Armando Returns (Barboza Brothers) Read online

  Katie looked at her mother. “Thanks. But I actually don’t mind the idea of a getaway wedding. It’s like you’re already on your honeymoon when you get there.”

  Dwayne let out a sigh of relief and reached for his water. “Good. I wish Chelsea’d had the sense to do that.”

  Katie laughed as Mom rolled her eyes. Daddy could complain all he wanted, but Katie knew the wedding was mostly their idea, not Chelsea’s. Appearances, appearances. Lavish wedding, big write-up in the tiny local “Turnbrook Times” newspaper. Politicians and friends of the family the girls had never heard of were invited. It was all for show.

  Already angry, and growing tired of her father’s complaints, Katie decided to test the waters. What would Daddy possibly say, in public? Especially in front of Mitch? She cleared her throat, then calmly said, “Well, if you think it makes sense to have one of those getaway weddings, forget about Cancun. You can go right over to New Mexico and get married, fast. They don’t have a waiting period or anything. Just show up and get married.”

  Lisa glared at Katie.

  Dwayne lifted one eyebrow at her then tilted his glass of water up to the ceiling as he took a sip.

  Mitch turned to her. “You want that? I think I’d rather go to Cancun and stay in a resort.”

  Katie smiled. “Yeah. We’ll have to look into it.”

  And then their server, Jennifer, bounded to the table, giving the group her familiar greeting. “Hey guys! You’re getting to be regulars now, huh? Good to have you back.”

  Dwayne and Mitch both started talking to her at once, remarking about Jennifer wearing her hair in pigtails today, to which she giggled and flirted like she did with all the customers.

  Lisa took her napkin from her lap and put it on the table as she rose from her seat. “I’m heading to the ladies’ room. Katie? Care to join me?”

  Katie knew she was about to be scolded. And she also knew her dad and fiance were too busy flirting harmlessly with Jennifer to notice they were leaving the table. She shrugged and stood. “Sure.”

  Katie and her mother walked along in silence to the restroom. When they got there, Katie crossed her arms over her chest and waited as Lisa looked under the stalls to make sure they were alone.

  With her hands on her hips, Lisa faced Katie. “What do you think you were doing out there? Were you trying to be cute? Trying to upset your father after he’s offered to pay for your wedding and give you a substantial down payment on a house?”

  Katie’s eyes and mouth both flew open. “What? All I did was mention New Mexico. It’s not that big a deal. Seems like Daddy really wants to save money. Thought I’d help.”

  “Oh, you and that smart mouth.” Lisa fumed. “We both know why you brought it up. It’s been years since we kept you from making that mistake. And now you have a nice, respectable fiance and you wanna make a scene in front of him?”

  “A scene? That’s all you and Daddy care about, Mom. How things look to other people. God forbid I do anything to make you both look bad.”

  Lisa grabbed Katie’s arm and gave her a stern stare. “We love you and we want the best for your future. That’s all we’ve ever wanted. And you need to be a little more grateful.” Lisa inched closer, narrowing her eyes. “If you were little I would’ve brought you in here and taken you over my knee for that little stunt out there.”

  Katie huffed and pulled away from her mother’s grasp. “Well, I’m twenty-eight years old. I’m not a little girl and I don’t appreciate being spoken to like one.”

  Through her gritted teeth, Lisa said, “No matter how mature you think you are I’ll always be your mother and I’ll speak to you however I please.”

  Katie felt her blood pressure rising as she grew angrier by the second. “Speaking of respectable, did you know Armando Barboza’s a successful venture capitalist now? How’s that for respectable?”

  Lisa squared her shoulders. “Well, he probably wouldn’t be if you’d run off and married him like you wanted. You were too young and stupid to know any better. You both probably would’ve dropped outta college because you’d have a bunch of babies you couldn’t afford.”

  The door opened, and two women entered. Katie immediately exited the room with the intention of going directly back to the table when Lisa put her hand on her shoulder, stopping her just outside the door.

  Quieting her voice to just above a whisper, Lisa said, “Katie, look, I know you’ll never understand it but we’ve always just wanted what’s best for you.”

