kinder.”
“You were brutal, but I prefer the truth every time over a lie. If you’d been kinder, I might not have listened.”
“I’m glad you did. I enjoy the company of this Isabella.” He smiled, then turned back to his food.
Others joined them at the table, and it wasn’t long before everyone had their fill and Mrs. Garcia rose to speak.
“Thank you, everyone, for your hard work and participation in making this the greatest Founder’s Day ever.” She clapped, and everyone else joined in. Once they calmed, she continued. “Today is rather bittersweet for us. As most of you know, my precious husband is very sick. The doctors tell us he won’t be with us much longer.”
The people’s expressions seemed to sadden in unison.
“But while he’s still here,” Mrs. Garcia continued, turning to Daniel, “I wanted a chance to tell him how wonderful our years together have been. I cannot imagine my life withoutyou, Daniel, but I will endeavor to make you proud. Our marriage has not been without its difficulties, but the love and joys we’ve shared have far outweighed those troubling times. I want you to know that I do not regret a single moment.”
Daniel reached up and took her hand. “Nor do I.”
She smiled and turned back to the audience. “Our daughter asked to say a few words as well, and then if any of you wish to share your thoughts, you are welcome to do so.”
She sat next to her husband as Isabella got to her feet. Aaron could see her hands nervously twisting the material of her skirt. Figuring no one could see, thanks to the large flower arrangement on the table, Aaron closed his hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. She looked down at him, her eyes wide in surprise. He winked and squeezed her hand again before letting her go. She smiled and turned back to the audience.
“I am so glad to have this opportunity to tell you how important my father is to me. From the time I was a little girl, we shared a special relationship. Unfortunately, when I grew older, I damaged the love we shared with bitterness and anger. I was selfish and inconsiderate of both my mother and my father, and many of you witnessed that. For that, I want to apologize to you as well as to my parents. Especially you, Papi.”
She reached down and took his hand. “I am so sorry for the wasted years. I know I’ve told you this before, but I cannot forget the sadness I brought upon us. Forgive me, Papi. You deserved so much better. You too, Mama. I cannot bear the thought of losing either of you. You’ve been so dear to me these last few months, and it only makes me more aware of the wasted time.”
Isabella turned back to the audience. “I hope, if you have a similar situation in your life, that you will remedy it assoon as possible. Lately, I’ve come to see that God is all about reconciliation. And for that, I’m eternally grateful, for while I was ignoring and hurting my parents, I was doing the same thing to Him.” She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled. “But like the prodigal in the Bible, I have returned to beg forgiveness and start anew.”
The audience burst into applause as Isabella took her seat. Daniel leaned over and embraced his daughter while Aaron looked on. She really was quite remarkable. There weren’t many who would make such a public confession of their sins.
Señora Rosa Martinez stood at a nearby table. “I am so grateful for the help the Garcias gave to my family. I came here in the early days of Silver Veil. My husband was dead and my children grown. My brother, who is considerably younger than I am, had heard there was a need for mine workers here. We were in Albuquerque at the time, and he showed me the advertisement that stated there was free train fare and help with housing for those who wished to relocate. So we came.”
She looked up at Daniel and Helena. “It was the start of a new and good life for me. Even after my brother decided to move on, I stayed and have never regretted it. In all my seventy-four years, I never felt so loved and cared for as I did by you. I remember the first Christmas after my brother moved away. You came to see me, bringing a gift and some food. You wanted to make sure I had what I needed, and when you saw I had very little, you continued to watch over me like a son to his mother. You even paid me to make tortillas for your mining company, though I’m sure you didn’t need my help. It gave me a living and saved me from embarrassment. Then, when my brother returned”—she looked at the man sitting beside her—“you hired him right back and, in fact, gave him a position that paid better. I am very gratefulfor what you have done, and I hope my words of thanks will let you know how much you have blessed me and my family.”
She reclaimed her seat, and the audience again applauded. Others rose and spoke of their gratitude, and Aaron couldn’t help but be impressed. Daniel Garcia would always be remembered as a great and loving man. The service he had given to God had in turn brought him much love and affection.
After nearly an hour of various people sharing their memories and thanks, Daniel finally stood to acknowledge the people—his people. Aaron knew that once he was gone, this town would never be the same, but it had gotten an incredible start in love, and hopefully that would carry forward into the future.
