Raquel's Abel (27 page)

A little later that day, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to Owen, who looked like he’d just gotten out of a swimming pool. It had started to rain, and his red hair descended in thick clumps across his forehead.

“Come in,” I said and ushered him into the foyer.

“It’s coming down like a dam let loose out there,” he drawled.

I ran to the bathroom and got some towels.

“Don’t help that my window won’t close all the way.” Owen rubbed the towel over his head.

“You know, at some point, you’ll need to break down and buy a new truck.”

“That’ll be difficult since I just had an argument with my boss last night.” He followed me into the living room and took a seat across from me.

He worked at one of the best restaurants in town. Losing that job would mean he wouldn’t be making so much in tips. “Oh no, about what?”

“He just lets the employees take breaks whenever they want, so I told him he could do a better job as a manager. And, he just blew up at me—for no reason. I was trying to help.”

This was why Owen needed to work for himself. “You’re a good waiter. That’s why you do so well in tips, but you need to learn to keep your opinions to yourself.” It was hard for him when his real goal was to have his own place.

“It isn’t in my nature to keep my mouth shut.” He looked around. “By the way, is your ghost friend around?”

I grimaced.

“Maybe I’m not the only one who didn’t keep their trap shut?” Owen handed me the towel.

I led him into the living room and offered him a seat. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“Do you still love him?” He looked at me accusingly.

I closed my eyes.

“And does he love you?”

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, remembering how I must have hurt Abel.

“Then everything else can be worked out.”

“Maybe.”

“I’ve never experienced real love, but I still believe love conquers all.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“You think I’m ignorant because I grew up barefoot with no running water, but there are some things I do know.”

“Owen, you know I don’t think that.”

He ran his hands through his damp hair that now looked like a big red bush. He took a deep breath and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Well, I have taken your advice.”

“My advice?”

“I met with Lorraine.”

I tried to imagine Owen dancing with Lorraine. A twinge of jealousy made me flinch. I needed to quash that feeling. Continuing to dance with Owen would only hurt him.

“So, how did it go?”

He shook his head, making his curls flop around. “It’s still not like dancing with you, Raquel.”

“You know very well that Lorraine is a better dancer than I am.” I was sure she practiced every single day and probably watched dance videos every night.

“Don’t change the subject.” He waved his index finger at me. “I think you should be my partner. Look how far we’ve gotten.”

“Tell me the truth. How did your session with Lorraine go?”

He took a deep breath and let it out in a huff.

“I bet she had some great ideas for choreography and I even bet she corrected you on a few things.” I still felt a hint of resentment that if he danced with her, they’d probably go straight to the top.

His head swayed around as if separated from his shoulders. “She did have a few thoughts on a few things.”

“A few thoughts on a few things,” I repeated.

“Oh, cut the crap, girl. We do good together,” he whined.

“Señorita,” Maria Elena called from the top of the steps.

I jumped up, afraid something had happened to Grandmother. “Maria Elena, what is it?” I hurried into the foyer.

“It terrible.”

My breath caught in my lungs. “What?”

“Water coming in and so terrible.”

Relieved, I let out the air quickly. Thank God it wasn’t Grandmother. The roof was so bad I knew this would happen sooner or later.

I turned back to Owen. “I’m sorry.”

“I need to go any way. I’ll show up for work today, even if I have no idea whether I still have a job or not.”

I cast him a sympathetic look as I hurried upstairs.

When I arrived in Maria Elena’s room, it looked like the wall behind her bed was painted with shellac, it was so shiny. Then I realized, the reason it was so shiny is that a steady stream of water was leaking from above, covering the wall with a film of water.

Maria Elena was already bringing in towels and sopping up the mess. I helped her for a while, but I knew what I had to do.

The Gretna Foundation was so thrilled by my interest in selling, they volunteered to send out a representative that very afternoon. Inside I felt guilty. This is exactly what Abel hadn’t wanted me to do. I admired his spirit of wanting to help the unfortunate. Truthfully, I knew he was right. There were other properties the Gretna Foundation could purchase for their school, but who else was willing to make a house like this into an orphanage?

On the other hand, it looked like we wouldn’t be able to turn this house into an orphanage, anyway. If I got a large amount of money for this house, I could afford to get Grandmother the kind of help she would need in the years to come. Right now, she only had Maria Elena to tend to her, but I could make her much more comfortable physically by taking her to a place designed for a handicapped person.

The doorbell rang, and a stately looking woman in a camelhair coat stood at the door. I walked her down both wings and took her up in the elevator so she could see the rest of the suites. From the second story, I showed her the pool and the tennis courts. Judging from the way her eyes darted around, and by the way she kept her hands by her sides, afraid to give anything away, I could tell she was very impressed.

When we came back downstairs, I saw him. Abel was standing at the edge of the foyer. His form was hazy like a low-hanging cloud. He looked at me and his complexion was pale. The usual luster that made his eyes look like polished ebony was gone.

I felt a desperate desire to run to him, but I resisted it since the lady was right at my side.

“Ms. Blankenship, could we sit down for a moment?” she asked.

“Of course,” I said as I took her to the dining room.

We took a seat at the old table that hadn’t had completely filled with people since I was a child. The memory almost brought tears to my eyes. This would be a perfect place to serve children no one else was willing to help, children that were like Abel had been.

She laid her briefcase on the table and pulled out some papers. “Ms. Blankenship, we were hoping you would be interested in selling us your home and we have gone to the liberty of drawing up some paperwork in the event you were willing to come to an agreement today.”

I stared at the papers sitting on the old lace tablecloth.

She peeled the top papers back and, using a pen, pointed to a figure at the bottom. “Here is the amount we are offering.”

My heart beat so fast I thought I’d faint. They were offering me ten million dollars for the house and the land.

“I’m sure you’ll agree the price is fair.”

That was true. The State had valued the property at seven million. I swallowed hard. For that amount of money, I could buy whatever kind of condo I wanted. I could even get one completely equipped for a handicapped person. Instead of giving Grandmother a bath by hand, Maria Elena could bathe her easily in a specially equipped tub.

“We already have the check prepared.” She pulled out a cashiers check for ten million dollars.

My hand slowly reached upward. I could get the surgery I wanted. I could buy Regina a little store and I could get Owen started in his own restaurant…

“You just need to sign right here and the check is all yours.”

“So fast,” I said feeling disoriented.

She nodded. “Yes, this is the piece of real estate we want and rest assured, the school will be lovely and you are more than welcome to visit any time.”

“I don’t think…”

Her jaw drew tense. “If you insist, we can name the school after you.”

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t possibly make this decision so fast.” Abel didn’t want me to sell.

Her mouth drew up like a dried up prune. “If there’s anything I can say to change your mind…” She slowly put the check back in her purse.

“I need to think.”

“If the issue is money, we only have a little leeway, but we might be able…”

“No, the issue isn’t money. I just need to think about it, talk it over with…”

Her eyes narrowed. “I must be mistaken. I understood you were the sole owner of the property.”

“I am, but well, there are other interested parties.” I couldn’t just go and sell this place without talking to Abel or Regina or Grandmother.

“I understand.” She crammed the papers back in her briefcase. “We will be in touch with you over the next few days.”

I nodded.

“Don’t worry.” She stood up abruptly. “I know my way out.” I heard her angry heels march across the foyer then heard the front door close.

Could I really just get rid of the only home I’d ever known so easily? Just by signing my name? I was so confused.

I hurried into the foyer, hoping I’d see Abel, but he was nowhere to be found.

Chapter Sixteen