King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures) (17 page)

            He leaned across the kitchen counter, and doodled on an envelope while waiting to talk to Joe. The envelope had his name printed vertically. Underneath his own name, he mindlessly wrote Amanda Messenger. Standing there in the kitchen, butt-naked except for a sheet around him, and annoyed by the long wait, he looked down at the envelope.

            Antonio

            Dominquez

            Amanda

            Messenger

            He dropped the pen as if it had caught fire. “Shit. ADAM.” Joe picked up the phone.

            He explained they were going to the Mountain, thanked him, and hung up. He looked at the envelope and asked himself, “Who prints an envelope with the first name over the last?”

            Everything was getting crazy. Now he had to go clean up his mess with Amanda, but first, he needed to prepare for protecting her on their expedition to the Mountain.

            Antonio’s failure to return astonished Amanda. They had been having a wonderful time, discussing King Solomon, and suddenly it had turned into a debate. What was with the man? First he spent hours trying to coax her into allowing him to share her thoughts, and then when she does he takes umbrage at her remarks and just leaves her!

            Trying to understand his anger regarding her statements, she decided to check on him. Standing, she finished off her wine and went to find him.

            She hoped that her observations about King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba hadn’t made him angry enough to stay away from her. The house was huge, and she didn’t know her way around. Finally, she spotted him in the hallway near the dining area. Approaching, she observed his activities, and felt intrusive.

            “I am sorry, Antonio. I did not mean to intrude.” Embarrassed, she saw him in front of an open gun safe. He loaded items into a duffle bag; a few handguns with extra clips, and a survival knife were hurriedly shoved inside.

            “Wait, Amanda, don’t leave. You’re not intruding. This isn’t anything that I don’t want you to know about.”

            “I do not want you to feel angry with me, I want to apologize.”

            He closed the safe, and sat the bag aside.

            “Antonio, I am embarrassed.”

            His fingers touched her lips. “I’m sorry. I was a fool.”

            Together, they moved back to their seats by the fire.

            “Amanda...”

            Antonio took a drink of wine, motioning for her to join him. She sat reached out her now empty glass and accepted the offered drink.

            “Amanda, you know I’m angry with myself. I played the part of the ‘Arrogant Academic’.”

            His confession was emotional.

            "Antonio, I wanted tonight to be special, I wanted us to…cement our friendship. I have baggage, but I am not thin-skinned. Apparently, you think I am. I know how to play hardball. Plus, I love to argue, and debate issues.” She smiled. “I am not saying I did this tonight, but on occasion, I have been known to, knowingly provoke an intellectual spar. I will not admit to that again.”

            Confessing, she became even more endearing to Antonio.

            “Antonio, I will give you one more ‘One-Time-Only-Speech’. Then we move on. Okay?”

            He nodded as she continued.

            “We have roles here as polar opposites. You are the scientist, and I am the esoteric mystic. Our job is to understand, and make the equation work. One plus one equals one, the two ‘Ones’ combine to create one super-consciousness. The One that comes from the union of two souls is a mirror of Solomon and Sheba.

            We have to visit the opposite side to learn. It is the same in the transmutation of metals, and the fluctuation of gravity… Zero Point.

            Everything is a reflection of everything else. ‘As above, so below,’ I believe that is what sits at the core. We are going on one Hell of a journey. The trick is to not let our egos destroy us, or the Legacy of King Solomon’s Scrolls.”

            Antonio looked at the woman sitting across from him, and mentally kicked his own ass! While he had not pushed them back to square one, he had certainly not closed the circle of friendship Amanda had began drawing in the pool.

            Taking her hands in his, he looked her in the eyes and tried to fix this night. "Amanda, I believe every word you just said. I not only believe it, I know you are right. I make you this promise; I will never allow my own ego to come between us again. Every idea, thought or belief you hold will be listened to, and I will always share my thoughts with you."

            The smile on Amanda's face at his acceptance was breathtaking. Antonio knew right then that the way to her heart, was to accept her mind, body and soul as one complete entity. He could only smile in return, and hope his Temptress would allow him another chance at building their relationship to a higher level.

Chapter 16

"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."

George Burns

            Just after Amanda finished her shower the following morning, she was walking towards Antonio's open bedroom door to ask what time they would be leaving for Hidden Mountain, when she heard him speaking. Not wanting to eavesdrop, she turned to head downstairs, but the conversation caught her attention, and she paused.

            “José, I told you I met a woman…  She’s staying here with me for a while…  No, she hasn’t moved in...I hope she will eventually…Amanda…Amanda Messenger…That is not a Vegas Showgirl Name...I forgive you.

            She’s from the Midwest…  José, don’t laugh. You know how nuts you are about your wife and daughter. She’d still knock you on your ass.

            She’s the same age as me…  I’m not getting defensive…  The boys are mostly grown … I’ll send you an e-mail with her book titles later. Go to the bookstore this afternoon, buy them, and read them.

            No, you’ll be calling me. She’s nothing you’d expect in a million years…  She has a vineyard…  Two of her sons take care of the property...

            Listen José, I need to go, now…  I’ll call Mama today...Is Pop working?

            I promise. I’ll call Mama in a little while…  José, I’m happy, I want you to know that, okay…   I miss you brother.” Amanda guiltily moved on down the stairs, the conversation she had overheard had been revealing. Antonio did have hopes for them in the future as a couple, and she suddenly did not find that idea quite so unnerving. Her footsteps were lighter as she moved towards the kitchen.

*  *  *

            José sat in the chair at the front of his father’s desk. He waited for him to get off the phone, a scene he had repeated twice a week or more, for the past fifteen years. At least today, Pop would be elated with his news.