  “No, Mom. You want what’s best for you.”

  “No.” Tears filled Lisa’s eyes as she put her hands on Katie’s shoulders. “No, that’s not true. We love you and your sister more than anything in the world.” She inhaled deeply and looked around the restaurant as though she were afraid her husband might hear from this far away. She continued, whispering, “If I really thought you would’ve been happy with that boy, I would’ve fought with Daddy to let you marry him. The last thing any mother wants to do is watch her baby girl’s heart get broken.”

  Katie watched her mother, dumbfounded. She could count on one hand the number of times she had seen her well up with tears.

  Lisa took in a deep breath, then smoothed her hands down the front of her dress before taking her daughter’s shoulders again. “Please, Katie. It was a painful time for all of us. Even your father. We don’t need to talk about it again, even in jest. You went on to get an education and now you’re getting married. And it sounds like...” Her voice got even softer, as if she was afraid to speak his name, “the Barboza boy went on to better things, too. So please, just be grateful and let it go.”

  Katie’s stomach went raw. Her mom’s grave tone reminded her of that day all over again, the day Katie screamed until her voice was hoarse, asking where they were taking Armando. Getting few answers.

  She stared into her mother’s watery eyes for a few more seconds, then in silent agreement, they both turned and headed back to their table where Dwayne and Mitch were both looking over the menu.

  The rest of the meal went on as if the conversation in the bathroom never took place. After they placed their orders, Dwayne got Mitch talking about some cases he was working on. Mitch was thirty-four. He had recently become the youngest partner at a respected San Antonio law firm.

  As often as possible, Dwayne tried to encourage Mitch to think about running for district judge someday; it always gave Katie a twinge of anxiety. She was glad, on one hand, to find someone Daddy liked so much. It would certainly make her life easier. But on the other hand, she didn’t want to marry a man who was anything like her father. In fact, when she first met Mitch at a bar a year earlier, she had to hide her disappointment that he was a lawyer. And she procrastinated about introducing Daddy and Mitch, afraid that Daddy would make too big of a deal out of it. And, of course, he did.

  When lunch ended, Katie and Mitch walked Dwayne and Lisa to the restaurant’s main entrance to say goodbye.

  Dwayne adjusted his hat and said, “We should make this a regular thing. Every Thursday.”

  Katie forced herself to smile and nod, already dreading next Thursday. Then she looked at her watch. “Oh no. I have to get back to work.” She waved goodbye to everyone and gave Mitch a quick peck on the lips, then turned around to head to the main dining room.

  Chapter 5

  Armando tilted the seat of his rented SUV back as far as it would go and kept his body still. Hopefully Katie hadn’t seen him from the door of the restaurant. And now, he hoped like hell her parents wouldn’t glance over and see him either.

  No one could know the anger boiling inside him, directed at the man two cars over: Dwayne McCormack. The honorable judge. Armando snorted at the thought, amazed by how quickly his anger resurfaced just by seeing him today. That old asshole still wore a cowboy hat like a bad Texas cliche. His gut was a little paunchy now and he had a few more wrinkles. But no matter how much he aged, he would always be the same prick who tried to ruin Armando’s life.

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nbsp; Tears came to Armando’s eyes as he watched Mr. and Mrs. McCormack talking to each other in the car. It looked like casual chatter. Probably about something they discussed with Katie and her fucking fiance at lunch in that fancy restaurant. And now they were going about the rest of their sweet, perfect day as if they hadn’t just driven past the guy they left for dead in the middle of nowhere ten years earlier.

  Armando made a fist and hit the outside of his steering wheel. They were lucky it happened that summer Mama got sick. Lucky Armando had something else to occupy his sorrow over what they did to him. Otherwise...well, Armando was afraid to think about otherwise. Mama begged him to move on. She said no girl was worth going to prison. Please, go on and make me proud, ‘Mando. That kind of revenge will end up killing you.

  He could still hear her pleading voice in his thoughts.

  Armando wiped his eyes and resolved to maintain his composure. I’ll go visit her grave site today. Mama, if you can hear me, please forgive me for these evil thoughts. I’d do anything to make you proud.

