Page 73 of Seasoned
He didn’t seem to hear her, eyes focused on the building in front of them.
“Are you thinking about him?” she asked.
That was the thing about knowing someone for decades. You became attuned to their moods, their hesitations. Thoughts of his father weighed heavy on his mind, and without explicitly asking, he knew she was referring to Papi.
Hector’s father had still been alive when they opened the first store, and no one had been happier or prouder than Papi Flores. Adelaide was certain that everyone in the state of Michoacán knew about his son’s success.
“I wish he were alive to see me achieve my dream. Three stores, just like I told him.”
“I believe he sees you. And he’s proud.”
“Yeah,” Hector said, but his voice sounded distant and filled with longing. He rubbed her back and then took her hand. “I have something else to tell you. As you know, Martin’s mother-in-law is in a fragile mental state with onset Alzheimer’s, and Paula’s been spending a lot more time in Jamaica to take care of her and her younger brother.”
Adelaide nodded. Paula’s brother had Down’s Syndrome, and her mother had been his primary caregiver all these years. Now that her mother’s health was declining, she’d hired someone to live in the house with them, but also spent months at a time in her home country.
“Martin and Paula want to permanently move to Jamaica to help with Paula’s mother and her brother, so he wants me to buy him out.”
Adelaide stepped back. “Really?”
Hector nodded. “We started talking about the possibility a year ago, and two days ago my loan application was approved.”
“Oh, my god, Hector!” Adelaide squealed. She flung her arms around his neck and he laughed, squeezing her tight against his body.
She stepped back. “So you’re going to be the sole owner of the Solar Beams company? All three stores?”
“All three stores. All mine.”
“Oh, baby. I’m so happy for you. You’ve worked so hard. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” In typical Hector fashion, he remained calm and cool, except for the gleam of pride in his eyes.
“We’re having champagne with our meal,” Adelaide said.
“I like that plan. Let me show you inside and then we’ll head to dinner.”
The interior was still under construction, but already Adelaide saw this store boasted a sleek and modern design, a contrast to the first two stores and their warehouse feel.
For dinner, they settled on an Asian fusion restaurant that served Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes. Once seated at the table, Adelaide flipped open the expansive menu and perused the list of choices.
“How hungry are you?” she asked, glancing at the appetizers.
“Get what you want. You know I’ll end up eating two-thirds of it anyway.” Hector grinned across the table at her.
“Untrue. Okay, partially true.” They both laughed.
Idly, Adelaide scanned the sushi choices, thinking maybe they could start there. She was about to suggest that to Hector when she had the feeling they were being watched. She searched the room, and her eyes landed on a woman seated two tables over. She sat with a man who had just accepted the bill from the waiter, but she didn’t pay him or the waiter any mind, her entire focus directed at Hector.
Something about the way she looked at him made Adelaide uneasy. There was so much longing in her expression that she was certain this wasn’t a simple case of a stranger finding her ex-husband attractive. Adelaide was certain they knew each other.
The woman’s gaze locked with Adelaide’s before quickly looking away.
“How about we start with sushi?” Hector said.
Adelaide swung her gaze back to him and he looked up from the menu. “Um, I was about to suggest the same thing.”
“Let’s get the assorted platter. Do you know what you want for dinner?”
“I’ll have the hibachi shrimp.”
