Florencia was finishing setting up the place they would call home during the growing season. She had just organized the children’s rooms, and was in mid thought wondering how they would react having to share rooms as brothers and sisters. Manuel had become a rock for her, yet her heart was still exploding in anguish for Domingo.
The girls were young but beyond helpful. She felt that her issues would be with the two oldest boys Servando and Gilberto. Each one with the blood so thick of their fathers that she was not sure if this was going to work.
A strong woman, with graceful eyes and an accommodating heart. Her eyes could see through you and pierce your soul with great love or a look that would put the fear of God in you. Her skin was pale, her high cheek bones and weathered dimples when she would smile could melt the snow caps of Pikes Peak. Long cascading hair that had no fault, she was exotic and exhaled elegance when she walked in a room. When she spoke the world listened. An empowering woman with the scars of life and a temperament that was controlled and thoughtful.
As she walked into her room she wondered if she would be sharing a bed with Manuel. Her fear was that her heart still belonged to someone else. After she had made the bed, she sat by the corner on the right side of the bed and was hypnotized by the photograph of Domingo. She was acutely aware of the moment it had been taken.
They had gone to a dance and while they were dancing he had whispered to her how she was the most beautiful woman. She had laughed at the compliment but Doming was adamant that he did not mean in the room but rather in the world. When they had sat with their compadres the photographer had walked over and captured the moment.
His eyes were full of love. She could see it. They only saw her and no one else. She reminisced that night and the love they shared. He was considerate, attentive, and catered to her needs. As the tears rolled down her cheeks for the first time here emotions were disturbed by tomorrow.
Manuel while working out the details for the families that had traveled for work, was confronted by El Bunch about the housing arrangements. He had offered another home so that he could respect Dona Florencia and her privacy. He explained that one house was fine, that he would sleep in the truck. That it was good for the children to lean on each other.
Deep inside he was also unsure what too expect. He thought Florencia was a beautiful woman, but his Maria still ached him. Time had not healed the open wounds yet he knew for the sake of his children he had to learn to live again.
On his way back to the house he had stopped with the boys to pick up food at the super market. He was happy that they were not arguing and were just being children enjoying the moment. That moment of anger would soon be present, acutely aware that it would be driven by who would be considered the oldest. By age it would be Gilberto yet by responsibility it would be Servando and he knew that when he gave those responsibilities away his own flesh and blood would be angry.
Arriving at the house he went about helping unload the groceries and asked if there was anything he could do to help. Florencia gave him a warm smile and gently touched his arm in a manner that caught him off guard. It confused him, had she just physically showed him love?
He walked outside confused and began to work on getting the equipment ready for work the next day. It was dark when she had called him in for dinner. When he walked in to his utter shock the empty chair that Domingo always sat at was left for him. Confused he wondered if she had quietly with the gesture just told him he was the man of the house. His mind was running in circles, his heart was confused.
Without fan fare the children had dinner with no fighting, almost as if they knew there was something bigger than them. After dinner he walked to the sink and placed his dishes in the sink only to be told that to leave them there. He walked outside to sit on the porch.
As he sat there enjoying the coolness of the night, his mind drifted to thoughts of Maria. Remembering how after dinner she would come sit with him in silence and stair at the beauty of the night. The guilt was heavy in his heart.
“Te acompanio?” Florencia whispered to him. She had recognized that his gaze was distant.
“Por su puesto.” Manuel stood up to allow her to sit down.
She realized that he was a gentleman. As she sat they both drifted into thought. The night slowly second by second, minute by minute, passed by. No words just a silence of appreciation to ones thoughts. Finally she reached out, placed her hand on his forearm and gently and lovingly squeezed it. She told him that she was going to bed and for him to not stay up to late. She kissed his forehead and went inside the house.
He was confused and guilt had overrun his thoughts. Not sure if she was asking him to come to bed with her. After what seemed days, he stood up and walked to the truck. He grabbed a jacked and laid down in the bed of the truck.
The stars shown bright that night. Tears filled his eyes and for the first time he was thinking of another woman that was not his Maria. Guilt finally won and he fell asleep hurt much like every night since she had dies.
Inside Florencia lay away waiting. Not sure how she would react if he came in and got into bed with her. She was afraid. Tears filled her eyes yet she tried to hide them in her pillow. She was not sure she could love another man. Yet she felt a warmth in her soul for this man.
It was early in the morning when she realized that Manuel never came to bed. She put her robe on and went searching for him. When she saw him laying there on the bed of the truck, the overwhelming feeling of love filled her. He was a gentleman. A man. An injured scared man but he respected her to not confuse her.
She quietly got onto the bed of the truck and laid down next to him. For his part he had seen her get on the truck and was frozen in the moment. As she placed her head next to his chest, he put his arms around her to keep her warm.
Note: My Grandfather when telling me this story, alway made me realize that love is by chance. That it happens when you least expect it. “El amor no lo buscas, te encuentra cuando lo menos esperas.”
Beautiful!
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