  Just as he was about to put the car in reverse to leave the parking lot, Armando caught a glimpse in his peripheral vision. Mitch. The tall, geeky white boy that he had just seen with Katie moments earlier at the entrance of the restaurant. Mitch left the restaurant without Katie, but with a big smile spread across his idiot face. He headed toward the back of the parking lot, oblivious to Armando’s scowl.

  Hmm...is it just me or does that guy look like a weasel? No. A snake. Like one of those garter snakes we used to find on the ranch. Or maybe a rat…

  Oh well. At least Daddy approves of him, right Katie? Armando snarled to himself, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of Mitch, who was now in his rearview mirror.

  In a moment of clarity, Armando looked away. It was ten years ago. You’re a grown man now. You’re successful. It doesn’t matter what any of these people think of you.

  Logically, he knew how immature his thoughts sounded, but Armando couldn’t keep his eyes off of that rearview mirror, and from fantasizing about how fast his fist could knock the smile off of Mitch’s face.

  Armando cracked his knuckles, took a deep breath, then reached for the gear shift when his peripheral vision caught something new. His breath hitched. At the restaurant’s entrance Armando spotted a young woman with her hair in pigtails, waving excitedly as she held the door open. She was on her cell phone, waving at someone in the back of the parking lot.

  Wait. Waving at...Mitch?

  Armando glanced up at the rearview mirror to see Mitch holding a phone to his ear, happily returning the blonde’s wave.

  Armando’s jaw dropped. Is he cheating on Katie? He sat there for a little while, stunned, but quickly shook it off. Maybe they were just friends. Hell, even if he was cheating, what would Armando do with that information? Run inside the restaurant and tell Katie? Maybe he should hire someone to follow Mitch around to find out for sure.

  But even if he had a chance with Katie again, Armando didn’t want to win her back that way. He wanted Katie to choose him. Wanted her to go against her big, bad father for once, and not because she was heartbroken and on the rebound.

  But shit, why would she do that? Armando let his forehead hit the steering wheel. How do I know she’d even want me? And how do I know I’d want her?

  He felt like such a fool, canceling everything and rushing here from Los Angeles because his high school sweetheart was getting married. Nobody would ever understand. Not his brothers, not his friends.

  And certainly not Katie.

  Armando took a deep breath and sat up straight. He didn’t look at Mitch in the rearview mirror this time. He simply pulled his car out of the parking lot and headed down the street in the direction of Turnbrook, the small town thirty minutes away where he spent his teenage years. The town where he fell in love with Katie, and where his dear Mama was buried.

  And he had to pray his brothers wouldn’t see him on the way to the cemetery; it was only a few miles away from the ranch. He was in no mood to explain to either of them why he had been in the area for days without telling them. No way they would ever let him live it down.

  * * * * *

  “Okay, sweetie,” Cara said to Isaac. “Let’s try again if you want. You almost had it.”

  Isaac puffed out his bottom lip and let his fork drop to his empty plate. His eyes went around the dinner table, to Ramon, then Victor, then to Cara. “Okay.”

  The three adults shared a look, then Cara spoke, clearly enunciating Ramon’s name. “Ruh-moan. Try it. Ruh…” She widened her eyes at Isaac, waiting.

  Isaac glanced across the dinner table at Ramon, then looked down at his lap, shyly. His voice was soft. “Wuh-moan...Wuh…”

  Ramon smiled. “Hey Isaac. Try this. Put your teeth against your lips when you say it. Rrrr...Ruh…”

  Isaac let out a determined sigh, gnashing his teeth in frustration. “Wuh...Wuh…”

  Sensing Isaac had probably had enough of this, Victor stood and walked around the large table to take the empty seat beside him. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re doin’ good.” He patted Isaac’s shoulder.

  Isaac exhaled with great relief.

  And then an idea occurred to Victor. It was a perfect time to sneak outside with Isaac for a little talk. “Hey, I know what’ll make you feel better. There’s a pond I’ll bet you haven’t seen yet.”

