Chapter 39 #2
I didn’t think about how the town would react to our unconventional relationship. I didn’t care. It’s no one’s business but our own.
But now I care.
I care a lot.
ángel rests his hands on my shoulders. “Breathe, mija. I wouldn’t dare cross you with four pitbulls around.”
His comment causes the corner of my mouth to tug upward, releasing a fraction of my worry. “They all love you. I doubt they’d turn on you for me.”
He gives me a look, making me feel like I should know better. “Don’t underestimate the heart.”
Santiago claps, rubbing his hands together. “What’s for dinner?”
ángel drops his hands from my shoulders and strides for the kitchen. “Slow-cooked pork chile verde.”
Levi rubs his stomach. “Say less.”
The guys saunter after ángel, so I do the same.
The kitchen is large enough to fit all five of us comfortably without making me feel claustrophobic.
The knotty pine cabinets and worn butcher-block countertops look polished and smooth.
Copper pots hang over a large island while a cast-iron skillet rests permanently on the stovetop.
Every available surface holds evidence that someone actually lives here.
A heavy oak table dominates the dining room just beyond the kitchen. Each chair is slightly different from the next, as if they have been collected over the years rather than purchased as a set.
Nothing in this home matches perfectly to something else.
Nothing looks so expensive that I feel like I’ll dirty it by touching it.
Somehow, that makes ángel’s home feel even more beautiful.
Each room is used.
Lived in.
Loved.
ángel stirs something in a pot at the stove, the smell making my mouth water.
“What can I help with?” I question, holding out my hands to show I’m ready to be put to work.
“Nothing,” he waves me off . “You go on and have a seat.” ángel points the wooden spoon in his hand at Levi, Santiago, and Walker. “You three are a different story.”
Santiago’s face falls as he jokes, “I get the feeling that I’m no longer the favorite.”
“You never were,” ángel roasts, then directs each of the guys, leading them to their working stations. “Levi, you’re on the rice. Walk, set the table. And Santi,” ángel marches back to the stove, slapping Santiago’s hand, “stop eating the pork and start warming the tortillas.”
Santiago playfully pouts as he drags his feet. “This feels unfair.”
ángel gives Santiago what can only be described as a fatherly look. “Blake gets to put her feet up because she has to deal with you three every day.”
They all hop to it before ángel can scold them again.
Timidly, I tiptoe into the dining room as if I’m not supposed to be here even though ángel specifically told me to relax.
ángel’s hospitality was unexpected. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I know it wasn’t a welcome with open arms.
I choose the chair that looks the most comfortable and sit down, folding my hands in my lap.
The guys do as they're told. Set the table, warm the tortillas, and prepare the rice. When they’re all done, they bring out the food and sit with me. ángel sits at the head of the table with Santiago on his right and Walker next to him. Levi takes the seat between ángel and me.
ángel instructs us to “dig in” and Santiago takes that quite literally. The man always eats with gusto, but this is something else. He clearly loves a home-cooked meal.
Levi fills my plate before dishing his own food. Walker waits to get his food last.
Taking care of everyone else first as always.
The meal passes in relative silence aside from ángel demanding life updates from Levi and Walker.
When my plate is almost empty, I ask ángel, “Do you have any good stories about these guys?”
“He doesn’t,” Santiago answers too quickly.
“Tú solo mastica. Hablar te va a dar indigestión.” Keep eating. Talking will give you indigestion. ángel pats Santiago’s shoulder, then sets his elbow on the table and rests his chin on his fist.
“One time, when Santiago was about two or three, he got into his mother’s spice cabinet,” ángel starts.
Santiago groans while Levi and Walker chuckle.
ángel ignores Santiago’s obvious objection. “He found the nutmeg and got it everywhere. I mean everywhere. Then he stripped off his clothes, and the nutmeg got on his…willis and doodleberry. Poor boy screamed and screamed.”
“Oh, no.” My eyes widen as I chuckle. Levi drops his fork on his plate, throwing his head back in laughter. Walker holds his stomach, curling over from laughing so much.
“Willis and doodleberry?” Santiago criticizes.
ángel lowers his brows at Santiago and gestures to me. “I’m talking to a lady.” Dismissing Santiago,
ángel turns his attention back to me. “He’d freak out any time he smelled nutmeg after that.”
Santiago shivers. “Still don’t touch the stuff.”
I try to compose myself as I question ángel again. “What about these two? Any embarrassing stories?”
Levi and Walker sober.
“None,” Levi snaps, then says to ángel, “I’ll give you a hundred dollars to not say a word.”
Walker keeps his lips sealed.
I squint at him. “No objection from you?”
Walker shrugs.
ángel points to Levi. “This one used to bring me injured animals all the time. I’d let him use the barn and whatever he could find to nurse them back to health. One time he even brought a raccoon.”
“A raccoon?” My mouth falls open.
“It followed me home,” Levi defends himself.
“Because you fed him marshmallows the whole way,” Santiago ripostes, shoveling another bite of rice into his mouth.
ángel moves to point toward Walker. “And this one was arrested for destruction of property when he was about sixteen. I got a call in the middle of the night to pick him up at the station. I had to post his bail.”
Rearing back, I place my hand on my chest dramatically. “Sheriff Maddox, I am shocked.”
Walker rolls his eyes at my teasing. “I was trying to free the man’s horse.”
My head tilts to the side. “A horse?”
“Neighbor wasn’t feeding it, and Walk cut the fence,” ángel explains further.
“I was liberating it,” Walker responds.
“He actually used the word liberating when he was questioned by the sheriff at the time,” Levi interjects.
ángel continues with the tales. “Well, there was one time when they dared each other to—”
“And on that note,” Santiago slaps his hands on his lap, interrupting the story and stands. “I think it’s time to clean up and get going. No more stories from a senile old man.”
Santiago takes the initiative and starts the cleaning process.
ángel narrows his eyes playfully. “Who are you calling senile?”
Walker rises to his feet, gathering plates. “We should be heading out anyway. I have to be at the station early in the morning.”
Levi piles dishes on his and carries them to the kitchen.
I get up to do the same when ángel stops me, holding up his hand. “Sit.”
“But I can help,” I reason.
“I know.” ángel gets to his feet and grabs the remaining dishes, then heads for the kitchen. “That’s why I’m telling you not to.”
His demand confounds me.
No expectations.
No conditions.
Just kindness.
Once the dishes are done and leftovers are put away, we move to the front door and put on our shoes. Bear rises from where he lies on a rug in front of the fireplace, stretches, and trots to my side.
The guys each hug ángel, thank him for dinner, and head to Levi’s truck. I do the same, but ángel stops me before I exit.
“If any of them ever give you a problem, you call me. ?Sí?”
I nod. “Yes, s—ángel.”
His expression turns serious. “I heard about the barn. If you need anything, anything at all, call me. You’re always welcome here.”
I let out a contented sigh. “Thank you, ángel.”
“You know,” ángel gestures to the truck, “those boys haven’t smiled that much in years.”
My lips purse. “Really?”
He nods. “You’re good for them.”
ángel’s sincerity has me grinning from ear to ear.
“I think they’re the ones that are good for me.”
ángel smiles back. “That’s usually how it works.”
Confusion takes over my expression. “What works?”
He pats my shoulder. “Love.”
In a daze, I turn and amble to the truck.
I don’t remember buckling my seatbelt.
I don’t remember the drive back.
I don’t even remember getting ready for bed.
There’s only one thought going through my mind.
I’m actually happy here–thoroughly and unequivocally happy.
And it’s all because of them.
Levi, Santiago, and Walker.