Page 18 of Phoenix Fire

A wedding reception so gala, so full of hope and possibilities …

A funeral …

A past and present merging into a wistful place in the heart …

Dusty, rutted roads in Mexico, the smell of frijoles, mariachis strumming their plaintive, discordant guitars ...

A flower garden by the sea, the boys skipping along the surf …

A camp site in the high desert …

Carlton, Jason, smiling, joyfully playing cowboy games …

A plot of land, scenes of family gatherings, loving scenes, faces, merging, flowing into a profusion of color …

Tears slowly flowed down the tanned and weathered furrows on either side of her stoic face, and she slept.

Chapter Twelve

Carlton saw her on Central Avenue walking alongside another woman. At the corner of Central and First Street they split and went their separate ways.

Jenny went into a cafeteria.

As good a place as any, Carlton thought. He got out of his car and fed the meter three quarters. That should keep him legal for the time he needed.

He entered the cafeteria and saw her in the line. There were seven people ahead of him to her place in line. That would work out fine. She would be seated when he paid the cashier, and he could just stumble upon her. He smiled to himself and edged on down the line of hungry people.

He saw Jenny take a small table against the wall, toward the rear of the large room. Despite no appetite he chose some beef and macaroni concoction, a salad, and iced tea. He paid the cashier and, with tray in hands, walked toward Jenny.

She had just taken a bite of her salad when she looked up and saw Carlton about to pass in front of her. They seemed to notice each other at the same time. With food in her mouth she simply smiled awkwardly, nodded politely, and deferred to Carlton.

“Jenny! Why, it is you! What a coincidence.” Carlton's mock surprise was well played as he glanced around him, as though looking at other possible seating arrangements. “Mind if I join you? I hate eating alone.”

Jenny swallowed her mouthful of food, attempting another awkward smile. “No, please do, Carlton. Well, this is a surprise. Heritage Tool is out by the airport, isn't it?”

Carlton placed the plates of food on the table, discarded the tray on a wall stand, and sat across from Jenny. “Yes, it is, but they don't keep me tied to my desk out there. They allow me some freedom of movement. Actually, I had to come downtown for a meeting at the bank next door. Your agency is around here, I take it?”

“Yes.” She began again to eat her salad. “Just a few doors down. This is my quick lunch hangout.”

Carlton toyed with his food. “Well, I suppose the food is adequate. I rather like cafeteria food, to be truthful.”

They made polite small talk through the lunch. Carlton watched carefully to see if he could read anything into their eye contacts. They discussed some mutual business acquaintances, and Carlton attempted some light humor. Then, he decided to make his play.

“Are you and Jason an item, Jenny? It's none of my business, of course, but, then, I am part of the family.” He gave her an arched brow and smile.

Jenny looked embarrassed. “Well, he's a, uh, really nice guy. He saved my life, and we enjoy very much each other's company. I suppose he's the one you should ask that question, Carlton.”

“Well,” he decided on a bit of boldness, “surely you have discerned by now the pecking order in our family. Jason is the favored son, grandson, as it were. I'm told at times that my personality is too bold, that I open my mouth and insert my foot. And I suppose that's true. But one can miss out a lot in life if one does not take a calculated risk at times, take a leap in the dark.” He paused to watch her face and eyes for an expression, a positive response to reinforce his boldness.

Jenny appeared only puzzled. “I'm afraid I don't understand what you're saying, Carlton.”

“I'm simply saying that I prefer candor to tiresome word games. When I discover that there's something or someone that gives me pleasure, I go for it. You are a very lovely lady, and I hoped that we might perhaps have had a spontaneous and mutual attraction.”

“Carlton, it's difficult to ...” clearly befuddled, Jenny began but was interrupted.

“Jenny, before you respond, let me tell you something that you likely do not know. My grandmother is now an aged matriarch and she has made it very clear that Jason is to inherit the bulk of her estate.” Jenny tried to interrupt, but Carlton waved her quiet. “That doesn't bother me. She will probably leave me some crumbs. What you might want to know is that grandmother is eager for Jason to be married and she has told him so. She has an absolute fetish about it, almost to the point of hysteria. Obviously, she does not show this to everyone but Jason is sorely aware of it. In fact, he feels the weight of it almost every day.”

“Carlton, I really don't need to be privy to all of this. My lunch hour is ...”

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