  “A pond?” Isaac asked.

  “Uh…” Ramon winced. “It’s been really dry lately. It’s more like a big mud puddle right now. I need to get someone out here to take care of it.”

  “That’s okay,” Victor said. “I think he’ll like it. Come on, let’s go.” He glanced at Cara, lifting one eyebrow as if asking her permission; she quickly nodded.

  Victor was thrilled when nobody offered to tag along.

  Isaac smiled and immediately followed him outside.

  As they walked along through the field next to the house, Victor asked, “So, you like it here in Texas?”

  “Yes,” Isaac answered, matter-of-fact.

  “Are you sure it’s not too hot for you?”

  Isaac shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s weawy hot but it’s okay. I wike the animaws.”

  “I like the animals too.”

  They walked on as Isaac began a story about a cow named Becky he met today when he was “helping” Silas again.

  What Isaac didn’t know was that Mommy was always watching him as he “helped” on the ranch. Sometimes she would hang back out of sight, ducking into a corner just far enough away to be unnoticed. Other times, she was in the house, watching him over a surveillance monitor. She and Victor had already talked about how much Isaac was enjoying himself here. And Victor knew it was a long shot, but he had just begun to wonder if maybe he could talk her into moving. Even though he hadn’t lived here in years, this ranch was home to Victor. And if he were to retire early as a bachelor, that was definitely the place he wanted to move to spend the majority of his time. But hopefully he wouldn’t be a bachelor for long. The decision to retire and move was one he hoped to make with his wife in the not-too-distant future.

  When they arrived at the pond, Victor took a seat on a big rock and said, “You and I need to have a talk.”

  Isaac scowled at the pond. “I don’t think that’s a pond.”

  “Well, it used to be.”

  “Wed the pond go?”

  Victor chuckled. “It evaporated. Ramon will probably get it filled with water again soon. He’ll put some ducks out here—”

  “No! Ducks aw scawy. I got chased by a duck at the zoo.” Fear clouded Isaac’s eyes. “I had some food in my hand to feed him and he stawted wunning at me and—”

  “Okay, no ducks. I’m sorry. I didn’t know that happened to you. It sounds terrible.” Victor would usually love to listen to one of Isaac’s stories but today he had his own agenda, and he wanted to make sure they got down to business, quickly. “Listen, buddy. We need to have a talk.” He gave Isaac a stern look. “Man to man.�
��

  Isaac smiled and sat beside Victor on a smaller rock. “Okay. Man to man.”

  Victor took a deep breath and looked in his eyes, now realizing he had no idea how to broach this subject with a small child. But he had to try. “First, this is a secret. You can’t tell anyone about this, okay? Especially not Mommy.”

  “Hmm.” Isaac’s lips pressed together, thoughtfully. “I’m not s’posed to have secwets. That’s what Mommy and Gwammah say.”

  “It’s only for a couple days. Then you can tell Mommy. It’s a good secret, I promise.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “No, really. You can tell Mommy soon.” Victor hesitated as he thought of a way to change his terminology and ease the situation. “Actually, it’s not really a secret. It’s a surprise. A big surprise. For Mommy.”

  “Oh! Wike a buthday pawty? With cake?”

  Victor nodded. “Something like that.” He hesitated. This seemed like a much better idea in my head. Still, he pressed on. He wouldn’t feel right proposing to Cara without first talking it over with the most important guy in her life, even if it put his surprise proposal at risk. He placed a gentle hand on Isaac’s back. “I want to marry your Mommy. Do you know what that means?”

  Isaac’s eyebrows knitted tightly. “Huh?”

  Victor sighed. He could already imagine Isaac asking Cara all about it when they went back to the house. He took a deep breath. “Okay. Let me think. You remember last month when Grandma married Tom?”

  “Yes. I had to walk in fwont of people. I don’t wike that.”

  “That’s fine. You don’t have to do that again.” Victor paused to think of a way to rephrase his request once again. “Okay, forget I said that. How would you feel if I was with you and Mommy for a long, long time? Like, for the rest of our lives. Would that be okay with you?”