Page 19 of Half Blind

“My darling,” Lemon said, “He will soon be engaged. Then he shall marry and I can almost guarantee you that his wife is not going to be okay with a beautiful creature like you sleeping in the same room as her husband when he’s away from home. To make matters worse, you shall share these memories with him since, I assume, you guys to grew up together, leaving her on the outside of the triangle.”

A vehicle arrived in the yard. Lemon rose from the table to see the woman in the car. She was stunning and impeccably dressed, and she handed a canvas bag to Micah Delgado. She uttered a few words to the young man and left.

“Who is that?” Lemon said aloud.

“The flight attendant from the plane,” Alita said. “The Señor gets, what is the word,the squirrellyif he is locked in too long? He does not like sleeping on the plane; it feels claustrophobic to him. We are grateful to you for allowing us to stay in your home last night with your family.”

“You arrived on a plane?”

“La Doctora, we could not enter your country on the Jet Blue plane carrying toxins,” she said. “Besides, too many people in an airport...the comedown is very hard for him.”

“So, you also help manage his autism?”

“Asperger’s Syndrome. He manages himself,” Alita said. “What that man has accomplished is nothing short of amazing. No one manages Micah Delgado. He is a man of science with focus and precision in all that he does. It is my honor to protect him, guard him from this world, and to be his friend.”

Lemon smiled at the protectiveness of the woman. She imagined the two of them had been through a great deal together. The love the girl had for him was evident. “Understood, but you also deserve someone who loves you back, and if you want a family of your own, in time, versus living on the outskirts of his life, you will need to think about that.”

“You say that with a man you don’t know sitting at your table, living on the outskirts of your life,” Alita said. “I know the man who I sleep near each night. Can you say the same?”

“I’m not certain what you mean?”

“Señor Bane,” Alita said. “He is more than he seems. The inclination in him ...the protectiveness he has over you and those girls...you’ve let the dog inside to warm by the fire. He sleeps in the barn now, but soon, the couch in front of the fire shall be where he ends his days, and then your bed. You can offer all the motherly advice in the world, but as a self-appointed protector of young women, have you placed in the safeguards to protect yourself?”

Lemon fixed her mouth to answer as the back door opened with Micah and Jared entering the home. Her eyes immediately went to Jared, who was also looking at her. The bag of coffee in Micah’s hand was thrust at Alita, who proceeded to make a pot from his special blend of beans from the family farm. No conversation was made as the kitchen filled with the aroma of freshly ground and brewed coffee. The egg bake came from the oven, but both Micah and Alita asked for only a slice of bread and cheese. Helen arrived as the cups were poured, and everyone, at the same time took a sip.

“This is the best coffee I have ever had in my life,” Helen said.

“It is my special blend. I am considering marketing it,” Micah replied, nearly blushing. “I shall take this travel cup and leave the bag with you.”

Briefly, he looked back at Jared, noticing the same thing Alita had. An arched brow was his comment about the situation and to his assistant, he asked, “Alita, are we prepared to depart?”

“We are, Señor,” she replied.

“Bueno, we make haste to the airfield to be home in time for supper. I think Mama is making the chicken I like,” he said, looking about for the girls, who had yet to make an appearance. “Thank you,La Doctora,for the hospitality.”

Micah walked over to Helen who was enjoying the coffee as if manna was melting on her tongue. He bent slightly at the waist, taking her hand and flipping it to kiss the inside of her wrist. “Gracias, for the meal and attention to my care. I will say, he is a lucky man. Had I more time, I would make him work to hold the honor of your affections,” he said, dropping her hand and giving a quick wink.

“What in the hell?” Helen said, watching him saunter his way to the door.

Micah turned to look back at them all, his gaze going to Jared. “If you can make it work, this will be a very nice family for all involved. I shall be in touch.”

“You don’t have to be,” Jared said, watching the twitch of the young man’s lips.

“When you are settled in here, I shall come back, then we will have more of the man talk,” Micah announced.

“No, we won’t because I won’t be here,” Jared refuted.

“Yeah, right! Alita! We ride,” Micah added with a crooked attempt at a grin as he exited the house.

Lemon, now looking at Jared, asked, “What kind of man talk did you have with him, and what does he mean, making it work and a nice family and when he comes back?”

Helen, finding herself rather uncomfortable, also had questions. “Did that teenage boy...never mind? What did he mean, he is a lucky man? Is he talking about you, Jared?”

Jared didn’t see a need to answer any of it. “The roof is repaired, thanks to Micah. Anyone interested in more of that amazing coffee? He had that stunning woman drive it out for us. I mean, where did she get a car to drive it out, hell, where did they get a car...and how did she...never mind. That dude just leaves us with more questions. But, hey, that coffee is outstanding. His special blend. I wonder if he picked the beans himself and adding in some cocaine leaves when he was cross breeding it in his little lab? Either way, it’s like sipping a cold one with a Busch.”

A sleepy-eyed Bria arrived in the kitchen, looking about for the brooding, but handsome young man. Ayanna appeared moments later, peering around the corner, also searching for Micah. Disappointed by the lack of his testosterone in the space, she asked, “Where is my future husband? Did he leave?”

Lemon was over it all. “Listen, you are no match for that young man, now or even after five years of college life. Calm yourself and go eat breakfast. And you, Mr. Jared, what is next on your list − repairs to your truck?”

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