Page 34 of The Roadie
“Don’t worry about it,” Tommy called into the kitchen. “We don’t need coffee.”
“Yes! We do!” Kira and Audra both said at the same time, then started laughing.
“I’ll make it.” Tommy started to rise from the captain’s chair, but Angel’s commanding voice stopped him.
“Tommy Blade, sit back down this instant! I’m making a special treat for everyone.”
“What do you think he’s making?” Jessi asked Tommy.
While the two discussed it, Kira leaned closer to Brett and whispered, “I know what he’s making.”
“What?”
“This Cuban coffee thing. Wait until you taste it. I swear, you’ll never want to drink anything else.”
“You’re a coffee fiend, aren’t you? I saw the way you downed those cups of Starbucks in Chicago and how you reach for the pot the minute you wake up,” Brett teased.
She sighed. “Now you know my secret. I’m a caffeine junkie.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“Fortunately, yes.”
“Here we are!” Angel set a tray of small espresso cups on the table. “Cafecito with espuma!”
Brett picked up a cup and looked at the foamy top. “Cappuccino,” he proclaimed.
Angel gasped. “Es café Cubano. No Italiano.”
Brett’s eyes shifted to Kira. “What did he just say?”
“I . . . think he said it’s Cuban coffee, not Italian.”
“Very good, Kira.” Angel put his fist on his hip. “Why has no one here learned Spanish? How long have I known all of you? And not even my wife or my husband has learned the language.”
“Yo se Española.”
It was little Tessa’s voice, and everyone cooed at the precious little girl. Angel inhaled a deep breath and smiled all the way to his eyes. He cupped Tessa’s face in his hands and kissed the top of her head. “Of course, you do, mi princesita. You’re so incredibly smart. And Lucas, my boy, you’re a genius, as well.” He also cupped Lucas’ cheeks and kissed him on the head. Then they had a short two sentence conversation in Spanish.
Brett returned his gaze to Kira. She was enjoying the coffee and chatting with Audra. She turned to him, feeling his eyes on her.
“How do you like the cof—cafecito?” She smiled, sending a teasing glance in Angel’s direction.
Brett hadn’t tasted it yet, because he was too absorbed in watching the interactions around him, so he finally took a sip. He grunted from the pleasing taste the moment the coffee hit his tongue, even before he swallowed. It was strong, but incredibly sweet. He considered himself to be a coffee snob, purchasing only the freshest beans and grinding them himself, so he was unexpectedly impressed. “This is delicious. What’s in it?”
“The beans are from Cuba,” Angel replied. “And I don’t mean imported. My uncle brings them to us when he visits, along with amazing treats. But it’s the espuma that makes the cup.” Angel waved his hand like it wasn’t a big deal. “Just a little whipped sugar. Very tasty, though. I don’t make it that often, but tonight’s special. It’s our last night together.”
Brett’s heart sank, and the peaceful feeling that had enveloped him during dinner got kicked to the wayside by disappointment. He dropped his eyes before he looked at Kira, who wore a frown and gazed at him with sad doe eyes. He took her hand and kissed it, not knowing what to say. She was also quiet. Probably because there was nothing to say.
They had no plans to bridge the geography that separated them. They started the tour with the knowledge that it was a temporary situation, but did Kira really still feel that way? He’d grown so close to her over these last few weeks. He couldn’t believe he was going from seeing her 24 hours a day to a three-thousand-mile divide.It felt as if they just set out from New York. He wished the tour could have lasted longer, but this was it. The end of the road.
As the massive tour bus rolled up the long driveway that led to the Blade-Garcia mansion, a collective cheer resounded throughout the vehicle. Everyone was happy to be home. Everyone except Brett. He didn’t want to get off the bus and took Kira’s hand. “Let’s wait. Let the others go first.”
Her smile turned bittersweet, and she nodded.
They sat quietly, holding hands, while the bus cleared of boisterous kids and families happy to be home. Neither Brett nor Kira made any move to get up from their seats when the bus was empty, because they knew it meant they’d soon be going their separate ways. They listened to the driver unloading the cargo until the door to the storage compartment slammed shut with a metallic clang.
Kira sighed and squeezed Brett’s hand. “I guess we need to go.”
