Evenings at the Argentine Club (36 page)

“They offered me a permanent position.”

He smiled. “Great.”

“Yes,” she said, but didn’t smile back, and he wondered, again, why not.

“And?” he urged.

“And my first project is going to take me to Washington State for a few weeks. I was going to move all my things out in case
you sold the house while I was gone. I knew you’d be looking for a new place to flip, and… but, you’ve been thinking… wow,
marriage.”

His stomach tightened more painfully. “Don’t you want to get married?” She didn’t seem thrilled with the idea.

“I, ah, think… it might not be the best time to get married, Eric.”

“Well, I wasn’t suggesting we run out and do it tonight.”

“I know. But I’m starting this new job, and finishing my degree. And you’re going to try to establish your business here,
and—”

“Whoa, wait a minute, Victoria.”

She looked miserable. Uncomfortable.

“I thought you’d be happy about this.” His voice came out cold and held a question he couldn’t put into words.

“I’m incredibly touched. I mean, Eric, I
am
happy.” She closed the few feet that separated them, and placed a hand on his arm. “But I’m going to want a long engagement.”

“How long?” He knew he shouldn’t be getting pissed, but he was. Women were supposed to jump up and down when a man proposed.
Not negotiate a deal on when she’d give in and accept the inconvenient proposal.

Victoria could see him getting angry. Feeling hurt. And damn it, she wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it so that he would
understand. The back rooms were hot, and all of a sudden the dress flowing around her felt more like a straitjacket. She ran
her hand up his upper arm. “I expected us to date longer. We’ve only been together for a little over five months.”

“Five great months, I thought.”

“Yes, but five great months mostly as friends.”

“What does time have to do with—”

“I’m still getting used to the idea that you’re actually going to stay in town,” she interrupted. “And that we’re going to
be able to deepen this relationship.”

“I though we might deepen it with a commitment.”

A commitment, yes. A permanent bond that would last a lifetime… was she wrong to think it was too soon? That they needed more
time to contemplate such a huge step? But she did love him. And spending the rest of her life in love with Eric couldn’t feel
more right.

“Forget it,” he said, shaking his head.

“Eric. Wait. Don’t get angry.”

“Look, I rushed into this. I’m sorry.”

“No,” she said. “Don’t be sorry. I love you for thinking of this. For this beautiful presentation of the ring. And…” She paused
for just a moment, to see if she could put into words the conflicting feelings inside her. “But I have to be honest. Can I
be honest?”

Her heart had begun to beat so hard that the thudding pulsed in her ears. But something inside told her that if he really
loved her, that if they were going to have a chance together, she should be able to voice her honest concerns and he should
be able to listen. She didn’t want to end up like her parents twenty or thirty years from now. Not talking. Not communicating.
Not knowing the deepest needs of the other person.

He stared at her and waited for more, with a closed expression that wasn’t encouraging, but she spoke anyway.

“I’ve felt so confined living with my parents all my life,” she started. “This is the first time I’ve had any freedom. That
I’ve been able to do my own thing without worrying about what they thought.” She paused and gazed at him.

“Yes. I know. But what does that have to do with me? With us?”

She forced herself to express her thoughts with strength and continued. “The thought of getting married makes me feel confined
all over again.”

“
I
make you feel confined?”

“No, it’s not
you
.” She shook her head. “I simply want us to spend more time dating. I need to be
me
awhile longer before we become an
us
.”

Eric’s jaw was so tight he though it was going to snap. The night that had started out so wonderful had now taken on a dark
shadow, making it difficult for him to focus. On one level, he understood what she was saying, but on another level—the one
taking over his emotions right now—he understood that she obviously needed her independence more than she needed him. And
she could have it. He was bending over backward trying to fit her into his life, to make her happy, because he thought it
was what she wanted. Why the hell had he bothered?

“Yeah, okay.” He turned away and headed for the door.

“Eric,” she called after him. “Stop.”

He paused and looked over his shoulder. “You said when I needed time to be alone, you’d give it to me. I need time now.”

She rushed to his side and took one of his hands. “This isn’t you needing time alone. This is you running away from me. Don’t
do it. I love you, Eric.”

Gazing into her eyes, her soft face, the sexy lips he loved to kiss almost convinced him to stay. He angled his head and kissed
her cheek. “I love you, too. But damn it, Victoria, if you can think of marriage to me as a trap of some sort, then…” He was
going to say
it’s over,
but he couldn’t say it. “Then, we both need some time to think about what we want.”

Her grip intensified on his hand. “I didn’t say no.” Tears touched her eyes, glistening, threatening to fall and break his
heart.

“Vicki, you didn’t say yes.” He pried her fingers loose, and waited for just a second to see if she’d say it. If she’d say,
Yes, I’ll marry you.
The second came and went in silence, and he turned away and left.

He went home. Packed a bag, got in his truck, and started driving. He headed east on the 10 Freeway. The one that led him
out of California. The one he’d taken the last time he’d left, when he was full of anger and resentment at his father. This
time his feelings were deeper and more complex. This time he really didn’t want to leave.

V
ictor and Jaqueline drove Victoria home. Antonio and Lucia followed in their own car. When they all got there less than an hour later, Eric was gone. Victoria rushed to their bedroom and noticed he’d taken his things. Not all of them, but enough to fit in a large suitcase.

“Oh, Eric,” she said. She sat on the bed and dug in her purse for her cell and called him. Voice mail—big surprise. “Hey,” she said. “Where did you go, Eric?” she sighed. “I’m sorry. But you know I love you, and that I want you.” She was about to click the phone off, but her thoughts wouldn’t stop. “You made me believe in myself again, Eric.” She sniffled and realized tears were running down her face. She wiped her tears. “You’re my best friend and the crazy thing is I know you understand exactly how I’m feeling. If you weren’t my boyfriend you’d be telling me, ‘Don’t marry this guy yet, Victoria. Go to Washington, build your career.’ You know you would. But right now you’re acting like a guy, and that’s okay. You’re entitled. I love you anyway.” The phone beeped. Her time was up.