            Sometimes José got angry at both Pop and Antonio, and refused to take part in their charade. If Antonio knew José called him at his father’s request and reported the details of his life to him, Antonio would never speak to José again. He loved his brother, and hated himself for the way he betrayed his trust.

            Off the phone, Pop was ready for the information. “José, tell me. How is Antonio?”

            “Pop, he’s met a woman.” José braced himself for his father’s reaction.

            At first his father just sat there, and then he pounded his hand down on his desk, and with misty eyes, leaned forward and demanded; "Tell me everything he said, who is she, where is she from? Did he sound satisfied or happy?"      

            “He said she was incredible, her name is Amanda Messenger. She’s there with him now, visiting from the Midwest.” He paused, knowing his father would have to comment on that.

            “The Midwest? I never would have thought Antonio would fall for someone from that part of the country."His Pop was smiling, and urged José to continue.

            “Don’t feel bad, I laughed and made Antonio mad. She has three sons, mostly grown, whatever that means.”

            Pop interrupted. “Three sons…  That is good, she’s a parent.”

            José was surprised. He’d guessed Pop would not be happy about that.

            “She’s a writer. Antonio said he would e-mail me her book titles. I’ll go to the bookstore. She also has a vineyard which two of her sons handle.”

             “Pop, Antonio told me in his own words. I’m quoting him Pop, ‘José, I’m happy’...Pop, are you okay?” José waited a moment, while his father absorbed the information.

            Tears welled in his father's eyes, and spilled over. "Do you know what all that means José? I will tell you; she is a learned woman, a writer, an equal for your brother. She has grown sons, so she appreciates family, her sons care for and remain close to a place that is important to her…that equals loyalty, and she is of an age to match my Antonio in every way." Dabbing at his eyes, he straightened up, and for the first time in a long time, José saw some of the shadows had left his eyes.

            He looked at his father, the powerful Judge, retired and back at the family law firm. No one in the community would believe he cried at least twice a week over his estranged son. No one except José and his wife knew.

            “Pop, it’s what you wanted, is it not? You want Antonio to be happy. Pop, call him or go out there and tell him how you feel? Do it before it's too late.”

            José got up, annoyed, and left Pop with his thoughts. He couldn’t convince the stubborn old man of anything, and Antonio was just as bad. José stopped when his father called out, “José, call your Mama and tell her about Antonio.”

            “Okay, Pop.” He closed his father’s office door behind him.

            Left alone, the onetime Judge and forever father picked up the phone, and dialed a number he knew by heart. When the voice answered, he made a simple statement, "Everything you can find on Amanda Messenger." He hung up the phone and relaxed. His Antonio had found his woman at last, but a father had to be sure. He prayed that Antonio, his solitary star, had finally found a home someplace in another's heart.

CHAPTER 17

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you'll discover will be wonderful.  What you'll discover is yourself."

~Alan Alda

            Eager for their journey to begin, Amanda and Antonio quickly packed Raven with everything they would need for a complete exploration of the chamber within Hidden Mountain. The sun had not yet risen, and Amanda seemed particularly keen on their arriving before the sunrise. Rushing to get there in the darkness, meant he had to be doubly sure nothing vital was left behind. Since Antonio was not sure just how far back the cavern went, or if it was really an opening into an old lava tube, he made sure they had plenty of rope, and safety equipment.

            Before they could leave, Joseph walked over to hand Amanda two golf clubs, he had removed their grips as Amanda instructed.

            "Are those my clubs?" Antonio asked.

            "Yes, when Amanda asked if I had two straight metal rods, these were the only things that seemed to fit her requirements."

            Antonio looked at Amanda who was writing in the notebook she kept in her purse. What could she possibly need golf clubs for? He would ask her later, out of Joe's earshot; just in case it had something to do with a subject she felt needed secrecy.

            "Well, I mean, I know I don't play golf well or want too, but won't I need the grips if I use the clubs?"

            "When you bring them back, I will replace the grips. I have to say Antonio, no matter what she uses them for; it can't hurt your golf game."

            "Ha ha, very funny Joe!"

            After placing the clubs in the trunk, Joe motioned for Antonio to follow him. "Thought you might be interested in some news I just heard." He glanced meaningfully at Amanda, and Antonio walked with him to the side of the drive.

            "What is it Joe?"

            "Those two guys you told me about trying to rob the store you and Amanda stopped at. Seems that they both walked out of jail, no charges, and the store burned down last night."

            Shocked, Antonio immediately thought about the little man. "What about the little man…the owner, is he okay?"

            Joseph laughed. "It would take more than a burning store to kill Marcus Riley. He's a bit of a legend in these parts. Retired Marine, fought like hell to get in due to his height, and then kicked ass from Korea to Viet Nam! I heard through the grapevine, he was up in the hills, waiting for things to blow over."

            Happy with that part of the news, Antonio asked; "Just how do people get out of jail free after an armed robbery?"

            "I can't say, but it worries me some, especially since you said they were dogging Raven before that. Keep your eyes peeled, and your ears open son. I'll do the same around here."

            Antonio thanked him, and asked him to be careful. When he returned to the car, he told Amanda what was said. She just made a sound of disgust and let it go.

            As they left the drive, Amanda reached over and squeezed his hand where it rested on the wheel. "This is going to be a special day…I feel it."

            Antonio, gave her hand a quick pat, and smiled with the pleasure of sharing one of his favorite places on earth with someone who just might understand the pull it had on him.

            "Amanda, what are the golf clubs for?"

            "An experiment to solidify a thought."

            "Uh huh. Amanda, I ask again, what are the golf clubs for?"

            "In order to explain it, I have to ask you a question. Have you heard of the Square Root of Three Rectangle?"

            "Yes, it’s the perfect form that makes up the hexagram of the Seal of Solomon."

            "Right. Now stay with me, and I will delve farther into its roots."