She went back to the living room, where her parents and his stood talking among themselves. Victoria, too rattled to think logically, just paced back and forth. She wanted everyone gone.a

Lucia stopped her with her hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what happened.”

Victoria groaned inwardly. God, the woman was going to kill her. “Maybe he went back to your place,” she said, avoiding the question.

Lucia looked over her shoulder at Antonio. “Maybe.”

Victoria held her forehead. “I’m sorry, Lucia. I was just shocked and I thought he’d understand.”

“Understand what?” Victor asked.

She turned her attention to her father. “He wants to get married, and I told him I wasn’t ready for that just yet.”

The older adults all glanced at each other. Victor moved first, stepping forward and kissing her on the forehead. “No man takes it well when the woman he wants rejects him, but he’ll—”

“I didn’t reject him. I
love
him—and he knows that.”

“Still hard to swallow. Give him a few days to cool off.” He turned around. “Let’s go,” he said to everyone else.

“Can you call me if he’s at your place?” she asked Lucia. “Just so I know he’s okay.”

Lucia was clearly upset, but she nodded.

They all left her alone. She sat on the couch in her beautiful gown and waited. She didn’t sleep. She couldn’t. Lucia called to tell her he hadn’t gone to her house. Somehow, Victoria knew he hadn’t.

“I’m sorry, Lucia.”

“Get some sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow,” she advised.

But she didn’t sleep. Thoughts kept her up all night. And at some point she stopped being upset or even angry. Eric needed time to sort this relationship out. She did, too.

The next morning, Victoria dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater and drove to Lucia’s house. It was Christmas Eve, and if Eric didn’t come back home no one would be celebrating.

They sat at her kitchen table to share a cup of coffee.

“I came to drop off a set of keys to the house. I’ll move my things out and notify the Realtor to contact you if she wants to show it.”

Lucia held on to the keys, stared at them as if they held answers about her son that Victoria hadn’t shared. “I don’t think you should move your things out yet, querida.”

“I’m leaving for Washington on January second.” She told Lucia about her new job.

“But you’ll be back,” she said.

“Yes.”

“Then stay in the house. I’m certainly not going to show it or sell it. It’s Eric’s responsibility.”

Which was why she thought it best to take her things out of the house. But maybe Lucia was correct. If Eric came back and saw all her things gone, he’d think it was all over between them. And Victoria didn’t want him to believe that. Just because she wasn’t ready for marriage just yet didn’t mean she didn’t want him. “Okay. I’ll stay,” she said.

Carmen made it home for Christmas, arriving on December 24. Victor picked her up at the bustling Burbank Airport, which was full of holiday vacationers leaving and arriving. She had a couple of carry-on bags, and two full and heavy suitcases.

Victor loaded it all onto a cart. “All this for one week?”

“You never know what I might need.”

“Sure you do. A couple of shirts, a couple of pants, underwear, and socks.”

“A week consists of seven days. A couple of anything isn’t enough.”

“Hmm.” He loaded her bags into the trunk of the car. Then they got in.

“I’m starving. That nasty food they allow you to buy on flights these days is barely edible. I can’t wait to eat some of Mom’s good food, and to eat at La Parrilla, and to eat good Mexican food.” She laughed. “I’m going to do nothing but eat for an entire week.”

“Good.” She looked too thin. Probably didn’t eat much. He wove out of the airport terminal and onto the freeway.

“I do need to go shopping this evening. I’m going to drag Victoria out and have her take me to the mall.”

“Might do her good. She had a fight with Eric, and she isn’t in the best mood.”

“About what? And when did this happen? She didn’t tell me about it.”

“Happened last night.” He shrugged. “Talk to her.”

“Ugh, men. I’ve dated five different guys this year. Each worse than the next. I swear I don’t get guys. Most of them have the attention span of a two-year-old and the memory of… what has a terrible memory? Anyway, late to dates or they forget all together. Unless it concerns sex or sports they can’t focus.”

Victor shot her a stern glance as he drove. She dated
five
men? A little much.

“Sorry, I know you’re a man.”

“Thanks for noticing.” He took the off ramp he needed and headed for home.

“But trust me. Guys these days, they’re not like you, Papi. They have no character. No substance.”

He needed her to change the subject. Not that it would be difficult to do. Carmen could talk nonstop about anything.

“So tell me about your idea to work for La Parrilla.”

“Well, when I originally thought about it, I thought I’d help you run the restaurant. Take care of payroll, hiring, and most of the back-office business stuff. Give you a chance to retire soon.”

“Retire? Who said anything about retiring?”

“Eventually. Aren’t you the man who has always talked about retiring to Argentina?”

“Well, that’s not going to happen for a long time.”

“Whatever. That’s what I was thinking. But now that you’re opening the other two restaurants, well, the stakes are even higher.”

“I’ve thought of this a lot since we spoke on the phone. If you’re determined to go through with this, you should change your major to business management. I’ll train you to run the restaurant. Victoria can help you as well.”

“She doesn’t want to be involved.”

“She won’t mind training you. Although it won’t be for a while. She’s—”

“Leaving for Washington. That I know.”

He wondered if he would ever get to finish his thoughts with all the interruptions. He turned onto their street. “If I think you can do it, I’ll move my current manager from Burbank to Newport Beach and leave you the original to run. It’ll be the easiest since it’s established. But, Carmen, if I think it’s too much for you or that you’re not serious about this, I won’t hesitate to remove you.” He pulled into their driveway and cut the engine. Then he turned to look at her. “Clear?”